Krazy Kajun Posted November 4, 2011 Share Posted November 4, 2011 So I got this "new to me" MEC 9000 loader yesterday and thought how nice it will be to get it all set up and load 8 boxes of shotgun shells. I got it bolted down to a nice piece of board and clamped it on my reloading table. Took me longer than I'd care to admit to; to get it all set up and working smooth. But finally it was all adjusted and the MEC 9000 lived up to its legend, you can make a lot of rounds in a little bit of time. So after I loaded my 200 rounds for my 8 boxes of shells I was feeling really good about myself...got a good deal on the loader....got it set up and working well without having to look at the manual....engineers do that ya know! So I tipped over the charging bar that had the powder and shot bottle so I could empty the residual contents there into my powder can and shot jug. Ya know the TALL shot bottle, the one that holds a LOT of shot....it's got one of those red "stoppery thingys" in the top of it. Well, they are supposed to have the "stoppery thingys" in it before you tip it over.....I FORGOT TO PUT IN THE STOPPER AFTER LOADING THE SHOT. When I tipped the charging bar over I had #8 shot leaking out of the shot bottle running all over the reloading bench, the shelves and the floor. And them things roll a long time. It was then and there that I had a physics lesson in how not to herd up #8 shot. Ya know how when you try and vacuum stuff up that sucking sound would indicate that the BB's are headin' your way right on into the vacuum. Well, not this #8 shot....it must have been negatively charged lead. Oh some of it would go into the vacuum but other BBs would just wiz on by...guess I got them into "turbulent flow" instead of "laminar flow." Long and short of this is that I spend about 45 minutes with my shop vac trying to herd up a bunch of "BB cats." Man I had to pull my reloading bench away from the wall and vacuum from the top down. Pull stuff off the shelves, vacuum out plastic bins...just a real mess. Sooooo... learn from me. Use those red "stoppery thingys" on your shot and powder bottles when you load shot shells. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Takoda Ray Posted November 4, 2011 Share Posted November 4, 2011 You will never do that again.Don't ask me how I know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
San Fernando Slim, SASS #20521 Posted November 4, 2011 Share Posted November 4, 2011 One other thing you might try is to put some trim around the mounting board to keep any spilled shot contained in one area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Church Key, SASS # 33713 Posted November 4, 2011 Share Posted November 4, 2011 Two suggestions: (1) Press a finger aganst the red stoppery thing when tipping it back to prevent the weight of the shot from pushing it out (don't ask how I know this); (2) get a large cookie sheet and mount it between the press and board by drilling holes through it for the mounting bolts (ditto). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rex M Rugers #6621 Posted November 4, 2011 Share Posted November 4, 2011 Another helpful thing is to be sure there is enough distance between the place press is mounted and the wall or other limiting factor that you can tip the long bottles back. But sounds like you had that covered. Adventures with a MEC 9000 , continued , Rex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkey Creek Red, SASS # 22854 Posted November 4, 2011 Share Posted November 4, 2011 Ya know, you don't have to have a 9000 to have those kind of fun adventures, the Jr works just as well. You don't really need to ask do you??????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lickskillet charlie Posted November 4, 2011 Share Posted November 4, 2011 KK , Guess your wife was glad ya finally decided to do some house cleaning.HA HA .Been there done that before.See ya down the road,have a good weekend. LSC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griff Posted November 4, 2011 Share Posted November 4, 2011 And, don't just hold the "red stoppery thingy" with your finger, use your hand to support the weight of the lead shot in the long bottles... or after awhile you might find that the soldered connection for that screw-cap end will suffer from "fatigue!" Somewhat less messy than losin' the stopper! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dubious Don #56333 Posted November 4, 2011 Share Posted November 4, 2011 You will never do that again.Don't ask me how I know. Yeah you will. (don't ask me how I know that either) This 'trick' also works with presses that have a dump feature. Can you believe it runs out the bottom faster than it goes in the top? Shopvacs are your friend. The blade attachment seems to get the BB's better. I just heard that, don't know from personal experience..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capt Stephen D Hill, SASS #56151 Posted November 4, 2011 Share Posted November 4, 2011 So I got this "new to me" MEC 9000 loader yesterday and thought how nice it will be to get it all set up and load 8 boxes of shotgun shells. I got it bolted down to a nice piece of board and clamped it on my reloading table. Took me longer than I'd care to admit to; to get it all set up and working smooth. But finally it was all adjusted and the MEC 9000 lived up to its legend, you can make a lot of rounds in a little bit of time. So after I loaded my 200 rounds for my 8 boxes of shells I was feeling really good about myself...got a good deal on the loader....got it set up and working well without having to look at the manual....engineers do that ya know! So I tipped over the charging bar that had the powder and shot bottle so I could empty the residual contents there into my powder can and shot jug. Ya know the TALL shot bottle, the one that holds a LOT of shot....it's got one of those red "stoppery thingys" in the top of it. Well, they are supposed to have the "stoppery thingys" in it before you tip it over.....I FORGOT TO PUT IN THE STOPPER AFTER LOADING THE SHOT. When I tipped the charging bar over I had #8 shot leaking out of the shot bottle running all over the reloading bench, the shelves and the floor. And them things roll a long time. It was then and there that I had a physics lesson in how not to herd up #8 shot. Ya know how when you try and vacuum stuff up that sucking sound would indicate that the BB's are headin' your way right on into the vacuum. Well, not this #8 shot....it must have been negatively charged lead. Oh some of it would go into the vacuum but other BBs would just wiz on by...guess I got them into "turbulent flow" instead of "laminar flow." Long and short of this is that I spend about 45 minutes with my shop vac trying to herd up a bunch of "BB cats." Man I had to pull my reloading bench away from the wall and vacuum from the top down. Pull stuff off the shelves, vacuum out plastic bins...just a real mess. Sooooo... learn from me. Use those red "stoppery thingys" on your shot and powder bottles when you load shot shells. +1 For don't ask me how i know!! I have learned on my "Jr." to put 1000 mile an hour tape across them red things, then tip the bottles over. I then unscrew them and empty. Little more time, but sure has saved alot of cleanup. Just saying!! Always room for mistakes to happen though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Long Branch Louie Posted November 4, 2011 Share Posted November 4, 2011 I can't believe anybody would forget to put in the stopper! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griff Posted November 4, 2011 Share Posted November 4, 2011 I can't believe anybody would forget to put in the stopper! It's only a matter of time before you, too, will learn this lesson! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iron Pony Posted November 4, 2011 Share Posted November 4, 2011 A versa mec will do it too, damn it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rex M Rugers #6621 Posted November 4, 2011 Share Posted November 4, 2011 I can't believe anybody would forget to put in the stopper! Oh , yes , Grasshopper , and occasionally cycle the bar with no hulls underneath. One or the other or both. Neww cuss words invented , Rex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buckshot Frank Posted November 4, 2011 Share Posted November 4, 2011 I was wondering what this post was about when I saw the title. As soon as I opened it and read "Mec", I knew where this one was going . I installed mine with a safety feature against doing this. Actually, where I installed my press, there isn't room to tilt the top back all the way. I discovered this the first time I went to change the charge bushing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kajun Posted November 4, 2011 Author Share Posted November 4, 2011 Oh , yes , Grasshopper , and occasionally cyle the bar with no hulls underneath. One or the other or both. Neww cuss words invented , Rex Roger that! I did not include how many times I dropped powder and shot when something went wrong in the process of loading and it was in full progression loading sequence. Other things I've learned using a MEC progressive reloader. 1. Have 5 hulls primed and 5 hulls deprimed setting beside the reloader so that I can just insert one of these little jewels into the progression at the correct station with the great MEC reloading gods have dumped on me. 2. Leave the little red "stoppery thingys" off while I am reloading. Sometimes the a hull does not open enough for the wad to be properly inserted and it jams. You've got to be able to dump the powder or shot back into the hoppers when things ain't right. What I did not learn was to put the little red "stoppery thingy" back into the top of the shot bottle before tipping it over. I hope I've learned that now. The idea about putting a little piece of trim around the board I have the MEC bolted too is a great idea....kind of like a BB dam, to keep those damn BBs in a smaller place when I dump more BBs. Yep, ain't reloadin' and shootin' fun! The learning and fun just don't stop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abilene Slim SASS 81783 Posted November 4, 2011 Share Posted November 4, 2011 2. Leave the little red "stoppery thingys" off while I am reloading.... You've got to be able to dump the powder or shot back into the hoppers when things ain't right. What I did not learn was to put the little red "stoppery thingy" back into the top of the shot bottle before tipping it over. I hope I've learned that now. I take the "stoppery thingy" off with one hand and dump with the other. Then the "stoppery thingy" goes back on right away. That way I don't have to remember to put it back on before tipping the bottles. Learned that the hard way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curley Cole, SASS #56849 Posted November 4, 2011 Share Posted November 4, 2011 Well Grasshopper, I have a LeeLosdAll, so it is easy to NOT spill, but, there are the times when you knock over a loaded hull, or spill a bottle of lead...... so, suffice to say I have been there, done that, got the tshirt........twice. curley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adirondack Jack, SASS #53440 Posted November 4, 2011 Share Posted November 4, 2011 Hint, when loader is in very cluttered shop, just sweep the shot under the bench and let the archaeologists worry about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold Canyon Kid #43974 Posted November 4, 2011 Share Posted November 4, 2011 Mount the press on the largest cookie sheet you can find then onto bench. Gathers a lot of spilled lead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M.T Chambers, SASS#76185 Posted November 4, 2011 Share Posted November 4, 2011 Welcome to the club Krazy Kajun, the membership list is long, but distinguished! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Hochbauer, SASS #64409 Posted November 4, 2011 Share Posted November 4, 2011 Well I have not forgotten the red stopper thingie..........But have forgotten to insert a wad before dropping the shot so had the powder and shot together.But has anyone taken out the tube the shot and powder goes down.Try that trick sometime makes for an interesting little mess.I am using a MEC jr.Always fun to find new ways to make a mess. Sgt H Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kajun Posted November 5, 2011 Author Share Posted November 5, 2011 Well I have not forgotten the red stopper thingie..........But have forgotten to insert a wad before dropping the shot so had the powder and shot together.But has anyone taken out the tube the shot and powder goes down.Try that trick sometime makes for an interesting little mess.I am using a MEC jr.Always fun to find new ways to make a mess. Sgt H Kind of brings up a question. I've forgotten to insert a wad and ended up with a hull with powder and shot all mixed in together. What do you do with the hull? Is there some way to separate it out to reuse the contents? If not what do you do with the hull with that mixture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crusty Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 KK, Lots of good advice here. I put some close knap carpet under my 9000. That way when an occasional shot spill happens it doesn't run all over. Oh, you WILL do it again, trust me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kajun Posted November 5, 2011 Author Share Posted November 5, 2011 KK, Lots of good advice here. I put some close knap carpet under my 9000. That way when an occasional shot spill happens it doesn't run all over. Oh, you WILL do it again, trust me. +1 on the carpet under the press...a good idea...then all I have to do is house w*rk to clean up. Looks like I'll be hunting up a piece of carpet and some trim to put on the mounting board. 'Preciate all this sage advice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oklahomabound Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 ...I'm still finding b-bs.... but don't ask me how they got outa that bottle... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Driftwood Johnson, SASS #38283 Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 Mount the press on the largest cookie sheet you can find then onto bench. Gathers a lot of spilled lead. +1 You will forget sometime in the future. And more than that, the MEC 9000 loves to dump shot and powder all over the floor if you screw up anything in the loading sequence. Trust me on this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rex M Rugers #6621 Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 Kind of brings up a question. I've forgotten to insert a wad and ended up with a hull with powder and shot all mixed in together. What do you do with the hull? Is there some way to separate it out to reuse the contents? If not what do you do with the hull with that mixture. Actually , seperating shot and powder isn't all that difficult. One could use yet another cookie sheet , or large pan of some sort. Dump the mixed hull onto one end of the pan , and tilt it to let the shot run to lower end. Prop the thing up while you scoop out the shot , or pick it out with fingers. No use to waste costly components. I have done all these things discussed here , some more than once , and tend to be very careful nowdays. But the one aggravation that still plagues me is the primer system. Almost every time that I forget to watch and make sure a primer fed , one doesn't , then powder is leaking all over. The people that build the MEC loaders could surely come up with something better than this system. My only real gripe with MECs. Load on , Rex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Boy Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 Sure are a lot of 'Trust Me' and 'Don't Ask Me How I Now' folks out there in the reloading world! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
August West, SASS #45079 Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 I think you got off easy since your wife didn't witness the hijinks. It's been years since my wife witness my shot-shower extravaganza. I still hear about it regularly. You got off easy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricks4755 Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 I use the carpet ,a piece about 15" X 18" cut out to fit tight around the base of the press.Save on clean up,not 100 percent but helps Any one that loads shot shells enough will spill ( Its how you contain the mess ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jed I. Knight, SASS #36423 Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 ... Ya know, you don't have to have a 9000 to have those kind of fun adventures, the Jr works just as well. You don't really need to ask do you??????? ... Wouldn't be laughin' so hard if'n I didn't know exactly what you were talking about!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cowboy Junky Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 ...I'm still finding b-bs.... but don't ask me how they got outa that bottle... The one you REALLY have to watch out for is the one shot pellet that goes in the primer seating cup........lol. The ones that get in the reizer are a pain as well.....yes I have my Mec Grabber stories as well and I thought it was just me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mack Hacker, #60477 Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 There is no way to avoid the dreaded MEC bb shower. I once tipped the shot bottle back on a 600 Jr and had a (ver old) bottle just decide to splinter in my hands. One whole large bottle of shot dumped in about 1.5 seconds. Just be glad that most of you have a desgnated reloading area and that shag carpet is a thing of the past. As always, "Don't ask me how I know" about that one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Awful Close Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 Don't use the big bottle for shot. THEY GET OLD and Fragile and BREAK FROM THE WEIGHT You think you had a shot spill, you should see what happens when the inverted Big bottle's bottom falls off? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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