Remington Sure Shot
 

I found a box of Remington shells. The box says 4 3/4 Drams 1 3/8 of BB and the shells are 2 7/8. I have a Parker short ten with hammers that is in good shape. You can see where this is going. What do you think? Shoot them in my mag 10 and use the empties for light loads or try them out?
My goal is the light loads but as you know it is tough to find paper shells.

4 3/4 drams is a stout load for your short ten. I would shoot them in a different gun and save the hulls for the short ten.

-Victor

i would not shoot this box of shells at all i would save them as a collectors find..they will look good setting on a shelf or display area... 4 3/4-1 3 /8 of bbs is a stout load but i will bet that the 1 3/8 ounce of shot is acually 1 5/8 ounce of shot...the 1 3/8 ounce load would be rare i have never sees this loading in a 2 7/8 inch shell... you can always cut plastic hulls down and shoot them in your 10 ga or buy some rst brand of shells to shoot in your gun...charlie

Charlie has given you the best advice possible.

Could you post a picture or two of this box? Through most of the 1930s, Shur-Shot was Remington's economy line of shotshells and only offered in 12-, 16- and 20-gauges. For example, Shur-Shot Skeet Loads were $32 per thousand in all three gauges while Remington's better low brass shell the Nitro Club Skeet Loads were $40 for 12-gauge and $38 for 16- or 20-gauge per thousand.

By July 1938, the Nitro Club was gone and the Shur-Shot line expanded to include 10-gauge and 28-gauge, but the 10-gauge loads offered were 4 1/4 drams equiv. pushing 1 1/4 ounce of #4, #5 or #6 shot. The last appearance of the Shur-Shot 10-gauge loading was in the December 18, 1950, Remington Ammunition Price List, still 4 1/4, 1 1/4.

The Remington Express 10-gauge 2 7/8 inch shell was 4 3/4 drams equiv. pushing 1 5/8 ounces of shot.

No way I'd shoot that cannon fodder in any vintage Parker.

4 3/4 Drams/ 1 3/8s oz, I need to take a couple of aspirins from just reading that.
:rotf:

I read the box wrong. I guess I didn't have my glasses. It is 1 5/8 oz and the box is a Remington Express load like you mentioned above.

Once in a while I see the Shur-Shot boxes for sale or at auctions. From what you guys are saying it may be bad to shoot any of them in a vintage Parker?

What ammunition was made and sold for these old guns?

I was looking for some paper shells to reload and these looked like they might be in good shape to shoot and then reload. I think I'll keep looking.

Mr. Bauer like you I came on to the forum like many asking that same theme of question. I think there are better alternatives available to better take care of these old guns like RST loads. However before that I would not be surprised if there were not a lot of those same shells run through that gun. That was back then. Safely guessing well over hundred years later that gun was first christened with black powder loads and not designed for modern smokeless loads even though shells are now approaching 80 to 100 year themselves it maybe best not to push it. Odds are probably in your favor shooting them will turn out okay but its just risky and your pushing if by going over the top of loads that gun was designed to shoot.

Btw Richard is right calling those loads cannon fodder since they have more powder than an M-80 firecrackers, and M-80s were made by military at turn of 1900's to simulate explosions and artillery fire. Urban legend was that an M-8o was equivalent to a quarter stick of dynamite which was not true, but those shells with that amount of powder are getting dang close to a quarter stick of dynamite.