Ponsnes Warren 800 Plus Reloader

[fabsroman]

I did a search on this reloader to try and find the dimensions for it, and Google brought up a Huntchat thread as the second suggestion. It didn't help and even included posts from me in it. That was pretty cool.

Anyway, anybody out there have access to one of these reloaders? I have a dillemma on my hands. I finished my garage and have a 25" deep bench with a 15" deep cabinet on top of it and only 24" of vertical space between the two. My Mec 9000's probably will not work on it because they are 32" high with the tall bottles on them and powder baffles and the bottles have to be rotated down to add primers and empty them out. There is no question that I could mount the presses in front of the overhead cabinets and that they would work. The question is whether or not I could rotate the bottles backward, and the answer would be NO because they are 11" each.

Sure, I could take the press off the bench every time I had to add primers or empty the bottles, but this seems like it is going to be a pain in the rear.

I need a press that will take a total depth of 10" or less or a press that can operate in less than 24" of vertical space. I am hoping that the Ponsness/Warren 800 Plus will fit the bill.

Any help on this one will be greatly appreciated.

[skeet]

Well I do know a little about these machines. I was a P W distributor for quite a few years and have sold them (until recently) since 1966. The machine will work for you in the space mentioned...but just barely. And the darn thing is really expensive so think twice...and the quality of the machines is not as good as they used to be... The reason I quit selling them. A suggestion. Mount the Mec Loaders on a plywood base and put a stop on the bench(a strip of 1/4 round works)...then just put the machine on the bench and if you need to, put one screw through it with a power driver into the bench top. Filling the bottles is easy as you just fill them on the loading bench while up...Use a funnel LOL.. You could also put 2 strips on the bench and put the loader on the plywood between them ...It'll work fine. I used to use that arrangement with Mec loaders. I will measure one of my P-W machines to see the exact measurements.. They have changed the size 3 times since 1966.. I even know of a P-W loader for sale..2 in fact one 12 and 1 20. I think he is asking 350 each for them

[fabsroman]

Skeet,

It looks like I am going to stick with the Mec 9000's. I brought one over from my parents last night and it will fit on the edge of the bench. The only thing is that I cannot swing the bottles back to empty them. So, I am going to buy some quick change bars from Precision Reloading and go that route. I already have the 9000's in 12 and 20 along with a Steelmaster, so it is less of a headache to keep them and deal with emptying the bottles whenever I have to. I figure I'll just load one type of load at a time and do about 500 to 1000 at a time. Hopefully, that will do. If I really get pissed off, I'll look at changing the reloader or ripping stuff off the wall.

[Catfish]

Skeet,
You very well could be right about their quality going down. I have an 800 and a 900 that I built from old parts. I like the old 800 far better than the 900. The 900 has far more wear parts than the 800. After abt 10,000 rounds I started haveing problems with the 900. I`ve got over 30,000 through the 800 with no problems. If I were to buy a new press today I think I would give the Dillon 9000 a try. I`ve been loading on a 500 Dillon for abt 25 yrs. and love it.

[skeet]

I have loaded quite a few shells on a 900 and in the better version of the machine I haven't had any problems....but I do know how to keep them running. The one thing I don't really like about the P-W machines is that to keep them running smooth you have to tighten all the set screws every 3 or 4M shells. Otherwise things get out of kilter. I happen to have 3 Dillon SL 900 loaders at the present time(12, 20,28 ga). They, like all the rest of the progressive loaders, have their idiosyncrasies. All in all though they have less things that mess up than the Mec machines by far. Once adjusted correctly they will load as trouble free as my Spolar. But the Dillon has a case feeder which makes it so easy to use. The Dillon machines load good shells but the final crimp leaves a little to be desired for me(but I am a little bit of a nit picker on that maybe). The best of the progressives seems to be my Spolar so far. Loads the nicest shells with the least amount of fouled up shells...but they are PRICEY.. The worst of the bunch is unfortunately the Mec 9000 and grabber machines. They just get fouled up too easily...stamped out parts etc but the price is usually right and with a bit of work they will fulfill the expectations of the average hi volume loader(mostly spelled trap shooter). To some people reloading is like some kind of therapy... Even to me at times(very seldom)even after a million or so shells(no Joke). But I am at the point where I want the machine to operate right and have the least amount of problems... I have about 50 lbs or so of P-W parts here...and I already sold at leat that much...even have die sets etc...Just too much stuff. I even have a (gag)Mec 650 Hydramec sitting in my shop. Works fine but I just have too much stuff here. I also have 14 Mec single stage presses in the storage area. Had a bunch more but I gave 7 or 8 to the Service guys at the local military base so they can afford to shoot. Being a soldier doesn't leave too much money in the budget for shooting Oh well most of the stuff will be on ebay soon. Cleaning the mess up I guess