*$#@%! MEC .410 reloading press

[cajuntec]

Man, I just can't seem to get this dang press adjusted, although I'm starting to think that my problem is the hulls I'm using, and not the press. Regardless, I'm frustrated.

I have a MEC for my 12 gauge reloading that does a great job. Perfect crimps every time. The .410 press has constantly given me a crappy crimp job from the start. It does a decent enough job with AA Winchester hulls, but when I try to crimp brand new Cheddite hulls, it gives me some crappy looking blob at the end instead of a nice 6 point crimp. I've adjusted it (both the cam adjustment and the center punch), and got it to crimp, vice smash, but now it's leaving a huge gaping hole in the middle. According to the instructions, I have to adjust the cam for that. But when I do, I'm back to mashing a blob instead of a nice sharp crimp. The final crimping stage also is leaving an additional divot in the top of the crimp ring, almost looking like something is in the crimp station, but there isn't. I don't know what's causing this.

Maybe 500 rounds of brand new primed Cheddite hulls for $60 wasn't a good deal after all....

Any suggestions? (besides just using AA hulls?)

All the best,
Glenn

[sierracharlie338]

Wish I could help but that is a prime example of why I don't do shotgun reloads. Too many moving parts for me

I should be able to get those 60gr pills out to you Monday.






Sierracharlie out....

[Johnny Dangerr]

I always use hot candle wax to finish off the 410 reloads. The AA will dribble out lead also. Shot skeet for years this way with no problems......

[az2tx]

I use only AA hulls in my 28 ga and 410 problem solved

[cajuntec]

I always use hot candle wax to finish off the 410 reloads. The AA will dribble out lead also. Shot skeet for years this way with no problems......

Thanks for the advice. I might try that. How about "shot cards"? I've never used them, and I think they were only meant for open-end (non crimped) shells, but I was wondering if maybe I could lay a shot card on the top of the load before crimping. I do have a slight bit of room (the #9 shot doesn't fill it completely up). Would this cause any over-pressure issues?

All the best,
Glenn

[cajuntec]

I use only AA hulls in my 28 ga and 410 problem solved

Unfortunately, now the AA hulls are doing it too. I took it completely apart to verify there was nothing stuck in the final crimping station causing that extra divot or other problems. It was clean, but wiped everything down completely. I put it back together and tried to adjust, and now it's worse than it was before.

All the best,
Glenn

[cajuntec]

Thanks for the advice. I might try that. How about "shot cards"? I've never used them, and I think they were only meant for open-end (non crimped) shells, but I was wondering if maybe I could lay a shot card on the top of the load before crimping. I do have a slight bit of room (the #9 shot doesn't fill it completely up). Would this cause any over-pressure issues?

All the best,
Glenn

Google search found this quickly - I might have a solution to my problem:

http://www.ballisticproducts.com/bpi/articleindex/articles/crimparticle1/crimparticle.htm

All the best,
Glenn

[SaltwaterSlick]

Mine is set up to reload 3" shells and I have had very good success with the Winchester and the Green Remington 3" hulls... haven't tried anything else. I guess I was lucky because all I did was put in the proper powder/shot bushings, fill the shot/powder tubes and started feeding it hulls, primers and wads...