Equipment Question

[Guest Spuds]

Bought some reloading stuff at auction, turns out there was a great deal more than I had thought.

Lee lead melting pot. Is it my imagination, or is the pot full of lead?

This pot isn't in Lee's current catalog, anyone know the model? Is it a decent one? Can I just turn it on to melt the lead that is hardened there?

Is this lead? Or what?

Anything obviously missing from this RCBS 1010 scale besides the pan and hook that holds it?

MEC press, model 600 JR

Anything missing? Any way to tell what gauge it's set up for?

THANKS for any help offered!

[tn hp]

Yes, the substance in the pot appears to be lead. I have no idea as to the model number of the melting pot. The other metal, if the weight is right, also appears to be lead with a high alloy content.

The RCBS scale, appears to be correct except for the missing parts that you identified.

I know nothing about MEC reloading equipment.

[John Wall]

You appear to have a pre 1982 Mec 600. Some parts are still available.

http://www.mecreloaders.com/order/600JrPre82PartsList.asp

I have a passing knowledge of Mec products. I always suggest the Sizemaster if one desires a single stage press, and the 9000 series if one shoots enough for the progressive.

These presses have a resizer built into the press, and any shell loaded will chamber in most any firearm.

Take a look at what parts you are missing, and see what you can still get. I never recommend the adjustable charge bar. When I sold reloading equipment, I had about a 30% satisfaction rate from this charge bar. The Mec fixed shot bar and powder bushings CANNOT get out of adjustment.

[TripleDigitRide]

It's kinda hard to tell from the angle of the photograph, but it looks like a Lee Pot IV (4), which holds 10 pounds. It's basically an entry level type pot. I'd fire it up and see what it does.

EDIT: I was able to find some pictures of a Pot IV. Maybe you can tell.

http://www.tacticoolproducts.com/bulletcasting/

Here's more pictures.

http://www.auctionarms.com/search/printitem.cfm?ItemNum=8117983

Edited July 31, 2008 by TripleDigitRide

[Guest Spuds]

THANKS for the help EVERYONE, that's super! These items were from an estate, the guy must have been a dedicated shooter, found Chattanooga Rifle Club membership cards in his shooting box going back 20 years.

The schematic on MEC's website should help a great deal, THANKS!

TDR, the AA listing is indeed the same pot, but the other link makes casting look a lot easier than I had imagined. Given the price of components recently, it may be in my best interest to learn to cast my own. I greatly appreciate the links.

[I_Like_Pie]

The chips may be high antimony/tin pieces to get the hardness of the lead to spec. Hard to tell from pictures.

[Guest shortfri]

you can get the adjustment table for the adjustable charge bar from shootingchrony.com I have two mecs set up with them and do like them. but i also weigh every fifth round. also you can't let either bottle get below 1/4 or it will throw the weight off for some reason. gamaliel.com is a place that you can get the parts you need.