looking to change from multiple MEC machines to 1 solid machine

Discussion in 'Reloading Bench' started by CanyonLakeArcher, Jan 11, 2018.

  1. CanyonLakeArcher

    CanyonLakeArcher Well-Known Member

    Previously banned somewhere for posting this thread claiming it was dribbling to get to 50 post....... so I guess I will come here and asked the same question and see if I can actually get answers before I get banned :) I have a MEC 9000H and I am looking at getting PW 800+ or PW patriot.The only reason I am considering changing is because I will load so many different types of powders between my Wife’s load, my load for sporting clays and my load for Pot Shooting. The reason I am looking at these types of orders is because you can shut the power off without having to go through the hassle of the MEC I have a 9000 H I have a grabber and I have a 9000 manual. I would like to get set up with just one load her in change powders easily. What are your thoughts on the PW or should I also look at the Hornaday? Just realizing I asked it much better here...
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 11, 2018
  2. grizquad

    grizquad Well-Known Member Founding Member

    I went from a MEC 9000 after several years and decided to go PW 800+. I talked to several people and one friend has the Patriot, and decided to go with the 800+ since I just load 1 gauge. I added the automate and the hull feeder and have been very happy. The hull feeder needs some tweaking, but that just takes time and patience. There is a learning curve gong to the PW. I do not know anything about the Hornaday.
    On the 800+ you can change powder drop and shot drop very easy, and if you want to change powder you can empty the hopper pretty quick too. In between loading, I empty my powder hopper every time I finish. Hope this helps.
     
    sleeperhawk likes this.
  3. CanyonLakeArcher

    CanyonLakeArcher Well-Known Member

    Thank you, that is exactly what I was looking for!!
     
  4. Ken Cerney

    Ken Cerney HOF Muscoda Gun Club Past Wisconsin Director Founding Member HOF Muscoda Gun Club

    I load with the Dillon SL900. It comes with adjustable powder and shot bars. Easy to unload the shot hopper if you need to. A good set up with an auto hull feeder.
     
    warpspeed likes this.
  5. trap.skeet.sporting

    trap.skeet.sporting Active Member

    What hassle?
     
  6. CanyonLakeArcher

    CanyonLakeArcher Well-Known Member

    I load Longshot for Pot shooting, international for my sporting class and promo for my wife’s Sporting Clasy shells. It is a hassle to change powder and shot on my MEC. So I have a 9000 h a 12 Ga Grabber and a 20 ga grabber.
     
  7. trap.skeet.sporting

    trap.skeet.sporting Active Member

    Have a powder bottle for each. Flip the measure back, change bottles. Change the bushing and/or bar then if needed. Flip the measure forward. I don't find that a hassle.
     
  8. CanyonLakeArcher

    CanyonLakeArcher Well-Known Member

    I can Understand that some folks see this as part of the deal, but I work 70 hr a week and have a 7 and 11 year old, time is precious as well as I enjoy loading not dealing with the issues I have with the MEC system of changing powder and shot, want to buy my 3 MEC machines trap.skeet.sporting lol they are for sale
     
  9. dr.longshot

    dr.longshot Grudge Match Champion Founding Member Forum Leader Grudge Match Champion

    I use the MEC 9000 and installed The Adjustable Powder/Shot. Charging Bar. I wore one out. I also have The Digital RCBS Scale to Dial in my Loads, Both Powder and Shot are adjustable. They are cheaper than a PW. And they Resize Every Shell, and resizer is also adjustable.

    Gary Bryant..................................Dr.longshot
     
    CanyonLakeArcher likes this.
  10. SteveS1965

    SteveS1965 Member

    and i'm sure everyone know what site that was that banned you, its crazy they don't like something someone ask's so they ban them
     
    Roger Coveleskie likes this.
  11. trap.skeet.sporting

    trap.skeet.sporting Active Member

    I bet you will find a PW a bigger hassle.
     
  12. CanyonLakeArcher

    CanyonLakeArcher Well-Known Member

    I was asking Reloading Questions as well as posting in the hunting forum, posted some pics of a Whitetail I harvested in Missouri with my Bow, I was told I was dribbling and I was Banned......
     
  13. warpspeed

    warpspeed Member

    I had a P-W and found that trying to get the exact load I wanted was tedious The bushings were always high or low. I eventually took a bushing and filled it with Marinetex epoxy and then drilled it out to get the correct volume. On the Dillon, it is a breeze.

    I haven't switched between gauges as I only load 12 but it looks pretty strait forward.
     
    CanyonLakeArcher likes this.
  14. trap.skeet.sporting

    trap.skeet.sporting Active Member

    MEC 9000s cope well with steel rimmed hulls. P-Ws not so well.
     
    CanyonLakeArcher likes this.
  15. CanyonLakeArcher

    CanyonLakeArcher Well-Known Member

    That is good to know, I was not aware of that and since almost all current hulls are steel base that could be a problem.
     
  16. Larry

    Larry Mega Poster Founding Member

    I load with the 9000H..... No problems at all with the machine but changing powder is a task. If it were possible a powder shutoff for the powder bottle would be a change worth doing. I have several powders I "play" with..... not because I have to but its in my nature......... Larry
     
    CanyonLakeArcher likes this.
  17. trap.skeet.sporting

    trap.skeet.sporting Active Member

    That I can't understand. I find it very easy. Just tilt back the measure assembly, unscrew the powder bottle, screw on a new powder bottle. East for me.
     
  18. Larry

    Larry Mega Poster Founding Member

    Did not say it wasn't easy, just said it was a task. A bottle shutoff would allow me to shut off the powder resulting in a sealed container without trying to find the lid and in my limited room not have to slide the machine out of position to tip the bottles back for changing. With the 9000H I run the press to the bottom of the stroke, block it down with a spacer I have made which allows the full tip of the bottle assembly for removal and installation..... Larry
     
    CanyonLakeArcher likes this.
  19. jbailey

    jbailey Active Member

    PW 800+ with auto drive and the small gauge tool heads. A MEC super sizer to deal with the steel case heads when I run out of AA and STS hulls. It will be a while. Cheddite primers, claybuster wads and West Coast hard shot = a premium quality shell for $5.00 a box.
     
  20. PETETGUN99

    PETETGUN99 Active Member

    PW can be a problem at times ,you have to resize all of your steel based hulls.Also the PW seats primers by pushing up from the bottom and this could dish the hull in the rem hulls unless your using rem primers.With Mec this is not a problem as it seats by downward presure to a semi solid bottom.I Ioad on a pw with a hull feeder ,if your pressed for time as you say the pw is a production machine. Once you go through the learning curve you can realy crank em out.
     
  21. CanyonLakeArcher

    CanyonLakeArcher Well-Known Member

    Well I’m on my way, my 800+ will be here Tuesday, with 20,28 and 410 tool heads. I also am curious why you need to resize if you shoot o/u, I thought resizing was only for semi and pumps?
     
  22. CanyonLakeArcher

    CanyonLakeArcher Well-Known Member

    So my MEC 9000H will be for sale as well as my 20ga/12ga grabbers
     
  23. gregpete

    gregpete Member

    Pay good spolar better - have hd oh and Mexico
    All load shells ok but bet I have for speed and accuracy is the spolar with th pump
     
  24. Larry

    Larry Mega Poster Founding Member

    Most all do load good shells if adjusted properly. A good instruction book and the willingness to follow it would probably result in an abundance of satisfaction... Larry
     
    CanyonLakeArcher likes this.
  25. CanyonLakeArcher

    CanyonLakeArcher Well-Known Member

    I am happy to report, my 800+ showed up and with a couple of small adjustments I am making very nice loads. I have never had a crimp look so nice, now I know crimps don’t break targets but damn they are pretty.
     
    Larry likes this.
  26. CanyonLakeArcher

    CanyonLakeArcher Well-Known Member

    Voice text lol
     
  27. Dcan69

    Dcan69 New Member

    I use a MEC super sizer also for the steel base hulls.
    At times found the steel base would drag in the dies and create a lot of friction ejecting from the die.
    One pass through the MEC Super Sizer and a very happy PW 950.
     
  28. hullsnatcher

    hullsnatcher Active Member Founding Member

    I have two PW'S,900 and 800 plus, and two Spolar Hydraulic loaders.The Spolars are everything they are hyped to be!! The PW'S are just as good!!! I had Whiz to mill my shell holders out on the 900 PW and it runs the steel headed shells like crap through a goose! The 800 plus is set up for Federal Papers and does a really nice job on those. The only problem that I have ever had out of the PW'S is with the cheap hulls. The milling by Whiz took care of the issue, The Spolars are set up for AA's and they run them or any other thing I stick in them and never hiccup..............Enjoy the PW...........Hard to find a better machine.
     
  29. Jim Woodside

    Jim Woodside Member

    I also sold my MEC 9000's, 12ga & 20ga, and purchased a P&W 800Plus with 12, 20 and 28ga heads. Wanted to consolidate my reloading room. Great machine. Unfortunately, it's still in the box as I am on process of moving to a free state.
     
  30. pinfireman

    pinfireman Active Member

    I have 5 P/W machines, 80 0CVT, and 900 Elites. 4 Different gauges.I never have a problem with steel base hulls. I load Cheddite, Winchester, Remington and the less well known Victory. Whatever I can harvest from the local gun clubs. The hulls all go through ok, unless I have overlooked a bad one....the machines handle all the others ok....
     
  31. Shooting Coach

    Shooting Coach Well-Known Member Founding Member

    I have 8 MEC 9000G's (3-12's, 2-20's, 2-28's, and 1-410), and only have to swap out machines on my quick change mount on the bench. I live alone and have room for the machines, only have a spoiled cat that leaves the machines and loading area alone. She does guard the primers. LOL

    upload_2018-9-1_22-14-0.jpeg


    I also load several different powders, except in the 410, and this was my solution to that problem. They process steel hulls in a proper manner. At the clubs where I shoot, AA's and STS hulls on the ground are in short supply. More cheap hulls than I can pick up. Load 'em once, and toss 'em.
     
  32. good choice on the pw. I loaded on mecs for 44 yrs now. I just switched to the pw 800 + with .410 and 28 gage tool heads. im waiting on a reply from jbailey to buy his 20 ga tool head. im going to keep my 9000 h for my 12 ga. I bought the pw for 20-28 and .410 gages. I like the way way it loads the .410. haven't loaded any 28 ga yet. but I have a feeling it will do as well as the 410. now I have 4 grabbers and 1 650 ill be posting in the for sale then ill buy the auto drive for the pw
     
  33. shooting coach like your cat. mine does the same thing as yours lol.
     
  34. +1 on the learning curve. after that and an a auto drive your good to go.