Older AA style 16’s

[CraigThompson]

Been loading a few hundred 16 gauge shells using the old AA style red 16 gauge hull , Remington SP-16 wad and SR4756 and an ounce of shot . All being done on an older MEC 650 . Don’t ask me the charge weight or bushing number as I’m not taking the charge bar out anytime soon . I checked it when I acquired it and weighed several charges but I’ve forgotten what it was and I’ve not changed it . Kinda light load but it works well , this is a Jim Rice load he used in the Belgian I think it was three barrel 16 gauge he had .

[charlie cleveland]

nice looking shells....charlie

[Richard Flanders]

I have 5 MEC presses on my bench, for 28 - 10ga. The best one by far is also the oldest and a 650 for 12ga. Works smoother than any of the others. I really like the older AA hulls too.

[Dave Noreen]

Great hull. Been using them since they were new. UPLAND and the Dove & Quail.

95343

[Andrew Sacco]

What's the difference between the newer AAHS grey vs red. I saw a recipe somewhere that said "You can only use grey for this load, NOT RED..." Missing something here? I don't have the old style AA's on hand. I have done some 12's in Rio blue, then did some in Gun Club. I will shoot and toss the Rio's, green was much easier to work with.

[John Dallas]

For me, all AA's (red, grey,, old, new) load the same . My DHE and I managed an 85 on a cupcake course Sunday with 1 oz loads in those cases (12 gauge)

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Craig was loading 16 ga. There are the compression formed older hulls, that are highly sought after by reloaders for their durability. There are also newer polyformed Winchester hulls, reloadable, not as durable, and different load recipies required.
That said I have a bag of 400+ Winchester hulls, no doubt a mix of both, that I need to go thru and sort as to type. I would need to go back thru old threads and find out how to tell them apart--unless someone would like to school us all on this thread--I'm sure it would be appreciated--at least by me it would.

[Tom Pellegrini]

The newer AA hulls are two piece hulls. The base wad is pressed in the bottom of the hull and the the metal is crimped on the bottom. I have measured the gray AA's after numerous reloads and the inside length grows account of the base wad compressing, thus the shells crimp differently after loaded three or four times.

[Mark Garrett]

The 16ga Compression formed hulls are completely smooth on the outside no ribs at all. They don't the have a separate base wad , all one piece . If you shine a light on the inside you see can the difference and they are tapered . Most not all had brass heads , some of the later ones where steel .

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Thank you Mark--I got some sorting to do now.

[Gary Laudermilch]

Harold, I cannot vouch for 16 ga but with 12s you can tell them apart just by looking at the plastic tube. The HS hulls are smoother and shinier than the old which are a more mat finish and feel slightly wavy to the touch. Additionally, some of the early HS hulls were head stamped as such. Once you get the hang of it sure beats looking down the tube for a base wad.

[CraigThompson]

I bought a flat or two of older WIN 12 gauge 1 1/8 and 1 1/4 ounce field loads (Upland and or Expert hulls) last year . They're in the unibody all plastic hulls as well , they'll be turned into 1 1/4 ounce handloads with #6's sometime this summer I assume . They should work well for Allgoods sky high pheasents .

[CraigThompson]

The pile of older 16 gauge had these three hulls which I lump into the older AA style and they’ve not made in a number of years .