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  #1  
Old 03-02-2010, 06:15 PM
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Default Old shotgun shells

I have a number of boxes 12ga. shotgun shells that was handed down to me by my Dad they are old how long do they last they look Ok ?
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Old 03-02-2010, 06:39 PM
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They will be OK as long as water or something has not got to them. Powder will last a long time and will only weaken over time. I would go ahead and shoot them. Don
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Old 03-02-2010, 06:52 PM
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Probley lead shot. Be carefull where you shoot them in waterfowl areas. You could get rapped because its lead instead of steel shot.
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Old 03-02-2010, 06:55 PM
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plastic or paper hulls? if they are paper look in the area where the brass case head and the paper meet and check or pin holes and other things that really don't look right. I shot some old paper hull shells in my 870 and everything from the case head forward went out the barrel.
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Old 03-02-2010, 07:20 PM
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thank you all that a big help
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Old 03-02-2010, 11:21 PM
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Some old shotgun shells/boxes are collectible...might want to find out if they have value in that realm. Preston
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Old 03-02-2010, 11:51 PM
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A couple of years ago me and some buddies were squirrel hunting in Fla and one guy brought some 20ga shells that were 25 years old and he killed more then all of us

so they last at least 25 yrs
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Old 03-02-2010, 11:54 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by feralmerril View Post
Probley lead shot. Be carefull where you shoot them in waterfowl areas. You could get rapped because its lead instead of steel shot.
Around here it is a $500 fine for every lead shot shell you have in your bag
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Old 03-03-2010, 01:39 AM
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If they were handed down to you by your dad, the primers may be corrosive. I believe non-corrosive primers came in during th 1930s.
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Old 03-03-2010, 11:49 AM
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pjsjr brings up a good point. The term “old” means different things to different people. Unless the ammo is corroded, split or swelled, it will probably work just fine. Some boxes are worth multiples of what replacement ammo costs (many aren‘t), so it’s smart to figure out what it is before you shoot it up.

What do you have? A little info or some pictures would help.




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Old 03-04-2010, 01:50 AM
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gottlieb: One warning about shooting with old paper shotshells; the powder used then was nitrocellulose. If stored in excessive heat, the explosive component could settle to one side of the shotshell. When shot that condition causes a hot spot and a subsequent splitting of the paper hull. Sometimes entire paper hulls can break loose from the brass and some of those can be left behind in the barrel. The only safe way to shoot those old paper shotshells is to use a break action shotgun where the shooter can physically look down the bore before subsequent shots. Don't ruin a good pump or autoloader barrel being cheap. ......... Big Cholla
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