A friend is selling two reloaders. One is a Hornady 366 and the other a Mec 9000. Both for sale at $350. Both not used much. Which will be the more reliable and fastest? I plan to reload 5000 rounds a year.
I cannot give you a comparison as I have only ever used MEC for my shotgun reloading...... over a span of 65 years beginning with a Herters (?) with my Dad and Granpa to the current day with a MEC 9000H I am comfortable with and confident in the MEC product. I just sold my old 9000H to a friend and installed a new one for myself. I load 800 to 1000 rounds a month with ease and the rounds produced are equal to any I could buy as far as what the press produces. I am guessing you are not purchasing a hydraulic machine and will tell you I have several friends using the 9000 with the lever and doing the same as I am but with just a little more effort. MEC will serve you well........ Larry
Shot Shell reloaders are a personal preference just like cars,trucks amd women. Most reloaders today properly adjusted and with the recipe you like will turn out near factory like shells that will break all the targets you want.
I have used the Mec grabber and Hornady. The Hornady works fine when it works, But the Mec just keeps on working, and working. just lube and clean up the Mec once a year and keep on loading. I still have my Hornady. the Hornady, seems like something aways need to be tightened or straightened, spille shot etc. birddog
I have owned and used both. When I got the Hornady running with a particular recipe, it generally ran fine - unless a bad "vibration" shook a few pellets out of one of the shells being loaded. Or I had to change something. That was frequently a show stopper. Last year, I had the opportunity to buy a lightly used 9000 from a shooter moving out of the area. I set it up, adjusted it to my favority recipe and it has run perfectly since then. About 8,000 loads to date. I can count on loading all the shells I need using the 9000. It was always a concern with the Hornady. So, my vote is with het MEC 9000 all the way. -Ed
In all honesty the Hornady 366 resizing station does not pull in the rim of the shell, it keeps flattening it making it larger and larger, that is it's only drawback for me, The Mec 9000 models fully resize the brass/steel shells every time you re-load the case. One addition I make to all my MEC's is the Adjustable Charging Bar, I can load any powder/shot charge, adjusting it to my RCBS digital scale, no powder/shot bushings. Gary Bryant ...............Dr.longshot
I did own a Hornady and I had to set it up to only use one brand of shells. I always had it set for Remingtons. Put in a Federal, or AA, and what a mess. That being said, I did like my Hornady, but if I ever went back to loading it would be a MEC for me. Dave in FL.
I took the time to read the instructions that came with this new 9000H (surprised the hell out of my wife) , carefully read all the hints and tips from Curly Nohair , read several tips and thoughts from others and checked and adjusted anything that was not quite correct. At this point I can run Federal GM, Estate/Cheddite, Fiocchi, STS and Nitro27's through with only a minor change in crimp depth. I do not always change the crimp depth but use .055" as my standard if I am being particular. I spent a couple hours with the friend that bought my old machine (yup, he is still my friend) and did the same for him. That machine is about 8 years old and the only difference we observed was that it has the chain pull primer feed. 95% of my current reloading is with the straight wall hulls but I can run Remington or Winchester through with no issues. My brother-in-law bought a very old 9000H and sent it in to MEC for rehab. Cost him about $100 and came back like new. We did the same "tune-up" on his machine with the same results. Larry
The Mecs I have (all four gauges) will load anything from AA to Eurotrash with only a wad and powder bushing change.
My son is now the owner and operator of my old, OLD, Mec 650, while he mainly loads the Remington offerings he can also do quite well on all others with no changes...... Larry
No doubt the Ponsness Warren is a top end machine but for 5000 rounds a year it is a bit "over-kill". Premium shells locally cost about $9, I reload for about $4 so his $350 investment (if his ammo costs are equivalent to mine) could "pay back" in 70 boxes or so. Larry
I have owned several loaders starting with a Lyman Easy(in 1966), two pacific DL250's(still have both a 12 and a 20), Mec Grabber, Mec Hustler, Hornady 360, Mec 9000g (two of them both 12 ga. Still have them) and a 9000h(still have it). The only loader that gave me any trouble was the 360. It just wouldn't stay adjusted and was very sensitive to changing hulls. I base that statement on experience with other machines. All of the others as long as I had the correct wad and column height performed well. By the way the 48 year old 20ga Pacific loads the prettiest dove shells and they have performed flawlessly in my 1965 model 1100 20ga. standard weight. Of course you results may vary, just my experience.
I've used a 366 for 35 yrs, tried mec hydra, after installing new primer seater on 366 would consider it the best. I can load Aa, Nitros & Walmarts without any adjustment
Jersey Giant, did you notice no one really gave you and terrible negatives about any of the machines mentioned? With a little help from the operator it seems all do well...... what did you finally purchase and how does it work?? Larry
Several friends have gone the route of the 366 and all are loading great shells with few issues. Now you just have to figure out a way to have enough time at the range to shoot all you can load.
I have 3 of the older Pacific 366 machines, and a more recent Hornady...I tried the Mec, but found it fiddly....but my favourite machine is my Ponsness warren 900....just keeps on giving!
I reloaded on a Pacific 366 for years loaded many shells all were great if I did my job the targets broke, since 2001 I have reloaded on a Spolar nothing wrong with the 366 if fact my son now reloads on this machine. I have the Spolar with hydraulic assist only because I can.
Currently loading with a Pacific RL350, the grandfather of the 366. This is a early 1960s machine and still going. Must say something about the design. Current production wad fingers, bushings and hopper tubes fit the old machine. Built like a tank.
I have to guess that the majority of the reloading community is happy with whatever they have.... my machine, set the way it is now set handles Fed GM, Nitro27, STS, Estate made in France. To super tune I could change crimp depth a bit when I load Estate but I see no reason to do so. It feeds primers as long as I have some in the tray, powder drops are very stable and when loading with new shot the drops are only a few grains different. I did notice a few days ago the primer drop tube was nicking the edge of a couple hulls, loosened the nut and gave a nudge and tightened down. Problem solved. I noticed a slight clockwise rotation of the shell plate during loading. A shot had found its way under the brass "spring" so there was little or no tension on the detent ball. Flicked it out and life is good. I do make adjustments, I have replaced a couple things, I have loaded a bunch....... the only posts that make me grin are the ones that infer NOTHING works but theirs and they have NEVER had a problem.. Life is good, loading is fun, and I like the grins........ only posts that make me frown are the ones that attempt to make some machine look good by saying brand A,B,C,D etc are junk and only idiots would own one...... Life is good and loading is fun. Posts like Jimbo's are good to read..... I hope he post's often........... Larry
have a mec 650, bought a hornady 366 couldnt get it to work too good sold it and bought a mec9000gn couldnt be happier, i can reload gun clubs and winchester AA without adjusting athing
Haven't used many loaders. I'm currently using a 366. Does a great job for me. One thing I can point out is that if I need a new part all I have to do is pick up the phone and call Hornady. Every time they've sent me what I need quickly and for free. And yes, there is a slight adjustment if you go from one type of shell to another, whether it's punching out the primer or setting the crimp. And there have been times when the rotator for the shells might need a touch. Unless you're shooting 20k shells a year I wouldn't spend any more money than on an old 366. BTW, those 'free' parts you get when you need it.......I bought my loader second hand. And they don't care. They still stand behind the machine as though you bought it new.
It seems to me, reading the various posts from those practicing reloading, most have the same experience with the companies that make the machines..... So for my part, rather than criticize someone else's machine, I would like comment that I am glad that most are very happy with what they have and that the folks that supply those machines are so tuned in to servicing their customers and their products....... ain't it great we are all so fortunate? Larry
I agree with Larry..Folks seem to use what they have well..No doubt the more experience with a loading machine the better you'll do with it. I've had four Hornady 366, two Mec 9000G and a Posiness Warnen..I did pretty good with all but tended to like the 366 for my taste.
I had a number of MEC's years ago (like 45 years ago). Like, everyone else, I started with a MEC Junior and went through the progression to the upper end MEC's Then I bought to 366. What a difference. The MEC's seemed like they were made out of old punched sheet metal car parts, and rattled around. The 366 was a lot more solid to me. Got out of shooting for a few years, sold the 366 (which I should have kept) and bought just about everything made after that. Including a PW800+ with electric drive and shell hopper (lots of adjustment issues), Spolar hydraulic (noisy, primer problems, old technology), and Mec 9000 (stamped parts, rattled around, never felt solid), finally bought a Dillion. No comparison, the Dillon is the fastest, and easy to reload using the compound handle, and shell hopper, easy to adjust, very solid, 250 shells in 20 minutes. If I was to rate them all it would be in the following order. Dillon SL 900, 366, PW800+, Spolar, MEC. This does not take into consideration the cost of each reloader. Just my opinion, for whatever it's worth. Fire away....LOL
Never had any experience with the Dillon. What iyo makes them shine over the rest especially the Spolar ive heard so many folks like?
I can't imagine reloading a case enough times for that to matter! With the jillions of once-fireds loading more than once makes no sense to me.. Why would you bother? Yes - the spring loaded primer seater thing should be std equip. I had MEC's, I still have three 366's. One set up for Rems and one for Feds, one 28ga. I've never had one self-adjust or come loose in any way. Over 20+ years I've never had a problem that was not my fault and/or solved in a couple min. Maybe 2 or 3 of those. Most of the people I've known who have probs with any modern loader prolly should look in the mirror to find the cause
I've owned 3 9000s and 3 366s great machines, settled on the 366 with handles on both sides. both will last a lifetime.
Friends with the 366 have great results and as with those friends with MEC's most issues are self induced. If I could just settle on one hull, one powder, one load, one primer my 9000H would really enjoy life............ but I always have to be "Putzing" with something......... Ed with his 366 has the same style........ just cannot leave things alone. LOL Larry
366, just make sure it has the shot/powder shut offs, shell drop, auto advance before buying. If it doesn't have the spring loaded primer seater that is a worthwhile upgrade. I have the spring loaded primer seater and smooth crimp starter installed and can load Remington, Winchester and Federal 6 or 8 crimp shells back to back with no adjustments. Very reliable machine once adjusted properly. Have also owned MEC grabber and 650 but much prefer the 366.
