I heard this question twice yesterday, and don't do Estates.
So, I turn to you experts who also exercise the insanity of reloading when it's probably cheaper to buy new.
I am in that group, having reloaded for almost 30 years, spending my time cussing, fussing, and enjoying the heck out of it.
("Sam; what wad do you use in Estate Hulls?")
Thanks Gents;
Sam Ogle, Lincoln, NE
Sam, the only Federal shells I reloaded were some paper ones. I do know that they have a tapered inside and it is wise to use the right wad.
If you go to this site it will give you more than enough information.
http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=175673
Sam,
Depends on the shot load's weight & type [lead or non toxic], but the Estate hulls I'm familiar w/are all straight walled hulls, so the appropriate wads for best fit will be of that type, i.e., have a slightly larger dia. cup to closely fit the hull's inside diameter. That's the first factor, the second is getting the correct 'stack height' and that is generally achieved with a wad of a specific crush section length and the cup's construction. Long answer, but you asked.
Short answer is check the powder mfg.'s loading manuals; some list loads specifically for Estate hulls.
JDW, Federal paper hulls are straight wall, no taper. Tapered hulls are compression formed, like early Winchester AA's and current Remington's like their STS & Gun Club rounds.
Email hodgdon and alliant powder companies. They often have tested loads not listed on their websites.
I've used them for some modern steel loads w/RSI wads. Other than that, I chuck them. Had some powder migration issues w/conventional wads meant for tapered walls.
I supposed if you purchased some appropriate euro wads, they'd work fine.
IMHO, there's just too many perfectly good Rem. gun club hulls laying around to worry about estates/federal hulls.
Great Federal wad clones from Claybuster and Downrange. Hulls are among my favorites. Use same load data as for Federal Game/Target or Federal Gold Metal.
Current Estates are made by Federal, the best bet is try a Federal clone.
Bill
Agree with the Federal wads.
Some 'Estate' shells are simply rebranded Cheddite shells. They say 'made in France'.
They're good shells, and reloadable if you insist. New, unfired, Cheddite hulls are available and they are used as a loading component by those who want large interior volume hulls.
As far as 'published' loads, there are a great many published loads that are not worth a crap.
A straight wall hull requires the correct wad, made for a straight wall hull.
The Federal 12S0 makes a good one ounce load, the 12S1 for 1 1/8 oz.
Thanks Guys;
I have been loading "Old" AA's for a long time, and am down to my last 5 or 6 thousand.( And, I'm 73 years old, so they should last.)
But, I had a buddy ask me what wad does an Estate Shell take & I said "I dunno; but I know where I can find out."
Sam Ogle