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Old July 13, 2010, 06:00 PM   #1
darkgael
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MEC mystery bar

I picked up a MEC 600 12 gauge press from Ebay for a few dollars - a good price.
Problem - I don't recognize the charge bar. It has no cut out for a powder bushing and is not numbered the usual MEC way. No 302116 or anything like that. One end has a threaded hole much like what one finds on the charge bar on a 650 where the return spring attaches.
The other end says "12 ga. 11".
Looks like this:

Looks the same if I turn it over.
Any ID?
Pete
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Old July 13, 2010, 07:41 PM   #2
clemsonbloz
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maybe something after market?
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Old July 13, 2010, 07:56 PM   #3
Jim Watson
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An old charge bar, before MEC went to powder bushings.
You had to have the appropriate whole bar for each load.
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Old July 13, 2010, 08:50 PM   #4
darkgael
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Any idea what the "11" might mean? What shot load weight?
I could weigh it but am not near any shot at the moment
o
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Old July 13, 2010, 09:56 PM   #5
Dave McC
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MEC has been MOST helpful when I've called them. Give them a try. Meanwhile, charge bars are not expensive.....
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Old July 13, 2010, 09:57 PM   #6
.45 COLT
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The old 11 bar is a 1 1/4 Ounce, 3 3/4 DE (1,330 FPS) bar. Herco Powder, 33 Grain drop. Nitro Card and Fiber Filler Wads, NOT PLASTIC WADS.

MEC will not give information on the old style bars, or they wouldn't any time I've asked. They barely admit to ever making them.

DC
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Old July 14, 2010, 11:41 AM   #7
BigJimP
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I don't remember when MEC quit using those old bars ...but its been at least 35 yrs ago ....so I doubt anyone working there today knows much about those old bars...

But MEC has always been very helpful when I've called too.

I would just toss it out / upgrade to the new bar that accepts bushings ....most any store that has any MEC parts will have charge bars.
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Old July 14, 2010, 01:08 PM   #8
zippy13
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BigJim, somewhere around here, I've got an old fixed bar that throws 1 1/8 oz of shot and 18.5 gr of RedDot if you need one.
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Old July 14, 2010, 02:06 PM   #9
BigJimP
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No - but thanks anyway ......

( I can't believe you still have one laying around ....and my wife thinks I'm a packrat ..) !!
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Old July 14, 2010, 07:34 PM   #10
zippy13
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....and my wife thinks I'm a packrat ..
You never know when you might need a nice hunk of alloy.
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Old July 14, 2010, 08:43 PM   #11
darkgael
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bars

Thanks for the replies. I have ordered a couple of new charge bars for the press.
Quote:
I've got an old fixed bar that throws 1 1/8 oz of shot and 18.5 gr of RedDot if you need one.
That's what shoulda come with this press. Then I'd be set.

Pete
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Old July 14, 2010, 08:44 PM   #12
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Hey, I've got one of those old bars. I weighed the shot that it throws and then weighed how much Green Dot it throws. I matched that to the bushing chart and stamped that bushing # into the end along with the shot weight. I verified the bushing size vs. weight with a couple more powders and chose one that gave me the load I wanted. I still use mine.
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