So far I've stuck to BP with the 2-5/8" A.Peterman (W&C Scott) and Baker-patent 2-7/8" LC Smith here. One of the old fashioned coffee grinder roll crimp tools does great with cut down Federal plastics; just turn the lip in a bit and it holds top card in fine, no need to do the full roll with plastic.
Also, the 10 ga MEC 600 Jr that I got came set up for 3-1/2" of course, but I discovered that it has a second set of holes in the mounting post that makes it into a perfect 2-7/8" pie-crimping machine, just like the 12 and 20 gauge machines can be changed between 2-3/4" and 3" with no need for a spacer plate.
