12 Gauge Shotgun Shell Reloading - Lee Load All

[cfullgraf]

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!

Glad you found a deal.

The universal charge bar will help you dial in any specific load and shot charge. It is a love/hate relationship for me. I use one exclusively on my .410 MEC 600 jr because I could not fine a powder bushing that would work.

I preferred the operation of the MEC bar and for 12, 20 and 28 gauges I could fine powder bushings that worked for the load I wanted to load. I do have a Universal charge bar that I could install in any press if I need a specific load that I cannot make with the MEC bars.

But the Universal charge bars do their job well.

I empty the powder bottle at the end of each loading session so that I do not forget what powder is in the bottle.

I do have spare bottles and have kept different size shot in them on occasions. Not that big a deal to empty out the shot bottle to change shot. MEC has large bottles. Handy for 12 ga with 1-1/8 oz loads. Not so frequent refills.

All of the bottles have a bottom plug in them for filling the bottle while it is on the machine, Just make sure the plug is in place before tipping the bottles over for removal. You will only do that once.

There is a powder baffle available that goes between the bottle and the press. I loaded for years without one but recently got one. It is supposed to improve the consistency of the powder charge.

I had an automatic primer feed on the press that I loaded the most shells on. It worked but I have found I can hand feed the primer about as quickly without any stoppages. You have to watch the primer system to make sure it feeds a primer. As my primer feed aged, it worked less reliably. I place the full primer tray upside down on the bench, remove the packaging leaving a nice array of primers to pick up and place in the press.

You are not loading .410 bore, but the primer feed is not available for that shot shell loader. The primer seater plug is too small for the primer to slide through.

MEC makes a shell holder that allows you to build a box of shotshells while loading. When 25 shells are in place, you then slip a box over the top and you have a box of shells. Very handy and they are gauge specific. I forget the "official" name off hand.

I do not load as many shot shells these days as when I was shooting skeet competitively so there may be some new accessories on the market.

Hope this helps.

 

[Uniquedot]

Is their any accessories i need to get ordered like universal charging bar or extra bottles? Anyone know a good sourch for the accessories?

The best source for mec accessories is to look for them used since they are cheaper that way and it would be rarer than hens teeth to find any thing worn out. In addition to the universal charge bar you will want the powder baffle. If you buy the charge bar new it will come with a baffle which is a zinc alloy metal and that's the one i use, but some claim the plastic one from downrange manufacturing is better other than the fact that they will break and need replacing from time to time.

It's a good idea to keep extra washers and grommets on hand in case you lose one when changing bottles. The mec EZ stack as mentioned is a great accessory for single stage presses. You will definitely need to keep extra wad guides or fingers (depending on which model you have) on hand.

There is an ez fill funnel available for helping to fill the bottles while on the machine and mec has a shotshell checker that some people find useful. If you use the large shot bottle and intend to keep it full you will probably want the bottle support, but it's not cheap. If you decide to get a primer feed (assuming the press didn't come with one) i have found that it speeds my loading greatly on a single stage. My sizemaster is a very early model and to date my primer feed has never failed to feed a primer...not even once.

You may also find the wooden handle (intended for progressives) to make loading easier and faster since it adds leverage. I'm sure there are other accessories you might find useful, but i can't think of anything else that hasn't been mentioned at the moment.

 

[303tom]

Lee is all I use, period.....................

 

[blarby]

The best source for mec accessories is to look for them used since they are cheaper that way and it would be rarer than hens teeth to find any thing worn out. In addition to the universal charge bar you will want the powder baffle. If you buy the charge bar new it will come with a baffle which is a zinc alloy metal and that's the one i use, but some claim the plastic one from downrange manufacturing is better other than the fact that they will break and need replacing from time to time.

It's a good idea to keep extra washers and grommets on hand in case you lose one when changing bottles. The mec EZ stack as mentioned is a great accessory for single stage presses. You will definitely need to keep extra wad guides or fingers (depending on which model you have) on hand.

There is an ez fill funnel available for helping to fill the bottles while on the machine and mec has a shotshell checker that some people find useful. If you use the large shot bottle and intend to keep it full you will probably want the bottle support, but it's not cheap. If you decide to get a primer feed (assuming the press didn't come with one) i have found that it speeds my loading greatly on a single stage. My sizemaster is a very early model and to date my primer feed has never failed to feed a primer...not even once.

You may also find the wooden handle (intended for progressives) to make loading easier and faster since it adds leverage. I'm sure there are other accessories you might find useful, but i can't think of anything else that hasn't been mentioned at the moment.

Wow.