Who is hunting with 16 gauge???

[edgarspencer]

Back when 20 boxes made a case, my dad bought a case of Remington 16ga. field loads, fearing it was destined for the history books. That was back in the early ‘80s. I think there’s still 17-18 boxes.

[Ed Norman]

Originally Posted by edgarspencer

Back when 20 boxes made a case, my dad bought a case of Remington 16ga. field loads, fearing it was destined for the history books. That was back in the early ‘80s. I think there’s still 17-18 boxes.

I have a question, I have a few partial boxes of 20 gauge shells I had from back in the 70's, when I quit hunting, I did not even think to try shooting them because of their age. I purchased new shells a couple of years ago when I started hunting again. Would those 40 plus year old shells still be ok to shoot?

[edgarspencer]

Originally Posted by Ed Norman

I have a question, I have a few partial boxes of 20 gauge shells I had from back in the 70's, when I quit hunting, I did not even think to try shooting them because of their age. I purchased new shells a couple of years ago when I started hunting again. Would those 40 plus year old shells still be ok to shoot?

Good question, ED. I'm sure, somewhere, someone has studied the effect age has on powders, in loaded ammunition. I certainly know, that some powders age in their containers. I know that 7625, no longer available, stinks like hell when it's old.
I won't tell you to take out your best gun and try them out, but I have never had any issue shooting older shells. I load 12, 16 and 20, so never am short on ammunition.
I quit skeet shooting back in the '80s, and had 50+ boxes of reloaded AA 20ga. It was at least 20 years old when we shot it all up, up at the farm, informally shooting clays.

[Bill Murphy]

I forgot to mention a pair of 0 frame hammer guns, one a Grade 2 30" gun and another, a Grade 2 project gun waiting for barrels. This one is the last graded hammer gun made by Parker Brothers and the last 16 gauge hammer gun. I bought this beauty in a box of parts with ruined barrels. I have a couple of sets of barrels for it, but I never seem to get around to fitting them.