A Question For Researcher

[Dean Romig]

I recently picked up three Winchester Leader shells at a little flea marker because I don’t have any of these in my small collection.
All three appear the same outwardly but the overshot cards read differently. Two of them are loaded with 28 grains of Infallible powder while the third is loaded with 3 1/2 dr. eq. Of Oval powder. Apparently Winchester used both of these powders at the same time??

Also, the primers look kind of early.

When would these have been made? And do they have a value greater than the $5 I paid for the trio?


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[Researcher]

In the years after The Great War, our powder manufacturers were working on applying things they learned during the war to shot shells finally resulting in progressive burning smokeless powder, high velocity, loads coming to the market in 1922. During this time DuPont made No. 93, DuPont DeLuxe and finally settled on DuPont Oval.

From Winchester Catalog No. 83, 1925, what you have there are two shells of Load No. 43, 28-grains of Infallible pushing 1 1/8 ounce of shot and one Load No. 44, 3 1/2 drams (equiv.) of DuPont Oval pushing 1 1/4 ounce of shot.

LEADER Loads Catalog No. 83, 1925 Load No. 43 and No. 44 underlined.jpg

LEADER 12-gauge 2 3-4 inch OVAL Load No. 44O6C.jpg

[Dean Romig]

Thanks cery much Dave!





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[Researcher]

Up through the 1923 Winchester pocket catalog the LEADER shell was said to be primed with the Winchester New No. 4 primer --

LEADER No. 12 with NEW No. 4 primer 02.jpg

But by the 1925 catalog they don't mention the primer and they are unmarked in the picture as are yours.

[6pt-Sika]

I had Winchester “Repeater” shells in 20 and 28 with that same primer as the shell above .