Does anybody use Winchester Hulls for Reloading?

[Bearclaw]

I listed some Winchester Universal hulls in the For Sale forum the other day. I'm just wondering if they are even worth selling. Do any of you guys use them for your reloads, or are the AA's the only ones worth using? Any input would be appreciated.

[jdberger]

When I did reload, I only used the AAs.

[bumpo628]

You should only reload hulls with separate base wads (like the Universal) one time. The risk of the base wad coming loose and jamming the barrel for the next shell (and the impending kB) is just not worth it.

Shells like the AA or STS are designed to be reloaded until they fall apart.

[pdq_wizzard]

You should only reload hulls with separate base wads (like the Universal) one more time. The risk of the base wad coming loose and jamming the barrel for the next shell (and the impending kB) is just not worth it.

Shells like the AA or STS are designed to be reloaded until they fall apart.

now it's down to the STS's as win has went to separate base wads (from what I have heard)

[bumpo628]

Winchester is still recommending that their hull can be reloaded. Apparently they are confident enough that their design will not cause a problem even though it is a two piece hull. I got the same impression last time I talked the the guy that runs my local reloading store.

How can I get a good crimp with the new 12-gauge AA high strength hull?

Winchester has designed the new 12-gauge AA high strength hull to reload with the same reloading data as the old AA hull. However, on some reloading machines, even though the components and reloading data are the same, there may need to be a minor crimp station adjustment made. Please contact your reloading machine manufacturer if you need assistance adjusting your crimp station. Shooters have found that after making a slight adjustment to the reloading machines good quality crimps and long reloading life are consistently obtained with the new AA high strength hull.

http://www.winchester.com/learning-center/faqs/Reloading-Components/Pages/FAQ.aspx

[Peter W Bush]

I use Winchester hulls. I pay $33/1000 once fired AA grey hulls. How much were you asking for yours?

And yes, I like the old ones more.

[Cheep]

Winchester "Universal" hulls are hard to get a good crimp. I have tried and they will work but are not worth the extra effort. I just use AA hulls.

[AAShooter]

I use Winchester hulls. I pay $33/1000 once fired AA grey hulls. How much were you asking for yours?

And yes, I like the old ones more.

That's a good price. Where do you get your hulls?

[Southpaw45]

I use only AA hulls. If the universal hulls have brass bases, then they would be worth reloading. Im almost sure there steel base.

[sargenv]

What I've been reading for many years is that most hulls these days all have steel bases but might have either a nickel or brass plating on them.

The days of the brass hulled shotshell are long gone unless you have an all brass hull like the cowboys like to use. Cheap hulls are cheap for a reason. They are meant to be loaded once, at the factory, and thrown away once fired. If you want to reload hulls, you really are better off getting the better hulls.

I've been reloading separate base wad hulls for a very long time.. the only time I ever had the base wad separate on me was in using all paper hulls. I've loaded the spiral wound Federals for over 20 years with no issue of separation. I've loaded various versions of the Winchester cheapie hulls, again with no issues.. I MUCH prefer the old AA's, STS's, and Fiocchi straight wall hulls. The Federal steel shot/buckshot hulls are also nice to reload since they have a large internal capacity. The hull I loved when they were made were the all plastic Activ hulls.. they had a nominal amount of steel in the head but reloaded well and held up as well as a AA.

The Remington cheapie hulls (in black, green, and sometimes blue) reload pretty well, but about 1/2 as many times as the AA/STS's. There are a few others out there like Rio that have some limited data floating around and then there is Cheddite, which apparently have a lot of data, but it can be interesting identifying the hulls.

[Southpaw45]

I know this for a fact. The hulls that are manufactured today with an all brass base are Remington STS, Winchester AA and Federal premium target. There might be others but I'm sure about these brands. There all great for reloading numerous times.

[Peter W Bush]

That's a good price. Where do you get your hulls?

Theres a guy I found on Gunbroker that sells them from october to may. The only thing is that shipping kills it unless youre buying 2000+ hulls. If you really want I can try to dig up the guys info.

[Sky_DiveR]

AA's are the only way to go. Still got a bunch and they're still going strong but I don't reload as much as I used to. How do the gray AA hulls hold up (I still have the red AA's)?

Funny you should mention Activ shells. I still have a few boxes but I never thought of reloading 'em.

[AAShooter]

Theres a guy I found on Gunbroker that sells them from october to may. The only thing is that shipping kills it unless youre buying 2000+ hulls. If you really want I can try to dig up the guys info.

If you don't mind, please PM me his contact information. Thanks.

[AAShooter]

I have a strange problem with the newer AA hulls. About one in 20 or so of my reloaded shells come out with a concave bottom. Similar to what it might look like if you were trying to seat the primer too deep. In some of those "deviant shells", I get light primer strikes and the gun misfires. The rest of the shells are fine.

The manufacturer assures me this isn't a common problem . . . haven't heard anyone have that problem. I suspect that the brass at the base of the new shells is slightly thinner, allowing this to happen. Anyway, I thought I would toss it up here in case anyone is having a similar problem. FWIW, its a PW machine.