|
|
03-02-2010, 06:15 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Texas
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
|
|
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 ?
Thanks
|
03-02-2010, 06:39 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: MURFREESBORO TN.
Posts: 5,384
Likes: 90
Liked 402 Times in 177 Posts
|
|
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
__________________
"Don't worry be happy"
|
03-02-2010, 06:52 PM
|
Absent Comrade
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: utah
Posts: 13,059
Likes: 2,547
Liked 7,201 Times in 3,064 Posts
|
|
Probley lead shot. Be carefull where you shoot them in waterfowl areas. You could get rapped because its lead instead of steel shot.
|
03-02-2010, 06:55 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Minden , Nebraska
Posts: 2,850
Likes: 1,194
Liked 4,318 Times in 1,420 Posts
|
|
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.
|
03-02-2010, 07:20 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Texas
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
|
|
thanks
thank you all that a big help
|
03-02-2010, 11:21 PM
|
US Veteran
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Colorado
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
|
|
Some old shotgun shells/boxes are collectible...might want to find out if they have value in that realm. Preston
|
03-02-2010, 11:51 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 234
Likes: 1
Liked 8 Times in 5 Posts
|
|
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
|
03-02-2010, 11:54 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 234
Likes: 1
Liked 8 Times in 5 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by feralmerril
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
|
03-03-2010, 01:39 AM
|
|
US Veteran Absent Comrade
|
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Texas
Posts: 7,580
Likes: 13,500
Liked 6,743 Times in 2,526 Posts
|
|
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.
|
03-03-2010, 11:49 AM
|
|
Moderator
|
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Great Lakes State
Posts: 29,954
Likes: 12,834
Liked 34,130 Times in 8,022 Posts
|
|
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.
__________________
"I also cook."
|
03-04-2010, 01:50 AM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Posts: 3,428
Likes: 5,932
Liked 5,259 Times in 1,732 Posts
|
|
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
|
|
Posting Rules
|
|
|
|
|
All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:45 PM.