Black cloud shells?

[tbrwlf]

I have a bunch of 3 inch black cloud shells that I would like to reload. I just can't be certain what the shells are.

I mean they are federal, but are they "one piece plastic", or "plastic with a paper basewad". I am leaning towards one piece plastic but don't want to make mistakes reloading. I am going to use a non split wad and BB to create a long range shell.

Anyone with a proven recipe, please chime in. Or you can PM me if you don't want to give up your secrets to everyone.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[hitch.bd]

I suggest you take one of the hulls and cut it down the middle. better to sacrifice one for the correct answer than to blow up your gun or face to save one hull.

 

[digitalblue]

Section one of the hulls vertically with a hacksaw and post a picture of it, specifically the basewad section. If you have a lyman shotshell manual, compare the various hulls and find one that matches...

Also, you need to remember than specialty loads will often use oddball hulls for which there is no load data.

 

[ben hunchak]

Look inside the empty shell, that's always worked for me, or get someone else to look inside.

 

[tbrwlf]

I did take a look. Unlike a winchester AA which appears to be all plastic, the Black cloud looks like the base is a different colour. So it is not a solid plastic base.

But I read on another site that according to Ballistic Products you use the Federal one piece plastic load data.

Looking at the Lyman # 5 shotgun reloading manual, the paper base reloads use more powder but develop less pressure but better velocitoies.

Am I right in assuming the less pressure and more velocity is better. I am new to shotgun reloading. I have lots of experience with rifle and pistol reloading but this seems more like baking than cooking. IE you have to use exactly the recipe listed and you should not deviate.

This is getting confusing.

Any further help would also be appreciate.

 

[tigger]

Paper base wad, not recommended for reloading but you can get 2-3 out of them easily.

 

[tbrwlf]

Then I guess I will trash them and look for some 3" Winchester AA's.

 

[luke s]

shotshell reloading gets really confusing, its not like metallic at all.

I personally dont reload paper basewad because it can separate and get lodged in the barrel, not worth the trouble for me

they generally say dont substitute components and dont start with reduced loads and work up.
however, so far I had success interchanging win 209 and cci 209 primers and reducing loads by 10% without any problems

 

[Shootshellz]

The only shotgun hull worth reloading, IMHO, is the Remington Unibody one piece hull regardless of color or whether a 6 or 8 point crimp. All other brands/types meet the garbage can.