Question for cartridge experts.

[lochty]

I was given a bag of 16 bore shell last week, and, on sorting them out, came across these. They are marked Eley grand prix waterproof, paper case, shot size 3. What intrigues me is the cork seal. I've never seen that before and just wondered if anyone knew how old they were? Not going to fire them, just curious. Ta,Dave

 

[Stevie/P]

Third from left looks a bit dodge to me.

 

[Andyquadra]

Third one look like a home load

 

[Rhodesianjess]

Used a 16 bore all my life,76 this year, never seen commercial loaded cartridges with cork overshot card. More like a wad to be honest looking at the photo.
I would hazard that it's a home load. Everything else I've seen is standard overshot card of varying thickness.

 

[Smellydog]

Guage....

 

[Rusty Gate]

Did you buy them from a “geezer”

 

[lochty]

Used a 16 bore all my life,76 this year, never seen commercial loaded cartridges with cork overshot card. More like a wad to be honest looking at the photo.
I would hazard that it's a home load. Everything else I've seen is standard overshot card of varying thickness.

Thanks. I've never seen anything like that either. Tempted to prise one open and see what's inside. But I'm not firing them.

 

[lochty]

Guage....

Third word...."given".

 

[HonestJohn]

Shoot it and see what happens!

 

[enfieldspares]

Look like crude reloads. Yes a thin cork wad was used under the crimp of plastic "waterproof" Eley Grand Prix in 16 bore and also 20 bore. I have a box somewhere and you can see it sometimes if there is a hole in the middle of the crimp. And the six divots in the picture shown suggest that is such a wad and that the cartridge has been opened and the contents replaced and then the thing crudely closed with a roll turnover tool. My advice is cut them open and empty them and discard them.

 

[enfieldspares]

Used a 16 bore all my life,76 this year, never seen commercial loaded cartridges with cork overshot card. More like a wad to be honest looking at the photo.
I would hazard that it's a home load. Everything else I've seen is standard overshot card of varying thickness.

Eley Grand Prix 16 bore "waterproof" in the smooth plastic case. I have a box or so somewhere. Also used in 20 bore "waterproof" Alphamax and Grand Prix. Discussed on Pigeon Watch some few years ago also. They had a short period of use so quite possible to have never seen them as they weren't around for that long.

 

[Freeforester]

Guage....

Gauge.

16g - 16 round balls if lead of that ‘gauge’ will weigh one pound avoirdupois; each would weigh 1 ounce in this case, and the ideal gun weight to cartridge load ratio being 96:1 (the gun weighing on at 96 ounces or 6lb for a 1ounce load)

 

[Smellydog]

bore

You of all people

 

[lochty]

@enfieldspares thank you. Cut one open, thin layer of cork then the shot, which was all corroded and fused together. Just been to my local rfd who is going to dispose of them.