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Joined: 28 Jan 2014 Posts: 66 Location: Wyoming

I recently purchased a MEC 600 Jr. Mark V for loading 16 gauge shells, and my first few attempts with crimping Herters hulls have been horrid at best. I have reloaded the 20 gauge Herters shells on my Sizemaster with great success, but cannot get the new machine anywhere close.

The crimps I am getting vary from smashed in and asymmetrical to very shallow with no rim around the top. The crimp punch is set about as low as it will go, but it seems like it still needs to be a lot deeper.

The load I am using fit well in my Lee Load All and is from the Hodgdon site using Herters Cheddite hulls, Universal powder, sg 16 wad, 1 oz. shot, Fiocchi primers, and is about 1165 fps.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Could the precrimp be part of the problem?

Joined: 01 Oct 2007 Posts: 962 Location: Minnesota

I have good results crimping Herters purple hulls. I have an "open" crimp starter. Someone gave it to me, but I believe BP sells them.
I line the crimp starter so that it matches the original crimp and they turn out perfect. I am using a sizemaster.
One thing, do you have the right stack height to allow for a good crimp?

Joined: 28 Jan 2014 Posts: 66 Location: Wyoming

I'll take some pictures of the stack height and final crimp when I get some time this evening. I know that something is way out of whack because I was getting great crimps on the 20 gauge herters with my other MEC.

The correct wad column height for a 16 ga. Is 5/16" from the end of the hull to the top of the shot.

From the looks of the velocity that puts the powder drop at 20.5, if I am getting the correct information from Hodgdon.

I would guess that you will have a concave crimp. I have a similar load at 23.0 grains of Universal and that load is slightly concave with a crimp depth of .060-.065".

You will need to raise the wad column a bit for that load to fit properly or be very creative with the adjustments on your press.

I would add a 1/8" 28 ga card wad under the shot.

I use both a MEC Sizemaster and a 9000G to load on. My crimp die cam is set midway in it's travel and the crimp starter is set so that when the crimp is finished the crimp points are closed but not swirled or crushed. I use the MEC Spindex Crimp starter, but in this case this isn't a crimp start issue but a wad column height issue.

Be sure that all your hulls are the same overall length. The Cheddite hulls normally are the same but be sure.

Member Joined: 30 Nov 2011 Posts: 1695 Location: Minnesota

I'm doing pretty much the same load rite now, just a WW209. My #27 bushing is throwing a scaled 19.9 - 20 grains. Without compressing the wad at all, I'm getting great crimps. Using a Sizemaster, so it must just be an adjustment that you need. Have you measured your powder drop with a scale? Do you have the sg16 or sg16s wad?

*Last edited by skeettx on Wed Jan 18, 2017 6:16 pm; edited 1 time in total*

OK, gotta ask
Herter's hulls, 6 star crimp, are you using a 6 star crimper or an 8 star?

Like DC asked, how much height from the top of the shot to the top of the hull before you crimp start?

Thanks
Mike

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

Make sure you are dropping the right amount of shot also , mec bars drop light.

Joined: 28 Jan 2014 Posts: 66 Location: Wyoming

I'm using the 6 point crimp. I also tried the 1220 fps load with a measured 21.5 gn powder. Shot charges weighed around .93 oz due to high antimony shot. I am going to try my universal charge bar tonight. I'll take some pictures if I still can't get it right. Thanks for the suggestions so far!

Are you using the metal Spindex crimp starter or the black injection moulded crimp starter?

Mike

Joined: 28 Jan 2014 Posts: 66 Location: Wyoming

I'm using the plastic crimp starter that came with the machine.

The crappy crimp compared to my 20 gauge loads

This one shows where the original factory crimp starts

Here is the stack, precrimp, and final crimp

One more angle...

An attempt to show my settings...

Any thoughts after seeing the pictures?

Joined: 16 Jul 2015 Posts: 2124 Location: Hudson,Wy

It looks like you may benefit a little by setting the crimp starter a little lower. Also, play with the adjustment on the crimping die cam. I see you have it set at about "half way". Sometimes adjusting that will make a big difference in the final product.

Have you successfully reloaded other hulls/Loads on this reloader?

I am going to guess that the column bolt is in the wrong hole. You said that the crimp punch is all the way down. The crimp starter is really low considering the amount of crimp start you have and the crimp die is definitely not coming down far enough on the hull.

Joined: 28 Jan 2014 Posts: 66 Location: Wyoming

I just got the loader on Monday, so these are my first loads. What is the column bolt you are referring to?

Joined: 16 Jul 2015 Posts: 2124 Location: Hudson,Wy

It's the 9/16" head bolt under the loading platform. There are two holes in the base and two threaded holes in the main "mast/post" that carries the tool head. This allows the press to be set up for 2 1/2", 2 3/4", 3", and 3 1/2" shells.

Joined: 28 Jan 2014 Posts: 66 Location: Wyoming

Looked at the manual and found it. This is what mine looks like from front and back.