using 3.5" hulls for 2.75"

[trailerman]

I am new to shotshell reloading. I have a bunch of 3.5" 12 gauge hulls that i would like to cut down and use for 2.75". I know the data is supposed to be specific for the hull wad primer combo. Is there any light target load I can use these for? Any help would be appreciated.

 

[fireman 9731]

I'd say you could trade all those three and a halfs for regular sized hulls and make out like a bandit.

 

[ClarkEMyers]

Try it - I'll bet you can't get good crimps so why bother.

Is there any light target load I can use these for?

No. The question implies that light target loads might be low pressure loads. This is not the case.

I know the data is supposed to be specific for the hull wad primer combo

True and no supposed involved.

More to the point I suggest cutting one off and using a dummy powder - corn starch say - by volume then loading a wad and shot then trying to crimp the case. I'll bet you can't get good crimps so why bother. At one time it was common practice to shorten paper shells and use a roll crimp. I haven't looked at your hulls so I may be wrong but I'll bet that shortened case has thick walls that would have to skived considerably to give a good crimp and at that point why bother?

 

[trailerman]

I made a dummy round with a wad and some shot in an unprimed cut down hull and it crimped Ok. I guess I am barking up the wrong tree here. I did not thing the volume of a compression formed hull varied from that much from manufacture to manufacture. I just have a press and components I have not used yet and too much time on my hands.

 

[snuffy]

It's do-able, but not recommended. For the reasons already mentioned.

Now here's what I would do. Get a Lyman shotshell handbook. Identify what brand and hull type you have. Most times the load data is for a specific base wad, AND hull type. For instance, Remington 2-¾ hulls, and their 3" and 3-½ inch hulls all have the same tube and base wad. You could trim them down and use the data for the shorter hull.

As for crimping, the crimp starter on the mec machines that were pressed steel, would work for forming a 6 point crimp. I did it a lot back many years ago, using remington slugger empties to make duck loads. Those were the #57 primers, with the fiber base wads. Special care had to be taken to avoid crushing the fiber base wad. And if it got wet, they were junk!

The best thing for cutting the hulls is the ballistic products trim doctor.



http://www.ballisticproducts.com/prodinfo.asp?number=TRIM1