Shotgun shell with no headstamp.

[stratos]

I found this shotgun shell at a lake today, I do not see any type of head stamp on this shell. Back in the 1800's there was a train station here and resort of some kind. The pic has a 10ga for comparison. I was wondering if this was a 4,6 or 8 ga. When they used to hunt duck for commercial reasons, with the guns strapped down to the front of the boat.


Thank you for looking at this.

 

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[EccentricInTexas]

Could be that or a flare maybe?

 

[Crappies-n-Coins]

Any markings around the primer?

 

[jewelerguy]

have never in my life seen or heard of one with a convex head. that's pretty strange

 

[Crappies-n-Coins]

have never in my life seen or heard of one with a convex head. that's pretty strange

Punt Gun

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

I'm just guessing - but the reason for the convex bump could be to prevent it being chambered in a regular shotgun (or flare gun). Another guess is that it's a 4 gauge (or 26mm).

I worked at a foundry and one of the furnaces used a 10 gauge blank shell to open the gate to pour. Bigger furnaces elsewhere used bigger shells. Not sure what a railroad might have needed. Perhaps to flip a large switch for rails?

There is also a method of starting large engines that uses a blank shell to start the flywheel. 4 gauge is one that was used. USN Wildcats started with a 4 gauge shell. But even those used a flat base.

 

[fyrffytr1]

Could you post a side view along with measurements?

 

[Ant]

It could be to a signal flair, bird bomb, etc, it's sitting next to a 10 gage shotgun shell, must be for goose or criminals. Dang the only person that I know that shoots a 10 gage is my Cousin Jude and he's 6 foot 9, that's a big gun. Yeah, what does the other side look like?

 

[NOLA_Ken]

I have seen one of hose before and I can't for the life of me remember what it was for.... I keep thinking it's for a signal cannon.... Look up yacht cannons....

Can you get an accurate measurement of the inside diameter? 100ths of an inch?

 

[tamrock]

Why aren't we getting a side view picture of it ?

 

[fyrffytr1]

Maybe the OP will check back in and give us more information. He hasn't posted since starting this thread.

 

[stratos]

Here are a couple more pictures of the shell.

 

[Ant]

One more pic of the inside please.

 

[stratos]

Ok here is the pic of the inside. Ant, thank you for checking this out. And yes the 10ga is for goose hunting.

 

[Ant]

Thanks. Well it looks like you're familiar with this stuff.

a) Is that red plastic that I have the red arrow pointing to?

b) I think there should be a primer ignition port where I put the white circle. Is it plugged up with dirt?

 

[Ant]

See the reason that I'm asking is because the brass base of a shotgun shell meant to hold the powder charge and there is no room in the base of your What Is It to hold any powder, and there needs to be a primer port.

Here's a 3" Magnum (high base brass)12 gage #4 Buckshot REM Express next to a low base 12 gage brass. The older shell use paper packing in the base similar to the old paper wad that sits above the cup. I shot this shell at a coyote ladt night:

 

[Crappies-n-Coins]

Charge doesn't necessarily stop when the brass does:

 

[Ant]

I think the powder charge doesn't go above the brass base. That's what I'm trying to say. The base in question looks to be full of some kind of packing and the packing doesn't have an ignition port/hole.

 

[Ant]

Hey Crappies-n-coins I'm talking about lead shot factory loads not hand loaded hot loads. So I still go with what I think the fact that the powder charge doesn't go above the brass, we are not looking a at plastic shell that doesn't have a brass base or steel shot, .

Is that dirt plugging up the base or is something crimped inside of the What Is It?

 

[Crappies-n-Coins]

So, since you "think" you know something, that's it huh? OK, apologies to OP since we seem to be getting off-track. Here's another one for you, though I'm sure it's wrong too.

Black Powder Shotgun Shells

Have a nice day.