12GA paper hulls at gun show.

[fourfingersofdeath]

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I thought that I had hit the jackpot today. I went to a stall run by a guy that specialises in old shotshells, reloading gear, etc. I was picking up an old Aussie built reloading press and a lubesizer for an American friend who is a collector of such wonderful junk. I had seen it at a previous gun show and contacted my friend, and the guy bought it to our local show.

While I was paying him, I spotted several packets of empty 12Ga Cheddite paper hulls. I immediately thought 'U-beauty!!! They wil be great for Black Powder loads. When I pulled one out and looked at it, I couldn't figure out what I was looking at. He then pointed out that they had a huge primer which was a European thing and he said that he was unable to source them.

I was disappointed, but as I went to leave, I spotted bags of older loaded paper shotshells. 50 shotshells for $15. After a bit of arm wrestling, I ended up walking out with four bags (200x) for $50. They are a mix of loads, some roll crimped, some star crimped, trap loads and hunting loads.

I'm pretty pleased about them as I haven't seen paper shells in Australia for many moons. I'm toying with the idea of going back fo rsome more tomorrow.

I also picked up an antique 16Ga crimp tool for $20. These are normally really expensive as people collect them (even though they often don't know what they are???). There were several at the show, but the others were all $90-$100.

I was speaking to my mate after the show and he was telling me about a 38Special Victory Model S&W which I missed. It was real cheap and was still there at closing time. I will land on that tomorrow morning.

I'm extraordinarly well set up for black powder shotshell, I just have to go hunting and free up some of these shells. Tough job, but someone's gotta do it, lol.

[litl rooster]

Good Luck on the S&W Victory model.

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Me Troublin often asks nme why I go to charity shops/gunshows/or wherever.

The answer is;



Heh! Ya Never Know!

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Good Luck on the S&W Victory model.

If it is in .38 Special it is likely from US service.  I have one in .38 S&W, but still a great little handgun. I hope you get it!


Do you want to sell the 16 gauge crimping tool?

[Dick Dastardly]

Ho the fire,  I'm comin' in peaceable like.  I'd like to put my 2¢ worth in here.

The 16ga is, in my humble estimate, the best balanced SASS shotgun going, especially for black powder.  Light recoil, good pattern, easy reloading.  The downside is that for some reason, 16ga components seem to cost more.

FWIW, I've got both a 97 and a 311 in 16 ga and I love 'em both.

DD-MDA

[Bottom Dealin Mike]

I hope you enjoy the paper hulls. I scored a near lifetime supply about 15 years ago, but, after shooting them exclusively for three years I gave the rest away. I found that they were too susceptible to moisture and humidity (which we have plenty of in these parts) and would swell enough to stick in the chambers. These were Federal brand hulls, once fired with smokeless before I got them.

I got them for free, from a pard who had learned the same lesson I evenually did. I likewise passed the rest of my stash on to a third shooter for free...I'll bet they've moved on since...

[hellgate]

The paper hulls won't shuck out of the SXS so if I use them I make sure they are the last two rounds fired so I can pick them out leisurely.

[Fingers McGee]

I hope you enjoy the paper hulls. I scored a near lifetime supply about 15 years ago, but, after shooting them exclusively for three years I gave the rest away. I found that they were too susceptible to moisture and humidity (which we have plenty of in these parts) and would swell enough to stick in the chambers. These were Federal brand hulls, once fired with smokeless before I got them.

I got them for free, from a pard who had learned the same lesson I evenually did. I likewise passed the rest of my stash on to a third shooter for free...I'll bet they've moved on since...

I learned the same lesson Mike.  I got 500 of them free a few yers ago, and after having to dig them out of the chambers on my SxS and having them not feed in an '87, I ended up giving them to whoever wanted some.  I've kept a few for nostalgia purposes inc case someone want to dove hunt with them.

[fourfingersofdeath]

If it is in .38 Special it is likely from US service.  I have one in .38 S&W, but still a great little handgun. I hope you get it!


Do you want to sell the 16 gauge crimping tool?

You are no doubt correct regarding the American service. We had a few in the armoury when I was in the tank regiment. They were 38S&Ws and had 5" barrels from memory. The Browning auto was in service at the time, but we hadn't been issued with it yet. We couldn't get ammo for them, but we one of the Officers was a pistol club member and reloaded his own ammo. He used to keep us fellow officers supplied in reloaded ammo and we kept him supplied in beer. The Colonel was a rich dude and turned his nose up at teh reloaded stuff and used to buy factory stuff by the case which kept us supplied in brass.
We chipped in and bought him a 30M1 Carbine once for his 40th Birthday (yep! he was a real old guy, lol). It was a cunning plan, we knew e would purchase cases of ammo from the gunshop in sydney, keeping us supplied in once fired brass, lol.

I will pass on selling the crimper for the moment thanks.

[fourfingersofdeath]

I ended up giving the 38 a miss, when I cocked the revolver the cylinder had in excess of and eighth of an inch play either way. Bit too sloppy to interest me.

As I was leaving, I bought a coffee from the lady in the van outside the show. The exhibitors were alll packing up and the guy who sold me the shotshells went past and tripped over dropping a big box of odds and ends. I helper him clean up and an old tim of Hornady 22cal gaschecks were spilt on the ground. After picking up a few he 'said do you cast your own bullets?' I told him that I did and he said 'well, you are now the proud owner of a thousand 22cal gaschecks' he got up dusted himself off, said goodbye and headed off. Gaschecks here cost around $50 a thousand. I thought $50 for five minutes work will do me! No Victory model, but a bit of a bonus at the end of the day.

[hellgate]

Lots of decent folks out there! You reap the crop of the seeds you sew; what you put out you get back, karma,etc.

[fourfingersofdeath]

Lots of decent folks out there! You reap the crop of the seeds you sew; what you put out you get back, karma,etc.

Yep, I have always said, 'treat people how you would like to be treated yourself.' This has reaped a lot of benefits for me over the years. It is funny a little old lady who had been sellling books at the show started to help me. I was just going to pick up most of them and leave the hard ones. She kept at it and we ended up getting all but about 30-40.

Another thing I worked out and applied to myself and I also used to tell fellow officers that I was about to lead into disturbances in the prison over the years was to behave as though your children were watching you work. I had one officer who had been around the traps for years before he got transferred into my unit. He came up to me one day and said that after hearing my recommendation he got to thinking how he had conducted himself at work and in emergency situations.

He concluded that his wife and children would not have been proud of him and in fact would have been quiet horrified. He sorted himself out, started acting honourably and went on to become a leader in the Department and a real asset. He said that thought and the impact it had on him turned his life around.

[Fairshake]

Four Fingers, I see were you and DD are talking about loading the paper hulls.
I loaded then for 2 1/2 years for SASS matches, they were of Federal and Fiocchi manufacturer and worked quite well in my 1887 12 ga. lever action.
I went back to the SXS and that is where the paper hull loses all of it's glory as they will swell in the chamber when fired with BP loads and not shuck from the gun. I've had some that required a cleaning rod down the tube to clear the chamber. This will put you way behind in any SASS match or even some hunting situations.
I still have about two thousand Winchester and Federal paper hulls. They will work in the 97 or 87 but not any SXS unless it has ejectors.
I loved the paper and roll crimps but not the chamber sticking.

[Professor Marvel]

I went back to the SXS and that is where the paper hull loses all of it's glory as they will swell in the chamber when fired with BP loads and not shuck from the gun. I've had some that required a cleaning rod down the tube to clear the chamber.

Greetings my friends -
Monsieur FourFingers, have you conquered the sticking issues?

That finally explains these "shellpuller" pocketknifes, which I could not fathom, being the sheltered lad that I am I had strange delusions of clams and oysters ...

http://www.bladeplay.com/item--Frosolone-Shell-Puller-Italian--9220

http://www.muskratmancustomknives.com/catalog.html

http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/antique-colt-ruin-stag-shotshell-extractor-jack

yhs
prof marvel

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Those shellpuller knives are neat, but not at $450!  At least for me.

If you use fairly new shells, and keep them dry, the extraction problem is kept to a minimum.  If mine are lookin a little tatty, I rub some parrafin wax over them. Fit a dowel inside first.  Candle wax will do.  Then warm the wax by hand rubbing until its smooth.

[hellgate]

If I were to use paper hulls I'd save them for the last two shots fired. Most stages around here end with the shotgun.

[JimBob]

Those shellpuller knives are neat, but not at $450!  At least for me.

If you use fairly new shells, and keep them dry, the extraction problem is kept to a minimum.  If mine are lookin a little tatty, I rub some parrafin wax over them. Fit a dowel inside first.  Candle wax will do.  Then warm the wax by hand rubbing until its smooth.

This style shellpuller is often found and relatively inexpensive if you stay with the plains with out the whistles and whatnot.

http://image0-rubylane.s3.amazonaws.com/shops/mountainthistleantiques/pj3886.1L.jpg

Good tip on the waxing shells to make them go a little longer,never thought of that.