16ga.com ~ View topic

Member Joined: 27 Oct 2006 Posts: 161 Location: New Mexico

We have a local shop that all manner of "stuff" rolls into from time to time. Yesterday I noticed 2 cases of shells tucked on a bottom shelf.

There were about 80 boxes of Western Xpert Mark 5 (All Newe Plastic) 16 gauge. They looked like new and were marked $5.95.

Then I looked closer....

3 1/4 Dram Eq. 1 1/4 Oz. #4's and #6's. Shocked

I think I'll keep my shoulder just the way it is, thank you.

For those that shoot semi's they will be fine. The price is great, since Gunbroker sells them for around $125.00 a flat plus shipping. The hulls reload fine also. Your right they are real game shells and deserve a great deal of respect on both ends of the gun..
Ron

Look to see if the box designates the shells as having one piece, compression formed hulls. If so, then check the shells inside the boxes next. If the bases still look shiny and new, grab at least a 1/2 dozen boxes of the #4 loads for wild pheasant. The older Mark V 1-1/4 ounce loads are excellent for dumping roosters out yonder. 6 bucks a box is an absolute steal. The original compression formed Mark V shells are at least 25 years old, but should still be good if they've never been exposed to high temperatures and kept dry. Use a tight modified to Improved modified choke. Don't use a full choke. You won't need it to get good patterns out of these big pellets.

Member Joined: 27 Oct 2006 Posts: 161 Location: New Mexico

I didn't check on the hull type, but I did pop open a box and they looked pristine.

I have a Sweet with a Mod barrel that would probably like them.

I may have to grab some afterall.

Member Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Posts: 451 Location: La-Tx

I would at least get some to add to my collection. But at that price I would probably get a bunch and shoot quite a bit of them. But I would keep several full boxes for the collection. I bet you could even make some money selling them on gunbroker.

I have a box marked exactly like that, except that they are 2 3/4 dram, 1 1/8 oz of #6.

Just looking at the shells I'm almost certain that they are NOT compression formed hulls.

I won't shoot them in my 16 because it has damascus barrels and I only shoot low pressure 2 1/2 inch loads in it.

All of the Western Xpert Mark V's I have encountered have been the old poly formed case with the paper base wad, either high or low brass, depending upon the load. They also had ribbed cases instead of the smooth plastic like the compression formed cases. All of CF cases in this era were either Super X or Upland Mark V. All had 6 pt crimps.

Winchester later (90's) sold a load named the Expert with CF hulls but it was a Winchester brand instead of Western. It was an 1165 fps 1 1/8oz load with an 8 pt crimp.

Member Joined: 20 Mar 2005 Posts: 1522 Location: NH

I definately would have grabbed a bunch if not all of those shells. Great on phez.

Member Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Posts: 451 Location: La-Tx

I have shot tons of these shells back in the day and if they are the smooth side shells they are one piece plastic. At any rate a comparable new run box of shells would cost 3 times as much most places. If they were as close as Dallas (180 mi) I'd be after them.