Hulls to reload

[somethingbenign]

I've seen the advice often that when someone wants to reload shotshell they should get Win AA or maybe Rem Gun club. Seeing that the advice is almost always about reloading 12ga is the advice the same for other gauges as well? Would reloading 410 or 16 be best with AA still? Also what would be a good third place hull to reload? Working on saving up hulls and just want to make sure I'm saving everything remotely useful.

 

[RealGun]

Since Win AA is now made with a base cup instead of a tapered hull, its only real virtue is a smooth exterior for quick shucking in Cowboy Action. The Remingtons with a smooth exterior are the STS Light Target and are the ones that are the most valued at this point. I am not aware of other Remingtons with a smooth hull. Most hulls in all brands are ribbed. Fiochhi Light Target shells are nice to shoot but the hulls are ribbed and do not allow many reloads. They are significantly less expensive new though. Easy shooter, very much like Win AA.

 

[Muddydogs]

What can you get the most of? A guy just last week was asking about reloading and hulls at my trap club and I told him to load Federal Top Gun's and Estates once and toss for general practice trap. The reason for my answer is a guy can pick up a truck load of these hulls every week off the trap line.

For a good quality hull I stick with the Remington Gun Clubs, STS and Nitro hull. Rem GC hulls can be picked up off the trap line but not in large quantity's. The Win AA hull went down hill when they changed to the 2 piece base wad design.

Now for other gauges besides 12 ga your probably going to have to make your own empty's or purchase them as these hulls are not left on the ground. For the 410 Win AA still seems to be the hull thats most use. I'm not sure what guys like for the 16 gauge as its not real popular around these parts.

 

[jaguarxk120]

Since I do not reload 16 ga or 410 shells there is no reason to collect empties.
BUT for 12 and 20 gauges all I collect is Remington empties.
The STS and gun clubs reload very well and I don't have to change press/wad setups.

 

[somethingbenign]

The 410 and 16 were just examples of oddball gauges. I currently just shoot 12 but do plan to add other gauges and like to pick up trash in the field so figured I'd store the hulls that someday I might reload for. Didn't know AA went to a separate basewad, when did that happen and how to tell quickly? Is the old AA load data from the Lyman book still good to use?

 

[Olon]

For 16 ga I’ve had crimping problems with Winchester hulls. Black Remington hulls tear after/during first reload regularly. The only luck I’ve had is with blue fiocchi hulls and the purple federal ones.

 

[WestKentucky]

There is so much conflicting info on 16ga specifically that I’m just going to wait til spring (warm in the garage) and buy some cheddite hulls and hope for the best. If they work well then great, if not then oh well. My understanding is that the primer cup is the most likely point of issue as “metric” primers are slightly larger than a 209 is.

 

[BullRunBear]

I'm glad this topic came up. I haven't reloaded shotgun shells for years (been using a muzzleloading SxS) but hope to start again next year. Hadn't heard about the change in AA hulls. I'll keep an eye open for 12 ga. Remington hulls mentioned above. Scrounging hulls, like brass centerfire cases, is part of the game.

I wouldn't reload 12 or 20 ga. to save money. I just enjoy reloading generally.

Jeff

 

[George P]

I've seen the advice often that when someone wants to reload shotshell they should get Win AA or maybe Rem Gun club. Seeing that the advice is almost always about reloading 12ga is the advice the same for other gauges as well? Would reloading 410 or 16 be best with AA still? Also what would be a good third place hull to reload? Working on saving up hulls and just want to make sure I'm saving everything remotely useful.

Among us target shooters, Rem hulls in 12 and 20 are the best - STS are brass, Gun Clubs are steel, but they all use the same data. In 28 and 410, Win AAs are the choice. In their respective bore sizes, if you don't load them super hot, 10+ reloads per hull is easily attainable.

 

[jaguarxk120]

Reloading shotgun shells gives you the chance to make special shells.
I regularly shoot a 7/8 ounce load from 12 gauge., easier on the shoulder and easier on the wallet.
And in 20 gauge it is 3/4 ounce. The loads are lighter and break clays just as well as full power factory shells.
Do I save any money -- maybe --maybe not, but I can shoot more with the lighter loadings.

 

[Steve51]

I only reload 20 gauge and 12 gauge shells but I prefer Remington STS hulls over anything else. Winchester AA would be my second choice. I just wish Remington would make the 12 gauge hulls red, they are much easier to find in green vegetation.