It's been a VERY long time since I bought any factory loads and my stock is running low.In the past I favored Win's AA for both target and field loads.What's the best hull choice these days?I only load 2 3/4" if that matters.

I've always been a AA fan, in all gauges. The new AA's are said to be better, but they don't load the same in my Hornady/Pacific presses. Hopefully I have a lifetime supply of once fired "old style" AA's.

Remington STS hulls are said to be as good or better than AA's. Both have a good reloading life.

IMO the best 12 ga hull is any one piece Remington; be it STS, Nitro 27, Gun Club, Sport Load, Sur Shot, Peters (Gander Mt) - Green, Blue, Black or Gold. You can easily get 8 - 10 good reloads from them and they all use the same data. Best of all you can find them left behind at most every club or pick up the 100 pack at your local Box Mart. Their one piece design is forgiving on reloading and there are no base wad issues to worry about.

Early AAHS's were reported to be loosing base wads though that seems to no longer be an issue. The are more particular about their crimp settings and the body will wrinkle easily just above the base wad if the pre crimp and wad pressure isn't just right. Once you get your machine tweeked you can load the AAHS hulls very well and get about 8 reloads from them.

In 28 ga and .410 the issue is reversed, the AAHS will far outlast any Rem product by 2X. On 20 ga hulls I find Rem's and AAHS about the same for life but the interrior volune of the AAHS is less making fitting of 7/8 oz of shot some what more difficult though the use of the Down Range V-20 wad or Rem RXP 20 wad makes it easier.

Scout Master 54

Lads,

I load thousands of rounds of 12 ga. a year. Compete in trap, skeet, sporting and 5 stand. The Rem STS is perhaps the most reloadable shell I've ever used.

I generally load 7/8 oz for singles and 1oz for handicap. I used to load 1 1/8 but saw no advantage over the ounce.

For hunting, I simply substitute #4 or #5 shot in my old 1 1/8 oz handicap load.

Win AA's don't seem to last quite as long for me.

Follow all loading protocols. No sense experimenting.

Shoot well.

Mike

What Scoutmaster 54 said

ditto on scoutmaster

Thanks all!

Just saw this thread and have another question about the differences in hulls. In the Lyman shotgun reloading book it shows the winchester hulls giving a couple hundred fps more than the Remington hulls for a max load of Longshot. I talked about it with someone today who questioned whether that data was an old style winchester hull and wasn't sure you'd see any difference today. Anybody tried em both enough to know?

To get the maximum internal capacity of 2.75" shotshells - say 1 5/8 to 1 7/8th ounce loads -
try new primed unskived Cheddite or Rio hulls and roll crimps.