Purchased a used 76 series grabber from a friend. It’s been in storage awhile and so was pretty dirty and has a bit of rust here and there. I went after it with a brush to knock off the heavy stuff then hit it with some Break Free. After that I took the hose and a nylon brush to it. Then I sprayed it down with a 25% solution of Balistol to drive off the water and lubricate the metal to stop the rusting. Once it had dried, I cycled it about 100 times without any hulls before giving it test run with a dozen randomly selected, once fired hulls. Some STS, AA, Gold Medal, Aguilla, and Estate. Of the dozen, I had 4 results like the one pictured below. I think the plunger below the collet re-sizer wasn’t falling far enough, but I’m not sure. Any suggestions?
![Image]()
Trouble with MEC 76 Series Grabber in 12 gauge
DMShag
1 - 7 of 7 Posts
Purchased a used 76 series grabber from a friend. It’s been in storage awhile and so was pretty dirty and has a bit of rust here and there. I went after it with a brush to knock off the heavy stuff then hit it with some Break Free. After that I took the hose and a nylon brush to it. Then I sprayed it down with a 25% solution of Balistol to drive off the water and lubricate the metal to stop the rusting. Once it had dried, I cycled it about 100 times without any hulls before giving it test run with a dozen randomly selected, once fired hulls. Some STS, AA, Gold Medal, Aguilla, and Estate. Of the dozen, I had 4 results like the one pictured below. I think the plunger below the collet re-sizer wasn’t falling far enough, but I’m not sure. Any suggestions?
![Image]()
Give MEC a holler, either email or phone. I found an older press from the 60's in a trash pile on the side of the road. They emailed me the manual and parts list. Yes, they still had every part in stock. They were quite helpful on the phone, walking me through the adjustment and setup. Outstanding support!
When I decided to upgrade to a new press, it's red and says "MEC" on it!
When I decided to upgrade to a new press, it's red and says "MEC" on it!
Collet squishing down rim. You're right, either the plunger didnt go back down far enough or the shell hung up in the collet. No need to oversize cases, just enough they fit in your chamber. Now on to mouth taper-crimp depth. Just try to duplicate factory measurements. Dont crimp too deep.
I've emailed MEC and am awaiting a response. This press came with all of it's parts, plus a selection of charge bars and powder bushings. The only thing it's missing is the chain and spring that actuates the auto-prime function. Aside from being VERY dirty, the resizing issues and a couple of small parts, it seems to be completely functional. It's a discontinued model, but for $100 bucks, I feel like I got a good deal. Once it's cleaned up and properly tunes, I think it'll run circles around my old Lee Load All.
MEC suggested disassembly and cleaning of the collet sizer and its associated parts. Done. Results in next post
Just when I thought I was making progress:
youtube.com
Now I’ve developed a new issue. Have to “clip” shells into place at about half a stroke:
youtube.com
General consensus is to replace the collet, unfortunately, MEC doesn’t list a 12 gauge collet for the 76 series Grabber. Now on the hunt for a NOS replacement.
- YouTube
Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
youtube.com
Now I’ve developed a new issue. Have to “clip” shells into place at about half a stroke:
MEC 76 Series Grabber: New Collet Malfunction
A brief video demonstrating a new malfunction of of the collet resized on my 2nd hand MEC 76 Series Grabber. While the shell lifter now falls freely, the she...
youtube.com
General consensus is to replace the collet, unfortunately, MEC doesn’t list a 12 gauge collet for the 76 series Grabber. Now on the hunt for a NOS replacement.
1 - 7 of 7 Posts
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
