[spicyfish]

I recently purchased a Pacific 366 reloader from one of the board members. I presently use a MEC 600 to load Remington hulls. The recipe (? spelling) I use is 1 1/8 of #8 shot, Nobel 209 primers and 17.5 grains of Allient Claydot powder. I contacted Hornady and told them what I was using with the MEC, # 31 powder bushing, and they told me to use either a 450 or a 453 bushing. Their bushing chart does not show Claydot but does show other Allient powders. I have a call into Allient, but have not received an answer from them. HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks.

Lou

 

[grntitan]

A scale is the only true chart of what bushing to use. It doesn't matter what the chart says, its only a starting point. Weigh and see which bushing gives you the required drop.

Matt

 

[timb99]

Go to Hodgdon's website and look at their bushing chart.

Use the data for Hodgdon Clays as a starting point. Alliant Claydot is essentially a copy of Hodgdon Clays.

But like Matt said, get a scale and WEIGH the charges.

Bushing charts are a starting point to get you close, but they're not that accurate.

 

[Twinbirds]

Ditto what Matt says, you owe it to yourself and those around you to carefully weigh your powder drops. Shot weight is important too, so first rounds need to be weighed thoroughly.

 

[semperfi909]

Get an adaptor and use MEC bushings in your 366. Just way handier than the fat kind and you can get them anywhere - for pennies at gun shows. I bought a bag full for $5.

And def get a powder scale

 

[Klay_Buster]

My Pacific 441 bushing drops 17.4 gr clay dot. Same bushing drops 16.8 clays.
Claydot and clays are gr to gr interchangable, but not with the same bushing.
My 1oz loads in STS hulls chrno'd at 1215fps with clays, 1270 with claydot.
DR xL1, win 209. All with the same 441 bushing. Dave

 

[Jeff P]

You can also file the insides of bushings with a round file to enlarge them if you need a bit more. Obviously, once you file it out....you can't go putting it back in again.

And its pretty stupid to do it - I admit that - from the standpoint that you just turn a 453 into a 467 or whatever and it will forever drop that amount of powder.

there's variation in every jug of powder. I weigh several charges at the start of a new jug, and usually one load before I start each time. If you have your scale set up, you can turn the powder on right off and weigh charges while the primers are getting punched and the primers are getting seated. Its a sure way to know the powder is dropping before it goes in a live shell, too.

 

[Tripod]

You can "put it back" with a few coats of fingernail polish.

 

[spicyfish]

To all, thanks for your input. I agree that a scale is necessary, REQUIRED, for measuring the powder. I do that regularly with the MEC and the recipy (sp?) I load. My concern is that I would hate to purchase a bunch of bushings and then have to file one out in order to get the necessary grains. I did get a call back from Alliant and they recommended a 444 bushing, but they also indicated that I would need to use the scale to check for the correct # of grains. I did see that someone on eBAY has an adapter bushing for Hornady that is designed for MEC bushings.

Thanks.

Lou

 

[spitter]

Make a small investment and buy a couple of bushings on both sides of the 444 - reason, the way you actuate the loader may settle the powder more or less and if you want to lighten or increase the drop - then what are you going to do?!

Bushings are cheap - I would consider borrowing a scale from buddy who is not using his right now... unless you're going to be weighing every loading session!

regards,

Jay

 

[grntitan]

Remember also that it need not be exactly on what the recipe calls for. Example: If your recipe calls for 19 grains of Green Dot, 19.3 grains or even 18.8 grains will not make a noticable difference. Just my 2cents

Matt

 

[timb99]

Klaybuster is right. Clays and Claydot are NOT EXACTLY the same, but they're close enough for a starting point.

And for cripes sake, a bushing costs, what, $4? Buy a few extra. Don't waste your time filing, or painting nail polish on them.

Like Matt said, a couple tenths of a grain either way will not make a bit of difference in how the shells perform. You won't be able to tell.

But do watch out when you're starting to get up towards the higher pressures.

 

[B.C.]

PW Bushings fit also in your loader !

 

[whiz white]

You can also use the Mec bushing adapter that will use your Mec bushings in the 366.

You'll need to weigh your load because the bushing adapter lets the Mec bushing drop a tad bit heavier charge.

I sell the adapters, but you can lurk aboud the Internet to find them cheaper. I just can't lower my price as I make these indivicually one at a time on the lathe.

Whiz White