Home Forums Reloading Shotshells History question

If you saw the degree of oxidation on this shot you might whistle a different tune. Mind boggling it is.

I remember loading paper shells in a 1 at a time Lee loader. Paper shells, felt wads and a dipper.
Slow but worked.
Fast forward till today to my RCBS Grand that cranks out a box in a few minutes.
Sadly eye issues have limited my shotgun shooting so the Grand will be sold in my spring moving auction.

As an aside, that powder makes good fertilizer.

So, I’m burning the remains of an oak tree, and disposing of case heads w/ primers that could not be salvaged. Can you say “ SNAP, CRACKLE AND POP!” Really loud?

Ok, I just said that. Did it help you at all?

Anecdotal story which has nothing (or very little) to do with this thread: A friend of mine actually has a pyrotechnics license (it's a local thing) and he spends many thousands of bucks each year on his personal backyard July 4 fireworks displays. His license gains him entry into a huge warehouse in Virginia that caters to the professionals. I was his chief assistant for many years, mainly because I shared a pyromaniacal lust for things that go "boom" (and I smoke cigars which are handy for lighting fuses)! A few years ago, for the annual bacchaniacal festivities, we loaded something over 10,000 Black Cat firecrackers on a hay wagon (as a prelude to the mortars and rockets we discharged over suburban Maryland), with a loooooooooong fuse, and I poured over that pile of fire crackers a gallon paint can full of smokeless powder I had salvaged from unknown reloads and other sundry suspicious ammo over the years. When the fuse burned down and that pile of flammables ignited the stuff ignited into a long loud continuous roar - rather like a jet taking off - and the fountain of flame burned hot pink 20 feet in the air. America!!!!

Wish I had been there, 'sounds' spectacular!

DD

Gee, I guess I got dropped off by aliens but I been loading shotshells on a mec 600 Jr's since 1967. It's as natural an act as eating , drinking and pissing. Don't know why I'd quit shotgunning or loading shells till I croak...mb

Lots to be said for the old 600 Jr. Back when I was shooting a crazy amount of trap/skeet/clays (which coincided with cheap shot prices) I did "The Mec Shuffle" every Wednesday night to build the ammo I would fritter away every Saturday and Sunday. That got old after a while and I snagged an old but serviceable Ponsness-Warren which made life easier. When I quit the craziness (due mainly to developing scoliosis in my back/neck, exacerbated no doubt by the slinging of a few tons of shot into the air) I sold the P-W but kept the 600 Jr. for the odd shotshell chore such as a box or two of duck/goose loads now and then.

A cavil: The Remington SP steel-and-plastic shotshell hull, and two types of Winchester plastic hulls (compression formed and "poly formed") were introduced in 1964.
--Bob