Old winchester AA hulls vs HS hulls

[kenscot]

I was reloading some 20 ga. for the first time in a while and notice that some of the shell were finishing with a compression ring around the middle of the shelll. Looks like it is getting slightly crushed when crimping. I realized that the ones that were getting crushed  were the ones marked High Strength.
I new that they had changed the hulls for 28 because they are clearly marked that way on the boxes but not so on the 20 and 12 guage boxes or perhaps I missed it.
I also do not see data listed as different for the two hulls.
Has anyone else had a problem with this ?

[Graybeard]

I think Winchester has now changed to the HS hulls in all gauges but don't wanna bet the farm on it. For .410 my press needs no adjustment but slightly different loads are recommended and do seem somewhat needed. The HS seems to have a bit more capacity. For 28 everything is different and you need different load data and slightly different press adjustments.

I've not loaded the 20 or 12 HS so really can't say for sure. But the condition you are getting DEFINITELY means you need a press adjustment to stop that. Your final crimp station will need some adjustment upward when using the hulls that have that buldge. If it's a MEC you may have to adjust both the cam and crimp punch. That can be a real PITA to be sure. In 28 gauge it's necessary to do it when changing from Remington to Winchester hulls and got to be such a PITA that I just bought an extra press so I'd not have to change it.

[Val]

I load 20 gauge HS shells from Winchester but I note I get more bad crimps from the Winchester Hulls than I get from the Remington STS or gun club hulls. I'm in the process of collecting the Remy shells from the range and I will eventually get rid of my stock of Winchester hulls.

[Graybeard]

When you toss those Winchester AAs toss them my way. My 20 gauge press is just the opposite of yours and likes the Winchester best. Yeah I "could" adjust but have way more AAs than Remingtons and so don't wanna. I got rid of my Remingtons rather than adjust for them since most were AAs.

[kenscot]

Well I took a peek in the boxes of all AA ammo at a local store and all guages are now HS hulls. I think that their capacity is less than the old, at least in 20. Perhaps that is why alliant is listing lower charge weight for green dot and my regular load is creating a bulged shell . Might have to find anew load after I burn out my current supply of old hulls

[Val]

The Winchester hulls do indeed seem to have less capacirty than the Remingtons. I think they have more taper. Graybeard, count up your Remington STS and gun club hulls and we can do a UPS or Post Office switch.

[Graybeard]

The Winchester hulls do indeed seem to have less capacirty than the Remingtons. I think they have more taper. Graybeard, count up your Remington STS and gun club hulls and we can do a UPS or Post Office switch.

I don't have any of either left. I have already traded them to another GBO member a couple months back.

[BCB]

Haven't reloaded shotgun hulls in years, but I do have a very healthy supply of the ol' AA 12 gauge hulls left and from reading these few post, I guess I might be glad I saved them.  Now then, could someone post a picture of the HS hull--I am totally unfamiliar with it.  Thanks...BCB

[Graybeard]

Actually I prefer the newer HS hulls to the old in .410, 28 and 20 at least. I've not used any in 12 gauge yet as I don't shoot that gauge hardly at all these days. My shoulder won't take much recoil and when I do shoot it I load it with only 7/8 oz of shot at 1125 fps as I do the 20 gauge. I have quite a large supply (well more than a life time supply for me) of the older AA and Remington Premier STS hulls on hand in 12 gauge.

I'd not worry about making the switch to HS but in at least some cases they do require you to slightly alter your load recipe.

I could make a photo of them in the three gauges I shoot but you'd see nothing in it other than the HS designation on it to tell you it was different than the old ones. There is no external clues really other than the HS on them that makes them stand out. The differences are subtle and inside the case but I do think the plastic formulation has changed slightly as well. But to be honest at least for the three I shoot that's an improvement as the old ones for me were horrible at splitting at the mouth even at first firing of factory shells.