Split hulls

[9mmMike]

Hi team,
A guy from another board has been experiencing some split hulls coming from his new 870 Express.
He is using "Winchester game loads".
He has reported these while shooting in very chilly weather (approx 10 degrees or so) in Indiana. Brrrrrrr.
I have never seen this with any of my 870's but I figured there were a bunch of folks here with a whole lot more experience than me.
I told him I'd check with some true guru's and let him know....
Any insight here?
Thanks,
Mike

 

[HSMITH]

Totally normal, the promo hulls are thinner so that is a contriuting factor, but the cold is definately a big cause. In warmer weather the hulls won't split with nearly the regularity they do in 10 degree weather. The last of the old AA hulls before these new super sport AA hulss was terrible about splitting too. The hulls don't swell to fill the chamber easily when cold as the plastic is not very pliable, and it splits. Tell your buddy to keep shooting and have fun!!

 

[Dave McCracken]

It happens, and it's one of the reasons we shouldn't try reloading the promo stuff. Good hulls aren't that expensive, the going rate around here is about $.04 per hull, AA or STS. Or, buy a case, reload the empties until the crimps go bad, then trash the old hulls and buy another case.

If a particular shell gave me splitting troubles in cold weather, I'd just shelve them until spring and shoot something else.

Matter of fact, I'm gonna work up a cold weather trap load, bumping the bushing up one(Totally in accordance with the Lyman Book AND Hodgdon) and use 7 1/2s instead of 8 1/2. Will advise, will be using AA Silvers.

 

[blades67]

I'd suggest that he shoot some place warmer.