Complete Table of Contents

My “Secrets” guide covers everything below. Items that are underlined are also on this website.

Chapter 1: Reload a Box of 25 Perfect Shotshells in 2 Minutes Flat

Save time and frustration
The owner’s manual is not enough
Which MEC reloaders does this guide cover?
How to get a free replacement owner’s manual

Chapter 2: Live to Shoot Another Day

Don’t be stupid!
Have you ever seen a gun blow up?
Follow MEC’s advice
Use components by the same manufacturer
What’s the big deal about following recipes exactly?
Making sense of primer designations
Do this and your house may not be covered in the event of a fire

Chapter 3: Which MEC Reloader Should You Buy?

Chapter 4: Getting Your Reloader Ready to Go

Bolt the reloader down to the right surface
Be careful with the bottles
Adjust the primer drop mechanism to gain speed
Another speed-increasing adjustment
Look at your placement
WHATEVER you do, you must get this accessory. This one extra purchase will do more for your reloading speed than any other single thing you can do

Chapter 5: Which Hulls Should You Use?

Chapter 6: Reloading to a Recipe

Chapter 7: Getting Other Components Ready to Go

The fastest way to remove crooked primers
An easier way to refill powder
Keeping shot in the shells and off the floor
This helps you to avoid running out of shot or powder

Chapter 8: How to Prevent Most Problems, and Catch the Rest

Deprime station Tips
Reprime station Tips
Primer tray adjustments
Adjusting tray position
Adjusting tube height
Adjusting the chain
Shot and wad station: Learning this principle will save you a lot of spilled shot and grief
Two common mistakes. One of these can result in a blown-up gun.
Crimp starter station
Crimp closing station
Final crimp and sizing station

Chapter 9: Solving Consistency Problems

Shot or powder not dropping consistently
One piece of equipment that causes more problems than it cures
After you’ve checked everything and STILL have inconsistent loads, there is one more place to look
Blown-apart 28 gauge hulls

Chapter 10: What to Do When: Using Your Senses Each Step of the Way

Starting the downstroke. You’ll save yourself a lot of grief if you work the handle this way
THE most important thing to watch for in the whole reloading process, if you want it to go smoothly This takes far less time to check than pulling out ruined shells, cleaning spilled shot and powder out of the machine and restarting the process.
During the upstroke, listen for this.
Summary of handle resistance
Save time when removing finished shells
Be sure to do this when you resume reloading after a break
A very handy tool that will save you money

Chapter 11: Be Watchful, be Consistent, and Make Reloading a Satisfying Challenge

Check out the Troubleshooter. This laminated, full-color card lists over 40 problems, their causes and solutions. Many are not in the MEC Owner’s Manual. Keep it near your reloader for reference

Chapter 12: Good Resources

And that’s just what is in Secrets. You’ll get lots more information in my companion volume Mail Call, including:

One tool you should not do without at your reloading bench. (Hint: It’s not bought at a gun store.)
When you can and cannot swap out powder, primers and other components safely;
Solving sub-gauge powder drop problems once and for all.
Sick of paying big bucks for popper loads to train your hunting dog? Make your own popper loads with this recipe!
An absolutely critical adjustment to make when loading subgauge shotshells, to ensure you are getting a full powder charge
What to do when your reloader jams on the upstroke.
What do the markings mean on my old charge bars?
A surprising fact about .410 hulls, and how it directly affects the quality of your crimps.
Shot bridging: What it is and how to prevent it.
The pros and cons of making your own shot.
The best places to buy MEC equipment, and sell it.
How old of a MEC reloader is too old? Answer here.
The cheapest places to buy components.
The $1.49 popular lubricant that can rot your $5,000 barrels.
The Ideal Recipe.