Duplicating Winchester Featherlites shotgun loads on a Mec 600 Jr. press

[gacajun]

Someone gave me a Mec 600 jr shotgun reloading press and I have not loaded shotgun shells before. I reload pistol and rifle rounds. I've been doing research on the Mec press and think i understand its use, not too complicated.

I shoot SASS cowboy action competition and have been buying my shotgun shells but would now like to try and reload my own. I use Winchester Featherlites. The box says 26 grams of #8 shot, Dram Eq = MIN. This shell on Winchester's website is located here
http://www.winchester.com/Products/...coil-low-noise-target-load/Pages/AA12FL8.aspx

The Mec press that I was given has a #34 powder bushing and a charge bar labeled 202 118. If my research is right the charge bar drops 1 1/8 oz of shot.

Does anyone here who uses a Mec Jr. press and can help me out? I need to know what charge bar I need to drop 26 grams of #8 shot. I also need to know what powder bushing I need to buy. I do not know what Dram Eq = MIN means. I use Hodgen's Clay powder for my pistol loads and see where I can use it for shotgun loads as well so I'd like to use that powder if I can.

I need to know how much powder I need to drop so that I can figure out what # bushing I need. How much powder is Dram Eq = MIN amount to?

The powder bushing chart on the MEC website is here
http://www.mecreloaders.com/documents/Miscellaneous/PowderBushingChart.pdf

I have W209 primers and Winchester Double A (AA) wads on hand.

I have all of this information but don't know how to tie it all together.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[cfullgraf]

1 Ounce = 28.3495231 Grams

You probably want to load 7/8 ounce loads. WAA12L (grey) wads are the once you want. They are designed for 7/8 oz. loads.

MEC makes a 7/8 oz charge bar that works in the 600 Jr.

Search any reputable reloading data for 7/8 oz 12 ga loads. Pick the recipe at the low end and this should duplicate your Featherlite loads. Once you pick your load and powder, you can get the appropriate MEC powder bushings. I would get at least one bushing on each side of the "recommended" bushing. Better to get two on each side. The MEC chart is only a guide, you still need to weigh your charges to verify you are getting what you think.

7/8 oz loads in the 12 gauge are relatively recent, so you will need fairly recent data. The annual Hodgdon magazines have good data or check the various web sites for the different powder manufacturers.

I have 4 MEC 600 jrs. One for each gauge .410 through 12. Good reliable loaders.

Hope this helps.

 

[gacajun]

That information helps a lot. I was able to connect the dots from your information. I just ordered a 7/8 oz charge bar and 4 different bushings that should get me the fps I am looking for using the Clays powder. Thanks.