WestKentucky
Member
I was given a partial box of 16ga Activ shells and since 16s are hard to find here I decided I would strip them and reuse the hulls and shot until I get some new hulls. Free is free... so they were fold crimped and too long for my gun so going the easy route I just trimmed at the fold leaving the cases roughly 2-3/8. They were supposedly 1oz loads but seemed really heavy for 1oz. I’m thinking 1-1/8 is more realistic. 8 shot. Powder was clumpy and had an odd smell, glad I didn’t try to test these old shells out. Wads ripped apart as I pulled them out so they were not an issue. Primers did pop on the worst looking 2 so I assume primers are good.
So, components stripped and ready to reassemble.
I have BPI wads which are long but not way too long, a roll crimp tool in my drill, a can of pyrodex RS, overshot cards, and the stripped hulls and shot. Knowing I don’t have much capacity for powder I started off trying a 40gr volumetric equivalent pyrodex. Was a bit much and not much left to roll crimp. 35gr left me enough. Shot wads tapped down gently and filled to the top of the petals using the stripped 8 shot. Overshot card on top, roll crimp to snug.
So, now that I have done this a couple things are making me second guess, especially since I’m new to reloading low pressure shotgun shells... should I just use fiber wads and an overshot card for this endeavor? Is 35gr equivalent powder even worth messing with? I know I can do more with longer hulls but I can’t seem to find cheddite hulls in stock anywhere and brass hulls are just too expensive for the cheapo side of me to buy.
So, components stripped and ready to reassemble.
I have BPI wads which are long but not way too long, a roll crimp tool in my drill, a can of pyrodex RS, overshot cards, and the stripped hulls and shot. Knowing I don’t have much capacity for powder I started off trying a 40gr volumetric equivalent pyrodex. Was a bit much and not much left to roll crimp. 35gr left me enough. Shot wads tapped down gently and filled to the top of the petals using the stripped 8 shot. Overshot card on top, roll crimp to snug.
So, now that I have done this a couple things are making me second guess, especially since I’m new to reloading low pressure shotgun shells... should I just use fiber wads and an overshot card for this endeavor? Is 35gr equivalent powder even worth messing with? I know I can do more with longer hulls but I can’t seem to find cheddite hulls in stock anywhere and brass hulls are just too expensive for the cheapo side of me to buy.
