Looking for a new .410 loader, opinions

[KYBOY]

What do you suggest for a nice new .410 loader?

[Graybeard]

Back in the days I shot skeet competitively I always used a MEC 600 JR or a Versamec 700 and was happy with them no matter the hulls I was loading. But then I got out of skeet shooting for a number of years and foolishly let go of my old press. So recently when I started back into skeet shooting and using a .410 again I had to look for a new loader. Based on previous experience I went for a MEC 600 JR.

Bad move.

It loads the new Winchester AA HS hulls perfectly, no hassles at all. My old Winchester hulls both AA and field hulls it almost will not load at all. They stick on the primer stem and are near impossible to pull off. Some of my Remington and Peters hulls do the same but perhaps only 25% of them. The Federal hulls do fine at the primer station but are bad to stick in the sizer. Loading any of them other than the new AA HS hulls is really not worth the effort.

I've spoken with Hornady and they are making me a 366 AP with gas assist that I'll be doing a review on. At this time I do not know if I'll be able to recommend it or not since I've not used one before and haven't gotten it yet.

At this time I honestly don't know what to recommend for loading the .410.

[Bridger]

i haven't loaded .410 for a few years either but seems like almost everyone uses a single stage press unless they are really high volume. Progressive presses and those little cases just are not a good mix in most situations. When I was loading, I used a MEC Grabber and when it worked right it was okay but you had to be careful. I may get back into .410 for some insane reason and will probably go with a MEC either 600 Jr or Sizemaster. I will have to get all new componets anyway and from what I hear the HS hulls hold up really well so I will not be mixing hulls.

[Graybeard]

If you get one of the MEC's for sure go with the new Winchester AA HS hull, they work fine in the MEC. None of the others I have do. I picked up two cases of the new AA HS ammo today so I'll have plenty of the new hulls on top of the case I already have of them.

[.45 COLT]

It looks like I might start loading the .410 too. Was looking at Winchester's data book, the .410 HS doesn't use the same data as the older hull. Different wad and different powder charge. Guess it's only 12 Gauge where the data is interchangable.

I'll probably pick up a used MEC 600jr at a gun show. MECs seem to have a way of following me home. Was thinking about a new one in .410 until I read Graybeard's comments.

DC

[Bestboss]

Here I thought I was going senile!  The MEC Jr, I bought for a son-in-law, was giving us fits.  After many thousands of rounds on other MEC'S on the bench, I was in denial.

I finally found a load with Remington hulls, that seemed to get us some finished ammo.  But not without losing about 5-10% of the hulls used.  Kind of hit and miss, with no rhyme or reason for the frustrations.  MEC MUST know what's going on - right?

In the 12 Ga, I learned years ago, to use nothing but AA casings.  Think I'll try that in the 410 too.
Regards
Bestboss

[3 feathers]

It looks like I might start loading the .410 too. Was looking at Winchester's data book, the .410 HS doesn't use the same data as the older hull. Different wad and different powder charge. Guess it's only 12 Gauge where the data is interchangable.

I'll probably pick up a used MEC 600jr at a gun show. MECs seem to have a way of following me home. Was thinking about a new one in .410 until I read Graybeard's comments.

DC

The 12 and 20 HS hulls load the same as the older compression AA's. Don't give up on the 660 jr. I have loaded on a grabber for all practice shells , for comp. I load on the single stage 600, I don't have the problems that I am reading here, but mine is an older (Prolly 25 yrs) machine. Give Mec a call if you are having any problems, they have a great support team.

[MOGLEY]

I have 4 mec 650's. Never had anything else for shotgun reloading. I reload 410, 28, 20. ( 2 20ga presses). Once you set them up, they reload great. 410 are the most finicky. You have to adjust the press for each make of shell.  I think this is true for all presses. I just relaoded 20 boxes of shells last weekend. I do not worry about speed of reloading, just happy when everything goes the way it should.I think the 650 is a great press. You have to resize seperately though.