Motor Mica and Shotshell . . .

[MEHavey]

Ran into a problem starting about 10 days ago reloading 410 (2¾"/AA-HS/WAA-41/#9).
The MEC600 suddenly started sucking the shot-filled shot cup up & out when I withdrew the fill-tube,
and/or failed to drop the shot (bridging in the drop tube) and/or spilling all over when it did finally drop.
Cleaned and polished the drop tube, but that only helped for 6-7 cycles

Seemed to really show up when I opened a new bag of shot & refilled the shot bottle (duuuuhh....)
Hence the likely issue was sticky tube, sticky wad sidewalls, and un-lubed shot. Graphite to the
rescue... right? (no graphite)

Did have motor-mica from my Sharps paper-patch days.

Double handful of wads in Tupperware 2-cup container; 1/6th tsp of mica -- shake well (not stirred)
2/3-bottle of new shot, 1/6th tsp of mica -- shake well (not stirred again).

Can't really even see the motor mic on the red ½-oz wads - just a faint haze
Ditto the shot and the bottle itself. .... But boy... are they ever both slick to the touch.

No Problemmo on any sticking, sucking or bridging anymore.
Solved.

 

[Seedy Character]

It happens

You fixed it

Awesome find. I keep a tube of graphite on my bench. May have to get some motor mica

 

[JCooperfan1911]

Might be better served in the Reloading section.

 

[entropy]

Ran into a problem starting about 10 days ago reloading 410 (2¾"/AA-HS/WAA-41/#9).
The MEC600 suddenly started sucking the shot-filled shot cup up & out when I withdrew the fill-tube,
and/or failed to drop the shot (bridging in the drop tube) and/or spilling all over when it did finally drop.
Cleaned and polished the drop tube, but that only helped for 6-7 cycles

Seemed to really show up when I opened a new bag of shot & refilled the shot bottle (duuuuhh....)
Hence the likely issue was sticky tube, sticky wad sidewalls, and un-lubed shot. Graphite to the
rescue... right? (no graphite)

Did have motor-mica from my Sharps paper-patch days.

Double handful of wads in Tupperware 2-cup container; 1/6th tsp of mica -- shake well (not stirred)
2/3-bottle of new shot, 1/6th tsp of mica -- shake well (not stirred again).

Can't really even see the motor mic on the red ½-oz wads - just a faint haze
Ditto the shot and the bottle itself. .... But boy... are they ever both slick to the touch.

No Problemmo on any sticking, sucking or bridging anymore.
Solved.

Thanks! I'll tuck that one into the back of my mind, but I do have powdered graphite around, it's handy for keeping car door locks working in -20 F.

 

[MEHavey]

One of the reasons I used Motor Mica is because it's relatively "clean"
While graphite in shot never touches the fingers, picking up graphited
shotcups/wads will soon make you look like the murdered monk in
The Name of the Rose.

postscriptum: This is only a problem (for me) with the 410 because
of the small dimensions/close fit with everything involved.
12ga machine eats everything

 

[entropy]

picking up graphited
shotcups/wads will soon make you look like the murdered monk in
The Name of the Rose.

Very true.

Anything that helps components flow into those tiny hulls is a good thing.