Which MEC Reloader — When

MEC has been making shotshell reloaders since 1956. In that time the lineup has expanded, contracted, and evolved — and because these machines are built to last decades, the question of "which reloader?" isn't just something new buyers face. It's something anyone faces who just inherited a press from a relative, picked one up on eBay, or is upgrading after years on a machine they outgrew.

This article covers the whole range: current production models, the legacy machines still in wide circulation, and how to match the right press to the way you actually shoot. No hype, no "it depends." Real guidance.

The Single Question That Decides Everything

Before comparing features, answer this: are you a volume shooter or a hunter?

Volume shooters — trap, skeet, sporting clays — go through hundreds of shells a week and reload the same recipe over and over. Consistency and throughput matter most. Hunters load far fewer shells, reload infrequently, and often want the flexibility to experiment with different recipes for different quarry.

That one distinction will point you to the right machine faster than any feature chart. Keep it in mind as you read.

Understanding the MEC Family

Every MEC reloader is either single-stage or progressive. The difference matters enormously in practice.

On a single-stage press, six handle strokes produce one finished shell. You move the hull manually from station to station. It's slower, but every shell gets your full attention at every step.

On a progressive press, the shell carrier rotates automatically. Six handle strokes still happen — but now six shells are moving through six stations simultaneously. When the cycle completes, a finished shell drops out. Once you're in rhythm, the output is roughly six times higher than single-stage.

There is a common piece of advice in shotshell reloading circles that beginners should start on a single-stage machine and graduate to a progressive later. There's something to this — a single-stage does force you to slow down and understand what's happening at each station. But if you buy a Grabber or a 9000G, you can run it in single-stage mode any time you want, simply by not letting it auto-index. You get the best of both worlds without buying two machines. Keep that in mind before you spend money on a 600 Jr. as a "starter press."

Current Models

MEC 600 Jr. Mark 5 — The Entry Point

The 600 Jr. Mark 5 is MEC's current single-stage press. Six pulls of the handle produce one shell. It does not resize brass, does not auto-feed primers, and does not auto-index. Everything is manual.

Best for: Hunters who reload infrequently, or anyone who truly wants to go slowly and watch every step while learning. Also ideal if you're loading unusual gauges or specialty loads (slugs, steel shot, 10 gauge) where you want maximum control over the process.

Think twice if: You shoot more than a few hundred shells per month. The per-shell time investment adds up fast.

Note on .410: The 600 Jr. is actually a reasonable choice for .410, where the tolerances are so tight and the process so finicky that some experienced reloaders prefer single-stage operation regardless of their volume. Even at that, a Grabber run in single-stage mode will do the same job.

Price range: Approximately $175–$196 depending on gauge (12 gauge 3½" runs higher).

MEC Sizemaster — Single-Stage With Brass Resizing

The Sizemaster is a single-stage press that adds one important capability the 600 Jr. lacks: it resizes the brass at Station 1. After repeated firings, hulls expand slightly and can become difficult to chamber. Resizing brings them back to spec.

For 12 gauge, this matters less — chambers tend to be more forgiving. For 28 gauge, with its taller brass section, resizing makes a real difference. Hulls that have been fired a few times will fight you without it.

Best for: Hunters and occasional shooters who want single-stage simplicity but shoot 28 gauge or subgauge, or anyone whose gun has a tighter chamber.

Think twice if: You want auto-indexing and higher volume — that's what the Grabber and 9000 series are for.

MEC 8567 Grabber — The Sweet Spot

The Grabber is where most clay target shooters end up, and for good reason. It's a progressive press with automatic hull indexing, brass resizing at Station 1, and a final taper crimp station that sizes the loaded shell for reliable chambering in pumps and semi-automatics. It does not auto-feed primers — you drop them manually — but everything else moves automatically.

The Grabber can be run in single-stage mode. If you're loading an unfamiliar recipe, working through a problem, or just want to slow down and watch what's happening, simply don't let it auto-index. This is one of the most underappreciated features of the machine.

Best for: The serious clay target shooter who goes through several hundred shells a week. Also excellent for the hunter who loads a variety of gauges and wants to run each press in single-stage mode when volume isn't the priority.

On two gauges: If you load both 12 and 20 gauge — or any two gauges — the instinct is to look for one machine that converts. There are presses that do this, but they run $600 or more for the base machine, plus $179 per additional die set. For that money you can have two Grabbers, each permanently set up for its gauge, with no fussing between sessions. Two dedicated presses is almost always the better answer.

Think twice if: You want hydraulic assist, or you're loading at such high volume that you need a shell dropping with every single stroke. That's the 9000 series.

MEC 9000G — The Progressive Workhorse

The 9000G is MEC's flagship non-hydraulic progressive. It does everything the Grabber does, and adds automatic primer feed — primers are loaded into a tube at the start of the session, and the machine feeds them one at a time without any manual intervention. On a long reloading session, this matters more than it sounds. Stopping to place primers by hand every shell is the one task that breaks your rhythm on a Grabber; the 9000G eliminates it.

Finished shells are also ejected automatically, rather than being removed by hand.

Best for: High-volume clay target shooters who want to load as efficiently as possible. If you're sitting down to produce 500 shells, the 9000G is where you want to be.

On the auto primer feed: It requires attention to set up correctly, and a poorly adjusted primer drop tube is one of the more common sources of problems on the 9000G. The setup is covered thoroughly in the guide — but know going in that this is the one area that rewards patience during initial setup.

Think twice if: Your hands or wrists make long repetitive sessions difficult. The hydraulic version exists for exactly that reason.

MEC 9000H — The 9000G With Hydraulic Assist

The 9000H is mechanically identical to the 9000G, with one addition: a hydraulic cylinder powers the downstroke. You guide the handle; the machine does the physical work. The upstroke is still manual.

This is not a luxury feature for lazy reloaders. It matters for anyone with arthritis, repetitive strain, or wrist issues — and it matters for anyone loading large quantities of 28 gauge or .410, where the small collet requires noticeably more force on the downstroke than 12 gauge.

If you've been loading on a 9000G for years without complaint, you don't need the H. If you have any joint concerns, or you're loading subgauge at high volume, the H is worth the premium.

Best for: High-volume shooters with physical limitations, or anyone loading subgauge shells in quantity.

MEC Steelmaster — The Steel Shot Specialist

Steel shot does not flow like lead through a standard shot bar, and it requires different wads and higher pressures. The Steelmaster is purpose-built for steel: it handles loads up to 3½" and uses steel-specific shot bars that meter reliably without the bridging problems you'd encounter trying to run steel through a standard press.

Standard bars designed for steel are also available as accessories for other MEC models if you want to run occasional steel loads through a Grabber or 9000G. But if waterfowl loads are your primary use case, the Steelmaster is the right tool.

Best for: Duck and goose hunters who reload their own steel shot loads in volume.

Works for lead also — if you want one machine that handles both, the Steelmaster can do it.

The Legacy Machines

MEC machines are built to last. It's not unusual to find a press that's produced 200,000 shells without an overhaul. That durability means a lot of older machines are still in circulation — in the back of a gun club, in a deceased relative's workshop, or on eBay at a fraction of the cost of a new press.

Here is a plain-language guide to the legacy models you're most likely to encounter.

MEC 600 Jr. (Pre-Mark 5)

The original 600 Jr. predates the current Mark 5. Functionally similar — single-stage, no brass resizing, no auto-indexing. If you find one, it will likely work fine, but charge bars from old machines carry markings that no longer correspond to current powders. Always weigh your powder drop when working with an old bar. Never assume the number stamped on it tells you what it's actually dropping today.

700 Versamec

A single-stage press that predates the Sizemaster. Has brass resizing built in. Solid machine; parts are still available from MEC for models numbered 500 and above.

761R and 762R Grabber

Earlier versions of the Grabber, produced before the current 8567. Progressive, auto-indexing, brass resizing. If you find one in working condition, it will reload perfectly well. The same caution about old charge bar markings applies.

MEC 650

A progressive machine that preceded the Grabber. Does not have the brass resizing station that the Grabber and 9000 series added. For 12 gauge that's generally workable. For 28 gauge, the lack of brass resizing will cause chambering headaches as hulls age — you'll want to either resize separately or upgrade.

Very Old Models (400, 310, 300, 250)

MEC no longer carries parts or manuals for models numbered below 500. If you inherit one of these machines, the best approach is to download the older owner's manuals from the MEC site and compare what you have to the pictures. They're worth using if you can sort out the setup — but do not trust old charge bar markings, and weigh everything.

Feature Comparison at a Glance

Matching Machine to Shooter

You're a casual hunter who loads 200 shells a year. The 600 Jr. or Sizemaster will serve you well. If you're loading 28 gauge or .410, lean toward the Sizemaster for the brass resizing. Buy a Grabber if you think your volume might grow — it can run single-stage until you're comfortable going faster.

You shoot trap or skeet and go through 500 shells a week. Buy a Grabber or 9000G. The Grabber is the right answer if you want to keep things mechanically simpler. The 9000G is the right answer if you want to maximize efficiency and don't mind a more involved initial setup. Either way, set it up once for your recipe and don't change it.

You load two gauges. Buy two presses — one per gauge — rather than a single convertible machine. The economics favor it, and you'll never lose a session to a conversion.

You have wrist or joint issues, or you're loading subgauge at high volume. The 9000H. The hydraulic assist is worth the premium for exactly this situation.

You primarily load steel for waterfowl. The Steelmaster. If you also load lead for upland birds, the Steelmaster handles that too.

You inherited or bought a used machine. Determine which model you have, download the appropriate owner's manual from the MEC site, and replace the charge bar if it's an old-style bar with unfamiliar markings. Weigh your powder drops before loading a single shell. Most legacy MEC machines are worth using — just don't trust the old bar markings blindly.

One More Thing About MEC

It's worth saying plainly: the reason this comparison spans six decades of machines is that MEC builds reloaders that genuinely last. There are 600 Jrs. from the 1970s still producing consistent shells. There are 9000Gs that have cycled through 300,000 rounds without a rebuild. That's not marketing copy — it's what readers have written to tell me over the years.

Whatever machine you choose, you're buying something you'll likely still be using long after you've forgotten what you paid for it.