News

Will my cartridges still work, even after 30 years?

My uncle has given up shooting because of old age and he has given me 5,000 paper-cased, Gyttorp 1.1/8oz sixes, bought in the 1970s. Do cartridges like this keep?

Would you like to speak to our readers? We offer sponsored articles and advertising to put you in front of our audience. Find out more.

Technical
MIKE GEORGE says: The key to the performance of cartridges is storing them at the right temperature and humidity.

Too hot, like in the airing cupboard, and the pressures go through the roof. Too damp, like in the garage, and they are likely to not go off at all.

Even cold weather will affect them adversely, it is why you never seem to kill those ducks cleanly on bitterly cold days. The exception here are cartridges loaded with double-based powders that can cope with more extreme temperature ranges.

However, because such powders are more expensive few loaders these days use them.

Provided your old Gyttorps have been kept at more or less room temperature, they will be as effective as the day they left the factory.