Ponsness-Warren Model 375 Duomatic

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David Sinko

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I just bought some reloading presses and equipment. The owner was an elderly gentleman who has passed away and I'm aware that much of this stuff is old or obsolete. One of the items is a Ponsness-Warren Model 375 Duomatic shotshell loader. I've been loading shotshell on a MEC 600 Jr. since my high school days and I'm no stranger to shotshell loading, but this machine has me confused. It looks like it's designed to load two different gauges (hence the name "Duomatic") but beyond that I can't figure it out. It still has a .410 wad inserted into what looks like a wad guide, so obviously it was at one time used to load the 410. The bad news is I don't own a .410. I haven't had time to sit down and study this thing, so can somebody please give me a quick summary of this machine? Is it still being made? I did a quick search and all I can find is people who are trying to get rid of them. One of the other presses that came in the deal is a MEC that is somewhat more sophisticated than the one I own, but that will be the subject of a different thread. I'm trying to figure out if I should keep the Duomatic or get rid of it.

Dave Sinko
 
In my opinion, the PW 375 is the best single stage reloader made, bar none. It is made with a provision for two complete die sets on one head, so two gauges can be reloaded. In fact with another head and two more die sets, you can load all four gauges with one machine. Of course it involves a few steps to change gauges, about 5-10 minutes of adjustments.

While the function and gauges changes are quite easy, it's not the kind of thing that can be easily explained in a post here. I also suggest you contact PW, get a manual and study it before you attempt reloading.
 
KLNC said:
In my opinion, the PW 375 is the best single stage reloader made, bar none. It is made with a provision for two complete die sets on one head, so two gauges can be reloaded. In fact with another head and two more die sets, you can load all four gauges with one machine. Of course it involves a few steps to change gauges, about 5-10 minutes of adjustments.

While the function and gauges changes are quite easy, it's not the kind of thing that can be easily explained in a post here. I also suggest you contact PW, get a manual and study it before you attempt reloading.
Click to expand...


+1 It is the best single stage, particularly good for buckshot and slug loads.
 
The PW 375 is a precision machine for relaoding shotshells. It could be adapted to shoot anyhthing from .410 bore to 10 ga. I used several machines for a num,ber of years with great results. They make the MEC's look like a pice of Chinese workmanship.
 
I have the 375-C. Think long before you sell your PW. Once you use one you wil never buy another MEC. I am not familiar with the Duo-Matic. But I know how much I like my 375-C. Tom.

IMG_0357.jpg
 
That machine in the above pic looks a lot like what I have. I took it to the range when all the old hardcore trap shooters were doing their thing so they could have a look at it. They all immediately crossed themselves and cursed Ponsness Warren up and down. None had anything good to say about the company or the machines they make. They complained bitterly about their progressive machines, though none had ever seen a Duo-Matic.

I took a long, hard look at mine and I still can't figure out where the shells are supposed to go. It looks like it's missing something, though if the one in the above pic is complete, I guess mine is too. It's definitely odd and I doubt I'll be keeping it.

I also acquired an old Mec progressive loader, which I'll probably sell too. My old 600 Jr works just fine for the shotshell loading I need to do.

Dave Sinko
 
I agree with the praise a few others here gave the ponsness warren presses.Their quality is first rate and it's the only one I use anymore.I believe your friends at the range are full of it.Make a call to PW and get the manual.There will no longer be any mystery about it's operation.

I'm not going to verbally trash the Mec.Many like them but compared with the PW,I have no doubts about which has better quality.
 
sizing die

I dug out my P/W 375 duo-matic. I loaded many rounds when I shot league skeet and once got a bit ahead of my hand and ran the primer punch into my thumb joint, way into my thumb joint.
I found that somewhere in the storage and moving that I lost the Sizing die. Anyone know where I can buy a 12 gauge sizing die. I fellow at the range tells me that RCBS dies will interchange and the powder and shot dies are interchangeable from what I can see on the internet but I can't find a sizing die.
Can anyone give me directions, I will (will) the reloader to you when I go to the place in the sky.
 
I have the newer 366 and sent it in because it started to bind
on the rise and figured a oil and lube would not hurt any thing....................

Total bill was $14 worth of parts and a unit that was smooth and quiet.

I would call them up..........they might trade up to a newer unit at a heck of a deal.

Good luck.
 
I'll give you $50 now plus shipping uspo money order. pm me for details.
 
I still have this thing. The only reason I still have it is it seems to be able to load .410 and I have been thinking of getting something that shoots .410, like a cheap shotgun or even a Governor. Otherwise it would be of no value to me.

I tried the above pdf link but for some reason it doesn't work for me. I'll try it on a different computer and see what happens. Then I'll take another look at this machine and decide what I want to do with it.

Dave Sinko
 
KLNC said:
In my opinion, the PW 375 is the best single stage reloader made, bar none. It is made with a provision for two complete die sets on one head, so two gauges can be reloaded. In fact with another head and two more die sets, you can load all four gauges with one machine. Of course it involves a few steps to change gauges, about 5-10 minutes of adjustments.

While the function and gauges changes are quite easy, it's not the kind of thing that can be easily explained in a post here. I also suggest you contact PW, get a manual and study it before you attempt reloading.
Click to expand...

I concur-- I have three of these, 12,28 & 20 ga(both Lengths) You have a good maching, better than Mec, or anthing else. JMHO :) If yours is set up for 410, you can easily get a set up for what ever you need, without having to buy a whole new machine. :)
 
I was able to download a manual yesterday but haven't been able to study it yet. I'll retrieve my machine from the attic and have at it. There are enough positive comments about these machines to pique my interest. I have .410 wads from other experiments and I think I have some .410 hulls so I'll have to see just how good this machine is. And being a "Duo" matic I still have to figure out which other shell it loads.

Dave Sinko
 
Ponsness/Warren, Online Shopping for Recreational Shooters

The information for the 375 is under the shotshell loaders / lead, steel, bismuth links.

The link above takes you to the ponsness warren site. A little research there will have you learn that the "duo" part of the duomatic 375 is the ability to hold two sets of tooling. After you purchase a second size of tooling (available on their site) you can install it on the other "side" of the head. You need only to disassemble and turn the tolling head 180 degress to switch between sizes.

The head can hold two sets of tooling at a time. Extra heads are available. This means that if you were to purchase another head and the extra tooling you could then have 4 sizes available (2 on each head).

Hope this helps to clear things up.
 
If you need reloading parts and stuff for the machine, a
few years back I got a heck of a good deal on two boxs of P/W powder and shot bushings from...........
Raven Gunsmiths.

Midway also had a Mec bushing converter that worked with the charge bar on the P/W since P/W uses the Hornady style bushings but with a different number code.

Lets you use twice the bushings for powder, which is nice,getting a powder to drop a certain amount,for a load.
 
Video Demonstration

Hi

There is a video on Utube that provides a pretty good overview and demonstration of reloading Ponsness-Warren DuoMatic 375. This video details the use of the reloading press and also a few of its better features.

Ponsness-Warren DuoMatic 375
•by The Best Gun Channel

I use a DuoMatic to load both 28 and 410 gauge shells. The one thing about PW machines is that the shell is held totally inside the die which I think really helps in the smaller gauges.

My unit sits next to an old Pacific 155 that I use to load 20 gauge shells with.

Robert
 
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