Looking for opinions on shotgun reloaders

[hp246]

After 40 years, am thinking it might be time to replace my MEC 600 JR. Parts are starting to wear out. Thinking about stepping up to a progressive. Thinking about a 8567N Grabber. What else is out there? Pros and Cons? Thanks.

[Boolit_Head]

Send that lonely 600 jr over my way I love em. Rebuilt two out of three of mine. My 12ga loader is a Versimec 700 I picked up in the late 80's. Got a 20ga and 28 ga 600 jr to go with it. Much simpler than a progressive. At one point I was doing over 500 12 ga rounds a month just to keep up with my skeet shooting.

[Mk42gunner]

A buddy had a Grabber about twenty five years ago, no idea of the model number, but it was a very good loader. If I was going to get involved in a semi-high volume shotgun game like trap or skeet; the Grabber would be on my short list to look at.

Robert

[seagiant]

Hi,
Love my 60's DL-300!

The loader to the right under the cover is a Spolar Gold!

I sold it and kept my DL-300!!!

[jsizemore]

I have a 761R and 762R Grabbers. One for 6 and the other for 8 fold crimps. Shells work in the Fox double, 4 Benellis, an 1100 and 870. I've thought about a P-W but it would be a real pain to load Buck. Both Grabbers handle that plus volume for skeet and dove. Don't know that I'd have it any other way.

Now, that DL-300 looks interesting.

[ReloaderFred]

I use the MEC 9000GN, with the added electric motor drive. It's the only way I'll load shotgun shells anymore. All I have to do is feed a hull and a wad, then push the two buttons at the same time, and a loaded shell rolls off the left rear........

Hope this helps.

Fred

[prsman23]

Just got a Mec 9000G from another member here. Came from the 600jr. Love it. Started shooting sporting clays and it's nice to spend less time at the loader.

[hp246]

What is the difference between the 9000 series and the Grabber? Are the charge bars and bushings interchangeable between all of these loaders?

[M-Tecs]

What is the difference between the 9000 series and the Grabber? Are the charge bars and bushings interchangeable between all of these loaders?

All Mec charge bars and bushings are interchangeable. I have two 9000's.

https://www.mecshootingsports.com/p-386-9000gn.aspx

High-speed, high-volume reloading at its best.



The 9000GN has all the innovative features found on the 8567N Grabber, plus automatic indexing and finished-shell ejection for quicker and easier reloading.



Our revolutionary Auto-Dex™ automatically moves the shells through each reloading stage by simply returning the handle to the top of its stroke. Accurately resized shells are achieved with each stroke.



Finished shells are automatically ejected from the shell carrier after final crimping. This time-saving feature makes one-more-hand operation obsolete.

Finished shells with every stroke

The fastest, smoothest indexing system ever made. Our factory-set speed provides uniform movement through every reloading stage regardless of operator action.

[toallmy]

Don't overlook an old mec 650 or grabber manual indexing . How much shooting you going to do. If 2-3 hundred a month 600 Jr - 2-3 hundred weak graber - 5 gal bucket a day 9000 . If using auto shotgun you want taper crimp for feeding. But a box or 2 once in a wall for hunting in my pump or dubbel I still use my 30 year old lee load all nice to have all the bushings in the little box .

[toallmy]

Yep the 9000s are real nice . Got a 12 and 20 setup but get allot of powder and shot. I mean lots a sack of shot pound of powder a hour . Get someone to help box em up.

[Sig]

I'm still using my Grabber that I bought in the early 80's. I see no reason to change.

[hornetman]

I switched from MEC to P-W 41 years ago. I have five of the 800 progressives for volume loading and a couple of the 375's for short runs or experimenting. They don't break, don't wear out, don't require fiddling with adjustments and load top notch ammo. Granted, the initial cost of a new machine is imposing, but keep an eye out for a used one -you can't go wrong. Only one of my seven P-W's was bought new.

[beeser]

Hi,
Love my 60's DL-300!

The loader to the right under the cover is a Spolar Gold!

I sold it and kept my DL-300!!!

That's quite a difference, Spolar versus the Dl-300. What is it about the Dl-300 that you find so much more appealing?

[Greg S]

I've run the 600s, the 8567 in 410 and the 9000Gs in 12, 20 & 28. I've also ran the PWs (8,850 &900?) and finally settled on a hydrolic Spolar in all gauges. At the time i was loading about 1k per week +. The 9000g is alot of machine in the 12-28 but refer the pw in the 410 bore. The 9000G can easily handle a 500 rd per week workload and make life easy on you. The auto-index and shell eject are worthwhile features if I was spending the money I would invest once.

[hp246]

Thanks for the input guys. I decided to go with a MEC 8567 Grabber. Should have it next week. I probably shoot a couple of hundred a month,, but would like to increase that a bit. Wanted to stay with MEC because I have several different charge bars and a set of bushings for it already. Thanks again.

[LUBEDUDE]

It's hard to go wrong with a MEC! :)

[toallmy]

That will work great you will love it.check your powder weight with a scale .

[seagiant]

Hi,
I don't think you guys are getting the full enjoyment out of this "hobby"!

You are suppose to buy a 60 year old ***, rebuild it, make unobtainable parts for it to get it going, and then use it for 30 more years!!!

[jsizemore]

Hey, are you talkin' about me?

[toallmy]

You can do both .I have several shot shell reloaders.but I haven't found my 366 yet.one of these days I will find me a auto index 366 in good shape ( at the right time and price ) like that will happen. But right now I am looking for a savage model 12-223 my shopping is like my hunting put up the stand in a good place and weight. It's for the fun of it right.

[jmorris]

I have a pair of 366's that I use for most of my shotshell loading.

[hp246]

Got my 8567 Grabber up and running yesterday. WOW! Made 700 rounds in just a couple of hours once I got it all dialed in. Never was able to figure out how to run one round at a time though without dumping powder and shot all over the place. Ended up using empties to catch powder an shot at appropriate times.

[toallmy]

Yep get allot of powder and shot , now you need a good automatic skeet thrower . It just goes on and on.

[Sam Casey]

I have used MEC for years; all gauges Sizemasters, Grabbers & 12 & 20ga 9000 hydros. Brief flirtations with 366 & others, but always back to MEC. These presses will load anything, but are at this best with high quality hulls; AA and Rem Premiers with brass case heads. Loading steel heads put extra stress on sizer collet. Keep my 16ga well lubed. MEC service dept. is also very good and they can often be found at major shoots to make repairs while you shoot.

[Dragonheart]

If you want the best shotshell press out there then look no further than the Ponsness Warren. It doesn't reload shot shells it re-manufactures them, shoots in any gun just like a new shell. Several models from a basic load a box in under 5 minutes to a progressive that cranks one out for every stroke.

[seagiant]

If you want the best shotshell press out there then look no further than the Ponsness Warren. It doesn't reload shot shells it re-manufactures them, shoots in any gun just like a new shell. Several models from a basic load a box in under 5 minutes to a progressive that cranks one out for every stroke.

Hi,
I bought a PW 800C shotshell loader!

It gave me two happy days.....the day I bought it and the day I sold it! YMMV!

[David2011]

A Ponsness Warren recently found a new home in my reloading room. It's a beautifully built precision piece of equipment, much like Dillon and Redding presses. My two cents.

David

[Dragonheart]

David, I agree as my PW press has given me good service for 40 years; most negative comments never address specifics.

[Three44s]

I have been in the process of moving from Mec to PW

What I like most about PW is the support of the hull while you are doing operations.

I also have a Pacific 366 in 12 ga. and I like it but I understand Hornady may have dropped them. I wanted a 20 ga. Hornady or Pacific 366 but I was always a minute late or dollar short so I started looking in other directions ........ that's when the PW line came into focus.

I have an old 800 in 12 ga. I have not used yet but it appears to be low mileage but for my volume of shooting, I am mainly gathering up used 375's (their single stage).

Three 44s

[Dragonheart]

Full support is the beauty of the PW over the other machines. Years ago I was on a bird hunting lease with a dozen other guys, so you can imagine the number of different shotguns in use. We pooled our money for components and I used a PW to load shells for all for several years, not only for hunting, but for busting clay birds. Out of all that time, we never had a shell that wouldn't chamber.

[bdicki]

Got my 8567 Grabber up and running yesterday. WOW! Made 700 rounds in just a couple of hours once I got it all dialed in. Never was able to figure out how to run one round at a time though without dumping powder and shot all over the place. Ended up using empties to catch powder an shot at appropriate times.
http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=257155
Look down about 5 items for the answer.

[EDG]

Reloading shotshells is pretty boring.
Get a fast machine and get it over with.

Most 60 year old *** machines are that way because of design and no amount of new parts will make them anything other than a new ***.



Hi,
I don't think you guys are getting the full enjoyment out of this "hobby"!

You are suppose to buy a 60 year old ***, rebuild it, make unobtainable parts for it to get it going, and then use it for 30 more years!!!

[seagiant]

Reloading shotshells is pretty boring.
Get a fast machine and get it over with.

Most 60 year old *** machines are that way because of design and no amount of new parts will make them anything other than a new ***.


Hi,
That's FUNNY!!!

[beeser]

One pull of the handle of the Texan shown above will convince most discriminating users that it's not a *** despite its age. I'm not the most experienced reloader but ALL of the machines I've used Hollywoods, MECs, Texans, Hornady, Dillon, etc. have their quirks. As seagiant mentioned earlier in another thread, for some, part of the fun of reloading is working with these vintage reloaders idiosyncrasies and all. EGS is also correct, elsewise the process may be boring.

[toallmy]

The good part about making your own Is to do it when you feel like it. That way you can enjoy doing it. Love to shoot , custom load , and cast. Just need a lot of targets.

[Three44s]

bdicki,

That's a great reference. I might be going to PW, buy my MEC's are not going anywhere!

Thanks and best regards

Three 44s

[seagiant]

Hi,
Well this is all subjective I guess!

I've had the BEST reloader which is the Spolar Gold!

Makes the PW's and MEC's like the ugly girl no one wants to dance with at the Prom!

To me the MECS were boring, and the PW was a pain because when the primer feed went south all the hulls were locked in the shell plate! (800C)

I think they fixed that with newer models at least!

So in the end I enjoy the old 60's reloaders and sold the Spolar, not needing that much ammo anymore.

Oh yea, like some other things in life, for me reloading is fun and enjoyable.....not something I'm looking to get done with as soon as possible!

[hp246]

http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=257155
Look down about 5 items for the answer.

Thanks. Great link.

[toallmy]

This is off subject , but ant nothing wrong with a ugly girl if she can cook and do yard work , keep the house. Tend the young ones .just kidding mom always said get a simple one thay are easier to get along with.

[seagiant]

This is off subject , but ant nothing wrong with a ugly girl if she can cook and do yard work , keep the house. Tend the young ones .just kidding mom always said get a simple one thay are easier to get along with.

Hi,
Well....You have to run a Spolar Gold to see what true shotgun reloading Nirvana really is!!!

My situation changed and a friend needed it more than me and I'm happy with the "slow" girls!

[toallmy]

Just upgraded to a 12 and 20 mec 9000 last year from a load all , so you can understand my happiness , it took me over 20 years to do that so I'm going to just enjoy watching the finished shells slide down the little sliding board for a while. But I tried several out along the way. Just like dating . I might have the mec reloader but I picked the spoiler girl , but don't hurt to dance with a ugly girl , and aprishated what you have .