If you are like me and own English or older American shotguns with shorter chambers and you reload, you have most likely been stuck doing so on a single stage machine. Loading up enough shells for a casual Saturday shoot can be a pretty daunting task. Making enough shells for a 3-day tournament can be like a jail sentence! Currently, I use a modified PW 375C and while it loads a great cartridge it takes about 7 strokes of the handle for each one. The MEC single stage reloaders can also be modified with the “short kit” to load them as well but you’re still pulling that handle at least 6 times. I have looked in vain for a workable progressive that could do the deed but nobody made one and it seemed that you could not modify them to work really well on 2-1/2” reloads, if at all.
Over the years when my frustration level spiked I would call MEC to see if they had started making the parts that would convert their reliable Grabber to 2-1/2” but got a “no can do” answer. Recently, I thought I would give them another shot and what do you know? They now make the parts that convert a Grabber to load 2-1/2” shells. So, on their advice I sent one of my Grabbers in for them to convert. They asked me to send along the components I use in my standard 12 gauge 2-1/2" low pressure 1oz load so they could set up the machine for my load. I threw in a dozen 2-1/2” hulls(RST/Cheddite) and the same number of CB 6100-12 wads. I got it back this week and it works like a charm.
The Grabber I shipped to MEC had seen a lot of use and needed a “tune-up” which is why I sent it in. If you are somewhat mechanically inclined I think most people could do the conversion themselves. I did not ask MEC if you could buy a new reloader set up for 2-1/2” shells but I don’t see why they couldn’t on a special order basis. You'd have to ask them.
As you know the dies for the first 3 stations on the Grabber are oriented pretty much to the bottom of the hull. It’s only when you get to the crimping stations that the orientation of the dies changes to the top of the hull and that's where the need for modification occurs.
Station 4 Obviously, the Crimp Starter needs to be lowered by 1/4”. The bolt on which the Crimp Starter is mounted appears to have enough extra length to effectively lower the Crimp Starter the required amount. If it isn’t long enough then a quick trip to the hardware store for a longer bolt ought to solve the problem.
Station 5 The Crimping Station is the critical station for the conversion to 2-1/2” shells. Here, those clever fellows at MEC came up with a lengthened Cam Crimp Punch – Long Thread(Part # 621B12LT). Costs a little over 7 bucks. You should be able to substitute the Long Thread version for the standard one on your MEC. Note: You may have to grind down the overall length of the outside of the die so that a full downward travel of the die can be made.
Station 6 The Finishing Station is where the shell is sized one last time. The only thing you may need to do here is grind down the overall length of the outside of the die so that a full downward travel of the die can be made.
Well, I hope this serves to free up some of your time and increases the enjoyment of your older British, American and European doubles. If it’s easier to reload 2-1/2” cartridges then you just might take those great old guns out more often! Hammers back!
Last edited by jdickson397; 10/19/15 11:11 AM.
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