28 gauge Challenger hulls, any good for reloading?

roadwarrior

roadwarrior

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I recently purchased my first 28ga. and since the cheaper ammo I've found for it is nearly twice the price of a 20ga. I've been trying to decide if it would be worth investing in reloading gear for it. The thing is, it will mostly be a grouse gun and I'll probably only shoot a box or two a year...

So in the mean time I'm shooting Challenger sporting 2 3/4, no.6 leads. I've kept the few shells I've shot so far and I was curious to know if they were any good for reloading. The most recommended shells seem to be the Winchester's AA, but I don't even know where to find some in the Ottawa/Gatineau area...
 
For a box or two a year it does not pay to reload. But reloading is fun and you can load your own in ways you cannot buy. The Challenger hulls are Cheddites. Not very durable and not as high quality as Winchester AA or Remington STS hulls, but OK hulls that will serve the purpose for hunting loads.
 
I don't know about the 28ga, I know the hulls they're using for .410 2.5" aren't worth the hassle of saving. The 2 boxes I picked up for my father's SXS, every 2nd or 3rd hull the brass split on firing. Don't know if this was a bad lot of hulls or norm for the course but I never had the issue with Federal doing this. I haven't seen this issue with Challenger 12ga target loads, and I hate to not support a Canadian company.
 
It's definitely worth reloading for the 28ga, I'm loading for around $4 a box (powder, primer, wad, shot).
Keep your eyes on the EE, 28ga loaders(MEC 600Jr) occasionally pop up time to time.

You should be able to get Win AA shells at Lebarons.
 
I've loaded them and they are okay but not as good as Winchester AA. Frankly, I wouldn't get into loading if I were only shooting a couple of boxes a year.
 
LeBaron's carries Win AA 28 gauge shells... for 2-6 boxes/year, reloading is probably not worth your while... if you shoot a couple flats a year, you might consider reloading. Challenger hulls don't crimp well IME, I only load Win AA hulls personally.
 
No personal experience reloading them but I can say 2 things..

Every shooter at my club reloads 28 and .410, and none of them reload challenger hulls.

They fall all over themselves picking up AA hulls.
 
Thanks for some sound advice. I posted an add in the EE to find a Lee Loader in an attempt to keep cost down.

I found Winchester wads in the Le Baron catalogue, but no hulls.

I'll shoot store bought in the mean while.
 
The thing with AA hulls is now all you can get are the HS hulls that require different loads and sometimes wads............Harold
 
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