16ga.com ~ View topic

Joined: 28 Aug 2014 Posts: 924 Location: Eastern Tennessee

Just picked up 100 new fiocchi hulls and 600 new cheddite hulls. Is a crown crimper worth the expense to use on new hulls?

I get perfectly good crimps with the factory MEC crimper. I wouldn't spend a penny for one.

Joined: 26 Apr 2010 Posts: 3177 Location: NCWa

I'm not familiar with MEC crimpers- the reloaders that I use PW and Pacific, so I'm not sure what the standard crimp starter is that you are using. I have noticed that if the hulls are new, and have no crimp memory, that the steel or brass crimp starters are worth the price over the plastic ones- however once the crimp pattern is imprinted on the hulls, then even the plastic starters do an adequate job.

Member Joined: 06 Oct 2007 Posts: 2346 Location: West MI

on the new HARD hulls , I just sort of sneek up on them on the fold station . Down part way , up . Down more up . Once the folds are set , the crimp station I go SSLLOOOOWWWW ! seems to set nice and from then on good to go ! For my target loads even , I go slow . Each powder drop is hand measured . I only drop shot using the bar . If necessary , seat the wad by hand . I know , contrary to speed loaders , but never a PUFF when the heats on . Same with crimping - easy does it . ( isn't spell checker a hoot . It doesn't have a problem with SSLLOOOOWWWW , but half the reg easy words are lit up !)

Joined: 28 Aug 2014 Posts: 924 Location: Eastern Tennessee

Thanks for all your help. I managed on a 10 cent each brand new with primer deal and could not pass it up.

16gaDavis has the technique. That's what I'm talking about when I say the MEC 600 is more versatile (not to mention more cost effective) than the Sizemaster. Because it doesn't have the drag of the Sizemaster's collet crimper and primer feed mechanism, a 600 gives you more feel for what is going on in the crimp stages, which makes the technique described by 16gaDavis easier.

Joined: 03 Sep 2014 Posts: 398 Location: Rochester, MN

With brand new hulls, I get OK crimps with my 700 VersaMec. For my best crimps, I start the new hull with a Lee Load-All crimp starter and finish with my MEC.

The Lee Load-All has much sharper "blades" and starts the crimp much deeper than the MEC crimp starter does. I suspect the crown crimper is much the same.

on my starter , I also have 2 washers under the star holder and a washer on top of the platform - can make the folds as long or short as needed.

Guest

I've got a MEC crown crimper in my drawer in its package that I've never used. Make an offer!