MEC Questions

[kody]

 I have 2 Mecs, a 400 and a pre '82 600 Jr.  I see a difference at the first station with the 600 having a "knockout bushing" sized to the gauge shell being worked. The 400 doesn't have this. The 12 gauge knockout bushing has a .750" dia. compared to the 12 ga. decapper's dia. of .650 [the same as the 12 ga. reprime punch]. What is the need [purpose] of this bushing? The loader worked to produce a lot of 20 ga. shells for me ,years ago so I don't believe the bushing is absolutely necessary. I'm trying to inexpensively modify the 400 so I can experiment with 28 ga. slugs. 

[.45 COLT]

I think you're referring to the Resizing Ring. If so, that 400 used to have one, maybe got lost? Might not need it if the shells are used in the same gun they were originally fired in. Shells with steel "brass" might be a bigger problem than shells with real brass.

What crimp do you plan on using, folded or rolled? If you're going to star-crimp, you might be in trouble. Neither the Crimp Sleeve nor the Crimp Die will work with a 28 Gauge hull and MEC doesn't have parts for the 400. Also, the 400 doesn't have a Crimp Starter, making for poor crimping with plastic shells. If you have a Roll Crimper, that would solve those problems.

DC

[kody]

    DC  [.45 COLT] , The item I was checking on is one that was added to the 400. It is called a knockout bushing and it serves to enter the shell a short distance during the depriming stroke. It is gauge specific. The resizing ring does its thing at the same time at the bottom end of that station. For now, I'm going to give up on the 400 and go with my pre '82  600 Jr. I will take a few dies and turn them down to 28 ga. size , buy a the resizing ring and a couple of other items.  I will be trying to prove a 28 Ga. slug load so I am happy with limited production. I will bypass a bunch of gear by opting for the roll crimp . However that crimper cost wipes out a lot of the savings that I had going for me. I have no idea how a roll crimper is shaped  so I had to buy one.   Ken Lacey

[.45 COLT]

Yeah, I got to thinking about this today. The Knockout Bushing stops upward travel, which will let the deprimer knock the shell out of the resizing ring.

Trying to change Gauges on the 400 is a pretty difficult thing. I'm sure you'll do better with the 600jr. The 400 is still a good press. Not too long ago I modified one (for someone else) to add a crimp starter for plastic shells. Thinking that through, I would do it differently now, but he's happy.

Roll crimpers are expensive but they make for a nice looking shell.

If you come up with some 28 Gauge slug loads, I'd be interested in what you have.

DC

[kody]

 I'm going to start a list of guys that show interest in the 28 slug. First of all to gather people and their ideas so we can share knowledge and experience and then possibly interest a comercial ventire by BPI or someone else in the business.    Ken

[.45 COLT]

I load so little 28 Gauge, and never 28 Gauge slugs, that I wouldn't be much help. Played with 12, 16, 20 Gauge and .410 Bore slugs, but no 28.

DC