Help ID reloading press

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JeanoBambino

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Hey guys, yesterday I was able to inherit these two presses from my grandfather. He's not around anymore and I don't have anyone to get information about them from. Figured I would give this forum a shot.

Are they worth anything? Would it be worth it to try and get these up and running? Am I missing any parts from what the pictures show? Basically any information is greatly appreciated

http://imgur.com/a/ldJ55

Thanks in advance for any help!
 
Yea, both presses are MEC 600jr. One older than the other, because of different wad guides. Looks like 12ga. It appears some parts have been switched. Some parts are missing on both.
 
The above answered the what, now to get into the why...if you are considering getting the presses operational and using them then you have a good reputable press to use. Lots of shells have been loaded on those and lots of people love them. You would have to buy the parts that are missing. I am assuming you have the powder, shot, wads, and primers from an operational bench but that may not be the case, so you may have to buy those. You definately need instructions which are found easily enough online now that you know what you have. Once you run out of "stuff" you start seeing climbing costs. You can get hulls for free if you ask around, but everything else costs. My experience was that you can buy 100 rd boxes of cheapo shells cheaper than or the same cost as loading your own. Bigger money shells for specific purposes you can save money on, especially if you load in volumes big enough to buy in bulk. So you make the call on whether it's worth it or not, but here's my catch for your situation...sentimental value. It was grandpas reloading press, and you may or may not get enjoyment out of that simple fact. If you do then by all means learn it and use it, think of him and enjoy old memories. If you don't get enjoyment from that fact then do as you please.

I hope that you get the enjoyment from the press and learn to use it, remember stories of grandpa and continue loading until you pass those presses on to your grandkids. If not I hope you find someone who will use them and enjoy them, preferably someone who knew the man. Either way I am sorry for your loss. You have a lot of folks on here who can get you pointed in the right direction if you choose to learn it and use it.
 
My experience was that you can buy 100 rd boxes of cheapo shells cheaper than or the same cost as loading your own.
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Not even close. The cheapest wally world crap is 6.50 plus tax - basically $7/box. I just bought 16# of powder yesterday and with using new magnum shot, my reloads are $3.65/box, or basically HALF. 20 and 28 save even more.
 
That powder is now mine! Excited about that. I also got four pounds of HS-7.

WestKentucky, thanks for the great response. I had gotten into reloading a few months prior with a Rock Chucker. Just learning and loading 9mm for the time being. I do plan on getting these up and operational. I just wasn't sure if it was worth it as I had done zero research into shotshell reloading. Since you guys told me the model of the press I've been doing some research and I'm even more excited with what I got. They probably haven't been used in twenty or so years so they do need some TLC but it will be worth it. I'll be thinking of my grandpa while reloading and shooting mallards with his old Wingmaster. Again thanks for the response I really appreciate it.

Edit: is one a mark V and the other not?
 
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If those bottles are that old, you may need new ones as they tend to get brittle over time. It also looks to be the older model with the metal wad guide. Cleaned up, it should turn out some excellent ammo.
 
The first press is MEC 600 Jr. made between 1982 and 1985 ...

The second 600 Jr is a pre 1982 model .... I have one just like it in 20 gauge... great press!
 
I have 2 Mec 600 Jr. The oldest one (1960's) does not have the lockout for the powder/shot bar as the 1984? one des. One has a plastic drop funnel/tube one is metal. Your missing one on one of the presses. As for as bottles go mine are still in good condition even though they are 50+ yrs old. The shot/powder bar has been upgraded to the adj one. Both of mine still uses the std bar and bushings. Good presses and last for ever with just little care. As for as reloading cost. If you just loading light trap loads you can almost buy new for the cost depending on your sources. But if you load heavy field loads you save a bunch to retail pricing. Now if your loading for 410 or 28 ga the saving is there.
 
If those bottles are that old, you may need new ones as they tend to get brittle over time.
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Stored properly cracking shouldn't be a problem but being HS-7 does date it somewhat as it was discontinued in 2006 so even if it was from the last batch its 10 years old.

That's a good find HS-7 is the only powder that Ihave ever "horded".
 
Those are indeed Mec 600 Jr's, and they look like they've loaded a good deal of shells too. They might need a little cleaning up, but other than that they look like they're operational and pretty much ready to go. If you can find the powder bushings laying around, and an applicable shot bar, I see some have a shot bar, your ready to go, other than some components necessary, wads, hulls, primers, and powder. AA, STS hulls are great hulls if if you can find some of those in his misc, inventory.

Back when I bought mine, I think it was like $99, now days they're closer to $200 -ish I think.

They are extremely simplistic to work with, lots of fun too. My wife and kids used to spend a lot of time loading on them, great little shot shell press. I still have a pretty good inventory of "Blue Magic" hulls, those were some great hulls and less expensive than 'AA" which are still the top dog for hulls I believe.

GS
 
oneounceload said:
Depends - if, when it was being used, if it was stored with powder in it, the chemicals will make the bottles dark like they look and will weaken the plastic.
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I have 2 of these MEC's, 1 in 12ga, 1 in 20ga, when I bought them used I only got 2 bottles with them, but the bottles were older ones and made of a much thicker softer type plastic than the newer ones are, those old bottles are still going strong even though they get left with powder in them all the time, however the new bottles I have bought have had to be replaced about every 5 years,they are a thinner harder plastic that gets brittle and cracks.

1 and 2 litter pop bottles will fit on there also, works OK if you use thicker bottles and stick to a 1 litter bottle for the lead side or the bottles collapse when you try to tilt the top up.


Michael Grace
 
Or you can buy a couple new bottles, they aren't expensive.

Mine are pretty dark also, but I can still see the shot and powder, no biggie really.

That's pretty cool though that a soda bottle will work also, didn't know that.

GS
 
I have a 600jr and a 9000g that I inherited from my dad. The 650jr is really handy to have around. I would never have thought to try soda bottles of any kind. The bottle necks on mine show some stress on the 9000g set. I am really careful and support them when I tip them over (not often, for changing bar or bushing).

I was dissapointed to see what they want for Mec bottles at the local stores. I would think cheaper online.
 
There is now a bottle support to help prevent the bottle necks from breaking when tipping back to unload. I added that and it makes quite a difference, especially with the shot bottle.
 
One of them has the Universal Charge Bar installed. This removes the need to have all the individual bushings inventoried, and keeps you from having to switch them out whenever you change loads. it also allows you to dial in a powder charge more accurately than you can with the bushings.

I'd look at the MEC sight and see if you can download manuals for all that stuff. They are great presses.
 
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