Cheddite paper reloading

[Eric Johanen]

Does anyone have information on loading these hulls? I have a supply and would like to reload them.

[Mark Garrett]

what gauge ?

[edgarspencer]

I load Chedite 12ga paper. I enjoy the look of the hull roll crimped, but also fold crimp them. I use a Bridgeport Proucts deluxe crimper, and the reason it does such a nice job, is it has four rolling bars, not one.
I have a quantity of 20 paper also, and they are miserable to fold crimp, and the Ballistic Products roll crimper is slower than watching paint dry.

[Paul Harm]

Precision Reloading has a two pin model I like. If you're not reloading at the high end of pressure, I'd just treat them the same as Federal papers. They're both a straight walled hull - can't be a lot of difference.

[Harold Lee Pickens]

I just found this thread. I have only about 50 RST blue paper 16 ga hulls. Tried to load them with my MEC 600, but was told I need a special pre-crimp. They didnt crimp well with my standard pre crimp and crimp. With only 50, I'll just give them to someone who likes to load paper

[Joseph Flynn]

Eric, I've been trying to find cheddite paper hulls for a while, they have been out of stock everywhere I I've looked for months! Are you finding them at a retailer? If so who? thanks

[Eric Johanen]

Josey, I ordered my 12 and 16paper hulls through Ballistic Products 2 years ago when they had a fresh shipment from Cheddite. I do not know when they will get in another shipment. Watch their sight or call them for status. I haver been using them for vintage black powder loads and they are real nice for that. Have been searching for low pressure smokeless loads also but not had much success. Would like to have card and fiber loads data.

[Joseph Flynn]

Thanks Eric, that looks like my best bet, I’ll try and contact ballistic products. I am also interested in low a pressure smokeless recipe for them. I will keep you updated if I find any good info.

[edgarspencer]

My 12ga. paper load won’t be of any use if you can’t locate the discontinued PB powder I use, but 20 grains and a Helix Cushion Driver wad, 7/8 ounce, and either folded or rolled crimp is all I do in 12ga paper and it’s a T-Shirt comfortable load.

[Eric Johanen]

Thank You Edgar! I'll give your load a try as I have a bunch of PB powder. I could settle for a plastic wad. I really want to use my supply of once fired Cheddite/RST paper hulls. Seems a shame to waste them and not put them to use.

[Eric Johanen]

Edgar are you using 2.5 or 2.75 Cheddite hulls? I have both on hand. Which Helix wads are you using the 24, 21, or 18. Since I have a good supply of PB I will give your load a try.

[edgarspencer]

Edgar are you using 2.5 or 2.75 Cheddite hulls? I have both on hand. Which Helix wads are you using the 24, 21, or 18. Since I have a good supply of PB I will give your load a try.

I don't have the bag they came in, but I am pretty sure I was using the HCD24 in 2.5" Cheddite hulls, paper and plastic. It measures 1.7".
I have also used the Piston Skeet 12 gauge wad, but recovered wads don't seem to open up consistently. BP only supplied the paper hulls in 2.75" and I trimmed them for the proper crimp. My preference was to roll crimp their hulls.

[Eric Johanen]

Thank you. I'll order some 24's and load them in my papers with 7/8 oz. shot

[Paul Harm]

Harold, paper shells are crimped with a smooth pre-crimp die. For 12ga I have the old steel pre-crimp die for some of my Mecs.. They also sell a smooth plastic pre-crimp die for the 12ga. I've taken about five of the plastic six point starter crimps and ground the ribs out of them making em smooth. That way it doesn't matter if it's a paper shell or a plastic one with either six or eight style crimp. If you have a Mec machine with plastic dies, you could do the same for any gauge.

[edgarspencer]

Paul, this crimp is made with the sharp, plastic MEC crimp starter. I don't see a problem. Am I missing something?

[Gary Laudermilch]

I did not get good results on Federal papers using the standard crimp starter. I bought a smooth one ($7.00) and it works like a charm.

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Thanks Paul, maybe I'll try a few more and see--or just wait til the next SXS shoot and give them to a friend. It would be cool to roll crimp, but I've never tried that.

[Paul Harm]

Edgar, those look fine - don't let me stop you from using whatever works. In my experience the Federal papers reload better with a smooth crimp starter. I'd get 2 or 3 out of 10 bad ones using the 6 point starter. Mec sells a smooth crimp starter for paper shells. Awhile back it got me to thinking about the old Lee Handloaders. Their die was smooth for any fold or roll crimps, so I says to myself, why not smooth for 6 or 8 point with plastic or paper shells ? I ground the ribs out of the plastic start crimp dies and have been using them ever since.

[Eric Johanen]

Thank you Edgar. Loaded a few shells to your data with 20.0 grains of PB ( 19,6 actual with my MEC bushing) and the HCD 24 wads. In once fired RST/Cheddite hulls with Cheddite primers the wad column was a perfect stack height. Excellent 6 point crimps. Just back from the club where I shot them downrange. Good report and light felt recoil. I'll run 50 and give them a test on the clays course next outing. I believe they will work out just fine. My last 5 pounds of PB will be dedicated to this load.