Shotshell Bulges

[Duffy]

Originally Posted by skeet

I know federals... but they make many. You probably need to back off on the final crimp a bit. Usually happens when there is too much pressure there. Maybe a half turn on the stem..

Skeet:

I have about 400 of the Federal Top Guns which I wanted to get started on, and then I planned on moving on to Federal plastic Gold Medals. After I had posted my question last night, I looked again at the manual, and it does mention about hull bulging, and offers several suggestions including using less dense powder, less shot, a shorter wad, etc., but all of the components I am using are the very ones prescribed for the loads I am working. Then it mentioned adjusting the wad pressure and adjusting the final crimp, as you suggest. I will give that a try tonight and see what happens. What I find especially puzzling is the inconsistency in that that some loads came out looking OK, when others had the bulges.

Originally Posted by dovehunter

I too have experienced this problem with the cheaper Federal shells and mostly in 20 ga. I believe the problem is that there is less interior volume in their shells with the tapered, fiber base wad, at least as compared to Remington's STS and Winchester's A-A cases. When you use the same or similar loads in the Federal shells it fills the case too much and, when you apply a crimp, it crushes them right above the brass. I have never liked Federal shells for reloading and still don't. However if you go to a plastic wad that is not so tall - say going from a Rem. RXP-20 to SP-20 - that usually seems to cure the problem, at least in my case.

Dovehunter:

I slit open one of the empty Top Guns and noticed the taper on the fiber base wad, and can see what you mean. I am using the prescribed wad for the load, however, but maybe making the adjustments as mentioned above may work for now. I have heard many good things about the Remington STSs, and after I get my feet wet with these cheaper Federals, I may go to the STSs.

Thank you both for very much for your input. Anyone else?