Winchester Leader 8 gauge Shells

[Phil C]

Thanks to Charlie for alerting me, I was able to acquire a Box of Vintage Winchester Leader Shell box and 19 paper shells. Had a 12 hour round trip to pick them up and pay for them as the seller would only take cash and would not ship. The hard part was convincing my wife to go with me and pick up the shells. ( Did have to take her hiking in New Mexico,buy her breakfast, an ice cream and dinner.) When I proudly carried them to the car like a sacred burial urn, her only remark was that's it??? Appears to have a date of 1904 on the box. Thought I would share the pictures.








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[Mills]

Very cool and worth the car trip.

[Bill Murphy]

Yup, worth the trip, but I would not have invited Linda. She is disturbed enough about the guns. She really doesn't know that much about the shells. She will find out at the estate sale. What was the source of the shells, internet or private seller on another venue? I know they are heavy loads, but I would be willing to test fire one of them in one of my guns and video the results including the pattern board.

[OH Osthaus]

and to think i have been trying to figure out how to talk my wife into a 12 hour trip for a wooden boat

[Bill Murphy]

Rick, funny you should mention that. Linda sold all of her boats way before we married, although she brought them to my place. She was afraid I would become interested in more. She kept her shotguns and found that the shotguns were more of a threat than the boats.

[George M. Purtill Member #28]

Phillip- here is a test bank record from WRA showing my WC Scott 8 bore being used to develop Leader loads in 1898.
Are your shells 3 1/4 inch loads?

[OH Osthaus]

well Bill, i restored a hulk of a sailing canoe (1928 old town), and have been looking around -on and off - for another project. I'd love to find a wreck of a Penn Yan kingfisher but have been also looking at the cartopper model. went to look at one yesterday, but the darn thing was almost perfect. The one with the 12 hour trip to get one that may not be worth the trip.

I have seen some great projects from a antique duck boats in Michigan or Jersey, a sponson canoe in Ohio, to a OT 50 pounder, one will work out eventually


not to hijack the thread - Phil very nice find

[charlie cleveland]

phil those old shells are really neat and the box is something ever shell and box collector would like to own..thats a great storey about the trip to get these shells and box.. was the guy you bought these from very old..just curious...you may have started a new way to get these little things we would like to have.. george that sure is a interesting facts and letter you posted about that 8 ga w c scott and the winchester 8 ga shells... bill i hope phil lets you shoot one of those shells that would be a hoot on a video for sure.. phil i m gladyou got those shells... charlie

[Researcher]

Great shells and story. Looks like at least in later years Winchester only made a Leader No. 8 shell, and though the Leader was normally a smokeless powder shell in the smaller gauges, used them for both black powder and smokeless in the No. 8.

[Phil C]

Thanks guys for the enthusiastic response. I have tried a few posts lately on other sites but can not put out a little information and draw people into conversations. I love the Parker site as it is " ACTIVE". I do not care which way conversations go, I like to promote a little camaraderie across these forums and to learn and share as much information as we can related around the guns we shoot and collect as well as all of the other interesting topics that some how tie into these cyber conversations.
Interestingly enough the shell box is marker Loaded with Smokeless powder and this was black out. It has since faded and you can just make that out. Seems like they used the same box for smokeless and Black powder. I cannot believe how much information I have learned already. Charlie the guy was an older gentleman. Has lived in New Mexico most of his life. A real treat he was kind enough to show me his Remington 40XB 308 serial number 28.
This posting has brought up some great thoughts and opportunities.
George and Bill possibly there could be a way to test fire and video the results using Georges WC Scott that originally used to test the LEADER shells 115 years ago. I am not sure they will fire, but I am willing to let you try, some shells. Might make for a cool article. George, I would love to see pictures of your gun, I also have a W C Scott 8 gauge along with my 7 Frame R Grade Parker Hammer gun.
Once again a BIG thank you to Charlie. Charlie give me a call I would like to chat with you.
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