Old shotgun ammo

[Sommerled]

A patient of mine gave me a little windfall, she said she was moving to an assisted living and was downsizing by finally getting rid of her late husband's hunting stuff. Her son, of course, took most of it but didn't want all the boxes of old shotgun ammo. He apparently didn't think it was safe to shoot.

What she gave me are full boxes in very good condition of:

12 & 20 gauge Sears xtra-range Ted Williams 2 3/4" plastic -6 boxes of each.

20 ga Wards Hawthorne 2-3/4" plastic- 5 boxes

12 ga Winchester Super-speed Mark 5, 2 3/4 "all new plastic" -4 boxes

12 ga Remington Express smokeless extra long range with "New Remington Crimp" 2 3/4" these are plastic with a paper patch over the crimp. 2 boxes. These are a bit dusty and dirty.

12 ga Peters Victor smokeless 2 3/4" paper hulled, fair condition, 43 shells without the original box.

Most of them appear to be fom the 1970's? or so? Except the Peters and Remington which appear much older.

I am a rifle/handgun guy but have a few shotguns for grouse and pheasant hunting and the occaisional clay shoots with friends/family so I am not well informed of such things.

Would the more informed/knowledgable among this forum please comment on the use of these shells? Can I try firing them? Do they have collector value?
I've seen boxes of old shells for sale at gun shows with some impressive prices. Are any of these in that catagory or are they junk and unsafe.

Thanks for your reply!

Sommerled

 

[Dave McCracken]

Not unsafe, if stored dry and cool. And just less likely to fire if not. As long as they are used in modern arms of suitable chamber length, you'll be fine.

Collector's items usually are pre WWII. Some interest exists in more modern ammo if it's unusual, like the one piece Activ stuff or Militaria.

What you have,except for the papercased stuff, is good plinking and practice ammo.

I recently used up a few rounds of 2 shot loaded shells dating from the late 50s or early 60s. Ran them through a Saiga without probs. These were 1 1/2 oz "Short Magnums".

 

[ImARugerFan]

What a great score!

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

I have used some old 3" paper hulled goose loads for coyotes. They still fire fine. If the hulls are beat up much though, I don't think I would take a chance.

My dad bought a ton of 2 3/4" 4 buckshot back in the 70s, when it was legal for geese. I still have a bunch of it and it works great. Every see a rock squirrel shot with #4 buck? Kind of like shooting 34 22lr bullets at the same time.

With that old Peters ammo, I think the boxes are worth more than the ammo.

 

[Bill B.]

I've seen boxes of old shells for sale at gun shows with some impressive prices. Are any of these in that catagory or are they junk and unsafe.

I would be temped to look on Gun Broker and see if you can find any of the same shells selling on there before you start using them. It's real easy to put a watch on an item and that way you will know for sure what they are going for. I have no doubt that these shells will be ok to use and with the price of shotgun ammo you did indeed get a great gift. 12 ga. Winchester HP are now going for $17.00 a box at the local K-Mart. Makes the good old days seem far away when they were $6 - $7 a box!

 

[Sommerled]

Looks like I'm going shooting!

Thanks for the tip about Gun Broker, definately check that out..

SKOL VIKINGS!!!

Thanks,

Sommerled

 

[76shuvlinoff]

When I was 12-13 I found a bunch of paper 12 ga rounds in the trunk of the Desoto in the back yard. I guess that was the "safe" hiding place back then. They were swelled but being a clever youngster I found that I could peel off a little paper and it would chamber in my dad's (now mine) Wards Hercules Model 10.

They fired and I had the scuffs from that plastic butt plate on my shoulder to prove it.

 

[oldwheelieguy]

Sounds like a great score. I have some old ones too. I don't know about value but I have a short story.
Used some old shells for plinking when one time I fired and it did not feel right,did not kick hard etc. I was using a pump shot gun so I could not see down the barrel. I follow with another round and blew the end of the barrel off. turns out the wadd of the weak shell stopped about 3 inches before the end of the barrel. So I'm my experiance I shoot all "old shells" thru a crack barrel (single , double, O/U)so I can eye ball the barrel before I fire the next round. Rant over.