Paper shells

[Husker_Fan]

I have a couple of partial boxes of 12ga paper shells...Winchester and Federal (Monarch). They appear to be in good shape. These belonged to my grandfather, and I am going to use the boxes to decorate in my office, but I want to know if I should shoot these shells, set them aside as collectable, or otherwise get rid of them.

 

[rcmodel]

Shoot them!

One warning though!
You will become addicted to the smell of fired paper shells.

It's like crack once you smell it!!

I think that's what happened to me 60+ years ago.

rc

 

[JohnM]

Just leave them in the boxes.
They aren't going to do anything.

 

[MtnCreek]

I had some old Peters shells that belonged to my Great Grandfather. When I was a kid I shot them and even experimented with some (dumped a little shot out and added a .490 round ball). I wish I still had them.

 

[JohnM]

It's like crack once you smell it!!

Got that right !!!
I wish I had saved a few of the hundreds of boxes I tossed.
Had a bunch of Peters boxes on a shelf once, the ones with the real cool pictures like they used to do.
I suppose I ended up tossing them too.
I think I used to shoot Peters just because the boxes were so cool

 

[oneounceload]

NOTHING like the smell of Federal Papers on the firing line

 

[NoAlibi]

I inherited 2 cases of Peters 12 ga. shotshells that my brother bought in the early 60's making them about 50 years old. They shoot as good as current store-bought. And my 1100's can't tell the difference either!

So, if they ask paper or plastic I say both.

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

I've got some old blue paper Remington "Rustless" 3" #2 shot. They still work fine around the place for rock squirrels and such.

Yes, the smell! Hard to explain, except it takes me back to walking a snowy ditchbank in about 1962, hunting pheasants with my dad...

 

[303tom]

No don`t shoot them, send them to me please, I said please ! LOL

 

[ozarkhillbilly]

Does anyone still make paper shells?

 

[PONTIACDM]

From what I've seen they are collectible. I've seen them sell for $1.00 a shell. I would hang onto them personally.

 

[Pete D.]

Paper

Just a few years ago, I bought 1000+ paper hulls on Ebay. Most of them were Federal GM and quite usable. I still have most of them and reload box or two per month and use them at Trap in addition to the normal run of STS.

Does anyone still make paper shells?

Yes. IIRC, Federal still makes them. New paper hulls can be had at Ballistic Products Inc. - not sure of the manufacturer.
Pete

 

[oneounceload]

Does anyone still make paper shells?

Federal still does once a year in a limited volume production. There was an article somewhere about their process and the days it takes to make the paper hulls. Two employees do it on the original equipment because some folks still want them

http://www.federalpremium.com/products/shotshell.aspx

 

[USAF_Vet]

I've got some paper shells I got from my FIL. Probably older than I am. I haven't shot any yet. Some of them look like they might be more collectable than others. I've got plenty of modern plastic hulls, so I won't be shooting the paper ones any time soon. the ones you have would be fine to shoot if you choose.

 

[451 Detonics]

Federal does it mostly for the Grand...that is all I ever shot there. The hulls are good for a couple reloads before the case mouth won't hold a crimp and yes...the smell is unlike any plastic shell.

As for vintage shells if you want to display them the do so...but new to shoot up.

 

[Husker_Fan]

Thanks. Here is a picture of the two more interesting boxes. and one of each type of shell. From left to right they are a Peters with no. 4 shot, Win Super Speed (goes with the box on the left, Win Super X, and the Federal Monark Trap shell. All are 12 ga. BTW, the flag is the one provided for the funeral of my other grandfather who was a WWI navy vet. As he would say, "that was when the decks were wood and the men were iron."

I also have three or four old boxes of plastic shells from Remington, Win, and Wards/Hawthorne. The Rem and Wards are for my dad's old 16 ga. I'll probably shoot up most of these and set a few aside to put in a shadow box or on a shelf with the cardboard boxes.

 

[Kendal Black]

Ditto on the smell of paper shotshells... Wow, that takes me back in time.

 

[rcmodel]

There was an article somewhere about their process

I read that.

The part I found most interesting was when they mentioned that many gun clubs and hunting preserves are banning the use of plastic hulls due to the "litter" factor.
Paper hulls with steel heads decompose over time, plastic hulls with brass heads don't.

They mentioned that Federal will have a leg up on the competition as more public hunting land may follow suit and require only paper shells be used.

rc

 

[JohnM]

The part I found most interesting was when they mentioned that many gun clubs and hunting preserves are banning the use of plastic hulls due to the "litter" factor.
Paper hulls with steel heads decompose over time, plastic hulls with brass heads don't.

Interesting. We come full circle nearly.

 

[rcmodel]

Yep!

I noticed a long time ago that some of my old quail hunting haunts were starting to turn red & yellow with years old old plastic hulls on the ground.

I always tried to police up my hulls, but many others don't bother.

rc

 

[Husker_Fan]

That always drives me nuts. I might not find all of my spent shells, but I probably pick up at lease 95% of them from my autoloader.

 

[NoAlibi]

It always amazes me to see fired shotshells littering both private and public hunting land. I think to myself, "Don't these people think, even selfishly, that they might one day want to return to find the property in the pristine shape that they would like it to be?"

Guess what's missing in their up-bringing? Rhetorical question - I already know the answer.

 

[JohnM]

The Game and Fish runs a controlled pheasant hunt area not far from me.
It sees a lot of pressure because this just isn't pheasant country.
The hunt area seems paved with plastic hulls.
The only reason it's not worse is the land in plowed and planted to corn every year.

 

[EMC45]

I pick up the paper Federal Gold Medals from a local skeet range. Load as I see fit. Some of the primer pocket get loose and then they just get tossed. 1 1/8 loads over some Green Dot make for a good load out of my 1914 Model 11 Remington. I think the ol girl deserves paper hulls for nostalgia. They do smell good too.

 

[rcmodel]

one day want to return to find the property in the pristine shape that they would like it be?"

Yea, thats something ain't it.

I chaired a lake clean-up project on a large federal reservoir here for many years.

We could expect to pick up 2-3 tons of trash off the beaches, trails, & parks every year.

And we could also expect to pick up a 2-3 trash bags full of paper plates & pop cans after the clean-up volunteers free hot-dog lunch was over!

WTH??? :banghead:

rc