Paper shells

[Kevin McCormack]

#10 shot was THE favored shot size for rail, and a lot of the clubs in South Jersey had them loaded in 100-case lots of 20 boxes ea. during the summer for use on the traditional Sept. 1 opener.

A lot of #10 and #11 were actually used inside barns to shoot pigeons who routinely fouled the hay maws with their droppings. From the barn floor shooting 3 stories up, it would kill the pigeon but not blow a hole in the tin roof. I guess a box of shells was cheaper than a good 1,000 sq. ft. canvas tarp, and definitely cheaper than a reroofing job.

I have always heard #12 shot referred to as "rat shot" but have seen at least a couple of boxes marked "Dust load" at a specialty cartridge show (also saw there the only known at the time full box of Robin Hood .22 Short ammunition - asking price $1200. The cartridge gurus were studying it like a huddle of Bhuddist monks over a prayer wheel. It was gone in half an hour after the dealer put it on the table.

[Dean Romig]

Originally Posted by Kevin McCormack

#10 shot was THE favored shot size for rail, and a lot of the clubs in South Jersey had them loaded in 100-case lots of 20 boxes ea. during the summer for use on the traditional Sept. 1 opener.

A lot of #10 and #11 were actually used inside barns to shoot pigeons who routinely fouled the hay maws with their droppings. From the barn floor shooting 3 stories up, it would kill the pigeon but not blow a hole in the tin roof. I guess a box of shells was cheaper than a good 1,000 sq. ft. canvas tarp, and definitely cheaper than a reroofing job.

I have always heard #12 shot referred to as "rat shot" but have seen at least a couple of boxes marked "Dust load" at a specialty cartridge show (also saw there the only known at the time full box of Robin Hood .22 Short ammunition - asking price $1200. The cartridge gurus were studying it like a huddle of Bhuddist monks over a prayer wheel. It was gone in half an hour after the dealer put it on the table.

I just received a book published in 1898 which has some ads in the back and this one caught my eye. It shows all shot sizes and goes right down (up) to size 12 but then there are two tiers above size 12 but they make no mention of what size they are nor what they might be called.


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