MEC 600 jr. Question

[okietom]

I have a shot shell reloader that was given to me. It was left in my house by the previous owner who didn't want it back. It loads for 12 gauge. From looking at it, it is a MEC 600 jr. I don't need it as is.

He also left me an old Herters no3 press.

I have a Hornady 366 that loads 12 gauge and even though it is overkill I can't get rid of it, it was a gift from my brother and he also bought a 20 gauge conversion for it too.

I am thinking of converting the MEC to load .410. The conversions that I have seen are for pre mark V or earlier 600 jr.

How can I tell the difference between a 600jr And a 600jr Mark V so I can order the right conversion?

 

[okietom]

Sorry for needless posting but I figured it out. I went to MEC's web site and downloaded the manual for both of them and from the differences I can see that I have the newer one, the mark V.

Thanks any way.

 

[Blitzfike]

Isn't the only difference in die sets a bushing? and I recommend getting an adjustable charge bar, that way you can set it for what ever shot and powder load you want.. Blitzfike

 

[okietom]

I don't know much about this MEC loader. I had to look at pictures to identify it. It is missing a couple parts now. The spring and a round plate from the primer seating. That will come with the conversion kit.

I have looked at the universal charge bar. I most likely will get one when I get the conversion. The charge bar it has is for twelve guage loads and I will have to replace it. Have kept the loader for some time. Eight years. There is more money to be saved reloading .410 than twelve guage. I am not sure that I will save enough to pay for the parts.

After I get this going I may have to buy another .410. Using a new loading setup to justify a new gun is a good thing.

I am thinking about a Mossberg 500 HS410. It would be a nice home defense gun. Maybe a judge.

 

[Blitzfike]

I bought the Mossberg 410 for my grandson. It is a good starter for him. I have 600 jr's in 410, 20, 16 and 12 ga. Where it shines is loading buckshot or heavier shot loads than are available at Walmart. If the load I want is available at Walmart, it is cheaper than I can load it. But for the custom stuff, loading it makes sense from a dollar standpoint for me. I cast my buck shot in two sizes, and also have a slug mold for 12 ga. but it is a smooth slug and isn't legal for deer hunting here. Works fine for practice or self defense.

 

[okietom]

That is most likely true for twelve and twenty gauge. I would bet you can save more on .410 and you are mostly stuck with loading sixteen gauge. Twenty eight is easier to find than sixteen. I do see sixteen at times but not often.

Does it save any loading steel/non toxic loads? I am guessing it does. I don't hunt waterfoul so it doesn't matter.

My brother bought me a used Hornady 366 in twelve gauge for Christmas years ago. I was quail hunting and rarely shot twelve gauge so he spent $90 and bought a conversion to twenty. That thing is way more loader than I need. I would have been happy with a Lee Loadall for twenty gauge. If they made one for .410 I would buy it. I have saved a bag of .410 hulls and it would be fun to shoot .410 some more. I have a Contender in .410 and an H&R single shot. One of the mini Mossberg .410s would be fun to teach kids with. I might even get a judge.

.410 loads are more expensive.

I can buy a conversion to .410 for the 600jr for under $70 bucks from Midway.

 

[criticalbass]

I bought the Mossberg 410 for my grandson. It is a good starter for him. I have 600 jr's in 410, 20, 16 and 12 ga. Where it shines is loading buckshot or heavier shot loads than are available at Walmart. If the load I want is available at Walmart, it is cheaper than I can load it. But for the custom stuff, loading it makes sense from a dollar standpoint for me. I cast my buck shot in two sizes, and also have a slug mold for 12 ga. but it is a smooth slug and isn't legal for deer hunting here. Works fine for practice or self defense.

If your grandson is average or better in size, a 28 ga would make a much better starter gun. .410 is an expert's gun. I grew up with one and was never able to hit anything that wasn't standing still or going straight away. Sort of gave up until I stumbled onto skeet in my early 40s.

There are a lot of folks who find themselves defeated by the .410. One of its problems is that the shot string is about eight feet long, making crossing iargets catch only a small portion of the load.

Reloading costs are comparable to .410, and recoil in well designed 28s is little more than .410 levels.

In MEC single stage loaders, it's a good idea to spend a little more and get the Sizemaster. Includes a primer feed and does a better job of resizing. Also easier to operate.

 

[okietom]

That is all true criticalbass. I learned on a twelve gauge. My dad always said the shells are the same cost as the smaller ones.

I spent a lot of time quail hunting with a twenty just cause it was lighter than my twelve.

When I wanted to teach my wife and sons with a shotgun I used a twenty.

It is fun to teach them early but it is not bad to wait until they are bigger. In today's world when they are big enough to handle a full size gun they are on the internet or cell phone and don't want to shoot guns.

 

[okietom]

That .410 is an experts gun would almost lead me to teach shooting with a .410 and give them a twelve to hunt with.

If they could bust clays with the .410 and use it for practice, hitting birds with a twelve would be easy.

 

[criticalbass]

That .410 is an experts gun would almost lead me to teach shooting with a .410 and give them a twelve to hunt with.

If they could bust clays with the .410 and use it for practice, hitting birds with a twelve would be easy.

Crossing skeet targets that shed a tiny chip (legally dead per the rules) can make a grown person cry. I have seen it happen, having refereed for several years at the World skeet shoot. The .410 is a tough little gun to learn to shoot. If at all possible use the 28 as the trainer. You can load the 28 up to 3/4 of an ounce, and I think Winchester once even offered one ounce loads, though these lose a lot of the light recoil advantage.

The old 11-48 Remington is a nice starter if you can find one. The 1100 is also nice, and I wish I still had mine.

Franchi used to make a super light 28 auto that I could not afford at the time.