Activ Shotgun Shells

[Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933]

A friend gave me a box of these at the Trap range yesterday and I though some might be interested in seeing them.  They are a box of the old Activ shell brand.  These were heavy loads and not legal for trap so he gave them to me.  They were made from the 1970s up to the 1990s.

 

What made them unusal is that they are all plastic.  Another feature that made them unusual is they were made from a special plastic that would stretch slightly but not expand.  So they could be reloaded without sizing AND they made for great roll crimped shells as the stretchy plastic could be reloaded many times without wearing out.

 

 

The only remaining extruded shell on the market is the Remington STS.  The rims are crimped to the STS hulls and sometimes just fall off when reloading or shooting from a semi-auto.  They are very similar to the old Activ hulls is construction.  (STS green.)

 

Edited November 13, 2024 by Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933

[Abilene, SASS # 27489]

Nate Kiowa Jones always recommended those for black powder.

[watab kid]

never seen those before - interesting 

[Crooked River Pete, SASS 43485]

Their slugs were the best, very accurate. I heard Federal bought them out and then killed em because they were too much competition, too good.

[Abilene Slim SASS 81783]

I remember something similar at the trap range, but as I recall, the hulls were pumpkin orange. Was that the same mfr, and just a different loading?

[Sedalia Dave]

I remember seeing Activ shells when I was stationed at NAS Rota spain in the mid 80s

[Renegade Plowboy]

I shot quite a few of the Active shells back in the 90’s. Reloaded nice as well. Most trap loads were Red in color, there was an orange color as well, along with the posted color. Active’s were cheaper than all the rest, but they did shoot pretty good. 

[J.S. Sooner, SASS #73526]

I have two boxes of red tournament grade Active shells in my stockpile.  I never shot any to know how well they work.

 

Gave another SASS Wire cowboy about 100 empty Active hulls a few years back.  He uses them somewhere in the SW for reenactment shows.  All plastic, red hulls make it easier to identify shells he loaded as blanks. 

[Marauder SASS #13056]

Those hulls were the cat's meow when I started.  Only an issue if someone stepped on them on hard ground.

I've got a few hundred that I haven't reloaded for a decade or more.

[Griff]

Used a fair number, collected more from cowboys that didn't reload, and used 'em for BP... Usually one & done with BP.  I might even have a couple of boxes of 20 gauge.  

[Sawyer]

On 11/14/2024 at 10:44 AM, Marauder SASS #13056 said:

Those hulls were the cat's meow when I started.  Only an issue if someone stepped on them on hard ground.

I've got a few hundred that I haven't reloaded for a decade or more.

 

2 hours ago, Griff said:

Used a fair number, collected more from cowboys that didn't reload, and used 'em for BP... Usually one & done with BP.  I might even have a couple of boxes of 20 gauge.  

I know a good psychologist who can help you deal with your "Hoarder" issues!

[Dapper Dave]

I haven't seen that brand in a long, long time, were quite cheap, so us kids bought them by the ton to blow off out in the desert. 

[Red Oak]

Yep, ran through hundreds of those back in the day when I started shooting trap. They loaded well and lasted for 5 to 8 reloads