Question

1,642 views·5 replies·by wader

waderFREE2019#1

are 20 to 40 year old shotgun shells safe to use?

My stepfather found a box of them that he's ad laying around & gave them to me.
I'm guessing at the age.

He had given me his Sears Shotgun that he got for his 17th birthday. He's 87.
So I have no idea (and neither does he) at what point between then & now he's had these from.

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AdmiralOriginal Crew20,900 postsSince 2018

pequa1MOD2019#2

I harvested my first deer in 2010 with a 35 or more year old slug. If kept dry, should be fine

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CommodoreOriginal Crew7,027 postsSince 2018

pequa1MOD2019#3

Post a pic of them, box included if they are not loose. Do they have that funny numbering system instead of shot size, ounces, etc ? I have shot off those too.

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CommodoreOriginal Crew7,027 postsSince 2018

Capt13FREE2019#4

The shells should be fine ..... I would be worried more about the gun and the condition of the barrel.

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CaptainOriginal Crew2,530 postsSince 2018

pequa1MOD2019#5

Good point although i have fired a number of large caliber rifles from the world wars with much higher chamber pressures

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CommodoreOriginal Crew7,027 postsSince 2018

waderFREE2019#6

The shells should be fine ..... I would be worried more about the gun and the condition of the barrel.

had that checked out about 6 years or so ago - was told it's fine

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AdmiralOriginal Crew20,900 postsSince 2018