Charge Bar Sticking When Dropping Shot With a MEC (problem solved)

[TN Mongo, SASS #61450]

I use a MEC Sizemaster with a universal charging bar, using 7 ½ shot.  I’m running into intermittent issues with the charging bar sticking on the shot throw cycle.  I know it’s a piece of shot stuck because I can see a piece of shot cut in half in the hull when the shot drops, after forcing the bar.  This issue becomes less of a problem when I shake the shot bottle prior to sliding the charging bar in the shot mode.

 

I think I remember hearing of someone attaching an aquarium air pump, or some other device, to their shot bottle to vibrate the shot to help with this issue, but I can’t locate any information on this hack.  Have any of you solved this issue?  

[Randy Saint Eagle, SASS # 64903]

4 hours ago, TN Mongo, SASS #61450 said:

I use a MEC Sizemaster with a universal charging bar, using 7 ½ shot.  I’m running into intermittent issues with the charging bar sticking on the shot throw cycle.  I know it’s a piece of shot stuck because I can see a piece of shot cut in half in the hull when the shot drops, after forcing the bar.  This issue becomes less of a problem when I shake the shot bottle prior to sliding the charging bar in the shot mode.

 

I think I remember hearing of someone attaching an aquarium air pump, or some other device, to their shot bottle to vibrate the shot to help with this issue, but I can’t locate any information on this hack.  Have any of you solved this issue?  

Mongo, I have not had this problem but I use a cheap aquarium pump on my powder bottle to keep the powder from bridging.

 

Randy

[Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933]

Are you using reclaimed shot?

[Rattlesnake Slim]

Most times I have to add a little extra graphite to reclaimed shot, sometimes a little in new shot too. Just don't overdo it or it will stain your clear bottle so that you won't be able to see through it. Best to mix it in an expendable container. Here's more than you could use in a lifetime for $14 Amazon

 

[Eyesa Horg]

I had that issue occasionally with shot from Shooting fox, cured it by using a baffle. The metal one, not the red plastic one. Only issue is the baffle loosens up now and then which will also cause that same issue. I now put a piece of tape around the connection.

[Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933]

Reclaimed shot runs the gamut from sifted gravel to fully washed, run under a magnetic field to remove steel shot, tumbled and regraphited.  The best reclaimed shot is remelted and redropped.  The universal charge bars are made out of aluminum and reclaimed shot can cause them to wear.  Mec uses a rubber insert to ease the impact of shot on the charge bar and is replaceable.  The wear would be where the arrow is pointing.  The insert in the photo is dirty but still good.  Check your charge bar.  If it has wear they are bascally non-repairable and they are not made anymore.

 

 

On my Sizemaster I do use quality reclaimed shot for Cowboy and try to never force the charge bar.  Sometimes even some types of powder make the charge bar harder to move.  I took a scrap piece of aluminum ran a 1/2" end mill into it, tapped the old handle and screwed the new one to it.  Makes moving the bar a little bit easier.

 

 

 

 

[Rattlesnake Slim]

2 hours ago, Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933 said:

Reclaimed shot runs the gamut from sifted gravel to fully washed, run under a magnetic field to remove steel shot, tumbled and regraphited.  The best reclaimed shot is remelted and redropped.  The universal charge bars are made out of aluminum and reclaimed shot can cause them to wear.  Mec uses a rubber insert to ease the impact of shot on the charge bar and is replaceable.  The wear would be where the arrow is pointing.  The insert in the photo is dirty but still good.  Check your charge bar.  If it has wear they are bascally non-repairable and they are not made anymore.

 

 

On my Sizemaster I do use quality reclaimed shot for Cowboy and try to never force the charge bar.  Sometimes even some types of powder make the charge bar harder to move.  I took a scrap piece of aluminum ran a 1/2" end mill into it, tapped the old handle and screwed the new one to it.  Makes moving the bar a little bit easier.

 

 

 

 

 

The guy on this ShotgunWorld post makes 3D printed ones. The ones that I ordered were a harder plastic than the MEC rubber, but they worked well to replace a worn out one without having to buy a new bar.

[TN Mongo, SASS #61450]

It's new shot.  When I tried reclaimed shot, a number of years ago, this was a much bigger issue.

 

I'll try the cheap aquarium pump and I will check the charge bar for wear/problems.  If worse comes to worse, I will pull out the universal charge bar and reinstall regular MEC parts.

 

Thanks for the suggestions; I will keep you guys updated with my progress.

[Still hand Bill]

I tried one of the universal bars and had issues with it sticking.  Went back to mec bars and the press ran much better.  

[Sedalia Dave]

How does the rubber washer look? 

[Sedalia Dave]

19 hours ago, Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933 said:

Reclaimed shot runs the gamut from sifted gravel to fully washed, run under a magnetic field to remove steel shot, tumbled and regraphited.  The best reclaimed shot is remelted and redropped.  The universal charge bars are made out of aluminum and reclaimed shot can cause them to wear.  Mec uses a rubber insert to ease the impact of shot on the charge bar and is replaceable.  The wear would be where the arrow is pointing.  The insert in the photo is dirty but still good.  Check your charge bar.  If it has wear they are bascally non-repairable and they are not made anymore.

 

 

On my Sizemaster I do use quality reclaimed shot for Cowboy and try to never force the charge bar.  Sometimes even some types of powder make the charge bar harder to move.  I took a scrap piece of aluminum ran a 1/2" end mill into it, tapped the old handle and screwed the new one to it.  Makes moving the bar a little bit easier.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's my understanding that the charge bars with the rubber insert came about when Steel Shot hit the market. Without it steel shot is impossible to load. The added benefit is that it makes lead shot a lot less likely to be cut.

 

I've been using MEC reloaders since 1984. I still have my pre - 1982 600 Jr. None of my charge bars have the rubber insert. To prevent shearing of the shot I do have to regularly change out the rubber washer under the shot bottle.

 

Some of the Multi scale adjustable charge bars also had a machined cut out for a rubber insert. Of the 6 I have none fortunately have the rubber insert as they are no longer available.

 

 

[TN Mongo, SASS #61450]

Sedalia Dave nailed it.  My universal charging bar has two recesses for rubber washer inserts below both the powder and shot bottles. The one under the shot bottle had noticeable wear. The one under the powder bottle looked new. I swapped the washers. I turned the worn rubber washer over before I installed it under the powder bottle.  The reloader worked perfectly.

 

I checked my MEC parts supply and found a rubber washer (grommet) that looked very similar to the rubber washer inserts in my universal charging bar. I pulled out the damaged washer and tried the original MEC part and it fit.  I'm ordering a few more of the MEC original washers (grommets).

 

Thanks guys for your advise!

[Sam Sackett]

This is the replacement insert for the charge bar. MEC shows it available on their site. 
 

https://www.mecoutdoors.com/charge-bar-rubber-insert-2?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADkkhbjzF6gtN-zD4vBSkM4PXBYU4&gclid=Cj0KCQjw99e4BhDiARIsAISE7P_VWIc9igW5I7FnRCWZVRFWUyM2P3D6lShMpdVzHyUm8Z4Ws-tIl-UaAhvMEALw_wcB
 

Sam Sackett 

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

Lube with silicone spray