Shotgun Shells

Fireday

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.

Fireday

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

Fireday

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

Fireday

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?

Fireday

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.

Fireday

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?

charliemeyer007

I think that they are loaded in general to the same performace level. 3 dram equivalent and 1 1/8 oz of 7 1/2 gives a specific velocity no mater who loaded it. The type of shot can vary from chilled, extra hard, plated with copper or nickle. There are dozen's of wad types which will effect the pattern. If you load your own you could eleminate this problem. The short answer is Yes.

allechalley

If you cut open the two you will find drastic differences in the way they are made, as charlie said. The difference in recoil can be significant as the Top Guns are made to give a spec. performance level at a cut throat price. The recoil on top guns generally is real sharp compaired to a similiar AA. They both go boom, but not in the same manner, and both will break targets just fine. But shotguns can pattern better with some loads over others. As he said,
the pattern will probably be different, one way or another.

Wolf.

--
What do you mean by you "have had a problem" when they switch brands of shot shells?

Is the recoil different, do they fail to feed, do you notice a difference in shot pattern, etc.?

bobski

no 2 shotguns pattern shotshells the same, thus if you change brands of hulls, you will see a vast change in performance.

bridgebuilder41

Yes there is a differance.we shoot at 90 feet,5 inch circle most shot in the circle wins.when your a sighted in with the shells they are shooting and they switch shells on you,may be the same size shot but a different brand of shells.your pattern may be high,low,left or right of your target..

scrubberguy

Fireday:
As you've figured out by now differnet shells will shoot differently in your shotgun.

When I was match shooting I always made sure I had enough shells for the match plus a few extra in case.

It doesn't matter if you reload or buy factory! What does matter is you find a load that gives you what you want and then always have enough of it for the match your shooting.

I know guys that drive the local range owner nuts because they insist on not only buying by the case but they want to buy cases with the same lot number![8D]