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Member Joined: 19 Mar 2007 Posts: 279 Location: Mn

Hi: Has anyone had experience loading estate hulls. I bought a couple of flats at a good price and would like to reload them if possible. Thanks

I've never seen Estate 16 ga loads. Do the shells have a plastic base wad or the pressed cardboard one common to the Federal hulls? If they have the cardboard wad, just use the data for Federal hulls. The two shells are made by the same parent comnany--Alliant.
By the way, where did you get them and what do they bring per flat? We are always looking for ammo sources around here. Thanks.

Member Joined: 08 Nov 2005 Posts: 3438 Location: Illinois

I have loaded them with Federal data---don't expect a long hull life.Two or three is usually the limit for this hull.

Member Joined: 19 Mar 2007 Posts: 279 Location: Mn

Hi 16gaugeGuy: I have bought them at both Cabelas and Gander Mt. They have cost between 36.99 and 39.99 per flat. On line I think Able Ammo has them as well. Charlie

Joined: 02 Nov 2006 Posts: 20

I hear tell that Estate Is now owned by Federal. The 16ns I bought from gunsmoke.com were 1-1/8 they are fair. The Kent loads at 1oz killed better but thier shot is terific.The estate empties seemed weak and didnt last using Hogdon data for Chedite hulls. I through most of em

Load the estates using federal data as they are the same hull.
Or maybe I should'nt jump to fast here since I'm not sure if estate has any 2 1/2"ers and those would probably not be federal hulls Confused

Charlie

OK, thanks so far. Now, paper or plastic....base wad that is?? Wink

I shot some this weekend. They look just exactly like the little purple Federal hull. I shot three types of shells this weekend, Remington, Winchester and Estate. All were one ounce of 8's. I swear I thought the Estate shells had a lighter recoil. Is that possible or is it just "between my ears"

Probably not. the soft paper base wad generates less pressure and less velocity with an equal powder charge. Result, less recoil from a slower load. Probably a tighter pattern too. 1100 fps is plenty for most close to moderate clay targets with 8 or 9 shot.

Member Joined: 28 Oct 2005 Posts: 665 Location: Louisiana

Been awhile since I loaded any estate hulls. but my reloade were with fiber basewads.
Milton and son Paul did sell the company in Conroe, Texas
sad, as their operation was similar in service to Jay Menefee's Polywad---good service and pleasant people. For a while one could get 'personalized' hulls from Estate--your own name or company logo--interesting.
I seem to recall that Estate was also the vendor that loaded the Orvis 16ga Brush loads with the disc-shaped shot. They offered most anything the customer wanted.

Although I did not know these folks at Estate, I do know Jay Menafee. I hope we always have folks like him around in the industry. He is a good one. I'm pretty happy with my relationship with some of the folks I've contacted within Alliant, the new parent company. Most of them came to Alliant from the old Hercules personel. They pretty much grew up with Hercules, in the Central Virginia mountains, and are typical mountain folks--just as nice as can be IMO. Maybe their attitude will rub off and we'll all benifit. I certainly hope so.