Experienced trap shooter and passionate bird hunter Ted Bachhuber handloaded his ammo to achieve higher reliability, tailor loads, and cut costs. So he knew from his own experience what reloading tools and accessories of the time lacked and what they should be to meet the reloader’s needs at best.
In the mid-1940s, Ted teamed up with his uncle Leo, and together they started Mayville Engineering Company in a rented garage near Mayville’s Main Street in Wisconsin. The men were full of new ideas and were highly enthusiastic about the business, which compensated for the company’s modest assets. At first, MEC manufactured reloading tools, dies, and special machinery in small batches. It also provided engineering services to larger manufacturers, which allowed it to stay afloat and expand.
After ten years, MEC outgrew its garage facilities and Wisconsin reloading market, and in 1955, it entered the global market. The company immediately caught the international attention of professional and amateur reloaders alike. Thus, the company’s flagship, the MEC 600 Jr. reloader, sold over two million copies worldwide. MEC makes various hydraulic, mechanical, and electronic presses, numerous shotshell reloading supplies, and clay target machines.
After all these years and several refinements, the MEC 600 Jr is still in production, and you can purchase it at our store. It’s a single-stage design and, thanks to the Spindex Crimp Starter that consistently ensures a perfect crimp easily and quickly and the Cam-Action Crimp Die that returns each shell to its original position, you can reload 4-6 boxes per hour. For even faster reloads, you can equip the MEC 600 Jr with the primer feeder. GRITR Outdoors carries the MEC 600 Jr for sale in .410 bore, 12, 20, and other popular gauges, as well as MEC 600 Jr parts.
Looking for a MEC progressive reloader? Consider the MEC 9000GN. With a stroke of the handle, it automatically moves each shell through the six stages. Thanks to a fully automatic primer feed and automatic operation of this MEC shotshell reloader, 12-16 boxes are done without breaking a sweat.
Other MEC presses to consider are the MEC Sizemaster single-stage reloader featuring resizing station or the MEC Marksman precision metallic reloader. Shop for MEC reloading presses and MEC reloader parts and accessories at GRITR Outdoors, reload, and hunt turkey, dove, and waterfowl cheaper.