Went to a auction

[21bubba]

Went to a estate auction yesterday and among my purchases was a box that contain some rather old appearing shotgun shells. Two of the boxes of shells are paper. Do they even make paper shells any more?

One box Is Peters Victor and the other is federal. Now I've heard of Federal, but Peters'? All the shell look good, no swelling or bulging. Is this stuff safe to shoot? Any way to tell how old it is? There is a appairent lot number of 5166 on the Peters'. Thanks

 

[mgkdrgn]

Peters is an old Remington brand

 

[oneounceload]

Federal still makes paper shells - they take a lot longer and are more expensive to produce - they make a run once a year or so to have a limited supply available. (Fired paper hulls have the most wonderful smell!)

Peters is owned by Remington - they still make shell under that name, but IIRC, they are now plastic hulled

 

[2RCO]

Don't shoot them--Not because they are unsafe but because they are probably valuable. Post some pics some of the boxes are fairly pricey.

 

[MMCSRET]

I'm still shooting paper shells in my 16 ga., I bought a case of Kynoch several years ago, better than any I've ever used made of plastic. I have alternated paper and plastic in my Model 12 and its really easy to tell when I cycle the action, the paper load and eject much more smoothly. Wish I had another pick up load of them.
Note: the "P" in the R-P head stamp on Remington ammunition stands for Peters. Prior to R-P it said REM-UMC.

 

[ants]

Them shotshell collectors love those paper shells.
Whatever you do, don't shoot 'em.
Keep them or find a new home for them.

Some Peters history from a web site http://www.rbs0.com/shotshell.htm#Remington :
Peters Cartridge Corp. was founded in 1887 near Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1934, Remington purchased Peters. In 1944, production at Peters plant in Ohio stopped. The buildings are now abandoned. After 1944, Peters ammunition was made in Remington's plant, and was identical to the Remington product, except for the cartridge cases and boxes. The Peters brand shotshells, with their distinctive blue color, continued to be sold separately until the late 1960s. The continuation of the Peters brand for more than 30 years after the merger with Remington is testimony to the strength of the Peters trademark and earlier reputation.