I understand wanting to go "old school," but MEC didn't just go with plastic for the crimping stations and wad guide, but because those are areas very susceptible to corrosion. Also, having the Delrin plastic surface is very slick, allowing the wad and shell to slide through with almost no binding. It's your press, but this is basically reinventing the wheel by taking that "junky" rubber tire off and replacing it with steel, as with a wagon wheel.
MEC most likely moved to plastic for cost purposes more so than corrosion (considering how much of the press is not "oil based") concerns IMO. But to each their own and you are correct, my press so my "downgrades". Not reinventing the wheel, but definitely replacing a plastic wheel with a steel wheel.
@@ReLoadersBench I don't mind the plastic final crimp, but I switched my first crimp die out to a Ballistic Products brass crown crimper. Sharper points that really work good on brand new un-crimped hulls and older hulls, too. They make them in 6 or 8 point crimps. The only way to go for loading brand new hulls. I load 16 gauge and sometimes need to buy new Cheddite skived hulls. This crimper really sets in a good first crimp.
I have 3 old MEC 600 jr reloaders (12, 20 & 410), which have the metal guide & crimp parts. One thing that I ran into, was the red (wad) guide bushings. I ordered these for my 20 & 410, but the 12 gauge red plastic guides are not available. I called MEC about this & they said that they wore out the die for the 12 gauge red plastic guide, so none are available. I've been thinking about trying to cut down one of the new black wad guides to make a new insert, but have not tried it yet. As you have one, you might want to try this for the 12 gauge insert.
I was told MEC no longer makes the old style orange wad guide fingers in 12 gauge. Unless you have new old stock ones you might have to put the dreaded polymer one back on when the old ones wear out..
The Hornady replacement wad guide fingers fit and work just fine and are readily available. As an aside, I recall when the MEC machines had brass wad guides fingers. Now that's old!
Those look really nice on there. Got to admit I'm not really a plastic guy either. I wood rather pay more in the first place to have metal. So, those are newer style parts on the older press ?
@@ReLoadersBench It's funny, the good stuff on the old ones, and plastic on the new ones. I guess $ is the bottom line. Cheaper parts and more money for the press. Sign of the times :-)
I don't get it. I agree that plastic is often junk, but in some applications it is better. The MEC dies are one of those applications where polymer is the way to go. No rust, self lubricating, never wear out, etc. What is not to like"?
![[94] The MEC 600 Jr Shotshell Reloader Modifications and Review](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/OP5swvAaPGE/mqdefault.jpg)
I understand wanting to go "old school," but MEC didn't just go with plastic for the crimping stations and wad guide, but because those are areas very susceptible to corrosion.
Also, having the Delrin plastic surface is very slick, allowing the wad and shell to slide through with almost no binding.
It's your press, but this is basically reinventing the wheel by taking that "junky" rubber tire off and replacing it with steel, as with a wagon wheel.
MEC most likely moved to plastic for cost purposes more so than corrosion (considering how much of the press is not "oil based") concerns IMO. But to each their own and you are correct, my press so my "downgrades". Not reinventing the wheel, but definitely replacing a plastic wheel with a steel wheel.
@@ReLoadersBench I don't mind the plastic final crimp, but I switched my first crimp die out to a Ballistic Products brass crown crimper. Sharper points that really work good on brand new un-crimped hulls and older hulls, too. They make them in 6 or 8 point crimps. The only way to go for loading brand new hulls. I load 16 gauge and sometimes need to buy new Cheddite skived hulls. This crimper really sets in a good first crimp.
@@davidcudlip6587 - Thanks for the information, I'll have to check that out.
I have 3 old MEC 600 jr reloaders (12, 20 & 410), which have the metal guide & crimp parts. One thing that I ran into, was the red (wad) guide bushings. I ordered these for my 20 & 410, but the 12 gauge red plastic guides are not available. I called MEC about this & they said that they wore out the die for the 12 gauge red plastic guide, so none are available. I've been thinking about trying to cut down one of the new black wad guides to make a new insert, but have not tried it yet. As you have one, you might want to try this for the 12 gauge insert.
Will have to give that a try. Thanks.
I was told MEC no longer makes the old style orange wad guide fingers in 12 gauge. Unless you have new old stock ones you might have to put the dreaded polymer one back on when the old ones wear out..
The Hornady replacement wad guide fingers fit and work just fine and are readily available. As an aside, I recall when the MEC machines had brass wad guides fingers. Now that's old!
Those look really nice on there. Got to admit I'm not really a plastic
guy either. I wood rather pay more in the first place to have metal.
So, those are newer style parts on the older press ?
The press is the current version (mine is about 4 years old), but the parts are old, pre-1982.
@@ReLoadersBench It's funny, the good stuff on the old ones,
and plastic on the new ones. I guess $ is
the bottom line. Cheaper parts and more
money for the press. Sign of the times :-)
On your final crimp ... the nut goes BELOW the turret platform, not above! Your's is in the wrong place.
Noticed/fixed that after posting the vid.
I don't get it. I agree that plastic is often junk, but in some applications it is better. The MEC dies are one of those applications where polymer is the way to go. No rust, self lubricating, never wear out, etc. What is not to like"?
That’s the beauty here...you don’t need to “get it” because what I like/prefer shouldn’t matter to you. To each their own.