Any analyses of shotshell performance and number of reloadings?

[Questor]

Have you seen any chronograph and pattern tests showing how shotshell performance changes with the number of reloadings? I just went through an interesting exercise of opening up about 100 shells because I had defects in the batch. The difficulty of opening a new shell reloaded only once was much greater than a shell of the same type that had been reloaded three times (but which had no pinholes or splits or brittleness). It seems that this extra resistance would affect shotshell performance.

The more I do this shotshell reloading the more I have doubts about it.

[Graybeard]

Yup along about the second or third time ya have to use candle wax to hold the crimp closed it's probably time to toss them. By then you've got all the goody you're gonna get outta that hull. Quit being so picky and just shoot them Rudy. All us old skeet and trap shooters use them till we wear them slap out and then use them another time or two.

[Catfish]

I had a fellow tell me that every time you loaded a case you lost velocity, forget how much, but far more than I though it should be. So I got out 5 once fire cases and loaded each 10 times, except If remember correctly 1 or 2 didn`t hold up for 10 loads. Anyway, i cronoed them and there was no statical difference in velocities. I did not pattern them.

[dakotashooter2]

I remember reading an analysis  a few years back on just this issue. I have no idea where to find it now. The writer tested loads out to ten loadings comparing velocity, patterns and maybe pressure but I don't recall for sure. If I remember correctly the first three loadings were pretty consistent. Loads 4-5 produced reduced but still acceptable velocities and patterns and 6-10 went down hill fast in velocity and pattern performance. Generally small pinholes at the mouth started to develop at around 6 firings and crimps were not as "tight", likely the reason for reduced and inconsistent velocity due to reduced and inconsistent pressure. The writer recommended that for club shooting not to load more than 5 times.

[dave375hh]

Shotgun Sports magazine had a write up a couple years ago about the Rem STS hulls. Over the first ten loadings there was no loss in pressure or velocity. They continued to load them untill they had a 50% reject rate due to splits or burn threws. By the time the 50% reject rate was reached some of the hulls had been reloaded 18 times. Like GB said I've seen guys shoot reloads that were burned to a crisp and capped with duct tape to keep them closed. One guy had his wife put holes in the bottom of his vest pockets so he could drain out the shot that leaked out of his reloads(sort of like a small button hole).

[Catfish]

Glad to see Shooting Sports got the same results as I did. I load them until there is noticeable damage to the case and then pitch them. Some of the old AA cases stayed in the rotation for over 20 years. Probably loaded over 20 times.

[shotgunner]

I did my own test. I shot 10 rounds of 20 gauge reloads with once fired AA ( old style ) hulls, over a chronograph. I then loaded the same hulls and shot them 5 times. I loaded them once more and checked the velocity. What I found was a very slight reduction in velocity, something like 15 fps, and a REDUCTION in extreme spread of velosity. The hulls produced more consistency after being used. I am amazed that people repeat things they assume are true, without ever checking into it themselves. Shotgunner