My Cowboy Action 12-ga 7/8-oz Loads w/ CB1875-12 Wads

[Liberty1776]

FYI --

For Cowboy Action 12-ga shotgun loads, I use an ancient (pre-1980) Mec 600-Jr.

I use mostly Remington STS green or Winchester AA red hulls. They both last forever -- don't tell anybody but I've shot them up to ten times.

Remington or Federal or Cheddite 209 primers are used. These days, it's whatever primer you can acquire.

The Mec #25 bushing throws 13.6 grains of Clays.

The powder is topped with a Claybuster CB1875-12 gray wad (WAA12L replacement). Press is adjusted so no compression is added to the powder. That was for non-plastic wads.

The Mec 7/8-oz shot bar dispenses 7-1/2 lead shot.

i check every round in a Lyman 12-ga case gauge.

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If the round does not plunk into the gauge, I round over the crimp with a Slix Sizer.

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Some guys have found that a socket wrench of the appropriate size can round over the mouth of the shotgun shell to help it fit. Not sure the exact size, but if you have a set of 1/2" drive sockets, you can probably find the right one.

Slix has come out with a gauge/sizer that does both actions:

You check if it fits the chamber with one end of the gage.
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If it doesn't go into the gage smoothly, you turn the gage around and use the sizer end to round over the crimp. That should drop into any shotgun.
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$45 at https://www.slixprings.com/proddetail.php?prod=SliX-Shotshell-Checker-Sizer-Combo

[Sam Sackett]

Yep. I am using a 700 Versamec. My cowboy load is a little less than yours. I use 12.7 Clays under 3/4 oz of shot using the Claybuster 3/4 wad. I think it’s the CB 0175?. Knocks them down if I do my part.

Sam Sackett

[Liberty1776]

I use 12.7 Clays under 3/4 oz of shot using the Claybuster 3/4 wad.


Yes. That would be the CB0175-12.

I should try a lighter load. And it would stretch shot and powder supplies a bit.

Can you tell me what Mec bushing you're using?

[Sam Sackett]

I am using a universal charge bar. BUT... I think the MEC #23 will drop just under 13 grains of Clays. The 24 should be just over 13 grains. Use either if you have or can come up with it.

Sam Sackett

[Walks]

The new WinAA are junk, Win did something about 10yrs ago. Made them cheaper somehow. Rem STS hulls are the greatest. The rims are a bit thicker too. My old Savage and I appreciate that.
That is a good soft shooting loads.
However a Mec 600 from before 1980 is not ancient. A 250 might be.

[Liberty1776]

The new WinAA are junk, Win did something about 10yrs ago. Made them cheaper somehow. [snip]
However a Mec 600 from before 1980 is not ancient. A 250 might be.

My AA's are from 1985. Had a trash bag full of them. So, yes, I agree that the new AA's are inferior, and, as I never shot Rem STS before and bought some new ones a couple years ago, they are great to shoot and reload.

Then Remington up and goes bankrupt. I hope Federal (who bought the Remington ammo line I think) continues to make STS using the same high quality materials.

I bought the faithful old Mec 600 Jr at a gun show, used, for $35 in the early 1980's. That's like last century. Very old. (Then again, so am I.

[warren5421]

Don't remember the number but have a MEC in the basement that is hydraulic operated. There is a MEC 250 also along with several newer models. I first pulled a MEC handle around 1965-67 while still in the Navy, reloading was the only way I could shoot and hunt.

[rockrat]

Think I heard that the AA hulls now use brass plated steel instead of brass on the case head. I also use a 700 versamec I bought back in the early 70's

[Liberty1776]

I check every round in a Lyman 12-ga case gauge.

284862

If the round does not plunk into the gauge, I round over the crimp with a Slix Sizer.

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If it doesn't go into the gage smoothly, you turn the gage around and use the sizer end to round over the crimp. That should drop into any shotgun.


The thought occurred to me that I should have someone TIG my Lyman Case Gauge and my Slix sizer together end to end into one tool.

The Slix sizer is small and uncomfortable to hold. Adding the knurled case gauge would create a nice handle.

[Baltimoreed]

I have an old Marlin 12 ga takedown bbl from a parts gun hanging off the side of my bench under my Pacific 150 press that I plunk test them into as I build them. I get good crimps usually but will sometimes get a bump in the case where a #9 shot gets behind a petal of the wad. Not one to waste things I will lay the shell flat on my bench and whack the bump a few times and plunk test it again. If it still has an issue it becomes a yard load.