MEC shot shell reloader

[JamieC]

I just acquired a MEC shotgun shell reloader, it was free! Now I gotta figure out how to use it. It's and older one, a 600jr, pre '85 I think. Not sure how to measure the powder and shot. The charge bar is a bar with two holes in it. Some of the videos I've looked at so far show a charge bar with replaceable bushings of different sizes which makes sense. Not sure what to make of what I've got. The bar has 12ga-0 stamped on one end. I sent an email to MEC, haven't heard anything back for a few days. Anyone have any help to offer?

 

[243winxb]

Google images- "vintage charge bar chart" or i will take a photo of mine, later, if that doesnt work for you. http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=129375 Here one.

The bar you have is for a set type of powder and shot weight. From the chart, its outdated with powder choices available.

Best to buy a new bar, with bushings, for the load recipe you want to load.

The powder charge will be heavier then the bushing listing. This is because the lever is worked more between powder drops on a 600jr. The vibration settles the powder, getting more in the bushing.
A progressive press, drops powder every lever pull. No settling of the powder.

 

[SARuger]

The new charge bars should fit. Then you can change out the bushings for your powder drop. I have the Sizemaster and I use the adjustable charge bar so I can load anything with my press. Its finicky though, bring your coffee and patience when its time to change the charges with it. The bushings are much simpler.

 

[Blue68f100]

That's the same vintage as my 600 Jr. All you need is to get the appropriate bushing for the powder you use. Just to let you know the tables given are very seldom right for the weight. So you will need to weight the charge and adj bushing size. The newer adj bars allow you do it with just the twist of the adjuster screw.

Now there is suppose to be a small brass belvelle washer in the powder body seal for dealing with fine powders, aka ball. You can still down loads the manuals and I would suggest you do. Then you can determine if you have all the parts.

Remember: With shot shells you follow the recipe. There is no min-max range like cartridge rounds. And the same is for wadding. The wadding/powder/mfg shell/shot load are matched to give you a specific stack height with pressure on the wadding.

 

[thomas15]

The Lyman shot shell reloading manual is a good investment for the beginner in this adventure to make. You will be able to make good shot shells with that press but as mentioned above, you need the correct bushings and the correct hulls and wads for the shot you select. Not a hard thing to do just takes a bit of research.

 

[jaguarxk120]

You can down load the owners manual from MEC, read it!

 

[SARuger]

MEC is an awesome company to deal with.