shotgun shells

jeenyes

I read a forum on centerfire shells shelf life and was just wondering..does the same hold true for shotgun sheels? How long can they be stored and still be safe to shoot. Thanks.

jeenyes

Does anyone know of any websites where you can buy inexpensive, bulk shotgun shells?

jeenyes

Howdy,

A friend just gave a slew of mixed shotgun shells, no boxes, all un-fired, and of factory loaded of different brands. Some are old, with whatever marking on the sides of the hulls are unreadlble.

And here comes my ignorance-- When sorting them out, so far have found lengths varying from 2-1/4" to 2-1/2, (12 ga.), which can safely assume, (uh-oh), both are 2-3/4"?
I know fired, (open), hulls are what is measured to determine a 2-3/4" is indeed a 2-3/4 shell. Yet, as have not bought/shot anything but 2-3/4's fresh from a marked box, have nothing to compare with, say a loaded 3".

Is there a way to pre-determine, (other than firing them into the unknown), what is what? Or if a nominal length chart is known?

I've done a bit of searching, (Barnes, etc.), but nada so far.

EDIT 12/03
Tailgun-- "Add the crimp measure...". Well duh me, staring right in the face, no wonder I didn't see it. Thanks. Am well aware of a shorter shell in a longer chamber (but not the other way around), as for safer-that-sorry is reason the question was asked how to distinguish the differece of an un-fired by length alone. My older scatterguns are indeed for 12-3/4 and wouldn't wish haphazard to slip a 3" into chamber. It pays to know what you're about.
Barzillia-- Recalling from my cowboy sass days just couple few years back, I think a smaller company named Classic churned out 2-1/2 inchers in 12 guage? But yeah agree, none the major maunfacturers have for quite a time.
Zimmden-- 3"=2-9/16" right out of the Rem & Winnny box? Alrighty, will take note of that. Same time, the "All the standard 2 3/4" loads measure 2 1/4" unfired", well, same as most I've measured also, yet the saga continues as not so sure that is cut in stone? For what then are the shells found that mic out to 2-1/2"?-- the rims read "Rem-Umc No. 12 Nitro Club", "Federal No. 12 Hi-Power. Admit maybe am splitting hairs here, what with a 1/4" diff, for they are not modern. Still, they're destined to go bang in a 3" chamber.

Anyways, thanks for the collective respones, which has helped the learning curve. Out of curiosity, I'll continue to look see if an industry standard min/max length guide is even in existence?
45er

jeenyes

I shoot in a local card shooting match.I have had a problem a few times when they would run out of the brand of shells we started on and switch to another brand,same length,same shot size.Is there a difference in the way shotshells are loaded,lets say WinchesterAA and Federal Top Gun?

jeenyes

My semi-adopted dad, gave me a bunch of really neat junk this weekend. Amongst all the odds and ends were some old paper shotgun shells, was wondering if any are collectors grade shells.Here is a short list. These are 12 ga.Box and a half of Sears sportload #7 1/24 winchester ranger field load #86 peters #2 has big P around primer1 federal monark field load #816 remington express #6 in box. Box says new remington crimp, extra long range.1 16 gauge american eagle #6Some of these look really old and hate to shoot them if they have any value.

jeenyes

I have several boxes of bird shot shotgun shells and I believe they are at least 11 yrs old. I have always stored them in a gun cabinet in my house. Are they still good?

soop

Check out the gunbroker auctions under collectable ammo.Watch the auctions there for a while and you will see boxes just like yours.This will give you an idea what they are worth.There is always someone out there looking for old paper shells(including me).