Mec 77 Sizemaster - New to reloading

[drw91563]

I am new to reloading. I have the opportunity to purchase the Mec 77 Sizemaster with dies sets for 12, 16, and 20 gauge along with several powder and shot bars for $125. Is this worth the purchase.

Is it hard to switch from one gauge to the other on this press.

I know it is a single stage press, could I do a batch of shells by doing all the primers, then do all the powder, then do all the wads .... or is it better to take one shell through the entire process?

I remember helping my brother years ago, but he had a progressive press. I was a teenager then and had fun loading his ammo for him.

I am planning to start reloading handgun later this year. Still trying to decide what to get. We are going to do .38 and 9mm. I shoot with my son and daughter and we lucky enough to have a neighbor with a hundred acres not far away that we can use whenever we want.

I appreciate any insight and advice.

Thanks

 

[243winxb]

Is it hard to switch from one gauge to the other on this press.

Not worth the trouble. Change over & adjustment is long and time consumming. Ok Price.

I know it is a single stage press, could I do a batch of shells by doing all the primers, then do all the powder, then do all the wads .... or is it better to take one shell through the entire process?

Better to take one shell through the entire process.

 

[rg1]

Good price with all the gauge sets. Takes me about 10-15 minutes to change from 12 to 20 ga. I do recommend a Shell Checker from Mec to set the collet sizer. The Shell Checker has holes for go and no go to check the brass-steel base for the proper amount of sizing. A good press unless you shoot a LOT of skeet or sporting clays then you may prefer an automatic press. The Sizemaster adjust from 2 3/4 to 3" shells also.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/81...esses+&+Equipment-_-PriceCompListing-_-814402
You can easily do all one step at a time if you want. You need a good powder scale to check your powder drop charges. Lyman's 5th Edition Shotshell Reloading manual is a good buy. Use exactly the components listed in the manuals and don't substitute any part of the load recommendation. Have you checked the prices of components especially lead shot lately? It's at the point that Value Packs of shotshells from various stores are cheaper than you can reload your own?

 

[oneounceload]

With shotshell reloading, you load an entire shell at one time, similar to using a metallic turret press in the process. For single stage, I use the MEC jr., but I can still load 4-6 boxes per hour with little difficulty or working up a sweat. Certain things make shots hell much different than metallic, powder drops with bushings being one, with following recipes and components being the other major one

 

[TonyT]

Personally, changing over to difrent gauges would be a pain. I use a single stage press in .410 bore and one processes each case through the entire sequence.

 

[drw91563]

Thanks,

I think I might just skip doing this and just go for reloading handgun later this summer. Seems like this would be more work then it is worth after pricing some shells today at the store.

 

[Uniquedot]

The collets alone are darn near worth the asking price. I would buy it and leave it set up in one gauge (the one i shot the most) and sell the other die sets.