16ga.com ~ View topic - 16ga 2-1/2" reloading problems

I have been trying to reload new cheddite 2-1/2" hulls with these recipes:

3/4 oz. 15.9gr Internat'l Ched. 209 DR 16 6,200 PSI 1150
7/8 oz. 19.6gr SR 7625 Ched. 209 BP/SPTG16 6,400 PSI 1125

I use a 1/4 spacer in my MEC 600jr to raise the crimping station. I use an 8-star crimp starter, and I am trying to get a fold crimp (I don't have roll crimping capabilities). I crush the hull long before I am able to crimp the load.

What am I doing wrong? Help! Solutions? Suggestions?

Bummer, I feel your pain and frustration Sad

Have you tried it without the spacer?

Did you buy the press new?

OK, now for the technical questions, after you seat the wad and add the shot, how much air space is there from the top of the shot to the top of the hull?

Is your 8 point star crimper the old MEC metal star crimper or the new black plastic star crimer?

Do you have a loaded factory 2 1/2 cartridge?

What happens when you put it in the pre-crimp station and bring the handle down?

What happens when you put it in the final crimp stage and bring the handle down?

One last question, is the pre-crimp on the cheddite hulls looking good?

Thanks
Mike

I load a Lot of these . Your components should fit . There's a little triangle shoulder on the top left on the loader . you adjust up and down for shoulder depth . You probably need to let it up . Don't put too much lift under the shell . A quarter under the deck and I crimp down on that .Adj your crimper up and then drop to what you want . sounds complicated , isn't once you see the workings !

My 7/8 ounce 16 gauge 2.5" load is almost exactly your second load. Same hull, powder, wad and shot charge and I've never crushed a hull, in fact, my crimps are very slightly dished. I've loaded and fired over 5,000 of these with no issue. The only difference is that I use a 6 point crimp because almost all of the hulls I have are previously fired and had 6 point crimps from the factory. I have crimped 2.5" hulls cut-down from 2.75" with no problem and this should be the same as crimping new hulls.

My loader is a Sizemaster with the MEC short kit installed.

My best guess is:

a. Crimp starter adjusted too low
b. Cam adjusted too low
c. Cam crimp punch adjusted too low
d. Some combination of all the above

Member Joined: 09 Jan 2013 Posts: 2168 Location: Florida

I have loaded both of those loads , with no problems , most likely your cam adjustment is too low .

Joined: 09 Sep 2006 Posts: 863 Location: NoDak

Juat a suggestion, go to YouTube and search under MEC Reloaders. Lots of good info and some step by step procedures that can help you.

Good Luck!

Greg

To all, thank you for your suggestions. It appears that my problem was in using the 1/4" platform that raised the hulls for the crimp starter and crimping station. (these were required for 2-1/2" 12 gauge reloads). At your suggestions, I removed the platform, extended the crimp starter, and readjusted my crimping station to allow for the shorter hull. Using the 7625 recipe, everything went together perfectly with a slightly dished crimp.

I was fearful that I would need to toss all these new hulls, but now I am happily reloading for my BSW 16ga SxS. Thanks to all.