What time period is this shell from?
 

I found a 2 7/8" 12 ga Leader shell in a bunch of shells given to me. What era is this shell from? The base is marked 1901 No 12 Leader. I own a 2 7/8" bored Parker from circa 1916 and wondered if this shell is from the same time period.

but is that 2 7/8 loaded? or is it a new primed empty

Loaded

then i would expect it to be at least a 3 inch hull if its roll crimped

might look here
http://www.headstamps.x10.mx/1901.html

two of the 1901 No 12 Leader shells listed have the high brass with three rings high and one low


and of course- any minute Dave the researcher will post the catalog page, a shell box and a picture of someone using them :rotf: :rotf: :rotf:

Rick: Thanks the head stamp and primer indicates 1904-1919 according to the Winchester link. So it must be from the time period---very cool shell. It is roll crimped so is it a 3" shell or a 2 7/8" shell??

the hull length is always measured uncrimped

new primed empty or fired

that is why we trim our 10GA cases to 2 7/8 then load them

It appears to have what I call the little primer (meaning the area the firing pin hits) same as some 20 and 28 gauge Winchester Repeater shells I had and it was my understanding they were made before 1910 .

Your shell is from the same period as the gun, but is probably a 3-inch case. Actually old Researcher is thin on early Winchester ammunition paper. I'm much better with UMC & Rem-UMC, and Western.

That primer is likely the "New No. 4" --

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...pspkcs6cnd.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...psopgo7dpw.jpg

which was in use from around 1904 until after WW-I. Winchester shotgun shells sold factory loaded had WINCHESTER on the headstamp, and those sold as NPEs had 1901, again until a bit after WW-I. The earlier primer would have been the No. 4 --

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...psbj7hxrv5.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...psxrm2kmvb.jpg

The primer reads new number 4, so it is a 3" shell handloaded?? (what does NPE mean??), in the time period of the CHE. Thanks everyone for the information!!

Craig,
It is a 3" shell, almost certainly handloaded. What does the top wad say? Rather, what is printed on the top wad. ( I know top wads can't speak ). I have a number of those NPE's in my collection. NPE stands for " New Primed Empty ".