If you're tired of having to pay retail prices with regard to birdshot, picking upward a mec sizemaster 12ga is usually probably the greatest move you can make for your own workbench. I've invested a lot of years tugging handles on various presses, and while the high-speed progressive machines have their place, there is some thing incredibly reliable in regards to the Sizemaster that will keep it at the center of my reloading setup. It's ideal middle terrain between a simple entry-level press and a full-blown commercial-style rig.
The wonder of the Collet Sizer
The real reason nearly all people opt intended for the mec sizemaster 12ga more than its cheaper brother or sister, the 600 Junior, is the Energy V collet sizer. If you've actually tried to holding chamber a reloaded cover simply to have this stick halfway in because the brass base was somewhat swollen, you understand exactly why this matters.
Standard ring sizers—the type you find on cheaper presses—just shove the ring over the particular brass. They function okay usually, but they don't usually get the base to factory dimensions, especially if you're firing high-brass loads or even using shells that will were fired within a gun having a slightly loose step. The Sizemaster utilizes a series of fingertips that close close to the base associated with the shell plus squeeze it back again to original specifications. It's a much more thorough procedure. When that shell comes out associated with the Sizemaster, it chambers as smooth as a fresh box of AA Target loads.
Why Single-Stage Still Makes Sense
We reside in a global where everyone wants points faster, but there exists a lot to become said for the single-stage process. With the mec sizemaster 12ga , you are usually performing one procedure at a time. For the lot of us, that's actually a feature, not really an insect.
Whenever you're running an intensifying press, five or even six things are usually happening with each pull from the deal with. If something goes wrong—a primer flips sideways or a piece of shot gets stuck—it can be a nightmare to clear the porch without making the massive mess. Along with the Sizemaster, you have total control. You can observe the powder drop, you can have the wad seat, and you may inspect the crimp at every step.
Truthfully, for the average capture shooter or seeker who goes by means of a few containers a week, a single-stage press is definitely plenty fast. You can easily churn out 150 to 200 rounds a good hour once a person get into a rhythm. That's more than enough to keep many of us in the particular game without switching our hobby in to a second job.
Setting Up the particular MEC Sizemaster 12ga
Getting this thing bolted lower and dialed within isn't overly challenging, but you do need to spend some time. One particular mistake I realize people make is not really mounting it securely. Don't just C-clamp this to a folding table. You need a solid table. The leverage you apply when resizing 12-gauge brass is definitely significant, and when your own bench is flexing, your crimps are going to be inconsistent.
Dialing in the Coil
The coil is where the particular "art" of reloading comes in. The mec sizemaster 12ga has a great plastic crimp starter that handles both 6-point and 8-point covers. The main element is the final closing station. You want a crimp that is toned or slightly indented with a nice, rounded edge (the "radius"). This can help the cover feed reliably within semi-autos.
In case your crimps appear like a mushroom, you've got excessive pressure or excessive internal volume. In the event that there's an opening in the center where shot can leak out, you need to adapt your cam down. It will take about 10 minutes of tinkering to obtain it perfect, but once it's set, the Sizemaster holds its adjustment incredibly well. I've gone thousands of rounds without having to touch the crimp die once it was locked in.
Selecting the Right Bushing
MEC utilizes a bushing program for powder drops, which is probably the simplest method to handle propellant. You just fall the little aluminum cylinder in to the charge club and you're great to go. However, a word of advice: always use the scale . Also though the MEC chart might state a #30 bushing drops a certain amount of natural powder, various lots associated with powder can become denser or fluffier. I always check the first five falls of a program to ensure the excess weight is where it requires to be.
Dealing with the Auto Primer Feed
The "EZ Prime" system on the particular mec sizemaster 12ga any of those things that will you'll either like or spend a few minutes cursing at until you know how it loves to be handled. It's designed to drop a primer immediately as you move the handle.
When it's working right, it's a beautiful issue. It saves you from needing to reach into a package and fumbled along with tiny primers every single thirty seconds. The secret is keeping it clean. A single run-a-way flake of natural powder or a small bit of debris can screw up the time. I usually keep a can of compacted air nearby to blow out the 1er track every hundred rounds or so. If you treat it well, it'll treat you well.
Versatility for Different Loads
1 of the best things about having a mec sizemaster 12ga is it isn't just for regular lead target tons. Because it's the single-stage press, it's much easier in order to switch to metal shot for sweet season as well as heavy buckshot loads with regard to home defense or deer hunting.
If you're loading steel, you usually need to swap out there the charge club for one made for larger pellets, however the machine itself handles the extra pressure of resizing heavy duty hulls without busting a sweat. It's also very simple to adjust the particular press for 3-inch shells. Most 12 gauge hunting loads these days are 3-inch, and while several presses make that will transition a discomfort, the Sizemaster will be pretty straightforward. You simply move a few spacers, adjust your own dies, and you're back in business.
Could it be Worth the Bench Space?
I get questioned a great deal if it's still worth reloading 12-gauge when a person can buy "promo" loads at the big box shops for relatively inexpensive. My answer will be always the same: you aren't reloading in order to match the quality of the least expensive shells on the shelf. You're reloading in order to match—or beat—the quality of the high quality shells.
With a mec sizemaster 12ga , I could create a shell that is ballistically identical to some high-end target insert for a fraction of the price. Plus, there is a weirdly pleasing feeling when you're out on the particular sporting clays training course and you break a hard crosser along with a shell you built yourself.
Beyond the money, there's the supply chain concern. We've all observed those times whenever the shelves are usually empty. Having the press along with a stash of components means you get in order to go shooting while everyone else is at house waiting for a shipping truck.
Last Thoughts for the Sizemaster
If you're looking for a tool that will most likely outlive you, this particular is it. MEC builds these items out there of real metal, not cheap pot metal. They're "overbuilt" within the best method possible. Parts are available at nearly every sporting goods store in the country, and the learning curve is gentle plenty of that a beginner may pick up in an afternoon.
The mec sizemaster 12ga provides survived the test of time for any reason. It's basic, it's tough, and it also produces ammo that looks and sets like factory things. Whether you're seeking to save some cash or you simply want the fulfillment of crafting your own personal loads, it's difficult to find a better device for the job. Simply make sure you retain the collet greased and the natural powder dry, and it'll keep clicking along for decades.