doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com MEC Progressive Loader Problem/2nd Crimp Stage

I cannot seem to get the second crimp stage set up correctly. This is the 8567 Grabber with the plastic crimper. That collet is much looser (maybe a part is missing?) in the turret. On my other Grabbers which are older have the chromed steel in those parts. Not sure what to do. thanks, Gil

Gil, if you don’t get a good answer here post your inquiry over on Shotgun World under “Shotgun Reloading”. Those guys are tremendous helps!

What is your crimp problem? Hole in the center or not deep enough? Should be able to walk you through any adjustments.

So I think I have finally isolated the problem. I think I have a better understanding of the need to have IDENTICAL hulls when processing thru a progressive loader. Now I am separating the hulls and am able to use the loader as it was intended for some of the hulls: the full length Rems, RTS (altho not identical) and I think Federals. The other,shorter,ones I process thru the first 3 stages, put them aside in a special tray that holds 50, and with a shim to lift to the same elevation as the full length hulls. I was thinking I needed shorter hulls for a Model 1912 Winchester so my next step is to see if it will process the full length hulls without hanging up in the ejector port. (I originally assumed they would not work but maybe some will.)
Anyway, I am always on the lookout for 16 Ga Hulls! Gil

Jon: The problem was in closing the crimp (on some--the shorter ones). On some, the crimp was interfering with the side of the wad. I didn't realize the difference in the volume of the various hulls--even if cut to the same length.

So I am not out of the woods yet, maybe one day soon.

I would get the chamber measured rather than relying on whether the shells hang up in the ejection port. If the chamber is shorter than 2 3/4 inches (i.e., 2 1/2 or 2 9/16, as was common with 16 gauge guns of that era), shooting a 2 3/4-inch shell would raise chamber pressure to a possibly dangerous level.