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Case

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I don't know what it is with these 28 gauge hulls but after about seven reloads the crimps are crap on both STS and even many old-style AA hulls.

In fact, the crimps on about 25% of some once-fired old-style AA hulls were crap on the first reload.

So I'm ready to bite the bullet and try some HS hulls, but I'm not about to pay the outrageous price ($89 per 5,000) for WAA28HS wads.

That HS Claybuster wad is reasonably priced at $63 per 5,000 and that's where I'm headed -- probably with Universal powder and either Remington or Winchester primers.

Got any opinions and/or recipes?
 
I think two things are happening with the STS and old-style AA hulls. First the case mouth is getting "fried," and it seems to be worse with the STS hull than with the old-style AA hull. Second, the cases are stretching; necessitating an adjustment to the crimp starter and final crimp die for better crimps. This stretching isn't as bad as it is with .410 hulls, but it is there nevertheless.

As to the Claybuster CB5034-28HS wad, it works for me.
 
Case,

I am using the Claybuster CB5034-28HS and it works great in the AA HS hull. However, you won't be able to use Universal. It is too bulky a powder. I am using Longshot and love it.

Scott
 
Wow! seven reloads on an old style winchester 28ga hull. I never could get more than four reloads with the compression formed hulls.I for one can't wait to get rid of the old style hulls. Got this recepe from BP, for 28ga HS hull. Using a Rem PT28 wad and unverisal powder. This one works for me. Ran a hunderd straight, with it 2 weeks ago.
 
For the 28 gauge, I like using Longshot versus Universal for two reasons: First, I get better patterns and second, the chamber pressure is almost 1000 PSI less.

I like better patterns for obvious reasons and the lower chamber pressure means the hulls should last longer.

Scott
 
Yes, Longshot it is and If you don't want to use the new Claybuster or Winchester wads, use the Remington PT-28 wad. Hodgdon has data for that combination on the web site. Works well. I think Winchester wads can be had for less than the $8?.00 you talked about, but some places indeed charge that much.

BP
 
The Winchester wads are out of sight! A recent price from Graf & Sons on their volume clay target shooter program was $46.99 per 2,500 for any of the 28 and .410 wads whether HS or not. Right at $94 for 5,000 wads!

The Remington wads for the 28 and .410 (PT28 and SP410) aren't really any better. Same source for right at $90/5,000.

The Claybuster CB1034-28 and CB1050-41 were going for $62/5,000. The Claybuster wad works very well in the Remington STS and AA HS hull, but I don't know about the Claybuster .410 bore wad in the HS hull.

This promotional package from Graf & Sons includes shipping, so we need to consider that.
 
I switched to Universal in the 28 gauge because Longshot was dissolving the plastic hopper on my 366. I'm throwing 14 grs. Universal into the STS hull with the STS primer and the CB1034-28 wad (clone of the WAA28). This load is a nominal 1200 fps @ 11,700 psi according to Hodgdon. I'm actually getting 1180 fps @ 10,200 psi in my NEF test shotgun. Haven't chronographed it from the skeet barrel of my Citori but the patterns are excellent from either barrel.

Still in the preliminary stages of testing loads in the 28 gauge HS hull. So far, though, it looks as though the CB clone is going to work pretty well, but I think I'm going to have to take the propellant charge up to about 15 grains.
 
Discussion starter · #9 ·
OKShotgunner said:
...the case mouth is getting "fried," and it seems to be worse with the STS hull than with the old-style AA hull.
Indeed, Stan -- fried to a crisp by six or seven reloads on the STS hulls, whose petals harden up and gnarl inward like fingers on an arthritic hand.

You have to worm almost every one of them around some on the primer punch just to open them up enough for all the punches and spouts to get in.

I haven't shot enough of the AAs to see anything like that -- which never happens until about the 12th to 15th reload on AA .410s -- and don't expect to.

The skives on the once-fired old-style AA hulls were virtually nonexistent and I think that was behind the abominations I got on many of them. I bought them off eBay, so they may have been 20 years old and stiff as boards. But about 75% of them crimped normally -- and beautifully.

Good thoughts on the Longshot, winders, but I have 8 pounds of Universal on hand, which I've been using for the 28s, and not a grain of Longshot.

But I can see why those pressures are so low. Hogdon's burn-rate list places Longshot at No. 36 and Unique and Universal at Nos. 20 and 21 respectively.

I also have 8 pounds of Unique. So... what about this recipe from the Alliant site:

13.1 grains of Unique
Win. 209 primer
Win AA28HS (but substitute the Claybuster wad)
1,200 fps
11,300 psi

I don't think it's quite as bulky as Universal. Anybody using Unique?

And what about Stan's comment on Longshot devouring his hopper? (May be slow, but it must be potent.)

The price I was quoting, BP, was from Recob's Target Shop -- one of the lowest-priced dealers around on just about everything.

I could try some of these combinations myself but I don't yet have any HS hulls or Claybuster wads and I don't want to plunge into 5,000 wads and a pile of HS hulls without some idea of what might work.

I'm also not real keen on getting ripped off for another $20 hazmat fee on a single jug of Longshot.
 
Case,

Unique is even bulkier than Universal. Neither Universal or Unique will work with the WAA28HS wad (or CB clone) in the Winchester 28 gauge AA HS hull.

You will have to use the Remington wad if you want to use Universal or Unique.

Scott
 
Discussion starter · #11 ·
winders said:
You will have to use the Remington wad if you want to use Universal or Unique.
Well, then I might as well just buy WAA28HS wads, because the PT28 is just about as pricey.

I'm gonna tinker around some more with the STS hulls and old-style AAs before I take the HS plunge.

I'm using red Duster wads and Universal in the STS and getting beautiful crimps -- for about the first five reloads.

I'll see if Unique is any gentler on the STS hulls, which are relatively cheap on eBay -- but not cheap enough to be getting only six or seven loads out of them. (No wonder they're so readily available.)

But I'm begining to suspect that getting fried early on is just an inherent trait of the plastic in that hull -- no matter what powder you use.

I'll be very interested in learning what conclusions Stan reaches.
 
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