Is there a reason, other than money. That MEC won't sell spare parts, die sets for the slugger. I have one in 12 ga, but would like a set of 20 ga to swap out on occasion, without having to buy a whole new press.
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Is there a reason, other than money. That MEC won't sell spare parts, die sets for the slugger. I have one in 12 ga, but would like a set of 20 ga to swap out on occasion, without having to buy a whole new press.
Never even been close to a Slugger to see what the difference is, loaded a lot of slugs on a 600 Jr. Wondering if the 20ga parts set off another model wouldn't work?
You just had to talk about it. I've actually been eyeballing a 600 Slugger vs. a drill press just for the "roll" crimp. So far I'm in two roll crimpers for $45 and a HF drill press (tomorrow) for $120, I'm overhalf way if I return the crimpers and don't buy the drill press.
I ended up buying the vice, I already had a drill press, bought a jig for a hand drill, and I'm sure more. You don't need any of it. If you have a MEC 600Jr., you already have, or need a MEC supersizer. I use the super sizer as the vice, and a hand drill for the roll crimp. I can make better crimps with a hand drill than I can on a drill press. Reasons being I can go a lot slower with the hand drill, and I get better results using feel. Using a stop didn't work well for me. You don't need a spin doctor either. I've got one, but it really doesn't work all that well. I use a fishing bobber, a big catfish style one I already had, and saw another member use the same thing. Any cone shaped object the right size will work. I just push it in until it expands the mouth enough, and it is ready to load. The BPI roll crimpers are OK. I get perfectly acceptable crimps with mine, but once in a while I get one that is crooked. The double roller pin model is the one to buy for 12 gauge.
Well, I did go off the deep end and bought the Slugger. I've been looking at it for months. I figure that the production is seasonal and that bore some truth as I looked at the various retailers that I had been watching it on. The only one with that was not out of stock was MidwayUSA. I bought it and went back to the product page and it to capture a picture of the press, and saw that I had bought the last one, Midway was out of stock. I figure it was meant to be. I also purchased seven more bushings, a bushing stand, primer feeder, and a bench mount.
I will keep my Load-All II, I think it is a good press, and I need to load BBs for my hog loads. I prefer them over buckshot.
I had the MEC slugger and returned it the same week. I think the reason they won’t sell parts is because it would be super easy to convert you old 600 jr over.
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Just watched a video from MEC on the Slugger
Sure makes a nice looking roll crimp
After watcing it, I wonder why anyone wastes time with roll crimping tools.
What is the difference between the Slugger and a standard MEC 600 Jr.? From what I can tell from reading it is just the different crimp dies but they sure jack up the cost for that. If I could buy the conversion kit (for a reasonable cost anyway) I'd try it just to see but really using my Sizemaster and then roll crimping works pretty well.
My Sizemaster cost me $150.00 CDN used but with extra "stuff" and a Universal charge bar and I got my 600 Jr. for $25.00 CDN also with extras and a Universal charge bar. Good deals both and both in perfect shape. A guy can't complain about that!
I love the Sizemaster!
Longbow
Also, I enjoy reloading equipment. What's another press in this room.
https://www.ranchdogoutdoors.com/Rel...hes_090318.jpg
The Load-All II is on a bench to the right, out of view. I'm thinking about mounting Slugger, the bench mount, on the free standing pedestal that the vise is on. If the vice can be adapated to the mount, I will buy another so I can switch them out.
I have two Sizemasters
I have two Lee Load-Alls. One is an Aluimum base.
I think I "need"/want a Slugger now that I have seen what it can do.
It makes beautiful roll crimps
Will sell my roll crimping tools and it will be of little cost
The problem with the Slugger is you have to keep the same slug recipe, components and all, or keep adjusting for each different type You reload. I wasn’t at all impressed with the crimps in person or in the vid I seen.
I only had mine a week, but during that time wasted about 50-75 hulls trying to get a decent crimp.
If anyone figured it out, please share pics.
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Sure can. My shotgun hog hunting is always at night, 90% of it, shooting hogs under a feeder light. In that the hogs are between the feeder legs, I've seen buckshot knock a leg out from under the feeder. I've had BB hits, but the scoot right around the leg. When a sounder is tight under feeder, I expect to kill three to five with the first shot. After the shot, it sure is a lot easier to hit one on the fly with BBs. What is surprizing is that at 35-yards out, every BB will remain within the legs. It is absolutely devistating. I made the switch from BBs back in 1979, then we were baiting crossfences heavy with corn and would stay out all night with no lights. Much easier to secure kills with BBs.
Nope. At 35-yards, slightly high on the center of the group confined under the feeder legs. All the hogs have their heads down trying to outfeed each other and headshots are a low percentage kill at night even with rifles. The kills typically come from spine hits. Hard to believe, but I've had a single BB kill a large hog immediately when hit.
Attachment 231638
Typical kill, from one shotshell.
Wow! I never thought a BB would do that kind of damage to hogs. Of course at 4000fps, just about anything is deadly! Lol. What kind of velocities are you loading them to?
I'm not sure. When I started this type of hunting in 1979, I bought a 1K round case of 2¾" Rem Express BBs, and I'm down to three shells. I've used them very judiciously, I've probably shot less than 5 to check the shot pattern, and I've never pulled the trigger unless I'm confident that at least one hog will drop. Last year at this time, I started to look for another case of BBs and was surprised to see that they are almost unobtainable, now package in five-round boxes for self defense. F'ing zombie shooters. Heck, I walked into a hardware store in Hondo, TX and bought that case as everyone was using BBs on hogs. I also found that lead BBs are tough to find, now nickel plated or steel, and they are not cheap.
I do understand the niche that BBs hold when you use them as I have, that is what you will find if you come knocking at my door in the dead of night. I would hate to have a handgun against someone with a 12-Gauge and a heavy load of BBs. I'd rather face an opponent using buckshot; you are doomed with BBs. Anyway, the slugs for hunting have held up the BB loads, but once the Slugger is set up, I will start working with the Load-All on the BB loads. I have about 80% of the hulls from that original case. I've always tried to recover them as I've been in pastures with cattle.
If the Oasis Shot Maker could drip BBs, I would have already bought it.
Dang it, Slugger didn't show up today. Its coming UPS/USPS and at least our small town still has Saturday mail and employees that care.
Field Grade Remington Lead BB shot is still avaiable in 25 lb. bags.
https://www.precisionreloading.com/c...!l=RM&i=S23870
The old Remington 2.75" Express loads held roughly 62 pellets in a 1.25 ounce payload. The nominal .18" pellets weighing approximately 8.8 grains each.
Edit: "Remington field grade shot contains 2% antimony."
This antimony level is not sufficiently high to harden shot or buckshot with heat treating.
I found a "vintage" C&H Loadmaster shotshell press. While it doesn't have the roll crimp feature it has interesting dies. There is both 12 and 20ga crimp stations and no pre-crimp is required. I loaded up 30+ 20ga. Lyman sabot slugs this morning and all the crimps set very nice. Great slug press for $35. Gp
My gawd they really aren't giving that BB shot away are they? $77 a bag of 25 lbs =.24 per round at 1 1/4 oz each .21 ea at 1 1/8 oz.
With powder, a wad and a primer you are around .30-.33 per round which isn't too bad for a load like this.
On a slightly different note: I did my first Roll Crimp tonight. I just used the BPI single tooth roller and it did OK. It was a once shot Fiocchi Hull that had a star crimp and I trimmed it down about half way down the previous crimp and then went after it with my cordless drill trying different speeds until I got something that looked like it might be close.
The BPI Crimper I have only has one roll pin put in at an angle across the slot. I thought it had a roller that actually turned? No it has a roll pin that is pressed in.
I have to say I can do better.
Seems like 3-4 or 6 pins would do a better job, and also actually deburring the drilled hole before they stuck the roll pin in might make them work better.
I did like that the tool tapers the front edge of the hull so it will feed better. My DL 366 does this also, but it doesn't do a Roll Crimp and the STI Sabot Slugs need a Roll Crimp.
Will the Slugger Roll Crimp previously star crimped hulls?
+6666666666+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +
This is what happens when cats type.
Randy
Randy: Be on the look out for a Lyman roll crimp tool. They have six pins. I have both the one and two pin BPI roll crimp tools, and my Lyman tool works best. Gp
That's what I figured.
I look on ebay
Randy
Remington BB Field shot is listed as a 2% antimony shot.
Ballistic Products Buckshot line includes BB size with a higher antimony content - variously listed in the past at 3% to 4% antimony content.
https://www.ballisticproducts.com/Su...uctinfo/SBK2B/
Precision Reloading also offers lead BB with electroplated nickel over field grade shot.
https://www.precisionreloading.com/c...p#!l=SH&i=NPBB
They are not giving those away either!
As far as factory Lead or plated lead BB loads,
Hornady Heavy Magnum Coyote and Winchester Varmit X are about the only game in town.
It is supposed to, and I've seen it completing that work in videos. I'm going to add the Creative Reloading Solutions 600 Ultimate KnockOUT. I'm just waiting on the press to see which one I need. Speaking of that, I just received a notice from MidwayUSA that the Slugger is at my Post Office waiting for pickup!
https://www.ranchdogoutdoors.com/Rel..._knock_out.jpg
The 600UKO is inside the sizer and the primer punch is threaded into the end of the tool.
I have an ollllllddd MEC Supersizer that was given to me by someone off The High Road site. He was throwing it out so I paid shipping to get it in. It loads bird, buck and slug really well with a standard crimp. I like it a lot. I do have the BPI roll crimpers too. I am just now getting them going with the .410. It seems to work ok. Also have a Load All 2 in 20ga. What a cool machine! Had I known how good these things worked I would have bought one decades ago. I am almost tempted to retire my second hand MEC and buy a Load All 2 in 12ga.
I watched the Slugger video and it looked impressive, but I get good results how I do it now. I also was curious why there is about an inch of dead space in the shell?....
Because the guy didn't have a CRS Handy Trimmer to trim the excessive length off before he ran it through the press.
What I don't like about the BPI crimper, besides just a sloppy crimp, is that I did not have one reusable hull after the shot. The mouth of the hull is absolutely destroyed.
Got the Slugger late today, its on the bench, but I decided to call it a night.
My only beef with roll crimping .410s is the cases are scorched and torched (ruined) after shooting them with H110.
I have to agree, even looking at the Slugger, I think the Load-All II is an awesome press. Since looking at the MEC Slugger...
https://leeprecision.com/images/P/Lo...versionKit.jpg
... it would be very easy for Lee Precision to introduce a roll crimp similar to the method the Slugger uses. The three crimping stations on the existing design, two-star crimp starters, and the fold (on the left side of Lee's image), become the three steps used for the "rolling fold." There is absolutely nothing magical about the MEC Slugger dies and I suspect they are molded from the same material the Lee is using. That might be wrong as Lee's are a lot slicker and the MEC a bit rough.
How awesome would that be? The MSRP is $26, you could have both and switch back and forth as need.
My Slugger loading is on hold. I could never get past the first crimping die without crushing the hull. If the hull avoided the crush, the mouth of the hull would start to fold but slide past the punch, getting caught behind it. All the die adjustments were loose as well as the cam, so I really didn't know where to start to resolve this as "base" set up instructions are not available. I used a factory 2¾" sabot slug to adjust the second and third crimp stations, but could not resolve the issue with the first stage of crimping.
I was not able to call MEC until yesterday morning. They don't mess around, they want my press back, and a new one is already the way. The replacement will not be here until next Monday. I have hogs that need killing, but I'm going to let them be as I want to use the STI saboted Hammerheads as loaded on this press.
This is my first experience with MEC, I'm impressed!
MEC customer service has always been great to help resolve any issues I've had. They have even prompted me to do other checks to confirm the loaders reliability. GREAT folks.
Come on Mike, those hogs won't know the difference which machine loaded the slugs. Load-all, Load-all go go go.
Randy.
True enough, they are active but the next two nights won't work as we are supposed to have winds up to 50 mph. That's going to tear something up so I will probably be on the tractor with grappling claws moving downed trees off roads for a day or two. It might also affect the hogs patterns for a little bit.
In your roll crimp topic, you mentioned that you would get a good look at the Slugger during the shot show. I thought that I would take a picture of the first two dies so that you could see just how easy it works.
https://www.ranchdogoutdoors.com/Rel...mp_forming.jpg
It is crazy how simple it is. There are three crimp stations; I believe the first crimp station is simply the final crimp station of the standard star crimping 600. I say 'I believe" as I don't own one. The die body starts the roll, and a floating punch lays the fold horizontal. The second crimp die rolls the crimp over. The fold is caught between the die body and the "cup." It appears that the shape of the inside of the top of the die allows the hull to continue to roll until the leading edge of the roll meets the slug or sabot. There is room, there is plenty of "float" or die adjustment to accommodate any need. The final crimp die, not shown is simply tightens the fold with a slight inward roll, a crimp actually, to facilitate hull feeder. The MEC design is ingenious!
My problem was with the first crimp die. I'm not sure what's wrong, but in thinking about it since the conversation, I think there might be a 20 Gauge punch in my 12 Gauge die. That is a guess on my part but I as I have no experience. All I know is that MEC didn't feel I should have to deal with it and handled it.
I have 410 hulls sacked up all over the place. Based on this specific experience, there will be another 600 sitting on the bench as soon as the budget allows.
Check this out, Randy.
https://www.ranchdogoutdoors.com/Rel...workaround.jpg
Typing that previous reply caused me to think about using the Lee Load-All II to start the crimp so that the second and third MEC crimp dies could do their work. It wasn't perfect, the innards of the MEC first crimp die does it without scoring the hull for the folds, but the MEC did its thing from there!
As a note, I did not trim the hull down any, just started with a fresh 2¾" hull. It could be trimmed down about .1" with that fancy Handy Trimmer I just bought, and it would have rolled it on down! I will probably pull the trigger on this one, just to see how the fold looks after the shot.