henry d Posted August 22, 2013 Report Share Posted August 22, 2013 Read a few topics on steel and decided to check out a cartridge I was given back in the early/mid 1990`s. It was a Federal 3" magnum steel cartridge loaded with T shot (32gm when weighed) and was well worn when I got it so may have been from the 1980`s. As you can see from the photo the shot is in good nick, no rust at all and no balling at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted August 22, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2013 Just decided to see whether and how fast the shot can rust, so I`ve put one in some water and will remove it to see what happens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pole Star Posted August 22, 2013 Report Share Posted August 22, 2013 (edited) Good & interesting post Henry I take it you will post a pic on here once they are well rusted & tell us how long it took . Here is a question ?, if a bird is wounded by steel & recovers as they do , well they say Peter Scott started much of his collection at Slimbridge from pricked wild fowl , at least that's the ones that survived ( Birdies take note ) . Now what are the long term affects on a bird that has steel embedded inside especially near its bone ? . Perhaps a vet should answer this one ? ps your cakes look good Edited August 22, 2013 by Pole Star Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Al Posted August 22, 2013 Report Share Posted August 22, 2013 (edited) I was a bit worried about this as my house has an older end that can get quite damp in the winter., although I don't usually keep cartridges in that part of the house. As things generally rust in my garage., I decided to conduct an experiment by cutting open a steel cartridge (it was a 3" Express high performance load) and placed it on a window ledge for the entire season. There was no rust on the pellets 5 months later. This both pleased and surprised me but means I no longer have concerns about steel shot rusting and "balling". Edit to say that I did this 4 or 5 years ago, but haven't tried it with different or more recent loads . Maybe I'll do it with the Gamebore mammoths I use now. Edited August 22, 2013 by Big Al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clakk Posted August 22, 2013 Report Share Posted August 22, 2013 i keep them little packs of moisture pillows from new stuff i buy and put them in my cartridge locker.cant remember the proper name but theyre moisture absorbant and free with important carp i buy .well important to me but not her indoors Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superspark Posted August 22, 2013 Report Share Posted August 22, 2013 There are two main reasons steel shot will rust. Moisture and oxegen. Keep steel shot carts in doors in a dry warm dark area and they will last like this for a long long time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pole Star Posted August 22, 2013 Report Share Posted August 22, 2013 I have a feeling they are coated ? at least against short term corrosion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Al Posted August 22, 2013 Report Share Posted August 22, 2013 I have a feeling they are coated ? at least against short term corrosion That would stack up with my unscientific findings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIDES EDGE Posted August 24, 2013 Report Share Posted August 24, 2013 Ok so the shot does not rust but why do the cartridge heads rust so much compared to the old lead ones ,is it that they are not brass any more , or is it I take longer to use them these days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted August 24, 2013 Report Share Posted August 24, 2013 (edited) I Think to save costs there is very little if any brass in cartridge heads these days. Edited August 24, 2013 by anser2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted August 25, 2013 Report Share Posted August 25, 2013 I took some shells for a wee swim last season, this last few days I opened them about two pellets per shell were rusted- I would have fired them. The issue is the primers were likely done in and I doubt the powder was on top form so the got dismantled Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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