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< 16ga. General Discussion ~ OLD ammo questions |
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Posted:
Sun Sep 23, 2018 1:56 pm
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Joined: 19 Feb 2018
Posts: 4
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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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Posted:
Sun Sep 23, 2018 3:31 pm
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Member
Joined: 15 Apr 2007
Posts: 9472
Location: Amarillo, Texas
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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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Posted:
Sun Sep 23, 2018 4:11 pm
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Joined: 17 Mar 2017
Posts: 2815
Location: Endless Mountains of Pa
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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
L.C. Smith Man |
_________________ "L.C. Smith America's Best" - John Houchins
Pine Creek Grouse Dog Trainers |
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Posted:
Sun Sep 23, 2018 6:30 pm
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Joined: 14 Aug 2004
Posts: 2
Location: East central Missouri
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The recoil from these magnums is brutal in most lightweight 16s. |
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Posted:
Sun Sep 23, 2018 7:28 pm
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Member
Joined: 15 Apr 2007
Posts: 9472
Location: Amarillo, Texas
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BUT not so brutal on one or two pheasants over a few hours duration |
_________________
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USAF RET 1971-95 |
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Posted:
Mon Sep 24, 2018 8:47 am
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Member
Joined: 06 Aug 2004
Posts: 2175
Location: Kansas High Plains
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skeettx wrote: |
BUT not so brutal on one or two pheasants over a few hours duration
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Yep; doubt you'd even feel it then, especially if you don't miss ! |
_________________ I feel a warm spot in my heart when I meet a man whiling away an afternoon...and stopping to chat with him, hear the sleek lines of his double gun whisper "Sixteen." - Gene Hill, Shotgunner's Notebook |
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Posted:
Mon Sep 24, 2018 2:05 pm
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Joined: 18 Feb 2018
Posts: 621
Location: va, ct, mo
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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. |
_________________ Retired Naval Aviation
Former Member Navy Shooting Team
NRA Shotgun, Pistol, Home Defense Card
Range Owner: Vanzant Clay Pigeon Farm, Mo |
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Posted:
Mon Sep 24, 2018 5:21 pm
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Joined: 19 Feb 2018
Posts: 4
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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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Posted:
Mon Sep 24, 2018 9:07 pm
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Joined: 27 Jan 2016
Posts: 494
Location: Oswego, Kansas
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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. |
_________________ Sweet sixteen forever
LC Smith Field Grade
LC Smith Ideal Grade
CZ Ringneck
Win. Model 12
Rem M11
Stevens 235 |
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Posted:
Tue Sep 25, 2018 5:42 pm
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Joined: 19 Feb 2018
Posts: 4
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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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Posted:
Sat Sep 29, 2018 6:44 pm
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Joined: 14 May 2011
Posts: 70
Location: Tampa, FL
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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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Posted:
Sun Sep 30, 2018 7:27 am
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Joined: 17 Mar 2017
Posts: 2815
Location: Endless Mountains of Pa
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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
L.C. Smith Man |
_________________ "L.C. Smith America's Best" - John Houchins
Pine Creek Grouse Dog Trainers |
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