MEC 650

[bill cooksey]

just letting you know black bars r for steel red r for lead you don't need to weigh steel just get the right bar

Diggity,
Couldn't help but notice your location. Is the WAGAS duck club off Avenue A still viable? How about the club on Edwards. Used to be some decent duck hunting on that lake on the east side of the highway as you came into the valley. For that matter, some days I recall folks lining up around the sewage ponds out north to pass shoot birds going in and out.

 

[Diggity]

not sure about the club off ave A but the Edward they still hunt

 

[bill cooksey]

not sure about the club off ave A but the Edward they still hunt

Here’s a satellite view I just found on Google. There used to be a handful of clubs south of there, but now you can’t even see the outline of most of their ponds. Jimmy Doolittle was a member of WAGAS, and a lot of pilots came through as guests. Dad was a member for several years in the 80s, and it was a rare Sunday he didn’t come back to camp with a limit.

 

[RPC1977]

This one was 12 gauge and bought for $70. Will see what the actual condition is when it gets here. Main thing I’d like to set up to load are 2-3/4” steel duck loads. Something like 1-1/16 of #4 at about 1500. Not only have they become scarce as hens teeth, the price is often higher than 3” shells with bigger payloads.

Never loaded steel. I assume I’ll have to measure the shot by hand, but hopefully the press can do the rest.

650 is a good loader. I have one since the late 80's that I've probably cranked the lever 50k xs and it keeps going. Loaded a case of target loads through it last week. Yours is a newer improved model. 650 was set up for AA and tapered hull target loads from the factory. Can be adjusted for straight wall hulls but can be a pain to get the crimp just right so that they feed reliably through semis. Without a resizing station, cycling can be an issue as well. If you shoot pumps or doubles, then generally you'll be fine. Look up Dave from AZ article on non- A-STEEL steel loads and you'll find some powders that will meter though the press because that awesome unicorn aka A-STEEL will not. Blue dot, Universal, hs-6 and Longshot will though. There are steel conversion kits for MEC progressive loaders. You'll definitely want the larger shot drop tube and the steel charge bar of your choosing. Best of luck!

 

[bill cooksey]

650 is a good loader. I have one since the late 80's that I've probably cranked the lever 50k xs and it keeps going. Loaded a case of target loads through it last week. Yours is a newer improved model. 650 was set up for AA and tapered hull target loads from the factory. Can be adjusted for straight wall hulls but can be a pain to get the crimp just right so that they feed reliably through semis. Without a resizing station, cycling can be an issue as well. If you shoot pumps or doubles, then generally you'll be fine. Look up Dave from AZ article on non- A-STEEL steel loads and you'll find some powders that will meter though the press because that awesome unicorn aka A-STEEL will not. Blue dot, Universal, hs-6 and Longshot will though. There are steel conversion kits for MEC progressive loaders. You'll definitely want the larger shot drop tube and the steel charge bar of your choosing. Best of luck!

Great info, and much appreciated. May PM some questions when I start looking at accessories and components.