Review of Adjusta-Drop universal charge bar by Ballistic Products for MEC 600 reloading presses

Adjusta-Drop Charge Bar review. You can purchase this charge bar at BallisticProducts.com. This charge bar only works on single stage mec reloading presses.
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[@kreggklingman7775]

Thanks for taking the time to make this very informative video. I have 12 and 20 ga mec jr's and currently use mec charge bars. But i have purchased a new adjusta-drop and a used canadian universal charge bar, model D. So i really needed some good advise and instruction, to get started, using them. Very much appreciated!

[@avidwaterfowler7522]

Thanks for feedback. Overall, it’s a great charge bar. It definitely has limitations with smaller more dense powders. It has been working with for me since I made the couple modifications I covered in my video.

[@tangobravo8889]

That was a fantastic, extremely informative video, thank you for doing it. I am new to reloading but have been shooting for 65 years. I am frustrate, appalled, perplexed, amazed, whatever. I just purchased a new Mec 600 jr Mark V. I watched one video I believe it was by a youtuber by the name “.410 outdoors”. Good video, well done, and he was talking about how bullet proof the Mec 600 jr reloader was. After purchasing the Mec I started reading some of the reloading forums and started reading how many were having to make small modifications to make them preform correctly. I was going to purchase this universal bar and then read your review and found this video. This is where the amazed, frustrated, perplexed, part comes in. Why, especially Mec, but also with Ballistic Products does a customer have to modify, re-engineer, a brand new unit? I mean its not like these companies just started their businesses in their garages a couple weeks ago. I will be using this Mec jr to reload .410 2 1/2” Winchester AA 8.5 or 9 shot. I have a couple thousand of the old design hulls (never reloaded) that I will be reloading using claybuster wads and Hodgdon H110 powder. Do you think that powder/shot combo will work with that bar? Thank you again for your video.

[@avidwaterfowler7522]

I agree, things shouldn’t need to be re-worked. However, look at the aftermarket world of parts for mustangs… lol. Any of the adjustable bars are a little touchy and sometimes a nuisance to dial in. The adjustable barge bars do not have round cavities to fill and I find they are more touchy the smaller the charge. Where as all mec are round they tend to be more consistent. The Canadian charge bars and their BPI adjustable charge bars work well, but they’re far from perfect. Since you are doing 410, I’d stick with factory mec bar and bushings. I load 410 as well, but I only use the oem charge bar and bushings. Since your most likely only running 1/2oz shot and w296/h110, bushing 12a or 13 will get you full house 410 loads consistently. Thanks for watching!

[@Gunners_Mate_Guns]

@@avidwaterfowler7522 One would think that the manufacturers would make the cavities at least have rounded edges. Obviously, it would be impossible to have a normal full circle due to the adjustability, but it would at least allow you to have an oblong chamber, which should (at least in theory) make for a more consistent, easier powder drop.

[@markyoung7470]

I have the original Charge master from back in the late '70s used it mainly for custom loads takes a while to get it adjusted but does fine after you get it set up.

[@avidwaterfowler7522]

Yes, my adjustable charge bar is 70’s possibly 80’s. I agree they can take a while to settle in, but after they’ll at they’re consistent.

[@user-qp3eb4pm1zfatcatreloading]

I was thinking about ordering one. It’s on my list. I already made an order to BP this weekend so I’ll order it next month.

[@avidwaterfowler7522]

It’s a good charge bar, I’d still run the Canadian version over this one if I had the chance. I run this bpi bar in my 20ga press almost exclusively since I got it.

[@brianaimar3124]

long but good vid thanks

[@avidwaterfowler7522]

Thanks for watching. That was my earlier videos and I’m just a little long winded…. I try to gather the details the best I can.

[@carllove3705]

I wish they made one for the progressive presses.

[@avidwaterfowler7522]

There is definitely demand, but it took BPI years to execute and I’m not sure they’re going to do it again for a progressive model. In fact, they kept pushing the completion date back before this model was ready for sale.

[@sajadadam3296]

Love the videos man I also have a browning gold 10 gauge and trying to get into reloading my own what reloader do you recommend?

[@avidwaterfowler7522]

Thanks for watching! I would highly recommend the Ponsness Warren 375. If you’re more budget conscious, the mec 600 , sm82, or steel master are great choices.

[@sajadadam3296]

Do you have in email I can message

[@Gunners_Mate_Guns]

I saw all the gripes from folks about your verbosity, but long as it takes, your extra level of detail is appreciated. I haven't finished yet, so my real questions are bottom line: 1) How would you rate this adjustable charge bar compared to the discontinued version? 2) Now that you've had some time to use it quite a bit since this video, do you think this works and holds up well enough to make it worthwhile over getting multiple MEC charge bars and bushings?

[@avidwaterfowler7522]

I hear ya on the gripes, lol. It’s free information, they don’t have to watch. I have been using this charge bar with my 20ga 600jr for about 2500 rounds and I am very happy with it. I do prefer the Canadian version, but this is still a good unit. I agree that BP could have done a better job engineering it. To me, it’s really just looks like they tried to duplicate the Canadian version versus trying to make the best possible charge bar.

[@JACs_Stories_and_Whiskey]

I was way excited to get this. Couldn't find the MEC one. I'm using a Steel master. Have you dropped bismuth with it? I'm sure this is more important to us waterfowl guys since it's hard to find conversions for the loads wee need with the powder drops we need. Does it say what size driver you need for the locking screw?

[@avidwaterfowler7522]

The adjustable type charge bars are best when it comes to dialing in, for sure. Bismuth runs just a pinch lighter weight than lead… I have been told a 1.5oz lead charge bar drops about 1-3/8oz bismuth. Since I load mostly steel, I tend to weigh every powder charge and every shot charge. This is still a great charge bar, I just think they didn’t spend enough time on engineering. Thanks for watching!

[@JACs_Stories_and_Whiskey]

@@avidwaterfowler7522 I ended up getting my bar in and after little bit of growing pain I got it to drop bismuth in 1-1/4oz of#1and #3 for 2-3/4" loads. I think it doesnt favor the powder size since there is very little powder that actually drops on that end. After a few shakes and bangs during the process I was able to get a fine tuned drop with longshot. My shot was only 1 or 2 pellets off of the drop too. It does say that anything above #4 wont drop well. Considering this I thought it was outstanding, and it sure did speed up the weight checks.

[@avidwaterfowler7522]

JAC, take off the safety and just run a screw for the charge bar and the cavities will line up better and give you consistent powder drops.

[@larsbliss2728]

I would try one but i told bpi that if they cancelled my backorder i would never purchase even a single primer from them ever again. They cancelled it and i shop elsewhere. I could have been looking for what i backordered elsewhere but I trusted them to honor the backorder.

[@avidwaterfowler7522]

I have to be honest, BPI isn’t my favorite. They are one supplier in a niche market and there aren’t many other options. They really get on my nerves because almost every item on their website is out of stock. Sometimes I wonder how they make money… I purchase from them if I can’t find the items I want elsewhere. They’re usually always last on my list. I really prefer precision reloading,

[@user-qp3eb4pm1zfatcatreloading]

I never back order. If it’s not in stock? I don’t bother with it. Find it where I can. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@petecrosby9361]

It appears that if the guide for the bolt attaching the “Pro Check” (Sizemaster Part No. 751E) is knocked out, then the powder opening in the BP Adjusta-Drop fully lines up with the powder drop opening. Has anyone else noticed this and tried it? Did it make any difference?

[@avidwaterfowler7522]

Yes. If you do not want to safety on the on charge bar, that allows more room for the cavities to align, which would be my suggestion.

[@young_of_the_mill9560]

What’s the least amount of shot that can be used?

[@avidwaterfowler7522]

1/2 once of lead

[@young_of_the_mill9560]

Can I use this when loading steel shot?

[@avidwaterfowler7522]

Yes, I do believe you can. I think it can drop up to 1.5oz steel without modifying it.

[@kingpin7673]

Way , way over my head but I love learning about this reloading stuff. If you are looking for some real good people that are really into reloading on YT let me know and I will send you a bunch of links

[@avidwaterfowler7522]

Yeah man, send them to me. Have you tried to dabble in reloading yet?

[@kingpin7673]

@@avidwaterfowler7522 no I hope to be reloading this winter. Send me an email at [e-mail]. its easier for me to send links

[@lky056]

You shouldn’t have to do all that, it’s ridiculous Ballistic Products did such a bone head thing not having the charge cavities not line up. What you can do is use the red double stick tape, keep the backing on one side and use a powder bushing that throws a larger amount than you want and cut a small piece to fill up the space providing the next lower bushing is throwing a smaller charge of power that you want. Same for the shot side, you have shot bars that throws more than you want and the next small shot bar doesn’t throw enough. You’ll have to experiment, better to use the mec equipment and save some money, the double stick tape stays in place even if you have to pull it out to trim it down.

[@avidwaterfowler7522]

I still think the charge bar is a good value, there just happens to be some tinkering that’l need to be done. I do however prefer the now discontinued Canadian version for sure! I do use factory mec charge bars and bushings, but I do like the versatility of the adjustable units. Thanks for watching!

[@paulgreen4202]

This could have been so informative, however, you appear not to know what you want to say. You keep repeating yourself and use 500 words when 10 would suffice. Unfortunately I only got 6 minutes into this before I had to stop watching.

[@avidwaterfowler7522]

It’s worth advancing through as I have a lot of detail in the video. I get in, but keep in mind in an engineer for a living and we tend to over analyze…. You can advance through 10 sec a tap to move through it quicker.

[@TheArby13]

Stop wasting our time and show how the sob works

[@avidwaterfowler7522]

Thanks for watching!