Shotgun ammo found in old ammo box I bought

[JVA5th]

Not sure the age of these but they definitely are different than the shotgun ammunition I'm used to using. I dare not use them as I don't know how stable they are nor the age, plus if they are older I'll just hold on to them.

 

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[JVA5th]

Sorry forgot the pictures.

 

[Squirrel322]

Plastic shells were introduced in 1960. Can't help beyond that.

 

[JVA5th]

Plastic shells were introduced in 1960. Can't help beyond that.

Thanks every bit of info counts. Not sure if these are plastic or not but they don't seem to be though but I could easily be wrong

 

[JVA5th]

Plastic shells were introduced in 1960. Can't help beyond that.

Thanks every bit of info counts. Not sure if these are plastic or not but they don't seem to be though but I could easily be wrong

 

[dieselfool]

Not sure the age of these but they definitely are different than the shotgun ammunition I'm used to using. I dare not use them as I don't know how stable they are nor the age, plus if they are older I'll just hold on to them.

Those are paper shells from the 1940s or '50s. Not much value other than the 'cool' factor.
I have collected ammo (rifle/pistol) since I was 8 years old and that was a lot of years ago!

 

[Kace]

Some look like Paper 12 Gauge Target Shells... I can see Western, Red Dot and SuperX on some. Sears did sell the Western brand.

3 1/8 would be the length and 7 1/2 the shot size and those look original and not reloads... is the blue one in the pic a 16ga?

Good Collectible Shells...

Kace

 

[JVA5th]

Some look like Paper 12 Gauge Target Shells... I can see Western, Red Dot and SuperX on some. Sears did sell the Western brand.

3 1/8 would be the length and 7 1/2 the shot size and those look original and not reloads... is the blue one in the pic a 16ga?

Good Collectible Shells...

Kace

Yes one is a 16 gauge. I'm just keeping them for the neat factor I wasn't thinking they are worth much.

 

[Kace]

Yes one is a 16 gauge. I'm just keeping them for the neat factor I wasn't thinking they are worth much.

They are cool, not much value unless someone is looking to fill a box with original matching paper shells...I'd just display them and watch at auctions or sales for boxes and shells to match those.

Kace

 

[Tedyoh]

They are safe to shoot - when I was a stupid kid about 30 years ago, me and my friend shot about 10 boxes of these (my dads) at clay pigeons after school one day - wish I had them now....

 

[Dsorgnzd]

Some look like Paper 12 Gauge Target Shells... I can see Western, Red Dot and SuperX on some. Sears did sell the Western brand.

3 1/8 would be the length and 7 1/2 the shot size and those look original and not reloads... is the blue one in the pic a 16ga?

Good Collectible Shells...

Kace

Not quite. The 3 indicates the powder charge (3 drams equivalent, meaning the charge is equivalent to 3 drams of black powder). The 1-1/8 indicates that the shell contains 1-1/8 ounces of shot, and the 7-1/2 indicates the size of the shot.

 

[releventchair]

Not quite. The 3 indicates the powder charge (3 drams equivalent, meaning the charge is equivalent to 3 drams of black powder). The 1-1/8 indicates that the shell contains 1-1/8 ounces of shot, and the 7-1/2 indicates the size of the shot.

C might mean chilled shot.

 

[huntsman53]

They are safe to shoot - when I was a stupid kid about 30 years ago, me and my friend shot about 10 boxes of these (my dads) at clay pigeons after school one day - wish I had them now....

I agree that they are safe to shoot but it is best to discard any shot shells that are swollen and/or have the paper hull damaged, torn or rotted away...especially the crimping. Even shot shells that have the brass head somewhat corroded, can usually be cleaned and shot as long as the paper hull is in good shape.

 

[Kace]

Not quite. The 3 indicates the powder charge (3 drams equivalent, meaning the charge is equivalent to 3 drams of black powder). The 1-1/8 indicates that the shell contains 1-1/8 ounces of shot, and the 7-1/2 indicates the size of the shot.

You're probably right on the 3 1/8... that would be an odd length. We are on the same page for shot size.

I'll look at some old papers and boxes I have. Thanks for correcting that.

Kace

 

[releventchair]

You're probably right on the 3 1/8... that would be an odd length. We are on the same page for shot size.

I'll look at some old papers and boxes I have. Thanks for correcting that.

Kace

2 3/4 was the standard length for run of the mill shotguns.
There were Winchesters 3 inch 16 gauge in paper ,maybe others too.

 

[eyemustdigtreasure]

cool find!
Collectors like entire cartridges, as they are worth more.
try these websites to get dates.
Shotgun
Shotshell Cartridge History
http://www.oldammo.com/ammo/shotshel.txt

 

[Kace]

2 3/4 was the standard length for run of the mill shotguns.
There were Winchesters 3 inch 16 gauge in paper ,maybe others too.

Here are a couple boxes of paper 16ga... he was right on the dram stamps. I agree RC...2 3/4 was definitely the most common...check out the Winchester Box Markings. It's from 1952.



Kace

 

[JVA5th]

Thanks guys for all the info. Always nice to learn new things. I have a few shotguns and have done target shooting for years and still was ignorant of the history of the older shells. I won't use these ones though as I have a tendency to like to hold on to the older things I find.