If they are paper hulls, I would think you could trim to length and form a new crimp.
But plastic?, I always thought the plastic hulls had a skived (thinned) mouth to allow for
a crimp that could be formed without deforming the hull.
Never too old to learn though.
JT
I trim plastic hulls all the time. I prefer roll crimping vs 6/8 point fold/star crimps. So I'm always trimming the fold crimp off of 1/fired hulls
Wade Rush on BRO on yoofloob loads
every manner of shotshells in his
videos. He seems more knowledgeable
and safe than the average " loader "
that haunts the web.
Some of those dudes scare me with
their slapdash so-called procedures
Excellent info. I'll definitely check it out. Thanks
A felt spacer would work. BP sells gas seals you can place under the wad for a double seal. They call it their “Pagoda” loads.
I’ve used them in 2 3/4” shells.
But a 20 ga 1/4” felt inside the shot wad will take up the space and cushion the shot during setback. Less deformation of the pellets.
Either way your choice. I’ve tried both and actually wanted to combine them in 2 3,4”, 1 1/4 oz loads but even in straight walled cases and 1/8” felt, there isn’t enough room. And I never adjusted my press for 3” shells so I preferred the gas seal under the wad.
Yea, the felt is what I had in mind. Actually, I was going to use cork, because I have a lot of cork from black powder loading. Putting the felt/cork wad inside of the plastic hull won't really accomplish much. My objective is to take up the total length space of the shell. This way powder doesn't float past the plastic hull/gas seal when stored. Because of the looseness, the powder can get past, get up into the shot, and create some pretty crappy loads. Nothing dangerous, but a real crappy load. I am wanting, like you said, to put a felt/cork overshot wad between the powder and the plastic hull. This would LIFT the plastic wad the extra distance needed to crimp the hull without having to trim it. But from what you're saying, you HAVE USED or heard of individuals using a felt spacer/wad underneath a plastic wad in a smokeless reload. So I'll probably give it a try. POSSIBLY.
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But after considering what Jim and Ranger have said, I think they have a good point. I've been saving, collecting, ok.... hoarding certain things over the years. Makes for some good "Trading Material" should one need it. I think you understand my cryptic explanation. I can always hold onto the 3" hulls for trading material or if I HAD to have hulls, I could always trim or fill them in the future. I still have about 800 once fired hulls that I can use for reloading. I don't really need the 3" at this time. While I do prefer reloading black powder shotshells; "Easier, simpler, can't screw it up, just as accurate and as powerful, and price wise it's about a wash. Smokeless is easier to use. Meaning; gun ranges don't like the smoke of BP and black powder uses about 3X as much powder so using shot cups/wads usually requires trimming those to fit in the hull. And with both at similar price ranges per pound, smokeless is somewhat better.
Thanks for all the input. I appreciate it all.
Mike
