Home Forums Reloading Shotshells Modifying MEC 650JR from 20 to 28 gauge

I have an unused MEC 650 Junior from about 1970 set up to load 20 gauge. Now I'm thinking of getting a 28 gauge shotgun. 28 gauge shells are a lot more expensive than 20 gauge (or 12). Does anyone know if it's relatively easy to get the parts to modify my press or should I forget it?

Probably easier and less costly to find a used one on Ebay. That's what I did and I now have three. They're in 12, 20 and 28 ga.

To me, by the time you buy the dies and go to the trouble to swap it out, get it all adjusted, you'd be better off with another one. Then you'd still have the one you were going to retro-fit, just in case you needed it.

DF

Dirtfarmer is exactly right. Magnum Man

That's the way I'm set up as well. Way easier than swapping parts and readjusting.

And with the price of a used press, it's not a budget buster either.

Indy a MEC 650 is a semi-progressive press with no resizing feature. A Mec 600JR is a single stage press that does everything. I have a 28 ga MEC 600 Jr that I could sell ,send me a private message if interested. Magnum Man

MM,

You're right. Mine are the 600JR/Versamec series. I once, back in my youth, had a 650 progressive, got tired of cleaning up spilled shot, sold it. Never wanted another one. The 600's are fast enough for me and about as good and bullet proof a shotgun press as there is. There are so many out there, that occasionally one can find a good used one for a great price on Ebay. I like the older ones with all steel dies.

DF

+1 Dirt farmer I had to take my SOB lessons on a MEC 9000G progressive that did the same and went back to the old 600 jr as its really all I need also. I have 1 of each ga and 2 in 12 gauge.I like them and they been part of my shooting life for 44 yrs now. Magnum Man

I have a Versamec set up for cowboy action, low powered loads. The 20 ga. and 28 ga. 600Jr's are set up for hunting loads. If I wanted a 12 ga. hunting load, it may be feasible to get yet another all steel die, early 600Jr on Ebay for a dedicated 12 ga. hunting load rather than adjusting the one I now have. If I want to load some CAS loads, I'd have to go through all the re-adjusting process which can take some time. Used MEC 600Jr's are just that cheap, especially in 12 ga. due to the number of them out there.

DF

Let me echo what has already been said. Yes MEC sells dies sets for the older presses, but they cost almost as much as used presses go for. And the headache of swapping out is more that I want to deal with. Unless you no longer load 20 gauge and plan to buy 28 dies and leave it set up that way, buy a used 28 gauge press instead. If you are near a skeet range, there are usually guys who have given up the hobby, or have invested in a progressive and you can probably find a deal on their old stuff.