When were my paper shells made?

[Scout21]

Just picked up an old box of Federal Hi-Power 20 gauge paper shells. It just so happens to have a few Remington paper shells in there, as well. Only cost me $5.50 for 24 rounds, which is as cheap as you can find birdshot these days. I'd like to get an age estimate on them.

I'm thinking the Remington shells are pre-mid-60's considering that they're green in color and not yellow. The Remington bases are magnetic while the Federal bases seem to be non-magnetic. The Remington bases are a bit hard to see, but they say "Remington Express" and "20 GA".

As tempted as I am to shoot them it would be cool to keep them around for a while just to admire. Alternatively I may give them to my father, as he used paper shells quite often in his youth. I'm sure he'd enjoy them.

 

[Scooter22]

Well they,re 1963 or later. Thats when zip codes came in. The box looks like the one I used to get in the early 70s but all mine were plastic hulls. So thats about a 10 year window.

 

[PWC]

I hunted with new Western Auto 12 ga purple paper hull shells in 1962. I think plastic was just coming out because I remember the magazine discussions about barrel coating from plastic wads. Something new to cuss and discuss.

 

[Scout21]

I found this line on the Cartridge Collector's Forum. I don't know where they found their info, but it falls in line with the zip code implementation date and Scooter's experience with using plastic shells in the early 70's.

"...change from paper to plastic shotgun shells in 1965."

 

[Scooter22]

Just to add my shells were the plastic purple 16Ga Federals. I liked how some manufactures color coded there shells by gauge.

 

[Roverguy]

Federal still makes Gold Medal paper shells. They don’t smell quite as wonderful as the older ones - presumably a different powder. They are very pricey these days!

 

[entropy]

The Federal box is from the early 70's to about '82.
The Remington paper shells are from the late 40's up to the early 60's. The green ones are older.

 

[BigBlue 94]

Just to add my shells were the plastic purple 16Ga Federals. I liked how some manufactures color coded there shells by gauge.

And then there is this...

 

[Scooter22]

Yeah you wouldn't want that with some red 12ga shells. Boom!

 

[792mauser]

And then there is this...