There are a lot of photos cross sectioned hulls floating around (especially here), but I thought I'd throw all of mine up here for easy reference.
Naming of the various hulls isn't consistent across the various handloading data sources. To illustrate the frustration this causes and the lengths to which it will send an otherwise normal (I assume) person, check out this post by Dave in AZ (aka Benjamin Franklin Gates).
As we all know, there are two main forms of hull: tapered and straight-walled. Tapered means Winchester AA-CF, AA-HS, and Remington STS/Federal HOA.
12 ga tapered hulls
L-R: Rem-Peters RXP, Rem STS/Gun Club (in this case labeled Peter's), Win AA-CF, Win AA-HS, Win Universal
The Remington-Peter's RXP hull was replaced in the 90's (I think), but I included it because I had one. All the current Remington one-piece hulls are of the same design: STS, Nitro 27, Gun Club, Game Load, and various high brass lead loads like Nitro Pheasant. Some have steel heads and some have brass, but they all load up the same. The Federal High Over All load also uses an STS hull.
The old Winchester AA was a one-piece, tapered hull that was compression formed--thus the "CF." It was replaced around 2000 with "high strength" hull, aka the AA-HS. It has a high sided basewad that mimic's the CF's taper. They load about the same, though the CF has a bit more room. The HS design, but with a steel head, is used in various hunting and promo target loads, as well as some Browning ammo.
Straight-walled hulls are all the rest. For the most part, they mainly differ in basewad height. This can lead to fitment issues and differences in PSI. Is it a big enough issue to matter? Whatever the answer to that may be, it's at least always good to know what you're working with.
As far as I can tell, with the exception of Rio and Winchester, the various manufacturers keep the same basewad profile across all the hull lengths of a gauge. So if you cut a Federal 12 ga 3.5" hull down to 3", it'll be just like the factory 3" version.
Here are some 12 ga straight walled hulls. Most are current production or just recently discontinued. Though I did include an Activ for sake of comparison since there's a decent amount of data for Activ hulls out there.
12 ga Fiocchi, 2.75", 3", & 3.5"
Same basewad height, but different colors.
12 ga 2.75" Cheddite or Cheddite-ish
L-R: older Fiocchi, new Fiocchi, Nobel Sport, Herter's, Challenger
Note that newer Fiocchi's are (at least for the time being) Cheddite.
Also Note that the primer pockets are not all the same diameter. The NS is especially large.
12 ga Rio, 2.75" & 3"
L-R: new Rio, old Rio, 3" Rio
Note that the new Rio is also a Cheddite
12 ga 2.75" Federal.
L-R: paper base (FBW, Hi-Power, Old Top Gun), Gold Medal, .090" one-piece (IBW), .090" one-piece replacement, New Top Gun (NTG)
Note that the .090" replacement is slightly deeper then the NTG. I don't know if it was an interim design and replaced by the NTG, or if it's still around. I've found it in steel shot loads.
Two 12 ga 2.75" Federal FBW's. Note the variation in basewad height. I don't know if this was intentional, or if it even makes a difference. But it is of interest at least.
12 ga 2.75" Federal .090 one-piece (L), 12 ga 2.75" Activ.
Not the slight taper of the Activ, which lends a slightly smaller volume.
12 ga 2.75" Federal New Top Gun (L), 12 ga 2.75" Cheddite (Herter's)
12 ga 2.75" B&P with Gordon Basewad System, 12 ga 2.75" Gold Medal, 12 ga 2.75" Fiocchi
Note the crushed section of the basewad.
Bio Ammo 12 ga 2.75" (L), 12 ga 2.75" Cheddite
The Bio Ammo hull is unfired. I have found several of these with CRACKED basewads after one firing. I would strongly advise against their use in reloading. Or at least, be meticulous in checking them.
12 ga 3.5", 3", & 2.75" Remington
The two on the left have .25" basewads, the other three have .20" basewads. The .25" are an older style. Usually, the yellow means .20", but in older hulls, I'd still check.
Close up of the Remington 12 ga .25" (L) and .20" (R)
12 ga 2.75" (L-R): Remington .20", Federal Gold Medal, Cheddite (Herter's)
Winchester 12 ga 2.75" "polyformed"
Not that all are straight walled with plastic basewads, that's about it. Basewads can the same height, but different colors; or the can be the same color, different heights.
Winchester 12 ga 3"
Showing the same individualism as the 2.75" hulls...
Here's a comparison of the tallest basewad Winchester 12 ga 3" and a Cheddite.
The Lyman books have always had nice drawings of hulls. It's a good reference, but by no means exhaustive.
A far better reference was The Handbook of Shotshell Reloading by Kenneth W. Couger.
It has photographs of actual hulls as well as detailed descriptions and commentary. Unfortunately, it was published in 1984, so it's information isn't current. It's still a useful reference for evaluating older data and components as long as they're floating around. (It's also helpful in settling boomer internet disputes.) I wish Lyman--or anyone for that matter--would publish a guide with as much detail.
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