doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Winchester AA xtra-lite target

Any guess as to pressure on these cartridges? There is also a "light" target load from them.

Discussed here:

https://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=157427

Since the thread is from 2009, keep in mind load pressures may have changed.

RST is producing ammo, if not in quantity, and one would need to check their website frequently since ammo seems to sell out as fast as they make it.

Winchester Reloader’s Manual, 15th Edition
https://www.appuntidiricarica.com/pluginAppObj_120_24/Winchester-Reloaders-Manual-.pdf
12g AA Xtra-Lite 1 oz. at 1180 fps - 7,300 & 7,400 psi

Independent testing
AAHS Xtra-Lite Target 1 oz. AAL12 - 8,760 psi

Yes, things change.

People were selling RST shells for $25.00/box last shoot I attended.
Who would have ever predicted that a 50 target vintage day would eat up $125.00 plus travel.

So...how should one interpret that? That they'll do in a pinch (for an older 2 1/2-inch gun) but not for a steady diet?

Unfortunately RST prices aren’t much better when they have them in stock. A box is $22 and a 10 box case is $200. Once you add shipping $25 a box is pretty close to current RST prices.

Ken

Also consider often reported shooting 2 3/4” shells in a 2 1/2” chamber cause higher pressures. I’ve been told up to as much as a 1,000 psi. 8,760 + 1,000 still puts you under the service pressures fr a modern 2 1/2” gun. So should be safe but not my first or second choice. But that’s why I loaded 5,000 Fiocchi shells trimmed to 66-67mm, 6,500-7,000psi. 66-67mm are a bit longer than 2 1/2” (63.5mm), but are commonly used in GB. It’s the pressure that is a bigger concern to me and that’s to not stress the stock.

So in a pinch you could use them. But far simpler to reload if you can to create a steady supply of safe ammo. I have 5,000 12 shells, 3,250. 20 gauge shells and 2750 28 gauge shells all loaded to safe lower pressures. I like RST but am not being held hostage to their ability or prices they need to charge. From their viewpoint $22.00 is not much above cost I bet. Powder $40.00/lb, shot $50,00+/25, primers $55.00/1,000, wads and hulls on top of that. Then equipment, labor and overhead. You might reload a box for $7-10/box with no labor or overhead.

Keep in mind there are still powder shortages, probably due in part to Covid, both here and in other countries.

On the Cowboy shooting side, Trailboss is non-existent. While it is sold here in the US by Hodgdon, it is was made in Australia. The company in Australia doesn't expect production to resume until 2024

On the shotgun side, there have been supply issues with Clays, which I've heard is made in Canada. I may have read it here, but I've heard that RST's biggest problem is getting powder.

I'm also seeing lots of Noble Sports low-recoil stuff online, but historically this stuff was problematic. I presume their "low-recoil" isn't?