Thread: Proper brass base Shotgun ammo

Because my Mossberg 5 hundy does have some dramas with extracting, one of the online things is to try other ammo.
Now considering most seem to be steel brass now, just wondering if anyone knows if there is any actual brass brass steel shot ammo about.
Save me opening packets with a magnet at the shop even if they let me.
Then I can buy some to try.
I suppose it could be lead too as it's only to test the theory

I can't think of any shotgun ammo that uses real brass rims anymore.

A friend bought a new Maverick pump that was difficult to extract fired cases, even with 1 oz target loads. A look in the chamber revealed deep machine marks that hadn't been polished out after reaming.
I guessed the fired cases were expanding into the machine marks and causing sticky extraction.

I doubt it's the bases causing the issue, and I can't see how proper brass base cups would perform differently. Are there scratches on the bases? or does the extractor slip off the rim

I know where brother @csmiffy is coming from..it was an issue 25-28 years ago with falcon loads..the cheddite brass loads then were different to the fiochhi brass as in the shoulders were sloped not square...its plurry hard to get photo of but will go and dig out some shotgun rounds and see if can get it...got a few different steel loads here so will see whats squarest for you..sorry havent got on to it before...hold the line caller...

now that was a surprise...the fiochhi brassed falcon and winchester XPERT are both winners by a nose..not a lot in it but they appear to have had a sizing ring pushed down harder towards brass than the others
Eley lightening--Kent faststeel---falcon---xpert--remingtom nitro----H&F winchester duckload

The reason I asked (although after having a play after opening last year and haven't touched it since), I sharpened the extractor mirror polished the bore with autosol and a minor fiddle with the extractor grooves on the barrel.
With the falcon ammo I have on hand it would reliably leave the case in the chamber. It would even put a dent in the bottom of the case trying to pull it out so it was having a fair go. Can't remember if the bolt got stuck or it would come back on the first try or not
Falcon trap ammo didn't do it at a clay shoot a few months before but there wasn't a lot put through it.
Either the chamber is poked or its the ammo. To be fair inhale had an offer from a very good forum member to go out one day with him and try one if his barrels but I'd like to know if ammo might be worth a crack.
I also haven't gotbaround to getting the micrometer and telegauges out and comparing it to my other shotties

I've had problems with an old Savage auto (Browning auto 5 clone). All the steel rimmed ammo would not extract 50%of the time a chamber polish with 1200 grit paper and oil with a finish of Autosol has it 90% reliable. A Ithaca mod 37 will extract Falcon lead 100%, cheap trap loads 2 out of 3 will not extract even after a chamber polish.Another Ithaca 37 will work with most steel rimmed shells 90% of the time. The chamber is original factory from a time when these guns were hand fitted. It will shoot and extract high brass paper shells all day never had a fail to extract. I think some older guns do not like modern ammo.

Originally Posted by csmiffy

The reason I asked (although after having a play after opening last year and haven't touched it since), I sharpened the extractor mirror polished the bore with autosol and a minor fiddle with the extractor grooves on the barrel.
With the falcon ammo I have on hand it would reliably leave the case in the chamber. It would even put a dent in the bottom of the case trying to pull it out so it was having a fair go. Can't remember if the bolt got stuck or it would come back on the first try or not
Falcon trap ammo didn't do it at a clay shoot a few months before but there wasn't a lot put through it.
Either the chamber is poked or its the ammo. To be fair inhale had an offer from a very good forum member to go out one day with him and try one if his barrels but I'd like to know if ammo might be worth a crack.
I also haven't gotbaround to getting the micrometer and telegauges out and comparing it to my other shotties

Reading this reminded me of seeing a Mossberg 500 in a local gunshop with no price tag, about a year ago. Seems they sold it to a guy who returned it, claiming it wouldn't operate with Falcon ammo.
The shop staff suggested trying it out with other ammo if I was willing to take a chance on it.

Helps if you reshape the engaging angle of the extractor with cheap
Steel shot and poorly formed rims this keeps me bizzy over duck shooting
Had a bad batch last year that the rim diameter was undersized
Caused all sorts of issues even slipping under ejectors on U/O shotguns
They even made some short brass trap loads that caused even more issues
Mossberg pumps are not usually one I see very often with extraction
Issues

I did have a play with the extractor and the groove it rides in. Tried to get it as close to the inner part of the rim as possible. If I had one of the old rims I would show everybody on the dentbit puts in itbtrying to hook it out.
I could take it out this weekend for a go especially as my shooting mate uses completely different ammo that I have never used before.

I would make sure the seat it sits in when closed is clean I use a tooth pick to get the crap out..as for the claw .they are cheap enough once had a benelli sbe which was always at the gun smith's they ing to get fixed.ended up replacing the claw myself amd touch wood never had a problem since.. I would be reluctant to take to the claw seating part of the gun with anything harsh .once you reshape or take to it you can't put it Back . Usually there is a spring that hold the claw down.you would be surprise how much crap can get in there allowing the claw not to fully engage properly .

Originally Posted by Quackers

I would make sure the seat it sits in when closed is clean I use a tooth pick to get the crap out..as for the claw .they are cheap enough once had a benelli sbe which was always at the gun smith's they ing to get fixed.ended up replacing the claw myself amd touch wood never had a problem since.. I would be reluctant to take to the claw seating part of the gun with anything harsh .once you reshape or take to it you can't put it Back . Usually there is a spring that hold the claw down.you would be surprise how much crap can get in there allowing the claw not to fully engage properly .

definitely say the springetc is all clear, that has been apart several times over its life with no change Possibly use a new spring, but it has done it within reason for a long time. Whatever i used on the first ever opening we had to use steel didn't do it but i know Falcon has always been a bugger and possibly Eley.
i also don't seem to recall the 3 inch remington stuff doing it back in the day on geese.

cheddite shells...the ones with stars around rim can be problimatic....... falcon use them...and definately do in MOST of the trap type rounds.

Curioser and curiouser.
Couple of weeks since opening.
I did have a quick test and shoot with this after using the lads ATA for the morning.
Last time I tried it after my cough...modifications after I cracked the shits with it last year.
Now for reference I tried it last year with the same falcon ammo I used for this opening. Last year it was still leaving them in the chamber every couple of shots and leaving dents in the bottom of chamber.
I'll come back to the last bit.
Doubt I cleaned it in disgust until I shot it this year.
Got a handful of high brass from kotuku, wandered away from camp and put the 6 through as quick as possible.
All good no issues.
OK I'll give it a blat for the evening shot knowing I had the semi for a spare.
Shot maybe 15 odd rounds with it, no issues. Mmmm OK
Grabbed a handful of empties and found a couple with dents to compare later and did that yesterday. Pics for reference.
The dent actually looks like it's from the extractor slot on the bolt.
No marks at all on the high brass and not all of the Falcon ammo had marks either. @NCGNSMITH i have been meaning to come out for a chat but had a bit on.
See pics of cases and bolts.
Cases shouldn't do that.
Also stupid that it didn't get a stuck case once. I could get it to do it repeatably every 3 shots so it's strange it shot probably a packet without one.