Shotgun reloaders: Who uses the auto primer add-on to the MEC press?

[Cyrus Cassidy #45437]

It's something I've thought about adding, but it looks like I may spend more time fiddling than I would save from having it. Is that your experience? Or is it worth the money?

 

Keep in mind I'm blasting through about a case of shotgun shells every week, and I'm reloading on a series of MEC 600 Jr presses (12, 16, 20, and 28 gauges). Adding a little speed right now may be worth the cost until I get a progressive press

[Blackwater 53393]

I use one on my 10ga press! SO MUCH faster for me because my fingers don’t work well with things that small!!

 

I watched a video of another guy using one and he claimed that he could dispense primers as quickly by hand, but he never demonstrated that!

 

Part of what I like is that I don’t come in physical contact with the primers and that reduces the chance of contamination.

 

YMMV!

 

[Redleg Reilly, SASS #46372]

I fight with mine all the time.  Can't seem to convince it to work every time so lately, I've been doing by hand without any major problems.

[Jack Spade]

I would look at different brand progressive loaders, the MEC primer system is just fussy.  I run Ponsness Warren  machines and don't even think about primers not feeding.  

[Sixgun Seamus]

I run a MEC 9000 and except for a rare occurrence of a primer flipping up side down, it works great. I can load a case in about an hour.

[Cyrus Cassidy #45437]

22 minutes ago, Jack Spade said:

I would look at different brand progressive loaders, the MEC primer system is just fussy.  I run Ponsness Warren  machines and don't even think about primers not feeding.  

I still see Ponsness Warren machines on eBay but I believe they are out of production. I think the next progressive machine I would look at is a Dillon, but WHOA that price tag! I have a lot of faith in Dillon progressive machines; I use a 550 for all of my pistol reloading.

[Cyrus Cassidy #45437]

7 minutes ago, Sixgun Seamus said:

I run a MEC 9000 and except for a rare occurrence of a primer flipping up side down, it works great. I can load a case in about an hour.

I've been looking at those, too. That's WAAAAAY faster than I'm cranking them out with my fleet of 600 jrs. I've toyed with the idea of getting into ATA trapshooting competition but I'm not completely sold on it yet (the number one reason being that almost all of their matches are on Sundays and I'm a churchgoer). Now that I've gotten pretty good at trap, I may branch out to skeet and see if I can build the same skillset. At least here in Colorado, the NSSA has a better mixture of Saturday and Sunday matches so I could at least take part more regularly.

But as I've said in other posts, I've become a member of the 16 gauge cult. Seriously, the old timers weren't joking -- I can't explain it, but there is something absolutely perfect about the shot pattern. When I hit a clay (and I'm averaging 23 per round of 25 right now), the thing is absolutely dusted every time. There are no chunks left to fall to the ground, but rather a smoke cloud leftover. It points and swings perfectly. WHY IS THE 16 GAUGE NOT MORE POPULAR????? The shooting community seriously needs to latch on to this. And, I've mentioned before, although I do have an antique LC Smith in that venerable gauge, my regular go-to clays gun is a modern made Rizzini BR110 (a fancy Italian maker, probably on par with the Browning Citori). 

Edited December 15, 2025 by Cyrus Cassidy #45437

[Jack Spade]

10 minutes ago, Cyrus Cassidy #45437 said:

I still see Ponsness Warren machines on eBay but I believe they are out of production. I think the next progressive machine I would look at is a Dillon, but WHOA that price tag! I have a lot of faith in Dillon progressive machines; I use a 550 for all of my pistol reloading.

Ponsness Warren is still alive and kicking and making new machines as well as most of the parts for all the old machines.  

[Eyesa Horg]

I put the new large one in my Mec Grabber. It took a bit to get it lined up, you need to gently bend the drop tube. Okay'd by the MEC tech! Still need to keep an eye out to make sure one drops. It's about 99% perfect, but once in a while one hangs up in the chute at the tray. But in general it was money well spent. If you miss one it sucks! Powder just pours right out out of the hull and makes a PIA mess! You become vigilant at paying attention. I like the new one way better than the old ones that worked with a spring and chain. Just getting it all lined up and adjusted was a pain. YMMV

[Sheriff Dill]

One came with the used Mec jr I bought. I absolutely love it. Like Eyesa said sometimes it sticks but about 99% perfect. Highly recommend. 

[Sheriff Dill]

51 minutes ago, Eyesa Horg said:

I put the new large one in my Mec Grabber. It took a bit to get it lined up, you need to gently bend the drop tube. Okay'd by the MEC tech! Still need to keep an eye out to make sure one drops. It's about 99% perfect, but once in a while one hangs up in the chute at the tray. But in general it was money well spent. If you miss one it sucks! Powder just pours right out out of the hull and makes a PIA mess! You become vigilant at paying attention. I like the new one way better than the old ones that worked with a spring and chain. Just getting it all lined up and adjusted was a pain. YMMV

Mine has the chain and spring. The only issue i have is the tube slipping out of the slot every now and then. But I’ve learned to listen for the primer dropping into the slot 

[Eyesa Horg]

30 minutes ago, Sheriff Dill said:

Mine has the chain and spring. The only issue i have is the tube slipping out of the slot every now and then. But I’ve learned to listen for the primer dropping into the slot 

Make sure there's a star washer in it and tighten well.

[Texas Maverick]

I am with Seamus, I have 2 Mec 9000's and the primer function works as designed.

 

TM

[Gateway Kid SASS# 70038 Life]

Started with a SizeMaster with primer feed, because that was what my cousin had and he taught me. Had never loaded shotgun before. Started having shoulder issues but was shooting a lot of SG so bought a 9000 G Mec. 3-4 times as fast as the SizeMaster and I was still able to load light loads for my shoulders. Had several try to talk me into a Spolar Gold. Great machine but the difference in price between it and the 9000 was enough to keep me in components for years. Personally I would have liked the Spolar (they are a cool machine) but nearly five years later I am still operating off of the savings between the two and I cannot tell any difference in the look of the shells or their performance.

As to the primer system as long as things are tight and clean I have not had ANY issues. In my process the primer drop is all I consistently check for as the other functions (powder drop, wad placement, precrimp, crimp and post crimp take care of themselves pretty much)

YMMV

Regards

    

Gateway Kid

[Painted Mohawk SASS 77785]

My 9000 works fine ..just got onto some juniors that have the primer feed , seem to work ok

[Doc Shapiro]

I do not.  I have a Mec 9000 and it's just a little too flaky.  I manually set the primers.

[Still hand Bill]

I had a mec grabber.  Originally it had the pull chain primer feed.  I replaced that with the newer style and it was a vast improvement.  Can’t imagine running a progressive shotgun press and dropping primers by hand. I eventually moved up to a pw.   While it’s nice, I wish I had spent the extra and got a spolar. 

[Sedalia Dave]

Most of the Ponsness Warren machines you see for sale used are the older 800 series. They are really good machines but there are a few key parts that if they fail replacements are not available.

[Sedalia Dave]

I started out with MEC 600 jr's and I have no complaints. I have switched over to MEC Sizemasters to eliminate the extra step of resizing the heads back to factory specifications with a SuperSizer.

 

The primer feed is the same for all MEC single stage presses. It can be a little finicky at times.  What has worked best for me is to only load 50 primers at a time. Seems to have fewer issues.  The little brass primer guide in mine caused a lot of problems. I replaced it with a cut down water bottle cap. Eliminated most of the issues I was having.  I'll post pictures of the modification tomorrow.

 

 

 

 

[Sedalia Dave]

I had a MEC Grabber and it was nothing but trouble.  I believe this was because it was well used when I acquired it. The shell plate was was bent when it arrived and despite my best efforts I never got it back to factory specs. A new machine properly set up should work well.

 

I will say that the newer primer feed for the MEC progressive presses is much better than the old one. Wish this style was available for the single stage MECs.

[Blackwater 53393]

7 hours ago, Sedalia Dave said:

I had a MEC Grabber and it was nothing but trouble.  I believe this was because it was well used when I acquired it. The shell plate was was bent when it arrived and despite my best efforts I never got it back to factory specs. A new machine properly set up should work well.

 

I will say that the newer primer feed for the MEC progressive presses is much better than the old one. Wish this style was available for the single stage MECs.

My MEC 600 jr. was used when I received it.  It was “low mileage” but it needed several adjustments before it was fully functional.

 

I contacted the MEC technical department and they walked me through the necessary adjustments, including properly installing the primer feed, (something I added) and truing up the shell plate.

 

Ballistic Products supplied a nice eight point precrimp die (MEC doesn’t make an eight point for 10ga) and an adjustable charge bar and now it’s a very reliable and efficient unit.

 

There’s a bunch of adjustments that can be made on the MEC 600s. You may have to go through a sequence of them to get it working correctly, but when you do, it’s a good little machine.