Switching dies on a MEC 600JR.

nateg

nateg

New member
Hi...just wondering if anyone has switched dies to change gauges on a 600jr? I bought a 28 gauge awhile back and am having way too much fun shooting it and wanna reload my AA and Remington hulls. I currently reload 12 gauge for me and my boy to shoot sporting clays, all though currently I have been using the 28 and he uses a 12. Im sorta just thinking it's going to be easier to just buy a used 600 in whatever gauge and the 28 dies then swap it out to have a 12 and 28 reloader.
But if it's not a major pain to swap I could just get away with one press and 2 sets of dies. Thanks for any info, or a good place to find used die sets.
 
Find a used 12 ga Mec 600 JR and put the 28 ga die set up on it. From what I have seen it will be cheaper to buy a 12 ga used Mec 600 JR and make it into a 28 ga reloader.

It is no fun and not real easy to switch gauges back and forth on one Mec 600 JR reloader.

You may be able to find a used 600 JR 28 ga loader but they normally sell for quite a bit more than the used 12 ga 600 JR reloaders.


Trapshooters.com is a good place to find shotgun hulls or anything related to shotguns. You could do a "WTB Mec 600 Jr 28 ga dies" thread on Trapshooters.com. You may be able to find someone with a complete 28 ga reloader that they are no longer using.
 
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I load for 10, 12, 20 and 28 gauges. FWIW, I have Mec 600s
for each gauge...I have even considered getting another 12 ga.
and set it up for 3.5", just so I don't have to convert
the press from 3"/2.75" with base plate, to 3.5".

So I recommend just buying a second loader. You may have to
buy a new one, as I am guessing the 28 ga. loader would be
rare on the re-sale market.

Squeeze
 
Yeah that's sort of what I figured. I went to a local pawn shop and found a couple 600JR's..as I'm looking I come across one that says 28 gauge on the tag...my jaw hit the ground and I snatched it up...paid $45.00 for it. Well I get home and just for fun put a 28 AA hull on the deprime/resize station, pull down...all went smooth till the handle went up! The hull got stuck, so I'm like ok? Had to really pry on the hull finally it came out..anyway turns out it's set up as a 20 gauge. I was pretty bummed but then again, I did just score a reloader for $45.00 now just need a set of dies in 28 and will be set. Weird thing is on the charge bar it says 28 GA.1? I assume it is charge bar for 28 gauge in 1oz?
 
Originally Posted By: nategWeird thing is on the charge bar it says 28 GA.1? I assume it is charge bar for 28 gauge in 1oz?

Unless things have really changed at MEC, all charge bars
are interchangeable, with any gauge loader. There is a
code, like 100, for a 1 oz shot charge, and one has to
use powder bushings to get to the required powder weight.
The most common charge in 28 ga. is 3/4 oz, and that
charge bar will have a 034 stamped on the end. And again,
you will need to swap powder bushings until you find the
one that drops the powder charge you need for your chosen
powder, and the published weight, in the load data. I
have just about every powder bushing MEC makes.
grin.gif


I have no idea what 28 GA.1 stamped on a charge bar means.
Is it a "Universal" charge bar?

Squeeze
 
In the early days MEC charge bars did not have interchangeable powder bushings. They had bars with preset powder and shot volumes. The problem with them is that they were often designed for powders that have been discontinued. That one has obviously been around a while.

Sounds like he got a 20 gauge loader with a light charge bar. With that loader, you can buy a set of 28 gauge dies from Midway and set it up and leave it set.
 
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Originally Posted By: lhitchcoxIn the early days MEC charge bars did not have interchangeable powder bushings. They had bars with preset powder and shot volumes. The problem with them is that they were often designed for powders that have been discontinued. That one has obviously been around a while.

Sounds like he got a 20 gauge loader with a light charge bar. With that loader, you can buy a set of 28 gauge dies from Midway and set it up and leave it set.

OK, that makes more sense. But, my first Mec 600 is over
25 years old(bought it new). So we must be talking REAL
early days.
lol.gif


Squeeze
 
Yep, real early. I bought a used 12 gauge MEC 600 off FleaBay and it had a bar that said 16 gauge. I dropped a few powders through it and it was nowhere close to what I needed.
 
Just get the universal charge bar - did it like 25 yrs ago and never regretted it. And as stated above, setting up a used 600 for each gauge and length really isnt that costly if you load any amount - JMHO.
 
i have done just what you are thinking of doing and would not do it again. Too much set up. Buy a used machine, on the board at the trap clubs you'll see 600JR's I'd get them and get the MEC dies.
I changed from a 16ga to 20 gauge, but now it's permiment.
 


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