older MEC loader - 6 pt vs. 8 pt crimp

[Geno]

I've loaded a ton of rifle/pistol, very new to shotgun. I have about a 40 year old MEC single stage 12ga loader that was my dad's. Been unused for about 30 years. Still works great except, the old man used it for paper hulls and Remington plastic with 6 point crimp. It doesnt work too well on AA hulls with an 8 point crimp. Is it dificult or even possible to switch this to 8? Are parts available, if that's what it takes? The new loaders are all advertising the Spindex automatic crimp starter, etc, blah, blah.... I'll see what you guys have to say before I start looking for parts or contacting MEC. Thanks  Geno

[Bob_K]

Shotshells should be recrimped with the type of crimp they had from the factory.  Most compresion formed Win AAs are 8 point, so using an 8 point crimp is the best way to go.  The old style MEC crimp starter had a chrome barrel that could be unscrewed and the 6 or 8 point starter inserted/swapped as necessary.  MEC may still have the old style starter.  A better alternative is to upgrade to the new MEC crimper.  It is a one piece plastic crimp starter that pops on and off on a replacement bolt that goes where the old starter went.  Swapping starters is a 2 sec evolution.  I believe the cost is less than $10.00