Shotgun Reloader

[ohman11]

I just got some kind of MEC loader, it is a older one and I am lost on this. The charging bar hole for shot is 5/8 and the powder hole is 7/16 and the bar is 1 inch thick. I filled the shot hole with shot and weighed it and it is not quite 1 1\8 but over a ounce. How do you adjust the shot and powder on this type of loader?

BTW I think this is a MEC 600 jr.

 

[RNB65]

Every MEC reloader I've ever seen uses bushings to adjust powder and shot loads. Or an adjustable charge bar.

 

[scrat]

go to the mec website you can download the operating instructions for your mec online

 

[ohman11]

I did d/l the manual and it didnt say anything about the bushings

 

[deafsg1]

I'd get the universal charge bar. You can buy these nearly everywhere there are MEC reloaders sold. Thing is, if you want to change load data, you have to have different bushings, and the fact is, both lead and powder change densities (some become slightly smaller/larger, have more lead/antimony, and powder density changes from lot to lot). There's only one caution, and that is to always check to make sure that your adjustments don't come lose. Imagine getting 45 grains of powder for a 24 grain load!

 

[sm]

Mayville Engineering Corp.

http://www.mayvl.com/

http://www.mecreloaders.com/OwnerManuals/OwnerManuals.asp

http://www.mecreloaders.com/PowderBushingBar/BushingChargeBar.asp

 

[1911 Shooter]

You have a antique mec reloader that was designed to load a particular weight of shot and a particular weight of a specific powder. I'll bet you have no slot for a powder bushing, just a hole on the powder side of the bar. Never fear you can update this loader with a new charge bar and a few bushings. Best of luck

 

[deafsg1]

I looked at those bushings for the powders I use, and I see that the bushings would be off by .4 grains at the least. Either you can get the universal charge bar, or you can use a clear piece of plastic tubing that is at least bigger than the inside diameter of one of the bushings, slit and trimmed down the side to fit snugly inside the bushing, flush with the top surface, and trimmed from the bottom to give you the weight you want. That's what I've done with my Lee bushings.

You know, I like the MEC reloaders... All metal so there is not as much of a static electricity problem as with the Lee Load-All II. It seems no matter what I do, I can't seem to shake the static problem entirely, even in humid Houston.

 

[ohman11]

I think it is one of the old ones. I dont see any slot for a bushing.

 

[snuffy]

Every MEC reloader I've ever seen uses bushings to adjust powder and shot loads. Or an adjustable charge bar.

Then either you don't get around much or you're young-un.

Mec went to bushings for powder around about '72-75,( I'm probably wrong about the date, but you get the drift). There was a patent on the idea of shot/powder bushings, IIRC it was the texan loader company that held that patent. Mec couldn't buy the rights to both, so they went with only powder bushings.

As said, you can easily convert it to powder bushing bars or one of the after market adjustable bars.

 

[ohman11]

So the bar I had was made to use as is with no adjustments, right? If so I wonder what these measurements were. I have a 12 , 20 and a 410 and all 3 of them are made just like this one.

 

[ADKWOODSMAN]

My MEC 700 Versa Mec. press purchased in the early 70's came with a fixed bar for both powder and shot. The new one's will work and you'll be able to use powder bushings.

If you give my the number of the bar, I have a 1970's Gander Mt. Catalogue and I may be able to look up the charge for you. Just PM me.
RDH

 

[ohman11]

The only markings are on the left end and it says

12 GA.0

 

[ohman11]

I saw on another forum, I think the 0 means 1 1/8 shot and 18.5 grains of green dot

 

[1911 Shooter]

defsg1,

ask wife for laundry static sheet. Install in powder bottle & problems are over.

 

[deafsg1]

No such luck, 1911. Something is WEIRD about my place... I can trundle about on the carpet for a bit, put on my plexiglass face shield, let my hair get all caught in it from the static electricity, and touch a ground wire. My hair still wouldn't go down for many minutes.

It probably doesn't help having a very dry body... I'm classic light-skinned, red-headed, and I get mad when we have a dry winter day right here in Houston. I love the heat and humidity here.

 

[snuffy]

http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=129375&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=mec+bars&start=0

Take a look at this website, shotgun world, this is just such a discussion like this one. You might try to IM ECWIS for the pdf copy of that charge bar chart. That's if you'd like to actually use that bar. His post is on the second page of that link.

 

[1911 Shooter]

deaf,
have you tried grounding your loader, like a car battery.? Surely, your house can't have bad mojo? alot of people ground to a electrial outlet

 

[deafsg1]

1911,

This is a Lee Load-All II. No go there, as it's all plastic. I've had to be strapped to a ground wire myself. I've asked the apartment complex to see if they can take this carpet out of here and install flooring instead, so I'm waiting to hear back on it.