Optimizing Your Shotshell Reloading: The MEC 1-3/16 oz Progressive Charge Bar for Unrivaled Performance

Are you an avid shotgun shooter looking to enhance your reloading efficiency, achieve greater load consistency, and save on ammunition costs? Whether you're a competitive trap, skeet, or sporting clays enthusiast, a dedicated bird hunter, or simply someone who enjoys the self-sufficiency of crafting their own ammunition, the MEC 1-3/16 oz Progressive Shotshell Charge Bar is an indispensable tool designed to elevate your reloading experience. This critical component ensures precise and reliable powder and shot drops, forming the backbone of consistent, high-performing shotgun shells.

Why Shotshell Reloading? Crafting Your Perfect Load and Saving Money

Reloading shotgun shells isn't just a hobby; it's a strategic investment for any serious shooter. In an era of fluctuating ammunition prices and sometimes limited availability, reloading offers a powerful solution. But the benefits extend far beyond cost savings. Here's why experienced shooters and newcomers alike turn to reloading:

• Significant Cost Reduction: The most immediate and compelling reason. While the initial investment in equipment like a MEC press is upfront, the long-term savings on components (primers, powder, shot, wads, hulls) compared to factory ammunition are substantial. For high-volume shooters, these savings quickly add up, making more shooting possible.
• Unmatched Customization: Factory loads are designed for broad appeal. Reloading allows you to tailor every aspect of your ammunition – shot weight, powder charge, wad type, and even primer selection – to your specific shotgun, desired velocity, recoil preference, and target application. This precision can mean the difference between breaking that tough clay target or bringing down that elusive bird.
• Superior Consistency and Performance: When you control every variable, you can achieve a level of consistency that often surpasses mass-produced ammunition. This translates directly to tighter patterns, more uniform velocities, and predictable recoil, all crucial for competitive shooting and effective hunting.
• Self-Sufficiency and Independence: Reloading frees you from reliance on retail stock. You can produce ammunition tailored to your needs, even when specific factory loads are scarce or unavailable.
• Reduced Environmental Impact: By reusing spent hulls, you contribute to less waste, making your shooting pursuits more environmentally conscious.

The MEC Advantage: Precision, Durability, and Industry Leadership

When it comes to shotshell reloading, MEC (Mayville Engineering Company) stands as an industry giant, renowned for producing high-quality, long-lasting shotshell presses and accessories. MEC equipment is a go-to choice for everyone from beginning reloaders taking their first steps to the most advanced, high-volume shotshell reloader. Their reputation is built on decades of innovation, robust engineering, and a commitment to precision that ensures your reloading process is both efficient and reliable.

MEC presses are known for their:

• Exceptional Durability: Built like tanks, MEC presses are designed to withstand years, even decades, of heavy use. This longevity means your investment continues to pay dividends.
• User-Friendly Design: While capable of complex operations, MEC presses are intuitively designed, making them accessible for new reloaders while offering the fine-tuning capabilities that experienced users demand.
• Unwavering Reliability: Each component, from the frame to the smallest charge bar, is engineered for consistent, repeatable performance, critical for safety and load quality.
• Comprehensive Ecosystem: MEC offers a complete range of accessories, parts, and upgrades, ensuring that your press can evolve with your reloading needs.

The Heart of Consistency: Understanding the MEC Progressive 1-3/16 oz Charge Bar

The charge bar is arguably one of the most vital components in any shotshell reloading press. It precisely meters and dispenses the exact amount of powder and shot into each hull, directly influencing your ammunition's safety, consistency, and performance. The MEC 1-3/16 oz Progressive Shotshell Charge Bar is specifically engineered for reloaders who require a precise 1-3/16 ounce shot drop, a common and versatile charge weight for a variety of shotgun applications.

This charge bar is designed for use specifically with MEC's progressive shotshell reloaders. What does "progressive" mean in this context? A progressive press performs multiple operations simultaneously with each pull of the handle, significantly increasing output compared to a single-stage press. This makes the MEC 1-3/16 oz Progressive Charge Bar an ideal choice for:

• High-Volume Reloaders: Those who shoot frequently in competitive events like trap, skeet, or sporting clays, or hunters who go through a lot of shells, will benefit immensely from the speed and efficiency a progressive press and this dedicated charge bar offer.
• Efficiency Seekers: If you value streamlined operations and want to maximize the number of shells you can reload per hour, this charge bar integrated into a progressive system is essential.
• Consistency Demands: Even with high volume, this bar helps maintain shot weight consistency from shell to shell, which is paramount for competitive advantage and reliable hunting performance.

Key Features and Their Benefits:

The design of the MEC 1-3/16 oz Progressive Charge Bar incorporates several critical features that contribute to its outstanding performance and user convenience:

1. Anodized Aluminum Construction: These quick-change charge bars are crafted from high-quality anodized aluminum. This material choice offers a perfect balance of durability and lightness. Anodization provides a hard, corrosion-resistant surface, ensuring the bar withstands the abrasive nature of powder and shot over countless reloading cycles, maintaining its precision for years to come. The "quick-change" design means switching between different shot weights or powder types (by changing bars) is a fast and simple process, minimizing downtime.
2. Accommodates Removable Powder Charge Bushings (Sold Separately): This is a cornerstone feature for serious reloaders. Instead of being fixed to a single powder charge, this charge bar is designed to work seamlessly with MEC's removable powder charge bushings. These bushings, available in a wide array of sizes, allow you to fine-tune your powder drops with exceptional precision. Need to adjust your powder charge by a tenth of a grain? Simply swap out the bushing. This flexibility is crucial for developing optimal loads for different shot sizes, wads, and desired velocities, ensuring you can always match your load to your specific needs and published load data. For instance, to achieve a specific velocity for 1-3/16 oz of shot, you can experiment with various powder types and corresponding bushings.
3. Equipped with a Soft Insert to Prevent Shearing: A common challenge in shotshell reloading, especially with larger shot sizes or hard lead shot, is "shearing." This occurs when the sharp edges of the charge bar or the powder/shot drop mechanism cut or deform the shot pellets as they pass through, leading to inconsistent shot patterns and compromised performance. This MEC charge bar features a specially designed soft insert precisely positioned to help eliminate shearing. This soft material gently guides the shot, preserving its spherical integrity and ensuring that every pellet contributes effectively to a uniform shot pattern. This is particularly beneficial when loading unique or hard-to-find shot types, as it protects your valuable components.
4. Dedicated Lead vs. Steel Shot Designs: It is critically important to understand that charge bars designated for lead shot and those designated for steel shot are not interchangeable. This isn't a mere suggestion; it's a safety and performance imperative.
   • Lead Shot Bars: Designed for the density and flow characteristics of lead, and typically for use with wads appropriate for lead.
   • Steel Shot Bars: Engineered to handle the different density and hardness of steel shot. Steel shot is harder and can cause excessive wear on components not designed for it, and often requires different powder charges and wads due to its lighter density and different ballistic properties. Using a lead charge bar with steel shot can lead to inaccurate charges, component damage, and potentially unsafe pressures.
   This 1-3/16 oz charge bar is specifically for shotshells, and the general rule of non-interchangeability between lead and steel shot charge bars applies across the MEC lineup to ensure both safety and optimal performance for your chosen shot type. Always verify the specific designation of your charge bar before use.
5. Progressive Press Compatibility: As its name implies, this "Progressive" charge bar is engineered to function flawlessly in all MEC progressive presses. This seamless integration ensures optimal flow rates and consistent metering when performing multiple reloading steps simultaneously. For those who own or plan to acquire a MEC progressive press, this charge bar is the perfect companion for maximizing production rates without sacrificing precision. While MEC also offers "Single Stage" charge bars for their single-stage presses, this particular 1-3/16 oz bar is built for the efficiency and speed of progressive operations.
6. Optimizing Shot Charge Weight: The 1-3/16 oz shot charge is a popular choice for various shotgun disciplines. It offers a balance of pellet count and velocity for target loads, and sufficient knockdown power for many hunting applications. This precise metering ensures your loads perform consistently as expected. While MEC offers a variety of charge bars for different shot weights, and some, like their "skeet special" bar, are specifically designed to help reloaders stay within certain competitive limits (such as those set by the NSSA when using soft #9 shot), the soft insert feature on this 1-3/16 oz bar universally aids in preventing shearing, thereby contributing to the integrity of the shot column and overall load consistency, regardless of the specific competition regulations for different shot sizes.

Who Needs This MEC Progressive 1-3/16 oz Charge Bar?

This charge bar is a key component for a diverse range of shotgun enthusiasts:

• Competitive Shooters (Trap, Skeet, Sporting Clays): Precision and consistency are non-negotiable in competition. This bar helps ensure every shell performs identically, giving you a tangible edge. If you shoot 1-3/16 oz loads in competition, this bar is essential.
• Hunters: Whether you're pursuing upland game, waterfowl (with appropriate steel shot bars/data), or larger birds, customizing your hunting loads for optimal pattern density and velocity is critical. This bar allows for reliable 1-3/16 oz shot drops for your tailored hunting ammunition.
• High-Volume Shooters: If you spend a lot of time at the range or in the field, the ability to quickly and consistently reload a significant quantity of 1-3/16 oz shells is a major advantage for both cost and convenience.
• Reloading Enthusiasts: Anyone committed to achieving the highest level of precision and control over their ammunition will appreciate the quality and features of this MEC charge bar.
• Existing MEC Progressive Press Owners: This bar is a direct fit and upgrade for your existing MEC progressive machine, allowing you to load this specific shot weight with the consistency and reliability MEC is known for.

Achieving Optimal Results: Tips for Reloading with Your MEC Charge Bar

To get the most out of your MEC 1-3/16 oz Progressive Charge Bar and ensure safe, consistent ammunition:

• Consult Reputable Load Data: Always, without exception, refer to published reloading manuals from powder manufacturers (e.g., Hodgdon, Alliant) or major component suppliers. Never deviate from recommended load data. This is paramount for safety and performance.
• Proper Bushing Selection: When using removable powder charge bushings, ensure you select the correct bushing for your chosen powder, charge weight, and desired velocity. Small changes in bushing size can significantly impact powder drop. It's often recommended to weigh your first few powder drops with a reliable scale to confirm the bushing is dispensing the correct amount.
• Regular Cleaning and Maintenance: Keep your charge bar and press clean. Powder residue and lubricants can build up and affect consistency. A clean, well-maintained press operates smoothly and consistently.
• Inspect Components: Before reloading, inspect your hulls, primers, wads, powder, and shot for any defects or inconsistencies. Quality components lead to quality ammunition.
• Monitor Environmental Conditions: Extreme changes in temperature and humidity can subtly affect powder burning characteristics. While usually minor, being aware can help diagnose subtle performance shifts.
• Consistent Technique: A smooth, consistent pull of the press handle will contribute to more uniform powder and shot drops.

The Full MEC Ecosystem: Complementing Your Charge Bar

The MEC 1-3/16 oz Progressive Charge Bar is part of a broader family of MEC reloading tools designed to work in harmony. This bar is engineered to perform optimally within the robust framework of MEC progressive presses, such as the MEC Sizemaster, MEC 600 Jr., or the high-production MEC 9000 series. When considering your reloading setup, know that all MEC components are designed for compatibility and long-term service, providing a reliable system for producing custom ammunition. Investing in MEC means investing in a complete, integrated system that simplifies your reloading process and consistently delivers high-quality results.

Where to Acquire Your MEC Reloading Essentials

For those ready to experience the precision and efficiency of the MEC 1-3/16 oz Progressive Shotshell Charge Bar, along with a comprehensive selection of reloading presses, powder charge bushings, and all other necessary components, DEGuns is your trusted source. DEGuns offers a wide range of MEC products, ensuring you have access to the highest quality equipment to support your reloading endeavors, whether you are just starting or are a seasoned pro. Visit deguns.com to explore the full lineup and build or enhance your ideal shotshell reloading setup.

By choosing the MEC 1-3/16 oz Progressive Shotshell Charge Bar, you’re not just buying a piece of equipment; you're investing in the future of your shooting, gaining the ability to produce highly consistent, cost-effective, and performance-tuned ammunition for any shotgun pursuit. Embrace the control and satisfaction that comes with crafting your own perfect shotshells.

Product Specifications & Compatibility

Feature	Description
Product Name	MEC Progressive Shotshell Charge Bar
Shot Charge Weight	1-3/16 oz
Material	Anodized Aluminum with Soft Insert
Powder Bushing Compatibility	Accommodates Removable Powder Charge Bushings (Sold Separately)
Shearing Prevention	Equipped with Soft Insert for Larger/Harder Shot
Shot Type Compatibility	Designed for Lead Shot (Lead and Steel Shot Charge Bars are NOT Interchangeable)
Press Compatibility	Functions in all MEC Progressive Presses
Primary Function	Precisely meters and dispenses 1-3/16 oz of shotshell shot and powder (via bushing)
UPC	098489012836