MEC Reloader Newbie Question

[KDS]

Hey everyone, I am about to try reloading shotshells for the first time. A friend of mine gave me an old MEC reloader set up for 12 ga, except for a few missing parts. I have a list of everything I need to get, except I am unsure of what powder bushing to get (it has a 34 already).

Another friend gave me an unopened bottle of Hodgdon Clays powder, a package of Winchester AA12 wads, Remington STS primers and a bag of #8 lead shot. I have a ton of Remington gun club hulls I want to reload.

So, with all that in mind, I went to the Hodgdon website and put all that info into their Reloading Data Center and they gave me 3 powder weights to choose from, 16.6, 17.7, and 18.8. According to the MEC bushing chart, none of the bushings are an exact match for those weights. My choices are 31 (16.9 gr), 32 (17.5 gr) and 33 (18.2 gr). The 34 is 18.9 gr.

My question is, which bushing should I get to start loading?

My main purpose for these shells will be sporting clays, with maybe some skeet, trap or 5 stand mixed in. I also plan to load 1 1/8 ounces of shot per shell.

 

[rcmodel]

No powder bushing will throw the exact weight the chart says it will anyway.

Were I you, I'd probably get the middle of the pack #32 and a set of reloading scales and hope for the best.

The only way to really know what it actually throws with your powder lot and the way you operate the press is to weigh some actual charges on a scale.

rc

 

[KDS]

Thanks RC, that is what I was thinking. I was also thinking of just going ahead and getting all the bushings in case I want to change powders, primers, etc in the future.

 

[rcmodel]

That wouldn't be a bad plan either.

I have been known to drill & tap a slightly bigger bushing and put an allen head adjustment screw in the hole in the side.

The further you screw it into the bushing hole, the less it throws.

Or start out with a smaller bushing and drill the hole out a little at a time till you get exactly what you want.

rc

 

[oneounceload]

You need a SCALE - MEC bushings aren't even close to the chart. The 17.7 load will be just about perfect with a 1oz load, but you do not say WHAT AA wads you have - that is somewhat important because payload helps dictate powder charge. I was looking for a charge of 18.6 of Red Dot and none I had were close, so I took a very light charge bushing I'll never use and a Dremel with a rotary stone and started enlarging the hole (from the bottom) until I got what I want when it dropped 10 or more charges consistently.

IF you are one who thinks they will be wanting to play around with different powders and loads, instead of getting all of the bushings, you might look for the Universal Charge bar -it will let you dial in EXACTLY the charge of powder AND shot you want.

Remember, those MEC charge bars also do not always drop the weight of shot they are designed for, as they are designed for pure soft lead - if you use shot with any antimony in it, your charges will be lighter, even if the volume is the same

 

[rcmodel]

Theres the best idea yet!

rc

 

[Uniquedot]

you might look for the Universal Charge bar -it will let you dial in EXACTLY the charge of powder AND shot you want.

This is the best thing you can get for a mec reloader. I went to the universal charge bars years ago and i have not owned a single mec charge bar or shot bushing since. You will need a good scale if you don't already have one to use the bar, but all of these things are lifetime investments.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

Another vote for the universal charge bar. The only tip I would add is that you have to always over back it off before you change it. So if you are a hair light, back off the adjustment screw a full turn and then turn it in again so you are a bit heavier. By doing this you will take the slop out of the adjustment screws and it will be more reliable and easy to setup.

 

[rfwobbly]

Since the shipping is way more than the cost of an individual bushing, order the bush you think most likely, and along with that the bushings on either side. So in your case, order the #31, #32 and #33.

Remember, weight is what you are after... but a bushing dispenses volume. That means you need a consistent powder density to get each charge to be similar. To achieve this you'll want to use the same op lever movement each time. It's the clanking press operation... that provides the constant vibration... that results in the consistent powder density... that results in the same powder weight for each "dump".

Follow?

 

[Peter M. Eick]

A standard trick if you buy bushings is to buy them too big and "sleeve" them down with inserts like furnace tape to make them the correct volume and obviously give you the correct weight.

I still think the universal charge bar is an easier solution but it seems like folks love them or hate them. Coming from a metallic background, adjustable just made sense to me.

 

[FROGO207]

Peter E-- so now you tell us about adjusting the charge bar! I just figured that out about 3 weeks ago myself. BTW that is the same thing I do with my powder measures when changing propellant weights and have done so for a long while now. I also do think that a universal charge bar is the only way to go if you want to experiment at all. I have 3 MEC presses all set up with them.

 

[TonyT]

The bushing harts provide an approximation of the actrual charge. You need a scale to determine the actual weight of powder dispensed by any bushing.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

I agree you definitely have to weigh the charge. I found that different folks running the shotgun press toss different charge weights. It all depends on how you operate your press.

 

[KDS]

Thanks to everyone for the responses so far. I went ahead and ordered several different powder bushings as well as a scale to measure what they dispense. I needed a scale anyway as I plan to reload for pistol and rifle soon as well (I finally decided to spend the money and get a Dillon 550B). I may end up getting the universal powder bar but I thought I would try the bushings first. I can't wait to start reloading! I just shot 250 rounds at the clays course today so reloading will definately help the wallet a bit!

 

[gamestalker]

Mec powder bushings are so inexpensive, just buy a bunch or all of them. And as RC stated, you need to check the bushings against a scale to know what they are throwing. They rarly throw what is published.

GS

 

[GarySTL]

I'll add that you need to determine what wad to use depending on the empty hulls you're using as well as desired shot weight. Many folks will settle on one brand and type of hulls and stick with them. I only shoot and reload Win AAs with one ounce of shot and that means only one wad needs to be stocked.

 

[KDS]

Hey GarySTL, I am only using Winchester AA12 wads. I read that I had to take the wads into account so my plan is to only stock those wads. Thanks.

 

[262runner]

I was given a MEC Jr mark V today, it has some parts missing, so i'll need to look them up and order them. It's set up for 20ga right now and I plan to reload 12ga. I've read about a universal powder charging bar or bushings to get the correct amount of powder, that along with the way the handle is pulled. I have a ton of Winchester target load hulls 7 1/2 and 8's, what wad would work best with these? I'd also like to load 1 oz instead of 1 1/8 which powder would you recommend?

I reload pistol and these seem like simple questions but shotgun is a whole different ballgame.

TIA

 

[oneounceload]

You will need to get a complete kit to totally change the gauge from 20 to 12. It might be a lot easier and cheaper to just get a used MEC in 12 gauge.
The Universal Charge Bar is designed to replace separate bushings and charge bars, allowing you to dial in your exact powder and shot drop.
The AA target hulls are decent in 12 and 20, (but Remington's are better, whereas AA are better in 28 and 410)

Alliant and Hodgdon both have recipes for 1oz loads and will t ell you what wad and powder to use

Follow the recipe - unlike metallic, you do not work up in increments and hulls and components are not always interchangeable

 

[262runner]

Crap, I looked around and I can't seem to find the kit and suggestions? It was given to me and I have to use it

I just checked out the MEC website $113.00 coversion to 12 ga

 

[oneounceload]

The kit should be available at MEC direct, but I would check Midway USA, Ballistic's Products or Brownell's first - either that or load 20 gauge.......

Of course, you can use the 20 gauge reloader to justify a new 20 gauge gun while buying a 12 gauge reloader.............

 

[262runner]

Good point, do you have an extra room to put all my stuff that's on the front lawn?

 

[oneounceload]

If it is on the front lawn, then you must be having a garage sale - at my house, if it is on the lawn, that's what is happening!

Seriously, if you mount the MEC's on a 12 x 12 piece of 3/4 plywood - you can them clamp them to your work surface and load away, then out them away in a closet or garage shelf until the next time. One thing about them, they do not take up a lot of space - the wads do that!

 

[262runner]

I have a Dillon 500 that takes up the corner of my work bench, I have enough room for maybe 3 more presses, where my work bench is, it's called the "scary closet" so not to many visitors but I still can't hide it from my bride.