Sticky Shotgun Hulls

[SPQR476]

I've played with BP this year in SASS, and switched back to that other stuff for a few reasons...a little because of smoke, which doesn't slow me down TOO much, but my biggest frustration was that if I was firing more than 4 shotgun shells, they start to stick in the chambers, even though they are honed glassy smooth.  I'd like to shoot more BP, but the local matches are 40-70 folks, and some just score overall--and as much fun as shooting the black is, I like to win, too.  (I'm definitely screwed when I try to shoot FCGF)

If I clean the chambers between every stage, I was good for 4, but any more than that, and they'd stick, requiring pulling them out.

Any advice to get BP shotshells that shuck out like the "other" kind?  Brass?  Specific hulls?  (I'm using Remington STS hulls)

70grFFg, .125 card, 1/2 cushion dipped in lube, card, 1oz shot, card, crimp is how I'm loading, although as low as 60gr and 1oz and as high as 90gr 1 1/8 have been tried.

[Yakima Red]

I use nothing but Remington hulls. Any Remington hull falls out of my doubles with ease. I load with a dram spoon
2 3/4 dram of any black powder. .125 nitro card. A pea size of my bullet lube. 3/8 wad and 1-1/8 ounce of shot with a roll or star crimp. They fall out.

I clean my side by each with Ballistol after the match and never clean again until the match is over. As many as 10 stages without a hitch.

It has been my observance that over honing of chambers can cause this. The hull will always fill the void. I never hone a chamber in a shotgun to make the hulls fall out.

Check your shotgun for a short chamber. It does happen. When the shell opens up the crimp end sticks in the chamber.

I have a friend who wipes his 20 gauge hulls with Ballistol after they are loaded and they fall out!

Hope this helps and good shooting!

[Lefty Dude]

If your piece is an older Gun, chances are it has a forcing cone that is short. Paper shells were roll crimped and were shorter than modern plastic hulls. The plastic hull could be sticking in the forcing cone. Solution: Have a Smith ream your forcing cone to modern specs.
If I were you, I would reduce my BP powder charge. I use about 50 grains max. I use a Lee dipper 3.1CC, which IIRC, is about 45-48 gr's. I also use 3F, and not 2F. I can use less powder and get the same results as using more 2F. This would be for 12 ga.

Just my opinion you understand.

[Blue Wolf]

I cut the crimp off and use a over the shot card. Helped alot at the time but now use an 87. I would also cut back on the powder charge, I use about 45 to 50 grains 2F.

Blue Wolf

[john boy]

Any advice to get BP shotshells that shuck out like the "other" kind?

Pick a hull, any hull.  Before you reload the shot shell, use a Mec SizeMaster and crimp the bases back to factory diameter.  It's the bases that are adhering to the chamber, not the plastic or paper casings
It's as simple as that ... cause I've used many brands of hulls in the dumpster and they shuck in any of my shotguns.  Even Remington Gun Club's

If you want to run a test - put permanent marker circle lines on the reload bases before you chamber them.  Fire em and then look at the marker lines to see where the ink is scrapped off and how much

[SPQR476]

The base resizing may indeed be the ticket.  I'm using a LEE load all for shotgun since I only reload BP shotshells.  I may have to try a MEC sizer.  Thanks for the tips, gents.

[August]

I use plastic wads and about half the amount of powder you report using.  When I get a stuck hull, it's because I didn't open the gun fully.  Never have to clean during a match.

[longinosoap]

STS fall out every time. AA most of the time. Remington ribbed fall most of the time. Winchester ribbed NEVER fall out. I use 3.1 cc Lee dipper FFG and 1 1/8 oz shot. I have done nothing to my chambers. Stock as I bought it.