Help Identifying Shells

[P.E. Islander]

The "high brass" could either be Imperial "Special Long Range" or Imperial Magnum. I couldn't tell you if there is a difference in the height of the brass in the two. My old Dad only ever used Imperial Special Long Range in his old Tobin double for "Prairie Chicken" or "bush partridge". The did kick like a mule. I loved the smell of the empty hulls.... mmmmmm!

If I recall correctly the "Special Long Range" shells have a standard brass colored primer while the "Magnum" (2-3/4") have a nickle plated primer. Same height of brass on both loads, I believe.

 

[.Ben]

I've never had an Imperial split on me.... What were you shooting them out of ?

i fired a #2 version of one of those shells once it was an old shell my ex g/f's dad had in the basement i remember it having quite a kick and alot of smoke



and like described above the brass split right down the side....

 

[huntandhook]

I've never had the brass split on any shotshell I have shot. Is the brass splitting because the shells are so old, or is this a manufacturing defect?

 

[Longwalker]

Loose chamber fit. I'd worry about the shotgun, not the shells.

 

[Dosing]

I've never had the brass split on any shotshell I have shot. Is the brass splitting because the shells are so old, or is this a manufacturing defect?

Age, the brass loses some of its ability to stretch, so instead it snaps and breaks. Same thing with some old rifle brass.

 

[Win/64]

Loose chamber fit. I'd worry about the shotgun, not the shells.

X2........ Probably the best China has to offer.

 

[deadhead]

The imperial were a common shell back 30 to 40 years ago. Both my father and I used Ithica pump shotguns and the imperial where the best we could use. Often the brands without the hi brass would occationally stick in the Ithica barrel and you had to double pump to get them out. The imperial never had this problem. Last year a friend of mine gave me 4 boxes of old shells after his father passed away and there were 30 or so imperials in the batch. For fun I pulled out my old Ithica shotgun and went out for sharptails. It was just like I had remembered, the imperials never stuck once when the others were. There was even some old paper imperial in the bunch which also fired just fine.

 

[beretta boy]

"Imperials" were a C.I.L. (Canadian Industries Limited) brand name, later loaded and marketed by Industrie ValCartier Inc. (IVI) As I recall, they were 1-1/4 oz High Velocity or 1-1/2 oz. Magnum loads in 2-3/4", usually marked as 4 dram or "Max" dram equivalent. C.I.L. Imperials were always deep purple, first in paper with fibre wads and a roll crimp with overshot wad, later in a 6 point pie crimp, then about 1964, or so, in plastic with their "dyna-wad".
Imperial 12 & 16 & 410 gauge were always purple as I recall. but CIL also loaded the Canuck brand in red. Remington 12's, back then, were always green, Federals marroon and Peters blue. Most 20's were yellow, however I do remember early Winchester 20 ga. AA's in red.

The light blue coloured shell you have looks like a CIL/IVI promotional load.

 

[Dosing]

X2........ Probably the best China has to offer.

As I mentioned in my earlier post... DLASK, the issue is very clearly NOT the gun, the gun has fired a multitude of various loads and makes, and no other defects or issues.

 

[madtrapper143]

I shoot and collect alot of Imperial ammo. I often get splits in the shotshell case heads. 40 year old brass gets brittle.

cheers Darryl

 

[Caboose]

I think the light blue shell is the same vintage as the CIL Imperials and sold at Canadian Tire as a value priced house brand. They were called "Supremes" and came in a yellow / brown box if my memory serves me correctly.