Winchester diamond grade elite vs AA

Gatehouse

Gatehouse

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I see Winchester AA Diamond grade Elite and the "regular" Win AA I am familiar with (Handicap super sport)

Other than cost, what's the difference?

Actually asking for a friend as I am not much of a trap shooter these days.
 
The Diamond grade have more antimony in the shot, I think 8% vs 6% for AA. The shot is harder and as a result it should pattern better. But standard AA’s have accounted for some impressive scores over decades of competitive clay shooting.You could make the argument the Diamond grade also look nicer with the high base and black hull. But you will have to decide whether they are worth the extra cost.
 
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Thanks guys....So do you guys think the Diamond grade has an extra edge (All else being equal) And when I mean edge I do understand it's up to the shooter and I sure do appreciate the scale of diminishing returns when cost comes into play...

If extra cost wasn't a factor any reason to not go for the Diamond?

And brybenn could you tell me about cracked heads/ More for curiosity for me than anything.
 
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Gatehouse said:
Thanks guys....So do you guys think the Diamond grade has an extra edge (All else being equal) And when I mean edge I do understand it's up to the shooter and I sure do appreciate the scale of diminishing returns when cost comes into play...

If extra cost wasn't a factor any reason to not go for the Diamond?

And brybenn could you tell me about cracked heads/ More for curiosity for me than anything.
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If cost wasn't a factor I'd shoot STS simply because I like those hulls for reloading. I'd take the diamonds over aa if I was concerned about breaking every single target as they patterned better for me. They look better to.
As for the cracked heads the new style aa 410 and 28ga I get 2 or 3 cracked heads per box. I shoot a Beretta a400 28ga and a huglu 410 sxs and a Stevens 301 turkey 410. I've heard it's a material issue and I've heard they're made to tight so they don't expand and contract well. I'm not sure of the reason it happens but I know I'm not the only one on the skeet field experiencing it. I don't shoot 12ga aa. I reload my hunting ammo and for skeet when I shoot factory ammo I shoot the cheapest loads I can buy. At skeet ranges it doesn't matter what you use. They'll all work.
The mental perception of using a premium shell can increase scores. I also don't know how that works but it seems to hold true. Hand a trap shooter a box of undisclosed shells and tell him they're 100fps faster and his game will often suffer. Knowing full well 100fps difference doesn't equate to anything really. Maybe a bit more opened pattern but not enough to mess with leads
 
brybenn said:
If cost wasn't a factor I'd shoot STS simply because I like those hulls for reloading. I'd take the diamonds over aa if I was concerned about breaking every single target as they patterned better for me. They look better to.
As for the cracked heads the new style aa 410 and 28ga I get 2 or 3 cracked heads per box. I shoot a Beretta a400 28ga and a huglu 410 sxs and a Stevens 301 turkey 410. I've heard it's a material issue and I've heard they're made to tight so they don't expand and contract well. I'm not sure of the reason it happens but I know I'm not the only one on the skeet field experiencing it. I don't shoot 12ga aa. I reload my hunting ammo and for skeet when I shoot factory ammo I shoot the cheapest loads I can buy. At skeet ranges it doesn't matter what you use. They'll all work.
The mental perception of using a premium shell can increase scores. I also don't know how that works but it seems to hold true. Hand a trap shooter a box of undisclosed shells and tell him they're 100fps faster and his game will often suffer. Knowing full well 100fps difference doesn't equate to anything really. Maybe a bit more opened pattern but not enough to mess with leads
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I have about 3000 of the 410AAHS hulls, and I have only encountered 3-4 cracked heads, after 4-5 firings . The crimps are starting to get burned , and I am seeing a bit of leakage around the primer on some, so another firing or two, and those hulls will be done. I am shooting them in a K-20, and using H110/W296.As far as breaking targets goes, I ran my first 25 with the 410, with cheap Estate target loads that I got a great deal on, before I had the opportunity to buy AA loads.
 
Winchester AA diamond grade elite (trap) contains 6 to 8 % antimony raw shot it is not plated .winchester promos it as ata legal . The AA diamond grade elite is copper plated load designed for longer range preformance on sporting clays .
 
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stubblejumper said:
I have about 3000 of the 410AAHS hulls, and I have only encountered 3-4 cracked heads, after 4-5 firings . The crimps are starting to get burned , and I am seeing a bit of leakage around the primer on some, so another firing or two, and those hulls will be done. I am shooting them in a K-20, and using H110/W296.As far as breaking targets goes, I ran my first 25 with the 410, with cheap Estate target loads that I got a great deal on, before I had the opportunity to buy AA loads.
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For 410 hulls I prefer challenger. I just refuse to pay the now current prices
 
The genrral consists is yes has harder shot suffers less deformation on it way down the barrel. The copper plating adds a smoother more areo dynamic pellet .
 
brybenn said:
For 410 hulls I prefer challenger. I just refuse to pay the now current prices
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I paid around $120/flat for my current hulls, taking advantage of sales ,and the AA rebate that was in place up until a couple of years ago. The only 410 target loads that I have seen in 2023 were Reminton STS, and AAHS. Both were in the $220/flat range.
 
Falconflyer said:
They're not worth the extra cost in my opinion. I purchased a box to try out and found they have very soft recoil which is nice but a magnet will stick to the base so it's not brass but steel with a copper wash of some sort, not so great for reloaders.
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I can't recall seeing any new manufacturers hulls not sticking to a magnet. Makes picking them up on the skeet field so much easier
 
stubblejumper said:
I paid around $120/flat for my current hulls, taking advantage of sales ,and the AA rebate that was in place up until a couple of years ago. The only 410 target loads that I have seen in 2023 were Reminton STS, and AAHS. Both were in the $220/flat range.
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I miss the days when I thought $139 a flat was expensive for STS lol
 
brybenn said:
I can't recall seeing any new manufacturers hulls not sticking to a magnet. Makes picking them up on the skeet field so much easier
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If you are picking up STS, Nitro or AA you are getting the steel from the primer. The "base" in these shells is still brass I believe.
 
Pete G said:
If you are picking up STS, Nitro or AA you are getting the steel from the primer. The "base" in these shells is still brass I believe.
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I've never really cared to be honest. They all load good that's all I've ever cared about. I use gun clubs mostly. Melted thru my nitro and STS hulls. An extendable magnet is great for getting my AA 28ga hulls when my a400 spits them out
 
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