MEC 650 Shotshell Press, Down Stroke Pressure

[Nutmeg Ryder, SASS # 74966]

Hello All, Purchased a MEC650 off the used shelf, spent $20.00 on parts and started loading. Turns out a great Shot Shell, but does anyone use one? And how much force does it take on the down stroke to cycle? Mine seems like it takes quite a bit.

 

Just curious really.

 

Thanks

 

[Ace_of_Hearts]

If you are talking about a lot of "force" while loading.

 

Empty the press of everything (Shot, Powder, remove charge bar). Does it still take a lot of force?

 

Check wad pressure. It may be set very high. Wad pressure is not required with current plastic shot cups.

Check charge bar and bushings for scaring/scoring. The charge bar and bushings should move easily back and forth.This usually happens if the press was used to load steel shot.

 

Cycle the press through every operation one shell at a time to find out where the resistance occurs.

[Garrison Joe, SASS #60708]

Find out which station is creating all the down-stroke resistance, by removing a shell from the shell plate. (Be sure to catch powder and shot at the appropriate empty station, using a paper cup or something like that!) Cycle around, feeling (or using a big-fish scale) to see what station is easier to pull the lever on when there is no shell being processed at that station. Tell us which station is the culprit, or figure it out yourself how to fix the high-force-required situation at that position.

 

Since the 650 does not resize the hull base (like a Grabber does), it's not the resizing collet that is the culprit. Dropping powder and seating a wad and shot filling (unless you are having to seat the wad with a LOT of pressure to make the crimp nice) are probably not taking much force. Starting a crimp should be easy. Final crimp may be the hard station, especially if shot level is above the "fold-line" where the crimp starts. Seating the wad could be a hard station if you are "too tall" on the powder/shotcup combination. Or you could just have a dirty, rusty, non-lubricated center column!

 

Lots of possibilities.

 

Good luck, GJ

[John Boy]

And how much force does it take on the down stroke to cycle? Mine seems like it takes quite a bit.

 

Ryder, the MEC 650 with all the stations filled is not a one finger limp wrist operating press but it sure does produce great reloads!

Now, if your question relates to how much pressure should be used at the #3 charging station, might want to read the MEC manual for this press ... https://www.mecshootingsports.com/Images/document/650.pdf

And be sure to clean and oil the shell plate and all the connecting pins

[Nutmeg Ryder, SASS # 74966]

Hi, John, GJ and ACe.

 

I will check each station, oil etc.

 

John Boy, you are correct, not a limp wrist operation to be sure. and once I got going i was able to get used to the pressure and was able to knock out 175 shells in about an hour and a half.

 

Was just curious.

[Marauder SASS #13056]

If you are talking about a lot of "force" while loading.

 

Empty the press of everything (Shot, Powder, remove charge bar). Does it still take a lot of force?

 

Check wad pressure. It may be set very high. Wad pressure is not required with current plastic shot cups.

Check charge bar and bushings for scaring/scoring. The charge bar and bushings should move easily back and forth.This usually happens if the press was used to load steel shot.

 

Cycle the press through every operation one shell at a time to find out where the resistance occurs.

Ace, I think you are referring to the Old plastic shot cups.

 

Winchester went to the 2 piece design a few years ago and now recommends at least 30 pounds of wad pressure. That isn't a lot, but...

 

And it doesn't hurt to use that on Remington's and others as well.

[Ace_of_Hearts]

Ace, I think you are referring to the Old plastic shot cups.

 

Winchester went to the 2 piece design a few years ago and now recommends at least 30 pounds of wad pressure. That isn't a lot, but...

 

And it doesn't hurt to use that on Remington's and others as well.

I now am edumacated!

With only 30 ponds of pressure applied, I think it just insures that the wad is firmly against the powder.

[John Boy]

I run 2 MEC's - Sizemaster: set up for Black powder - resize all hulls & new primers and finish. The 650 is used solely for smokeless reloads - station 3 to 6 only. Why? Not a fan of the primer feed trays on the Mec's

[Garrison Joe, SASS #60708]

 

Winchester went to the 2 piece design a few years ago and now recommends at least 30 pounds of wad pressure. That isn't a lot, but...

 

The two piece hull has a lip where the base wad meets the hull wall. If you don't put some pressure on the wad, and you use a light load of powder (like most cowboy loads), the wad can hang up at the lip, not seat down on the powder, and give you an inconsistent wad position or even poor burning of the powder. Neither is good for a uniform crimp and uniform ballistics. The tapered bottom of modern wads "should" take care of getting the bottom of the wad past the lip in the AA hulls, but good seating pressure (30+ pounds) helps insure it.

 

Good luck, GJ

[Keystone, SASS # 47578]

Howdy,

 

Been loading with a used MEC 650 for about 10 years. When I first began reloading used "AA" red hulls were great. I then switched to used "STS" green hulls for a long time. Then when I started using new model used "AA" hulls with the lip near the bottom I had to up the pressure on the wad to properly seat them. I just leave the higher wad pressure the same for "STS" as well. Wish they hadn't changed the "AA" hulls.

 

Hasta Luego, Keystone

[Black Mike]

Nutmeg.

 

Seems like good advice. If it is portable I can look at it for you in Foster or other shoot.

 

Seems you have gone soft over the winter.

 

Saddle up and cross the state line Saturday and join the Bushwackers at MSA and get a good workout.

[Nutmeg Ryder, SASS # 74966]

Hi Mike,

Not going to be able to make it this weekend, busy with the job....

 

I may have gone a little soft this winter, what with no snow to shovel!

[Randy Saint Eagle, SASS # 64903]

I run 2 MEC's - Sizemaster: set up for Black powder - resize all hulls & new primers and finish. The 650 is used solely for smokeless reloads - station 3 to 6 only. Why? Not a fan of the primer feed trays on the Mec's

I Also use a 650 and have always used both hand on the down stroke, I also recently went to the new primer system that holds 200. It works much better than the old one with the spring and lamp chain.

 

Randy

[Rio Brazos Kid]

It's pretty simple why the down stroke takes some pressure. You are performing 6 operations at the same time. It simply takes more pressure, and always has.

 

With a single stage, you are only doing one operation at the time, and with the exception of the first station, where you are re-sizing and de-priming the hull, the down stroke is effortless on all other stations, with a slight increase at the final crimp.

 

SO, just realize that a progressive press will always require more effort on the down stroke. However if you position yourself correctly, and use both hands, it really isn't all that bad. It's much easier to PUSH the handle down, than it is to pull it down.

 

RBK