New To Shotshell Reloading

[jbmacsta]

Hi - I am new to shotshell reloading and I have a simple question. Can I use a 1 oz. charge bar with 1 1/8 shotshell wads? I have a chance to buy 1 1/8 wads for real cheap, but all I have is a 1 oz. charge bar. Please, any comments would be greatly appreciated. Have a nice day!

[Peter W Bush]

Not recommended. How much is cheap?

I would HIGHLY recommend buying a universal charge bar if you have a Mec loader. The best $40 I've EVER spend on shotshell reloading.

[AAShooter]

Who makes the universal bar?

[Revoman]

Or you can simply buy another MEC bar for 1.25 oz, if it's a MEC machine of course. I think that they are about $10-$15 on ebay, probably more like $20 form MEC or Cabela's.
The Universal bars are about $40 IIRC.

[jbmacsta]

Thanks for the comments... Is this the kind of Universal Bar you were talking about?

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=746153&cm_mmc=Froogle-_-Reloading%20-%20Shotshell%20Presses%20%26%20Equipment-_-PriceCompListing-_-746153

[sargenv]

That would be the one.. I've had several of these over the years.. I actually wore one out... it seized up on me after 20 years of service..

[AAShooter]

Or you can simply buy another MEC bar for 1.25 oz, if it's a MEC machine of course. I think that they are about $10-$15 on ebay, probably more like $20 form MEC or Cabela's.
The Universal bars are about $40 IIRC.

That would be 1.125 oz. Not 1 1/4.

[bumpo628]

I have a chance to buy 1 1/8 wads for real cheap

What's your price on the wads?

If you used the larger wads, you may be able to fill the extra space with something. Someone on this site once posted that they use cheerios as filler.
Anybody care to comment / fess up?

[mjsweims]

You can use felt wads to take up the extra space.
Remember, in a shotshell load the entire volume has to be used up for the shell to perform. If you use 1-1/8 wads with a 1 oz charge bar chances are you will not fill the hull. Your crimp will be an inny and there may be loose shot. You won't get the proper pressure.
Just get another charge bar. Personally I don't like the universal bars. Have one around somewhere that can go cheap.

[Revoman]

That would be 1.125 oz. Not 1 1/4.

I beg your pardon, you are correct, 1.125 it should have read.

Beside that point, another MEC charge bar could be used no matter what the load. They are made from .5 (.410) through 2 ounce for 12 ga, or more.

I also did not like the Universal bar much and switched back to the MEC bars.

[sargenv]

One solution without any detriment to overpressure is an overshot card. Some people have thought that it blows patterns but I've found them to be useful on two occasions.. to help the final crimp from dishing in and to keep buffering material from getting past the crimp if it's a little iffy. Felt or fiber wads of the next gauge down in the shotcup to raise the shot height is also something you can do without raising pressures. 20 gauge felt or fiber in a 12, 28 guage in 20, and so on.

I have not found them to "blow" patterns at all..