MEC 9000GN Progressive Shotshell Reloader: Elevate Your 12 Gauge Ammunition Production

Are you an avid shotgun shooter who wants to significantly reduce ammunition costs, achieve unparalleled consistency in your loads, and have the freedom to craft custom shells tailored to your specific needs? Whether you’re a competitive trap, skeet, or sporting clays enthusiast, a dedicated hunter, or simply someone who enjoys frequent range sessions, the escalating price of factory shotshells can put a real dent in your budget. The solution for countless shooters lies in the art and science of reloading, and for high-volume production, a progressive reloading press is an indispensable tool.

For those serious about maximizing their reloading efficiency and producing professional-grade 12 gauge ammunition at an impressive pace, the MEC 9000GN Progressive Shotshell Reloading Press stands out as a premier choice. This robust, cast-iron machine is engineered to transform raw components into finished shotshells with remarkable speed and precision, making it one of the best investments for any dedicated shotgun owner. It’s designed to answer the common question: "What's the most efficient way to reload a large quantity of shotgun shells while maintaining quality?"

Why Reload Your Own Shotshells? The Unbeatable Advantages

Before diving into the specifics of the MEC 9000GN, it’s worth understanding the core benefits that drive so many shooters to embrace reloading:

1. Significant Cost Savings: This is often the primary motivator. Buying components (primers, powder, shot, wads, hulls) and assembling them yourself is dramatically cheaper than purchasing factory ammunition, especially for popular gauges like 12 gauge. Over time, the press pays for itself many times over, allowing you to shoot more for less.
2. Customized Performance: Factory ammunition is generic. Reloading empowers you to fine-tune your loads for specific applications. Want a softer-recoiling load for a long day at the clays course? Need a specific shot size and velocity for a particular bird hunt? You can choose your powder type and charge, shot size and weight, wad type, and even hull to optimize performance for your shotgun and shooting style. This answers the question: "How can I make my shotgun ammunition perform exactly how I want it to?"
3. Enhanced Consistency and Accuracy: When properly set up, a quality progressive press like the MEC 9000GN delivers incredibly consistent loads. This means uniform velocity, reliable patterns, and predictable recoil shot after shot. This level of consistency often surpasses budget factory ammunition, contributing to better scores in competition and more ethical hunts.
4. Self-Sufficiency and Availability: Relying on store shelves for ammunition can be frustrating during periods of high demand or supply chain issues. With a reloading press, you control your ammunition supply, ensuring you always have shells ready for the range or field.
5. The Satisfaction of Craftsmanship: There's a unique satisfaction that comes from producing your own high-quality ammunition. It's a rewarding hobby that deepens your understanding of ballistics and firearms.

The Power of Progression: Why a Progressive Press Like the MEC 9000GN?

For shooters who consume more than a few boxes of shells each week, a single-stage press, while great for learning, quickly becomes a bottleneck. This leads to the common query: "What's the best way to speed up my shotshell reloading process?" The answer is a progressive press.

Unlike a single-stage press where each shell goes through one operation at a time, a progressive press performs multiple operations simultaneously at different stations as you cycle the handle. With each pull of the lever, a finished shell is produced while other shells advance to the next stage of their formation. This multi-station, simultaneous operation drastically increases output, allowing you to produce hundreds of shells per hour with practice. The MEC 9000GN excels in this regard, making high-volume reloading not just possible, but genuinely efficient and enjoyable.

Introducing the MEC 9000GN Progressive Shotshell Reloading Press: A Deep Dive

The MEC 9000GN is a hallmark of MEC's long-standing reputation for producing durable, reliable shotshell reloading equipment. This specific model, designed for 12 gauge shells, is built to withstand years of heavy use and deliver consistent, high-quality ammunition. It's frequently recommended when users ask: "Which progressive reloading press offers the best blend of durability and high output for 12 gauge?"

Unyielding Cast Iron Construction

At the heart of the MEC 9000GN's legendary durability is its robust cast iron frame. This heavy-duty construction provides an exceptionally stable platform that minimizes flex and vibration during operation. Why does this matter?

• Precision: A rigid frame ensures consistent alignment of dies and components, leading to more uniform crimps, consistent resizing, and precise powder and shot drops. This is crucial for achieving the reliable performance shooters demand.
• Longevity: Cast iron is inherently resistant to wear and tear, ensuring that the press maintains its tolerances and operational smoothness even after tens of thousands of reloading cycles. This means your investment will last for decades.
• Stability: The sheer weight of the cast iron frame anchors the press securely to your workbench, contributing to a smoother, more efficient reloading experience without wobbling or shifting.

Comprehensive Progressive Functionality for 12 Gauge

The MEC 9000GN is a true progressive workhorse, designed to handle all stages of shotshell reloading for 12 gauge with remarkable efficiency. This specific model is set up for the popular 12 gauge, which is the most common gauge for clay target shooting and a highly versatile choice for hunting. Its dedicated 12 gauge configuration ensures optimal performance for this widely used ammunition type. The press features a series of stations, each performing a vital function:

1. Resizing and Depriming: The first station automatically resizes the hull base back to its original dimensions, ensuring smooth feeding and extraction in any shotgun chamber. Simultaneously, the spent primer is pushed out. The MEC 9000GN features MEC's renowned "Power Ring Collet Resizer" which uniformly resizes the metal head and ejects the spent primer, even on those stubborn high-brass hulls.
2. Priming: A fresh primer is automatically seated into the hull with consistent pressure, ensuring reliable ignition. The press includes an automatic primer feed system, which is a major time-saver and safety feature, eliminating the need to handle individual primers by hand.
3. Powder Dropping: A precisely measured charge of smokeless powder is dropped into the hull. The MEC 9000GN comes equipped with the MEC Auto-Charge Bar system, which works in conjunction with the included bushings.
4. Wad Seating: The appropriate wad (which separates the powder from the shot and provides a gas seal) is seated firmly into the hull.
5. Shot Dropping: A measured charge of lead or steel shot is dropped into the wad cup. Again, the Auto-Charge Bar and bushings ensure consistent shot weights.
6. Pre-Crimping: The hull mouth is started into the crimp pattern (typically a 6-point or 8-point star crimp), preparing it for the final crimping stage.
7. Final Crimping: The crimp is fully formed, creating a professional, secure closure that holds the components in place and contributes to consistent ballistics.

Included Bushings for Precise Powder and Shot Drops

The MEC 9000GN typically comes with a selection of bushings (commonly 29, 30, and 32 are mentioned, though specific inclusions can vary). These bushings are key components of the MEC Auto-Charge Bar system. The charge bar holds interchangeable powder and shot bushings, allowing you to quickly change the charge weight simply by swapping out a bushing.

• Bushings 29/30/32: These numbers refer to the specific volume of the bushing, which corresponds to certain powder and shot drops. By referencing a reloading manual, you can select the correct bushing for your desired load, ensuring consistent and accurate charges. This system is praised for its simplicity and reliability, directly addressing the need for precise and repeatable powder and shot drops.

User-Friendly Design for Enhanced Workflow

While a progressive press may seem complex at first glance, MEC has designed the 9000GN with user experience in mind:

• Automatic Systems: Features like the automatic primer feed, automatic charge bar, and automatic shell ejector streamline the process, allowing for a smooth, rhythmic workflow once you get into a groove. This greatly reduces manual intervention and fatigue during long reloading sessions.
• Adjustability: Various adjustments allow you to fine-tune the press for different hull lengths, component brands, and desired crimp quality.
• Reliable Performance: The robust mechanical design minimizes breakdowns and ensures consistent operation, meaning less downtime and more completed shells.

Who Benefits Most from the MEC 9000GN 12 Gauge Press?

The MEC 9000GN is an ideal choice for a diverse range of shooters:

• Competitive Clay Target Shooters (Trap, Skeet, Sporting Clays): These disciplines demand thousands of shells annually. The 9000GN allows these shooters to produce high volumes of consistent, low-recoil loads, saving substantial money and providing a competitive edge through load optimization. For example, a shooter might reload 500 shells in a single session, dramatically cutting costs for weekly practice and tournaments.
• Dedicated Hunters: For those who pursue waterfowl, upland birds, or even deer with slugs, the ability to craft specialized loads for specific game and conditions is invaluable. This press enables the creation of custom loads that aren't available commercially.
• High-Volume Recreational Shooters: If you enjoy frequent trips to the range with your shotgun, the cost of factory shells can quickly add up. The 9000GN makes it economically viable to shoot as much as you desire.
• Reloaders Upgrading from Single-Stage Presses: If you've outgrown your single-stage press and are looking for a significant increase in output without sacrificing quality, the 9000GN is a natural progression. It offers the speed you need while maintaining MEC's reputation for reliability.

Maximizing Your Investment: What Else You'll Need

Acquiring the MEC 9000GN is a significant step, but it's part of a larger ecosystem of reloading. To get started and operate safely, you will also need:

• Reloading Manual: Absolutely essential for safe load data, component compatibility, and step-by-step instructions. Never deviate from published data.
• Components: Primers, smokeless shotshell powder, lead or steel shot, wads, and empty, once-fired 12 gauge hulls (or new hulls).
• Digital Scale: For verifying powder and shot charges, and for developing new loads safely.
• Caliper: For measuring hull length and overall shell length.
• Component Trays/Bins: To organize your powder, wads, and primers.
• Safety Equipment: Safety glasses are a must when reloading.
• Sturdy Workbench: The press needs to be securely mounted to a solid surface to handle the forces of operation.

All these essential accessories and a wide selection of components are readily available through DEGuns, making it a convenient one-stop shop for all your reloading needs.

Long-Term Value and Maintenance

The MEC 9000GN is designed for longevity. With minimal maintenance, it can last for many decades, passing down through generations of shooters. Key maintenance tips include:

• Regular Cleaning: Keep the press free of powder residue, lead dust, and grime. A soft brush and a vacuum can work wonders.
• Light Lubrication: Apply a thin film of oil to pivot points and moving parts as recommended in the manual to ensure smooth operation and prevent corrosion.
• Inspect Bushings and Dies: Periodically check for wear or damage to ensure continued precision.
• Proper Storage: Store your press in a clean, dry environment when not in use.

Why Purchase Your MEC 9000GN from DEGuns?

When you're ready to invest in a high-quality reloading press like the MEC 9000GN, choosing a reputable dealer is crucial. DEGuns is committed to providing not only top-tier products but also the knowledge and support shooters need. At DEGuns, you'll find competitive pricing, a comprehensive selection of reloading components and accessories, and a team that understands the needs of shooters and reloaders. Their extensive inventory ensures you can get everything you need for your 12 gauge reloading journey in one convenient location, from the press itself to the specific bushings, powders, and wads you require.

The MEC 9000GN Progressive Shotshell Reloading Press is more than just a piece of equipment; it's an investment in your shooting future, offering unparalleled cost savings, customization options, and the satisfaction of crafting your own precision ammunition. Take control of your shooting budget and performance by bringing this exceptional 12 gauge progressive press into your reloading setup today.

MEC 9000GN Progressive Shotshell Reloading Press Specifications

Feature	Detail	Benefit
Model	MEC 9000GN	Proven progressive design for high output
Gauge	12 Gauge	Optimized for the most popular shotshell caliber
Construction	Heavy-Duty Cast Iron Frame	Exceptional durability, stability, and consistent operation for decades
Included Bushings	29, 30, 32 (typical)	Enables precise and repeatable powder and shot charges for various loads
Priming System	Automatic Primer Feed	Increases speed and safety by automatically seating primers
Resizing System	Power Ring Collet Resizer	Consistently resizes hull bases for reliable chambering and extraction
Output	High Volume Progressive	Capable of producing hundreds of finished shells per hour with practice
Product UPC	036232009062	Standard identification for this MEC 12 Gauge progressive press configuration