I just started reloading and my first round of 28 ga shells and the first few I tried fired fine, but they were difficult to load into the chamber of my aya. It seemed like the first half of the shell was almost too snug and required some pressure to load into the chamber. Any ideas why this would be? I am using a size master reloader.

Thanks!

What type of hulls are you using? It could be that on the final stage of crimping there might be too much pressure and the shells might be at the stage right before they start to buckle.
Make sure your resize die is set to the right depth.

Post a picture of the loaded shells you are having a problem with.

For AA hs use the red wad, STS and AA compression formed use pink. I like HS6 power because it is compact and produces lower pressures. It sounds like you are over filled or the last stages of your loader are set deep. I would not try for a real deep crimp or to round the end to much.

bill

Go here first:

https://www.mecshootingsports.com/Images/document/sizemaster.pdf

Your question is answered there.

I've loaded literally thousands of 28's using Unique exclusively for powder in WW old style hulls, Remington Riffienhauser(sp?)and Federals on single stage MEC & progressive machines. I'm not a big fan of the newer Rem STS hulls for reloading and have had some new 28ga. AAHS hulls split the brass on the first firing before ever being reloaded! If they didn't do that, then they are usually good for reloading and they may well have the longest case life of any 28 hull ever.

Usually, its just a minor amount of adjustment to get perfectly dimensioned reloads.

Today, one can pretty much use the red AAHS wads or their knockoffs [I use a lot of ClayBuster red wads] in any of the 28ga. hulls for reloads and not have a stack height issue w/.75oz. of shot. Still, its best to stick exactly to published data unless you are going to have a recipe or component substitution tested.

I load maybe 500 28 ga shells per year and have for 10 or so years. The loads are AAHS, Win 209, Longshot powder, CB5034 wad, 3/4 ounce shot. They load really nice and perform well in a Benelli semi auto and a Beretta o/u.
Like others have said, it appears that the components are too much for the hull and its bulging in the final crimp process.

Photos added, I am jot sure how to adjust my size master, is it as simple as not pressing so hard when I do the crimp?

No, its a matter of having your crimp die's depth and the cam set properly, assuming you are using the correct wad for those AAHS hulls. ONLY wads marked 'AAHS' will work correctly in those hulls. My guess is that you are using the wrong AA wads, those made for the earlier hulls. Go to the pdf link I provided and read it. It was written by MEC. The correct adjustment procedure(s)are clearly spelled out there for your machine. I don't mean that to sound terse. If you are using the wrong wad in those hulls depicted, you will never achieve the result you seek.

This is the wad I am using, I am pretty sure it is correct. So is it just a matter of adjusting my crimp stage of the loader?

John

Yes, but also pay attention to the notes/remarks on having the wad seating ram [powder & shot drop tube]correctly adjusted. You may need to have that set deeper and also you want to be sure that the crimp starter is closing the hull's mouth to at least the dia. of a #2 pencil or perhaps just a tad smaller before the hull is placed in the final crimp die.

You can see in your first picture that the end of the shell is flared and will be hard to put into any gun.
Your crimp die will have to be adjusted as stated in the previous post

It looks like the crimp die cam needs to be adjusted down. Loosen the hex head bolt in the cam and move the cam slightly toward the rear (less slot showing toward the front of the cam). Do this just a little at a time until you get an acceptable crimp because it's easy to go from the flare you have to a crushed hull.

The Claybuster clone is a better wad for the AAHS hull than the OEM Winchester wad because it has a slightly shorter cushion section which reduces the chance of crushing hulls.

I reload 12, 16, 20, 28 and .410 with Size Masters - the 28 caused me more headaches to get the adjustments "right" than all the others put together.

TW, thanks for th PDF, I messed with it for about an hour tonight and couldn't seem to get it right. Would you happen to have an example of what a well done aa crimp should look like?

I make several thousand a year and if I had your problem I would move the last die up at least 1 turn. I use a 9000G

bill

Here's a MEC video on Youtube showing adjustment:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kd5NiYk1TLU