Are the Winchester shells in the Walmart value-pack the same dimensions as AA's?

[PowPow]

Just started reloading shotshells, so no large inventory of empty hulls.
Found out the hulls of the Federal value pack form Walmart id the same as Federal .035 paper base wad shown in Lyman, so I am saving those to reload.


Now Walmart only has Winchester value packs (4 boxes in one carton for $ 20.97).


Has anybody cut one of these open to see if they are similar to Win AA's?
Or are they similar to something else?

[mcwoodduck]

No,
Very different.
If you get a reloading book you will see different hulls and the loading for them.
While the outside is all the same the internal dimentions differ and loading one hull for another could result in high pressures that could damage your gun. 
The other problem you could have is the round will not crimp. 

[PowPow]

Yeah, Lyman said to cut one open and compare it to their chart. Just wondering if anyone had cut one open.
So you did, and its different?

[mcwoodduck]

Yeah, Lyman said to cut one open and compare it to their chart. Just wondering if anyone had cut one open.
So you did, and its different?

I used a high power flash light at first, but I have a few thousand AA hulls that I cna reload once I get the reloading room up and running after my latest move.

[dakotashooter2]

POWPOW... do you have a trap range in your area? If so check with them for empty hulls. Due to cost many shooters have stopped reloading them. At the club here they just toss them in the trash, though I suspect some clubs pick them up and try to sell them. It never hurts to check. If I'm driving by I usually swing in and check the garbage cans. You might have to cull through them because some will be tossed because they have been reloaded repeatedly but other will be once fired. I probably have 500 win AA and 500 Rem STS I got that way........ heck I even pick up unbroken clays off the range for informal use at home. They just run them over with the mowers anyway. A few break but most fly true...........

[PowPow]

Yeah, range pick-up was plan B, but where I shoot sporting clays, everyone shoots the cheapest stuff they can buy.
About the nicest stuff I have ever seen shot there is Rem Heavy Dove. Big buckets at each station, so if there is no one pushing me, I might do some dumpster diving. Just need enough to make my wife some light loads to see if she likes it.
When I take customers, the company pays for the shells. May need buy the nice stuff one time and save it.

[SHOOTALL]

Even AA hulls differ depending on when they were made , finding the older ones at ranges is still possible , be careful. In most cases the crimp is 6 pt instead of 8 pt on less expensive shells. The need to cut the shells mab be to see if the walls of the shell are straight or tapered. There are several wad types. Not only can using the wrong wad and shell combo be dangerous it can also cause problems with the crimp.
 
 if you want range shell , get a magnet it's easier as most all brass on shotgun shells is steel coated to look like brass.

[PowPow]

Think I will use these Win Universals for quail, where there is no time to picking up hulls.
What I bring home from the range will be stuff my group just shot from a new box.

[SHOOTALL]

If possible find some wind jammer wads , they list the hulls they work with and load .