On a MEC 600 Jr. I reloaded and fired a 20-gauge HS hull 23 times.
On the last firing the crimp folds were still unsplit and the crimp itself was near-perfect.
I had no hull buckling (actually wrinkling) until reload No. 17. It worsened on successive reloads until Nos. 21-23 the crimp would not close completely because the hulls was giving way from the weakness at the wrinkling. Yet still, the crimp was near-perfect and there was not a single split in the folds.
The shell broke targets on every firing -- except, of course, for the first six, which were chronographed.
I was shocked, stunned and amazed as I progressed through that incredible number of reloads.
I still am.
Here's the recipe I used:
20-gauge Winchester HS hull
7/8 oz. reclaimed shot
15.5 gr. Hodgdon Universal (Bushing No. 20)
Win 209 primer
Orange Duster wad
Published pressure: 10,200 psi
Chronograph results:
Average velocity: 1,157 fps
High velocity: 1,196 fps
Low velocity: 1,112
Extreme spread: 84
Standard deviation: 34
Individual shot velocities for the six-shot string beginning with the first reload:
#1 -- 1,138 fps
#2 -- 1,178 fps
#3 -- 1,112 fps
#4 -- 1,196 fps
#5 -- 1,131 fps
#6 -- 1,188 fps
The shots were all fired from a GaugeMate reducer insert in a 12-gauge Ruger Red Label.
Now if the same or almost the same results can be obtained from a 28-gauge HS hull I'll become a total convert to HS hulls (and take back all the nasty predictions I've made for their future).
On the last firing the crimp folds were still unsplit and the crimp itself was near-perfect.
I had no hull buckling (actually wrinkling) until reload No. 17. It worsened on successive reloads until Nos. 21-23 the crimp would not close completely because the hulls was giving way from the weakness at the wrinkling. Yet still, the crimp was near-perfect and there was not a single split in the folds.
The shell broke targets on every firing -- except, of course, for the first six, which were chronographed.
I was shocked, stunned and amazed as I progressed through that incredible number of reloads.
I still am.
Here's the recipe I used:
20-gauge Winchester HS hull
7/8 oz. reclaimed shot
15.5 gr. Hodgdon Universal (Bushing No. 20)
Win 209 primer
Orange Duster wad
Published pressure: 10,200 psi
Chronograph results:
Average velocity: 1,157 fps
High velocity: 1,196 fps
Low velocity: 1,112
Extreme spread: 84
Standard deviation: 34
Individual shot velocities for the six-shot string beginning with the first reload:
#1 -- 1,138 fps
#2 -- 1,178 fps
#3 -- 1,112 fps
#4 -- 1,196 fps
#5 -- 1,131 fps
#6 -- 1,188 fps
The shots were all fired from a GaugeMate reducer insert in a 12-gauge Ruger Red Label.
Now if the same or almost the same results can be obtained from a 28-gauge HS hull I'll become a total convert to HS hulls (and take back all the nasty predictions I've made for their future).
