Given a mec 650 press

troy fairweather

troy fairweather

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Joined
Mar 21, 2018
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Up State New York
My dad today gave me a old mec 650 press he got from a friend, set up for 12ga and I think most everything is there. I still have to look it over to see if it's missing or anything broken. For the small amount of loading I do a 600 Jr maybe better I believe the 650 is a progressive press? I think there's one charge bar in it I'm sure there still some parts available for these. Anyone here run one, any tips using the 650 would be helpful.
 
Watch that the charge bar moves the full distance of travel, when cycling. A short cycle may not drop a full powder charge. Squibs.

If using a copper washer for fine ball powder, it can move , blocking the full powder drop.

The final crimp tells you if loaded correctly. A shell that is concave is missing something.

I load with the 600jr in 4 gauges. My shooting buddy had the 650. He had so many squibs, i would not shoot on his squad, anymore.
 
Armored farmer said:
Yep
I have one.
If it's got some age on it, check your shot and powder bottles for flexibility. The can get hard and Crack.
Other than that and the obvious settings like wad pressure and charge bar....start stomping out some bee-you ti ful shotshells.
Click to expand...
Ya bottles are good, there's some linkage In a box with aluminum tubes, I think it's set up like a single stage now.
 
Ok I put that linkage on its for the powder/shot bar and that seems to be working, I don't know what the 2 aluminum struts are for looking at the manual online for the 650 I don't see them so they may be for something else. The one little clamp thing in the box looks to be for holding the primer feeder which unfortunately I don't have. I'm out of primers but have everything else to load, I haven't looked yet what powder and shot bushings are in it but looks like 1oz is scratched on the side.

What's the difference from the 650 and 650N I'm guessing n is for narrow since it looks like the bar front to back and not side by side. This is my first mec so lots to learn, when I am ready to load I'll probably have to go through and adjust everything. It appears to size the hull on the last station unlike the Lee I'm used to.
 
I have an old one too. Crimping dies are the old metal ones but the thing works well once you become familiar with the cycle. I put one of the adjustable charge bars on mine, but I'd likely have been ok with the stock bars as it came. Mec is supportive in my experience and most parts are available. In reality one can run one of these progressives as a single loader and I've done so when trying out various combo's ....... My advice is to strip it down, clean it up and go from there..............get a diagram from Mec.
 
Ok looks like the bar is a 502/100 which I believe means it's the progressive bar a d 1oz lead shot, it has a #29 bushing. I have Remington hull and 1 1/8oz and 1 1/4oz wads. Only powder I have is unique so will maybe see about a bar for 1 1/4 shot load since I really just load hunting loads and see what bushing I need.
 
One thing to consider. It does not size the base. If you are shooting out of different guns you may have to size on another MEC pres or get a Supersizer.
I found that shells fired from my Browning Superposed would not chamber in my 870TB. I found a Supersizer, A sized only, and problem solved.
 
Yes on the sizer.......mine came with a 'ring' sizer set up in one of the die stations.............junk, only served to bind the press up. Bought the SS from Mid=South I believe....on sale and I have never had a problem with fat based picked up range shells since. Far a loads go, stick with the formulas published.........& get a copy of Ballistic Products catalog (freebe).
 
I was given a Mec 9000 not long age. With a little research I see Mec has manuals, parts list and a service option. I might be looking at the service option because this thing has been sitting in a basement for a long time. Check out their web site for some info also.
 
PapaG said:
One thing to consider. It does not size the base. If you are shooting out of different guns you may have to size on another MEC pres or get a Supersizer.
I found that shells fired from my Browning Superposed would not chamber in my 870TB. I found a Supersizer, A sized only, and problem solved.
Click to expand...
Ya I know now it doesn't size, I'll keep a eye out for a supersizer for now I can use the sizer on my lee.
 
Barnfixer said:
I was given a Mec 9000 not long age. With a little research I see Mec has manuals, parts list and a service option. I might be looking at the service option because this thing has been sitting in a basement for a long time. Check out their web site for some info also.
Click to expand...
Ya I was wondering what they would charge to service it.
 
PapaG said:
Used to be half the price of a new one for a rebuild. Considering doing my 1980 heavily used Grabber.
Click to expand...
Ok so would be a few hundred bucks, not sure what the 650 equivalent machine is since they don't make them now. For that much probably better to buy a 600jr since I don't shoot much shotgun. Plus I would like to try out making mini shells some day and think they have a kit for the 600. I may just see about setting this 650 up like a single stage.
 
love my 650, I use a 600 jr to size and deprime, then move on to the 650, sometimes it does not seat primers deep enough so I use the 600jr to finish seating them. Mine are for 16 ga
 
I think everyone is given an MEC sooner or later. I have a 600jr that works but is pretty slow. The Grabber isn't too bad. No 366 but they work great in a mix of auto loaders.
 
I sold my reloading press 25 years ago. Now with my grandson shooting trap and the price of shells I am thinking of getting restarted. But some say it isn't cost effective. Is it worth it?
 
d2wing said:
I sold my reloading press 25 years ago. Now with my grandson shooting trap and the price of shells I am thinking of getting restarted. But some say it isn't cost effective. Is it worth it?
Click to expand...
I was told the same thing when I started shotshell reloading 4-5 months ago…
I’m glad I didn’t heed those statements, as I can load target rounds cheaper than buying them……….AND…… it’s fun as heck….!!!
 
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