doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Reloading Data for RST Shotshells

I have a whole bunch of once fired 2-1/2 inch RST shotshells in 12 and 16 gauge. Can any of you point me toward a source of reloading data? I can't find any mention of them in any of the manuals I have.

Thanks.

They are Cheddite hulls.

Hodgdon has good 2 1/2 inch 16 G cheddite data on line. I load 3/4 and 7/8 oz in 2 1/2 inch fired RST and new primed Cheddites.

Bass

Thanks very much.

16GA.com has many low pressure loads listed. Well worth joining.

Remy,

Nick Sisley ran an article some time in Skeet Shooting using rst-cheddite with now defunct PB, 7625, and both Universal and International by Hogdons in DR 16 hulls, and BP 16 hull in 3/4 and 7/8. Very easy on the shoulder in 3/4. Someone also used 20/28 in the dr hull 3/4 with 15 grains, and had it tested by Precision. 1150 fps and 5000 psi if memory serves me well. i think these were posted on the Parker site some time ago.

good loading

Thanks to all of you for the help.

The Cheddite hulls are very finicky with crimping and I have also had issues with them in ejector guns after reloading them.

Brian is correct and the reason I don�t use fired RST hulls in 12G. AA hulls are very close to the same length as the RSTs and plenty of low pressure loads available. Not worth the trouble to load the cheddites.

16 G Cheddite hull is about the only option, Hogdons 1100 FPS 3/4 oz load for short cheddites using the DR16 wad is about perfect for light clay shooting. 7/8 oz load with BP wads another good one.

I get a bit longer life out of cheddites with a home made wood plug spun in a lathe or drill press. . Friction heats the plastic and re-forms the hulls mouth. BP sells a similar tool that does not work well. Tapered to fit any gauge does not do any gauge well . It�s Aluminum too, does not produce much heat and won�t really form

Boats

I just started to reload the RST (Cheddite) hulls in 16 gauge, 7/8 ounce a few months ago using the Hodgdon recipes and found that they were pretty hot based on recoil and how loud they were. Because of this I started to load some shell with reduced powder charges by going down one powder bushing at a time in my MEC Sizemaster until I got a few loads that were similar to the recoil and sound of the RST factory loads. I picked a few of the best loads and sent samples to Precision Reloading for testing. I should have the results in a week or two and will let you know if any of them worked out. I could tell by the smoke color that I went too low on the powder charge on a few of these modified reloads. Black smoke indicated to me incomplete combustion.

I also had problems at first with the reloads and ejector guns. The top of the shell was slightly larger and they were difficult to insert in the barrel and to eject. I have played with the crimper and made the crimp a little deeper. I also found that if I rotate it and recrimp it a few times that helps. These procedures seem to help.