About a year ago I purchased MEC Jr. to reload for my 28. I love the machine and the product it produces. I know MEC makes conversion kits for this machine, one being in 20ga. Has anyone here done the switch? How easy is it? Would I be better off buying another Jr. in 20 Gauge?
28 Gauge to 20 Gauge
- Thread starter roy reali
- Start date
reloader28
New member
I have every die but 10gauge and switch them once in a while, but it is way easier to get a different press if youre doing a lot of both. It takes 30 - 45 min to take down, set up and have everthing adjusted again. My 3 main sizes are on different presses. If you only load once a year for 1 of them, then think about the die set.
David Wile
New member
Hey Roy,
I'm with everyone else here. I don't mind changing dies on my metallic loading presses, but changing dies on a shotshell loader is a real pain.
Many years ago I bought a used MEC Sizemaster in 16 gauge and bought a die set to change it to 12 gauge. It took nearly an hour for me to change the parts out, and getting it adjusted took another hour. Once I had done it, I figured I could do it more quickly if I ever had to do it again since I now had this experience. A few years later I bought another used MEC Sizemaster in 12 gauge and thought I would change the first one back to 16 gauge so I would have one in 12 and another in 16 gauges. Remember I said earlier that I thought I should be able to change the die set back a little easier since I had done it before? Wrong! It seemed like I did not remember anything, and it took me even longer to change die sets the second time. I say all this to lend credence to the idea that buying complete machines for each gauge might be a lot easier and not too much more expensive than trying to repeatedly change die sets.
I have three Hornady/Pacific 366 progressive machines in 12, 16, and 20 gauges. In addition, I also have the two MEC Sizemasters in 12 and 16 gauges, and I have a MEC Jr. in 20 gauge. I mostly use the progressive machines, but when I have just a few special loads that I am experimenting with, I go to the single stage machines. I think the MEC machines are really good solid machines that will last a lifetime. On my Jr machine, I added the automatic primer drop option that comes as part of the Sizemaster machines. The automatic primer drop add on is a really nice feature and worth the dollars to me.
Best wishes,
Dave Wile
I'm with everyone else here. I don't mind changing dies on my metallic loading presses, but changing dies on a shotshell loader is a real pain.
Many years ago I bought a used MEC Sizemaster in 16 gauge and bought a die set to change it to 12 gauge. It took nearly an hour for me to change the parts out, and getting it adjusted took another hour. Once I had done it, I figured I could do it more quickly if I ever had to do it again since I now had this experience. A few years later I bought another used MEC Sizemaster in 12 gauge and thought I would change the first one back to 16 gauge so I would have one in 12 and another in 16 gauges. Remember I said earlier that I thought I should be able to change the die set back a little easier since I had done it before? Wrong! It seemed like I did not remember anything, and it took me even longer to change die sets the second time. I say all this to lend credence to the idea that buying complete machines for each gauge might be a lot easier and not too much more expensive than trying to repeatedly change die sets.
I have three Hornady/Pacific 366 progressive machines in 12, 16, and 20 gauges. In addition, I also have the two MEC Sizemasters in 12 and 16 gauges, and I have a MEC Jr. in 20 gauge. I mostly use the progressive machines, but when I have just a few special loads that I am experimenting with, I go to the single stage machines. I think the MEC machines are really good solid machines that will last a lifetime. On my Jr machine, I added the automatic primer drop option that comes as part of the Sizemaster machines. The automatic primer drop add on is a really nice feature and worth the dollars to me.
Best wishes,
Dave Wile
avid WileDavid Wile
New member
Hey Roy,
You are absolutely right. If you don't need a progressive, there is no sense in getting one. And your MEC Junior is a great machine that will last your lifetime and then be passed off to another generation to use another lifetime.
Best wishes,
Dave Wile
You are absolutely right. If you don't need a progressive, there is no sense in getting one. And your MEC Junior is a great machine that will last your lifetime and then be passed off to another generation to use another lifetime.
Best wishes,
Dave Wile
Rich Keagy
New member
Another vote for separate shot shell reloaders.
I have MEC SizeMasters in .410 and 20 ga.
I have MEC SizeMasters in .410 and 20 ga.