Reloading 8ga shells
 

I picked up some 8 ga hulls at the Tulsa gun show. Two are UMC brass that are slightly under 3 inches. The others are new unfired Remington Industrial cases with plastic tubes and are 3 5/8 inches long. The industrial cases have the step in the brass as usual but the step is a separate piece of brass that includes the rim. Is it safe to trim this step off right up to the rim? Or can the base be swaged down to proper size? I'm concerned that swaging would alter the integrity of the plastic base.
Does anyone here have experience with these cases?

C-H makes 8 gauge swaging dies. Ask for Dave.

who is c h... i use a pair of oldconduit pliars to swage my 8 ga hulls..dont look real purty but the y work.. i ve shot a lot of them done this way...also tom armbrust is suppose to be making dies to set up a ten ga loader to use the dies he makes... charlie

You could just have RMC make some for you

CH press was just like the Rock Chucker. I think they were also for 7/8" dies, and the 8ga. dies I have seen are more like 1 1/8" dia, maybe even larger.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/C-H-DIE-COMP...-/191146196571

C-H 8 gauge swaging dies are 1 1/4" threads and fit my RCBS Rockchucker press. The 7/8 to 1 1/4 flange must be removed.

Is the RCBS 8ga. shell holder available?

Yes, C-H makes shell holders and a shell pusher/flat plate which is required for use with their swaging dies. The swaged case is removed from the dies using a dead drop hammer and wooden dowel.

PS: The new Winchester hulls come out of the C-H dies at .929 max head diameter. That is a darn tight fit in Parker chsmbers. The SAAMI max chamber is .929" while the CIP minimum size is .931". Go figure. I am having a smaller die made...