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kgr132
PostPosted: Sun Sep 23, 2018 1:56 pm  Reply with quote



Joined: 19 Feb 2018
Posts: 4

Since my dad passed recently, I've come into a couple of boxes of 16 ga. shells that are at least 40 years old. There are some Winchester "Super-X Mark 5 Magnum" with shot size #4 and #6. They're cardboard hulls. There are also some Hawthorne (Montgomery Ward department store brand, I think) with shot size #6 in plastic hulls. All of them are marked: 1 1/4 oz.; 2 3/4"; Magnum; 3 1/2 dram equiv.

This spring I've taken up shooting my old man's SxS for a bit of fun, but I shoot clays with 1 oz, #8 or #7 1/2 loads. I'm not really all that serious. I don't keep score and the shot size I buy depends on what's on sale. These heavy loads I've inherited seem a bit scary.

First question is the age of the shells: If I decide to take on a pheasant or duck, are these shells still safe to shoot after 40+ years? If not, I'll let my local P.D. dispose of them safely.

Second question, assuming these shells are still safe to use and I decide to stick to light loads and not chase pheasant: Is there anyone on this forum who lives near Metro Detroit and would be interested in having these shells for free? It'd have to be local. I'm not comfortable shipping them, but, they'd be free.

Thanks in advance for any and all advice and responses. It's been 30 years since I've shot regularly. I forgot how much fun it was.

-K-
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skeettx
PostPosted: Sun Sep 23, 2018 3:31 pm  Reply with quote
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Hello
The shells you have are great

You will be shooting them in a 311A and they are super stout and will hold the energy.

Do not use lead shot for waterfowl.

WELCOME to the site

Mike


Last edited by skeettx on Sun Sep 23, 2018 7:29 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Pine Creek/Dave
PostPosted: Sun Sep 23, 2018 4:11 pm  Reply with quote



Joined: 17 Mar 2017
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Location: Endless Mountains of Pa

kgr132,

Skeettx is right, use the old shells for Pheasant hunting, they will be fine if your father kept them stored properly.

Pine Creek/Dave
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Tim Earney
PostPosted: Sun Sep 23, 2018 6:30 pm  Reply with quote



Joined: 14 Aug 2004
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Location: East central Missouri

The recoil from these magnums is brutal in most lightweight 16s.
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skeettx
PostPosted: Sun Sep 23, 2018 7:28 pm  Reply with quote
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BUT not so brutal on one or two pheasants over a few hours duration Smile

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fin2feather
PostPosted: Mon Sep 24, 2018 8:47 am  Reply with quote
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skeettx wrote:
BUT not so brutal on one or two pheasants over a few hours duration Smile


Yep; doubt you'd even feel it then, especially if you don't miss Very Happy !

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bobski
PostPosted: Mon Sep 24, 2018 2:05 pm  Reply with quote



Joined: 18 Feb 2018
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im shooting some of those Winchesters you got this year myself. fired just fine.
if you get a misfire, just hold it for the 30second rule.
stand by to be bruised.

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kgr132
PostPosted: Mon Sep 24, 2018 5:21 pm  Reply with quote



Joined: 19 Feb 2018
Posts: 4

Thanks to you all for allowing me to tap into your knowledge and experience.

I hadn't thought about the lead shot angle. Definitely no waterfowl. Thanks for pointing that out.

The shells always been warm and dry, so maybe I'll take some of them out with friend and give a pheasant a try. Definitely with the 30+ second rule in effect.

Thanks again -K-
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Byron Whitlock
PostPosted: Mon Sep 24, 2018 9:07 pm  Reply with quote



Joined: 27 Jan 2016
Posts: 488
Location: Oswego, Kansas

Those shells would also be great for turkey hunting. You don't notice the recoil when you are watching that gobbler flopping on the ground! And you would have enough of those shells to last through a whole lot of turkeys. Idea

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kgr132
PostPosted: Tue Sep 25, 2018 5:42 pm  Reply with quote



Joined: 19 Feb 2018
Posts: 4

Very true. And an excellent idea.

I guess I need to take a look at the fall turkey season for the State of Michigan. At this time of year when all of the "up north" tourists are gone, I've had turkey walk through my campsite so close that one of my dogs almost got one a few years back. That turkey got lucky when the poor dog ran out of cable. Plus, there's no hunting allowed in the state park campgrounds, so I couldn't take a crack at it. The dog ended up doing a back flip when he hit the end of his line. Luckily the he was OK and lived on to the ripe old age of 14. Not too bad for a retriever.

Thanks guys/girls. Although the Stephens 311A SxS that I inherited along with the ammo is a bit of bruiser right now (with just quail loads!), I look forward to mastering it and using this gun in the field. There has to be a reason it was my dad's favorite.

-K-
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oyeme
PostPosted: Sat Sep 29, 2018 6:44 pm  Reply with quote



Joined: 14 May 2011
Posts: 70
Location: Tampa, FL

If it already does not have one; you might consider a good quality recoil pad to help minimize the bruising. Kick EEZE brand seem to help quite a bit in my experience. Goodl luck.
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Pine Creek/Dave
PostPosted: Sun Sep 30, 2018 7:27 am  Reply with quote



Joined: 17 Mar 2017
Posts: 2787
Location: Endless Mountains of Pa

Gentlemen,

I doubt I would use them for Turkey hunting, would hate to call a nice Tom in, and have the shells misfire due to age, now missing a Pheasant due to a bad shell, the dog would just re-hunt the Pheasant!

Pine Creek/Dave
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