Decoding MEC Charge Bar Markings

A reader wrote in with a question that comes up constantly:

"I just inherited a MEC reloader and I would appreciate help to identify it. The only markings I can find on the reloader itself are on the end of the charge bar. It has two numbers: 302 and 118."

Good question — and one worth answering properly, because once you understand the system, you can decode any MEC charge bar at a glance.

The Two Numbers on Every MEC Charge Bar

Every MEC charge bar carries two pieces of information stamped on the end.

The first number is the series. It tells you which type of press the bar fits:

• 302 series — single-stage reloaders (one shell at a time)
• 502 series — progressive reloaders (multiple shells simultaneously)

The bars are not interchangeable between series. A 302 bar belongs on a single-stage press. A 502 bar belongs on a progressive.

The second number is the shot weight. It indicates how many ounces of shot the bar will drop, expressed without the decimal point. So 118 means 1/8 — which is 1⅛ oz. The number 78 means ⅞ oz. The number 100 means exactly 1 oz.

Put them together: a bar marked 302-118 is a single-stage bar that drops 1⅛ oz. of shot. A bar marked 502-78 is a progressive bar that drops ⅞ oz.

The Inherited Reloader — Answered

So the reader's bar — marked 302 and 118 — is a single-stage MEC charge bar set up for 1⅛ oz. loads. That's the most common 12-gauge target load, which explains why it shows up so often on inherited presses.

Wayne Mayes, the greatest World Champion ever to compete in skeet, ran a single-stage MEC. He could have had any press he wanted — manufacturers would have given him equipment for the endorsement. He chose single-stage because it let him focus completely on getting each individual operation exactly right, without managing multiple simultaneous processes. If it was good enough for Wayne, it's worth understanding what you have.

Complete MEC Lead Shot Bar Reference

Here are the standard lead shot charge bars MEC produces. The bar number encodes both the series and the shot weight. Powder bushings are available for all of these bars.

Steel Shot Bars

Lead shot bars and steel shot bars are not interchangeable. This is not a suggestion — using the wrong bar type can damage your press and produce unsafe loads. Steel shot bars carry a suffix after the shot weight to indicate the shot size range the bar is designed for.

For example: 302118BB3 is a single-stage steel shot bar for 1⅛ oz. loads, bored for shot sizes BB through #3. The suffix tells you the shot size range.

Both 302 and 502 steel shot bars have a soft insert to prevent shearing of shot during the drop. If that insert ever needs replacing, the part number is #8440.

Skeet Special Bars

If you shoot skeet and use soft #9 shot, standard bars can throw a charge that exceeds NSSA limits. MEC produces Skeet Special bars specifically to keep your loads within those limits.

What If You Need a Different Bar?

If you're reloading a shot weight you don't have a bar for, MEC sells replacement bars and bushings directly. When ordering, you need to specify both the series number and the shot weight — a bar order that says just "118" is incomplete. You need "302-118" or "502-118" depending on your press.

Powder bushings are selected separately by number from MEC's bushing chart. The bar determines your shot charge; the bushing determines your powder charge. They're independent, which gives you flexibility to tune loads without buying a new bar.

Want the complete reloading system? My MEC Reloading Guide covers setup, load data, bushing selection, troubleshooting, and press-specific tips for every major MEC model — all in one place.