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Member Joined: 07 Jan 2008 Posts: 348 Location: Missouri

What is the best 16ga. hull to reload?

Please state whether the hull is in current production or is out of production.

I'd like to develop a top 10 hulls list to guide me in my scavenging.

Thanks in advance for the help.

Member Joined: 07 Jan 2008 Posts: 348 Location: Missouri

Well maybe top 5 is more realistic..........

Member Joined: 27 Jun 2005 Posts: 1545 Location: Michigan

Well, I think the best hull available now, is the Cheddite hull.
I'm sure others will disagree. Wink

Guest

There are really only four readily available choices for currently manufactured hulls.

Cheddite and their clones
Remington SP Express and Black Game Load
Federal and Estate
and B&P

I haven't any experience with the B & P but the others are good for 4 or 5 loadings of reasonable pressure loads.

The all time best were the Winchester compression formed hulls marked
X-pert and Dove and Quail with a close second being the now defunct Activ.

If you're scavanging I think it's best to get all the 16 gauge hulls you can find. There is no such thing as a "best" current production 16 gauge hull - they all suck but most of the hulls will give you a reload or three and are, therefore, worth scavanging. Load the ones you like best and use the others to trade.

Member Joined: 07 Jan 2008 Posts: 348 Location: Missouri

What about the Winchester Ranger Mark 5 hull? I know it's old but was it a good hull to reload?

Guest

Hey,

I still wear rolled up jeans!!!

rudyc

Member Joined: 07 Jan 2008 Posts: 348 Location: Missouri

My faves are the purple federals and the Cheddites. Both give a 5-6x reload life if you're not loading too hot. But fly's right-mostly, they all suck.
Nothing in 16 around that can compare, say to the Win AAHS in 28gauge,
which I regularly get 10-12 reloads out of.
Better hang on to what you've got though, as ammo gets more and more expensive, hulls will become dearer and dearer, and the cheds will be up to 20cents each I'm sure in a few years(if not next week)
Rizzy

I used to think the Remington GL16 hull was the best one left after Winchester discontinued the AA16 hull. However, the latest ones split a lot faster than those from 3 or more years ago. I think the newest hulls are both thinner at the crimp end and are made of a less resiliant grade of polyethelene. It's a good thing I bought a large lot of older GL16s over three years ago. They are good for from 3 to 5 reloadings. I'm lucky to get two out of the newer ones.

but how I yern for a 16 ga STS hull w/brasshead. Best hull out there IMO Wink

Charlie

I will trade once fired Federal and Winchester for the Black Remingtons.

I actually like the purple federals (especially the old Federal Monarch paper ones), partly due to aesthetics (they say 16ga. to me like no other), they're fairly durable, easily had, and the large hull capacity (the modern plastic ones) makes them versatile from small to large loadings.

I also like them because they're the ones I have the most of. Very Happy

Member Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 425 Location: Maine

From a functional standpoint, the RGL's are the best, for me. I have 2 model 12s, and an 870 that are a bit picky about Federals and Cheddites, but RGL's cycle through like butter! Too bad they only last 3-5 reloads. I once had some older 8 point crimp RGLs that I must have loaded 15 times.