Pacific Reloader questions, or other recommendations

[DWTim]

Hello scattergun loaders!

I inherited a Pacific DL-360 press. It was a little rusty, but I cleaned it up, and of course, it works great because it was designed to. Right now I have a complete set of tools for 12 gauge. However, I have only some tools for 20. Some Hornady/Pacific DL-366 parts will work, some won't. I could piece together a working 20 gauge set-up if I had the proper shell plate for it.

For the life of me, I can't find any such kit anywhere, which leads me to believe that this press was 12 gauge only. Has anyone ever seen a Bair 600 or a Pacific 360 set up for 20 gauge? I'm wondering if I'm just wasting my time looking.

I could probably have a shell plate custom made for over $150, but if I'm going to do that, I might as well just buy a $100 20 gauge press. If I buy a Mini-Grand, I can use the bushings I already own.

Thanks!

[Graybeard]

Yes I've seen one. Back in the mid 70s I and a partner owned a skeet/trap range. I can't recall which got which gauge but we bought a 12 and 20 gauge Pacific 360 each and I HATED mine. In retrospect I think I was trying to RUSH too much and not giving it time to fully function but mine just hated to properly drop the primers and caused the machine to hang up badly and spill shot all over which again caused still more hang ups.

Eventually my partner ended up with the press I had bought and I never recall any complaints from him on it and I know he loved the one he bought so I suspect my biggest problem was technique. But they do exist even if not in large quantities.

[DWTim]

Thanks for the input. You've been there, done that on a lot of equipment.

Upon my initial test of the machine, the first problem I encountered was with primers. It took some tinkering before I could get it to stop dropping two primers, or putting one down sideways. Then they don't always fall into the priming recess when you index it, so I guess I'll just turn it a little slower.

[Graybeard]

That would be my recommended starting point. I found out the hard way that press does not like to be cycled fast. Since primer problems was my main concern and you're having the same problem slowing down might fix it or not but at least should help.

[dave375hh]

Find someone with a Hornady 366 20 ga and borrow his shell plate and try it for size on your press. You might just have to turn one down to fit your Pacific.

[DWTim]

I have part of a 20 gauge conversion kit for the 366 that came with a box of assorted parts, along with the press. No dice, the plate is larger and set up for eight stations, as are the index holes.