[Jethro15]

I have several boxes of slugs, 1 oz, thy shot good in my 695 slug gun.

 

[DanLee]

Kent Cartridge bought the factory in WV and sold the molds to some outfit in Argentina, which is still making them down there for dove hunters. The Activs were good shells but had a propensity to separate after a few reloads, as someone else pointed out. I think the plastic formula was the culprit.

 

[arkrunner]

Ive found 2 boxes at local gun show. Gave to my dad. He loves them.

 

[ron (vt)]

Be careful of the active hulls. I think they took a special wad but am not positive of that as i was given the wads for the barrel full of them i loaded. I did have a problem with the cases seperating and leaving part of the hull in the breech of the gun. Would never shoot in auto or pump gun. Did load well and shot well.

The Activ reloading brochure had some data for Federal Wads in it.

 

[Redcobra]

Still have several Activ hulls and some factory ammo left. The Activ plant was in West Virginia, and used to give a great discount to locals who bought direct from the plant. Not sure if you had to know someone or not, but dad and I made a lot of trips back then.

Just bought 5000 of the old AA red and silvers, for .02 each.

It is now the Kent plant. Went there a while back and picked up a bunch of reject hulls. They give them away if you pick up. They are cheddites with primers.

 

[buck3200]

Came across a stash of 16ga. Activ's at a Big5 in Pomona for $2.99 a box right after I had my late 50's vintage 16ga 870TC redone. Shot several 99's with that shell/gun combo.

 

[1100 REMINGTON MAN]

I though they were ahead of there time. I always thought it was a great idea only if it were biodegradable hull they would of been perfect.
When I go Duck Hunting I always seem to bring home more emptys than I shoot.

 

[Harley Lekvold]

No they were a straight walled hull , both the Active and Eclipse hulls were very good to reload then as they seem to be sought after by today's waterfowl Non-Tox reloaders .
Being ALL plastic with a stainless washer for support in the base

The Eclipse hull was very tapered, and you could only use their wad, and it had no metal in the base like the Active had a stainless steel disc to help retain the primer. I still have Active T32 1¼ wads and Eclipse wads.

 

[Geoman15]

Found some Activ reloading data for non-Activ wads.

Hope this info helps.
George

 

[Recoil Sissy]

Hi George:

Here you go...

 

[Recoil Sissy]

Or an open box if you prefer...

 

[Geoman15]

Me wanna. That's eye candy to me.
Good stuff Recoil Sissy.
I'm jealous.
Thanks for sharing.
I shoulda stocked up long ago.
Back in the day, I usually bought all that I could get locally which wasn't much.
My best friend always said they were dangerous. He wouldn't touch them. No way. Better built and thicker than anything else.
Same idea that field loads have to be high brass. Not with modern hulls.
George

 

[Recoil Sissy]

Hello again George. Followng are a few comments for what they're worth.


In 1985 or so Activ hulls could be purchased as a component from vendors like Cabelas. They weren't once fired hulls. They were new - as in never loaded. I bought 2500 of them in 20 gauge.

Your friend was correct about the "dangerous" part. Original Activ hulls were prone to separate after being loaded and fired a few times. I could always tell when it happened to me because they made a distinct whistling sound going downrange. I only loaded a couple of hundred of the 2500 I bought and eventually sh!t canned the rest.

I'm told Activ recognized the hull separation problem and did something to address it. According to the story, the defective hulls could be identified by the size of the lettering moulded into the base of the hulls. However, I can't confirm any of this as fact. Maybe someone else can...

The shells in the photos above were purchased from the estate of a long time trap shooter from my neck of the woods. I may shoot them some day but for now I prefer having them sitting on a shelf in the basement.

sissy

 

[Geoman15]

I believe my hulls were the improved version.
I did read about the issues back then and checked my hulls.
I'd get about 10 reloads on them without any issues.
Maybe I just got lucky too.
Thanks for the info, pics.
George

 

[SecondChance]

I loaded and used the ACTIV hulls for years. Loved the look of having a "Novelty" hull like that. They loaded a factory 2-3/4", 1-3/8ths load of nickel 5's or 6's that was cranking out. I used to shoot that as a back porch load or pheasants. They were loaded in a brown hull. I still run across some from time to time. I was lucky and didn't have any separation issues with the ones I had.

 

[grntitan]

Hi George:

Here you go...

You've been holding out on me Sissy. Unused boxes make my mouth water. LOL

Good luck at the Grand. Shoot well.

 

[alant]

Does anyone remember the pictures of Rick Kalsow and Al Tomnitz sitting on a pile of Activ hulls? They both shot for Activ for a few years.

Alan

 

[acorange]

Loved the 18 gr. of Red Dot load with the TG-30 wad and 1 oz. of shot.
Shot VERY soft in my BT-99 and hung smoke balls with the IM choke barrel.

 

[Geoman15]

Activ, AACF,
What's next?
Remington STS,Nitro,GCs?

Let's hope not.
Can't see myself loading those generic Cheddite hulls.
More random thoughts.
George

 

[GeneralJerry]

Still have some Activ shells in hunting loads. Slick loading shells