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Joined: 08 Feb 2009 Posts: 1537 Location: Western WA

From the ‘Well, Duh’ dept: Loading shot into the plastic MEC reloader bottles has always been a great annoyance to me. The 25 lb shot bags are unwieldy, the bottles are high on the reloader, and the flow from the bag openings are unpredictable, especially the cloth tube on the Heper bags. And when the funnel starts rocking, then dribbles and spills are threatened.

The obvious solution has been stumbled upon: First, pour the shot into a suitable wide mouth container at bench height (I use a 32 oz plastic yogurt container). Then pour the shot from the container into the funnel on top of the shot bottle. Simple, quick, easy, and tidy. It only took a couple decades to figure that out.

B.

I use left over one lb powder bottles, one bag of shot will fill 2 bottles

Joined: 29 Sep 2016 Posts: 14 Location: Vancouver, WA

MEC makes a funnel specifically for their bottles.
Yah. I know. I tried one. I didn't like it either.

Joined: 29 Sep 2016 Posts: 14 Location: Vancouver, WA

MEC makes a funnel specifically for their bottles.
Yah. I know. I tried one. I didn't like it either.

Good tip. The guy I first learned about reloading from used to use JIF peanut butter plastic jars. He looked like an octopus running his hydraulic MEC, putting the hulls and wads in, and grabbing a bottle of powder or a jar of shot to refill the MEC bottles.

I use empty creatine powder containers. They hold about 15 lbs of shot max. I put them in the vise to hold them steady while I pour the lead in and work the Heper bag spout to keep the flow going. I use other supplement containers for things like filler wads or spreaders.

A fiend made me some imitation MEC funnels on his 3D printer with one side flattened to fit next to the other bottle. Works well for me. I grab a container of lead and pour in. My powder bottle always has the cap on to keep shot out of it from those occasional bouncers off the funnel.

Joined: 13 Oct 2015 Posts: 163 Location: SE Ks

I just use a large funnel to pour the shot into a 1/2 or 1 gallon heavy plastic jug like a windshield washer fluid type for storage. The smaller top makes it easy to pour into a funnel on the shot container on the reloader.

hmmm...I like the idea of a handle. Thanks!

I empty 25# shot bags into empty/used milk jugs, then pour into shot bottles when needed. The milk jugs have good handles. Been doing this for over 30 years. John

I empty 25# shot bags into empty/used milk jugs, then pour into shot bottles when needed. The milk jugs have good handles. Been doing this for over 30 years. John

I empty 25# shot bags into empty/used milk jugs, then pour into shot bottles when needed. The milk jugs have good handles. Been doing this for over 30 years. John

Member Joined: 08 Nov 2005 Posts: 3526 Location: Illinois

A 1lb Hodgdon powder bottle works for me.

1/2 Gallon milk bottles will hold 25 pounds of shot.

Joined: 04 Sep 2024 Posts: 10 Location: Pennsylvania

I use 1/2 gallon iced tea bottles, they seem sturdier than milk jugs. (and I drink more tea than milk)

Member Joined: 15 Mar 2007 Posts: 618 Location: Virginia

I use the large Ocean Spray cranberry juice bottles, the ones with the white attached handles. They easily hold 25 lbs shot. I mark the shot size on the top of the caps.