aerod1
Member
I love Lee products but not that Lee product!! I agree with the others......get the MEC 600 Jr.
12 Gauge Shotgun Shell Reloading - Lee Load All
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splattergun
Member
I own and use a LL2. It meets my low volume needs just fine. I still have sharptail grouse, ducks and goose in the freezer killed with Lee-built shells. I have never used a MEC, maybe I will some day. If the experts recommend a MEC for higher volume duty, then by all means, consider the choice. But you should know, Lee uses nylon, aluminum alloy and steel. Take the "pot metal" diatribes with a grain of salt.
blarby
Member
Correct, the press can not be adjusted- but my hand can.
not having a setting that only accepts one specific type of shells, but knowing the pressure of each, I am granted an option you are not....unless you like resetting your press with each shell type.
I can use any hull, at any time.
All of my recipes are based on rem hulls...and we all know they all differ, and have different crimp points, especially with different loads....but no settings here... i dont need any fiddling. Just learned pressure.
One less knob ? I'll take that. Again, engineering is great, but you cant fix....ignorance.
I've taken the time to learn my stock of hulls' likes and dislikes, and that tuition has paid off in the ability to use any of them at any time- interchangeably even- to great and speedy effect.
That setting on your mec ? Not a bonus...its a handicap...if you know what you are doing.
I have both and use them both and they both produce good ammo. There's nothing wrong with the LEE ad it does produce shells just as good and just as fast.
There is a 4 H club using load alls by me and they've never wore them out yet, from what they've told me. That alone says something.
There is a 4 H club using load alls by me and they've never wore them out yet, from what they've told me. That alone says something.
Certaindeaf
member
Well, this thread was valuable to me. I've wanted one of those old Lee 12ga classic loaders (the hammer time kind) for the fun of it and kinda still do. If I get into shotgun reloading, I'll for sure get the Lee load all since all I'll do is buck and slug.
I am really leaning towards a lee now again, the MEC sound ok but for the amount of shells I will load I think the Lee Load All we cover my needs just fine. Many have said they used a load all when I asked and said the MEC is "BETTER", but for what I plan to do is it? Also no one says why the MEC is so much better it warrants the price besides saying the Lee has plastic in it. I have used Lee products to reload numerous pistol and rifle rounds and people always say get a rock chucker or lock and load, but the truth is Lee makes great reloading equipment at great prices. And while ever once in a while a piece is made of plastic and it should not be, but if you can not fix that yourself you may not have the capacity for ths type of activity. No one has tod for the 50 dollars I will spend for the Lee it will not do what I have Specified. People need to take a step back from the product they own when the make recommendations and try and match the needs of the individual as opposed to what they think is best. Do not get me wrong I appreciate the input, but justify what you say with experience, I do not want to pay more for a MEC, when the load all will do everything I need at half the price - it just does nt make sense.
rbernie
Contributing Member
No kidding.
I was/am a fan of Lee metallic reloading kit, so when I decided to get into shotshell reloading I naturally bought a Lee. Looked at it, cycled it, and concluded that it was not what I was hoping to get. I found a MEC Jr. in the used reloading kit section at a local gun store, bought it for $50, and proceeded to load tens of thousands of shells on it. I never fail to see three or four used MEC Jr. loaders at the local gun shows and they usually sell for less than $75.
The MEC will last a lifetime, has accessories (like the universal charge bar and oversized drop bottles) that are truly useful, and can be adjusted to any type of load that I want. I can see no reason to deliberately start with less capability when the costs for the competing solutions can be be made almost equal with some judicious shopping.
huntsman
Member
That’s the whole key you have to know what your needs are. I think the Mec line is well worth the money and would give you years of service.
When I bought my first LLA it was because 16 gauge shotshells were scarce here and I was using 16 gauge doubles for bird hunting, I bought the 12 gauge LLA as y2k insurance.
I’ve never had mechanical issues with either but there are some design issues, the best way I’ve found to use the LLA is with one established load, if you want to do multi-loads and will be switching powders and shot a lot get the mec.
What I do with the LLA is set it up with one brand of powder one load size for powder and shot and just keep refilling the hoppers and I load a heavy field load and buckshot so I believe it’s worth the hassle but if my load was a target load I probably wouldn’t mess with it reloading at all.
The other need my LLA fits is as insurance, my SHTF guns are 12 gauge so an inexpensive press and components are a cheap prep. I don’t feel like I’m wasting money with the Lee sitting idle and any time I feel the need to make ammo I’m just pulling the handle and it always works.
blarby
Member
But never a used Load-all.
Hmm........
oneounceload
member
Because the LLAs get thrown in the trash, while the MECs are good for another family to use for three generations until they too, upgrade to something else......
I'm a fan of both presses and can tell you why it's so much better. The mec has an iron base with all other parts being heavy steel. The mec has an adjustable wad rammer with gauge that tells you how much wad pressure is being applied and there is no feel involved.
The final crimp stage is adjustable so that you can turn an imperfect load into a very workable load. The sizemaster comes with an automatic primer feed that truly is an automatic primer feed and it's available as an option for the little jr. You can also use the same shot bottles on the jr. that the sizemaster comes with and it will hold 25 lbs of shot so there is less time wasted filling hoppers.
The sizemaster has the best type of base sizer available and although the jr. uses a ring like the Lee it's attached to the deprime die and the press uses an ejector to eject the shell from the die so either one is faster than the Lee since you have to place and remove the size ring with the Lee by hand.
You can get a universal charge bar for the mec that will cover any powder and shot charge you desire regardless of the alloy in the shot. This is the number one reason i prefer the old sizemaster to the PW 375 and the also the collet sizer. An older mec with steel dies and brass crimp starters with steel wad guide (uses replaceable metal or plastic fingers) is a tank that can't be worn out. The only thing on these older mecs that will wear out is the cam rollers and the collet fingers can be broken if not kept well lubricated. With the Lee you can easily modify any bushings though and get many good loads if the bushings don't give what you're looking for.
Some people find the rotating crimp starters to be a big plus on the mec since a shell can be placed under them without having to worry about which way the folds are facing, but i don't find the non rotating starters to be of a nuisance since when you remove the shell from the wad guide station you just look at it and make sure when you set it under the starter that one of the inward folds of the crimp is facing toward you. It's just as fast as placing the shell under the mec starter.
The Lee load all is a good little press that loads fine ammunition, but it cant make an imperfect load into a very good workable load like the mec can. The load all is a better press for loading slugs than the mec because the slugs can be placed in the wad and then run through the wad guide and the this is not so with the mec as it's a tight fit and the metal rammer will damage the slug. The Lee is a better press for loading new hulls because they come off the press looking like the prettier factory loads, but as with reloads the internal height of the load needs to be ideal for those results. When loading fired hulls with the correct components and height the load all produces loads just as good as the mec and they will look exactly like they did when they were new.
I have experience with both types of presses (sizemaster, jr. LLA) and used both types for many years and there is absolutely nothing wrong with the Lee if it's used correctly.
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Certaindeaf
member
That seems to contradict what others have said in this thread.
As I said before, both of mine are in my county landfill somewhere... if you want to go digging, you are welcome to them.
The problems that people have with the Lee that frustrates them and drives them to trash the press are #1 they bought it when they actually needed a progressive press or #2 they do not understand how to build an ideal load like the factories do. If you take the time to learn how to put together the ideal load for the hull's you are using you shouldn't have any problems with the Lee, but it will mean not being able to use some published loads which are far from ideal.
Certaindeaf
member
^
I understand. If and when I get into it, it'll be to just make a few rounds that go bang, ideally.
I understand. If and when I get into it, it'll be to just make a few rounds that go bang, ideally.
Uniqedot - thank you so much for your reply, that is exactly the type of nformation I needed! This does make the MEC the best overall choice, but I could get a load all to get started and than upgrade to the MEC - I am currently on disability so the initial cost of the MEC is what as been putting me off, I know ppl keep claiming to be able to get them for 25 but on the east coast in Delaware it is going to be 100 no matter how long I shop. Now I know why the MEC is a supperiour machine, but I also am convinced the Lee will be able o meet my initial needs. To everyone who recommended the MEC thank you for the input, just because I am not following your advice does not mean I do nt respect yor opinion. For getting my feet wet in shotgun loading I think the Lee Load All can get me started - if anyone has a MEC they can let go for under 75 than that is a different story!
There is one listed here for $75 http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=664616 but it doesn't include shipping. The last .JR i had i sold to a guy for $40 (and i gave him a universal charge bar with it!) and it was the version with all steel dies so you can find deals on them if you look around long enough. Some times you can even find sizemasters for around $75 and in my opinion they are far better than the jr, but they are considerably larger and heavier.
Something i left out about the mec that might be useful information in your decision is that you can also store different types/sizes of shot and different powders in extra bottles and have them ready to go at any time without having to empty hoppers. You just flip them over and unscrew them from the press to change them out.
blarby
Member
Ahh yes, the mec shot bottle.
More pricey accessories they give you the privilege of buying.
My new shot comes in durable cloth bags.
My reclaimed shot comes in milk jugs.
Both free.
My buckshot and slugs I keep in Yoghurt containers. they'd do no good in a shot bottle anyways, as you cant use them together.
Loadall is a great choice overall, but if you start loading 1k shells amonth, and its too slow....go progressive.
More pricey accessories they give you the privilege of buying.
My new shot comes in durable cloth bags.
My reclaimed shot comes in milk jugs.
Both free.
My buckshot and slugs I keep in Yoghurt containers. they'd do no good in a shot bottle anyways, as you cant use them together.
Loadall is a great choice overall, but if you start loading 1k shells amonth, and its too slow....go progressive.
oneounceload
member
blarby - nice to see such an ardent Lee kool-aid drinker
give it up - that device isn't close to the quality of a MEC and never will be - for buckshot or birdshot, the MEC Jr-used- is still a better deal from quality, quantity and eventual resale value................
give it up - that device isn't close to the quality of a MEC and never will be - for buckshot or birdshot, the MEC Jr-used- is still a better deal from quality, quantity and eventual resale value................
blarby
Member
Koll aid eh ?
Nah.just a big fan of things that work well, and happen to come on the cheap.
Don't matter the color of the paint, nor the brand.
Nah.just a big fan of things that work well, and happen to come on the cheap.
Don't matter the color of the paint, nor the brand.
NCsmitty
Member
I have used both the Mec and the Lee loadall II, and there is no doubt that the Mec loaders are superior in most ways. I have used my Mec MarkV JR in 410 for 10 years, and aside from replacing the wad fingers and crimp starter plastic pcs, it still works and looks like new. A bit trying when converting to 3" shells and back, but it produces great shells when adjusted correctly.
Having said that, I have a Lee Loadall 2 in 20ga that I bought dirt cheap on ebay a few years ago, and although I use very few 20ga shells, when I need to load a couple boxes, it will produce near perfect shells every time. I use Remington hulls and Winchester wads to make 1oz loads that work very well. For a limited use option, I have found that they will do the job, albeit slow. I even have the "automatic" primer station that needs encouragement occasionally.
You pay your money and you make your choice.
NCsmitty
Having said that, I have a Lee Loadall 2 in 20ga that I bought dirt cheap on ebay a few years ago, and although I use very few 20ga shells, when I need to load a couple boxes, it will produce near perfect shells every time. I use Remington hulls and Winchester wads to make 1oz loads that work very well. For a limited use option, I have found that they will do the job, albeit slow. I even have the "automatic" primer station that needs encouragement occasionally.
You pay your money and you make your choice.
NCsmitty
I've loaded about 900-1000 rounds of slugs and buckshot with my LLA in the last year , so far so good. For the $35 i paid for it, I'd say it is worth it....but if you are planning on loading 300 rounds a week of birdshot, I can see why people would complain about it. The sizing/priming process is the weak link it feels. It throws a consistent powder charge and the crimp does well for me, I've learned you have to get the point of the crimp at the "5 and 7 o'clock" position, not the point at 6 o'clock, to get a nice pretty crimp.
Good news all i was able to get a used 12 ga mec for 60 shipped! That was totally doable for me. Tganks again for the input everyone!
Is their any accessories i need to get ordered like universal charging bar or extra bottles? Anyone know a good sourch for the accessories?
Thanks!
Is their any accessories i need to get ordered like universal charging bar or extra bottles? Anyone know a good sourch for the accessories?
Thanks!
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