Gahhh! MEC misinterpretation for 9000GH

[Questor]

My charge bar started seizing on return left and I called MEC about it. I suspected that I may not have put the brass grommet under the powder bottle. I interpreted "put the dimples face up" as meaning that the concave recesses should be facing up. What should really be happening is that the convex should be facing up. Think "bumps up".

MEC customer service was very knowledgeable and helpful, but I discarded 100 shells as a result of this problem. Some of them had no powder or shot in them and some were loaded with light charges. I didn't notice that because I tend to keep my eye on the primer feed. Took about a half hour to recover the shot. Threw the rest away.

I have often heard and read that beginning reloaders should not start with a progressive press. I started with a Dillon 550 and could never understand that advice because the Dillon has been so trouble free. Because of all the quriks I've had with the 9000GH I definitely would say that a beginning reloader should not start with that press.

[jbmi]

The first thing you should do is throw a way the brass ring and buy this.
http://www.grafs.com/product/163140
http://www.grafs.com/pictures/128/drpcpb2.jpg
It will give you better powder drops, has a better seal between bar and powder bottle and it works.
Trust me on this one, I've been through what you had and someone did me a favor by telling about this.
DO NOT buy a metal or alum one, buy only this one, red plastic. You can find them a most good gun shops.

[Questor]

Thank you!!!

I have had so many little problems with that press that I am on the verge of dismantling it. The other problems have been mere hassles, but when powder charges are concerned I get pretty testy about accuracy problems. At first I noted the problem and just threw the whole batch in the garbage. I later thought better of it and recovered the shot. Pity to waste 100 primers and wads and hulls, and much powder.

Ironically I like my Sizemaster better. It's a great press and it has been trouble free. It's a great product. Can't say the same for the 9000 yet. I take a rather dim view of it so far. It works great at times but I have only had a couple of reloading sessions when something didn't go wrong with it.

[Graybeard]

Wal Rudy I did tell you to just use a Sizemaster 77 but Nooooooo you wanted a progressive. Well you got one. Fun ain't it? Been there twice and ain't going back again. No progressives for me.

[Questor]

GB:

You were right. You may kick my butt at anytime you wish. I deserve it.  You were also right about the folly of loading 12 gauge instead of just buying ammo at Walmart. I guess you'll have to kick my butt twice.

The irony is that during most sessions there is so much extra fuss with the 9000GH that it would be as fast or faster to load 25 or 50 shells with the sizemaster than with a progressive. The sizemaster just works.

[Questor]

By the way, in the event that you can't fly up to MN to kick me personally, feel free to send me one of your dirtiest steel-toed gunboats and I'll find a proxy to kick me for you.

[Graybeard]

That's all right Rudy I'm used to folks ignoring my advice that is based on many many years of personal experience. Hey Matt does it all the time and then comes back and says man I wish I'd have listened to you but then the next time he does the same exact thing all over again. Some folks just gotta learn the hard way. 

[Questor]

I don't feel too bad about it. I like to learn about all kinds of shooting and expect to make a few mistakes along the way. I think I can redeem this project by finding a really sweet shooting light 12 gauge load for both trap and skeet. Of course, I hardly know why I'd want to do that because I  already have a 20 gauge that shoots with minimal recoil.

I am beginning to conclude that since so many 16 yard trap shooters are fond of light loads of 7/8 or 1 ounce, they may as well just use a 20 gauge instead of a 12.

One firm lesson from this is that since I'm only interested in loading 25 to 50 rounds at a time, I am surely better served by the Sizemaster. I may change my mind, but as it is that MEC 9000 progressive is on my, shall we say, fewment list. Kind of like a 1960s English sports car. Fun when it works, but a real pain the rest of the time, which is almost always.