Reloading Federal hulls

wileybelch · December 27, 2014, 05:30 AM

Anyone have experience with Federal Premium or Federal Estate hulls in 20 ga for reloading? I'm pretty much a Remington STS fan, but have a chance to get some once fired Federals. Any tricks/cautions about the Federal hull? Favorite loads for skeet? Thanks.

FITASC · December 27, 2014, 01:15 PM

They take a different wad than the Remington's. Estates are made in France by Cheddite but take Federal load data. If the Federals are the ones that typically come Walmart, like the Estates, you'll get 1-3 before they need to be tossed.

SHR970 · December 27, 2014, 02:00 PM

3-4 reloads is all they are good for. They are good for heavy loads as they are a straight hull with generous capacity. Hercules had a published load for Federal 2 3/4" hulls featuring 12 pellets of #1 buck shot @ 1275 fps.

FITASC · December 27, 2014, 05:15 PM

As to skeet or similar loads, I have found that a 3/4 ounce load running in the 1200-1250 range will break any skeet, 16 yard trap, 5-stand or most sporting clays targets. I would look for those realizing that most bushings like MEC's are light as are their powder drops as are the load data. I had to bump the powder charge by 2 full grains to get 1200, ( over a chrono), and tweak a bushing to get as close to 3/4,as I could.
Once done the load works great, is easy on not only the shoulder, but the wallet!

Dreaming100Straight · December 27, 2014, 06:23 PM

I am not sure that all MEC drops are light, but I know that my one ounce mec bar is light on shot. At least the #27 powder bushing is right on when dropping HiSkor 700X. Not sure about the rest as I had been using an adjustable charge bar for the last two years.

BigJimP · December 27, 2014, 06:40 PM

Personally, I'd recommend you stick with the STS hulls...they're much more durable. I'm getting 20+ reloads from a 20ga STS hull...and you'll be lucky to get 2 or 3 loads from a Chedite hull...( they're thin and brittle )...

( a lot of guys are going to 3/4 oz loads in 12ga and 20ga's... to save money on shot - especially for practice )....if they don't have or don't want to shoot a 28ga ( where 3/4 oz is the normal load )....and good STS hulls in a 20ga are a lot more durable than any 28ga hull ( 28 ga hulls in STS - are prone to breaking inside the brass base cup / sometimes after 1 or 2 reloads / and I've even had a few factory STS shells in 28ga fracture on the initial firing )....

FITASC · December 27, 2014, 10:51 PM

In 12 & 20, I agree with BigJim, stick to Remingtons. And Jim you are correct in that many folks do load 28 level loads instead of using/buying a 28 as it does save a LOT on reloading,especially when new shot in my area is still at $60/bag

wileybelch · December 28, 2014, 01:02 AM

Thanks, everybody. I'll put my money in STS hulls.

December 27, 2014, 05:30 AM	#1
wileybelch Senior Member Join Date: May 16, 2009 Posts: 115	Reloading Federal hulls Anyone have experience with Federal Premium or Federal Estate hulls in 20 ga for reloading? I'm pretty much a Remington STS fan, but have a chance to get some once fired Federals. Any tricks/cautions about the Federal hull? Favorite loads for skeet? Thanks.

December 27, 2014, 01:15 PM	#2
FITASC Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 2014 Posts: 6,441	They take a different wad than the Remington's. Estates are made in France by Cheddite but take Federal load data. If the Federals are the ones that typically come Walmart, like the Estates, you'll get 1-3 before they need to be tossed.

December 27, 2014, 02:00 PM	#3
SHR970 Senior Member Join Date: January 24, 2011 Posts: 1,427	3-4 reloads is all they are good for. They are good for heavy loads as they are a straight hull with generous capacity. Hercules had a published load for Federal 2 3/4" hulls featuring 12 pellets of #1 buck shot @ 1275 fps.

December 27, 2014, 05:15 PM	#4
FITASC Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 2014 Posts: 6,441	As to skeet or similar loads, I have found that a 3/4 ounce load running in the 1200-1250 range will break any skeet, 16 yard trap, 5-stand or most sporting clays targets. I would look for those realizing that most bushings like MEC's are light as are their powder drops as are the load data. I had to bump the powder charge by 2 full grains to get 1200, ( over a chrono), and tweak a bushing to get as close to 3/4,as I could. Once done the load works great, is easy on not only the shoulder, but the wallet!

December 27, 2014, 06:23 PM	#5
Dreaming100Straight Senior Member Join Date: February 3, 2013 Posts: 1,235	I am not sure that all MEC drops are light, but I know that my one ounce mec bar is light on shot. At least the #27 powder bushing is right on when dropping HiSkor 700X. Not sure about the rest as I had been using an adjustable charge bar for the last two years.

December 27, 2014, 06:40 PM	#6
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	Personally, I'd recommend you stick with the STS hulls...they're much more durable. I'm getting 20+ reloads from a 20ga STS hull...and you'll be lucky to get 2 or 3 loads from a Chedite hull...( they're thin and brittle )... ( a lot of guys are going to 3/4 oz loads in 12ga and 20ga's... to save money on shot - especially for practice )....if they don't have or don't want to shoot a 28ga ( where 3/4 oz is the normal load )....and good STS hulls in a 20ga are a lot more durable than any 28ga hull ( 28 ga hulls in STS - are prone to breaking inside the brass base cup / sometimes after 1 or 2 reloads / and I've even had a few factory STS shells in 28ga fracture on the initial firing )....

December 27, 2014, 10:51 PM	#7
FITASC Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 2014 Posts: 6,441	In 12 & 20, I agree with BigJim, stick to Remingtons. And Jim you are correct in that many folks do load 28 level loads instead of using/buying a 28 as it does save a LOT on reloading,especially when new shot in my area is still at $60/bag

December 28, 2014, 01:02 AM	#8
wileybelch Senior Member Join Date: May 16, 2009 Posts: 115	Thanks, everybody. I'll put my money in STS hulls.