Like Jim I'm a HS basewad separation skeptic. And I've actually personally experienced basewad separation with Federal Topguns. If you take one apart it's not hard to see how this can happen.
But I've also torn down 12, 20, and .410 versions of the new HS.
I'll start with 12 and 20 ga hulls. Compared to imported polyformed hulls and domestic promotional hulls the HS basewad is far and away more solid, and securely placed.
I have to laugh when someone raises the separation concern (is it "separation anxiety".....) in the context of the HS .410. Apparently, some shooters haven't noticed that both Federal GMs and Rem STSs in .410 are polyformed hulls with separate basewads. If you bother to dissect examples of each you'll learn that the HS basewad is, once again, the most secure by design.
Now I'm not smitten with the 12 and 20 ga HS hulls, but this is simply because I have lifetime supplies of comp formed AAs and don't want to change press settings for crimp, powder charge, etc.
But the .410 HS hull is something special. It is the longest lived reloadable .410 hull we have ever had. Period. Not even the old, beloved comp-formed AA can be reloaded anything close to 14 times.
Sam
