Water Resistance of Paper Shot Shells (1923 Mythbuster Episode)

Paul tests something seen in the TV show 1923.
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[@PaulHarrell]

I have been informed that the gun in the show was not a shotgun, but a double barreled rifle with brass cartridges. As I said, I didn't see the show. However, it was still an interesting experiment.

[@CptTyred]

What shotgun did you use for this video?

[@halfcirclehranch6877]

I guess Brass cartridges would probably fare a bit better. Particularly if the bullet is crimped, and they put sealer both on the primer and over the mouth of the cartridge where it meets the bullet.

[@itsapittie]

That doesn't change the fact that the experiment was informative.

[@pepealasquid6005]

The funny part is, this disproved an episode of A-team where they live because the paper cartridge cant fire

[@cigarsgunsanddiesel8032]

go figure, I see this AFTER I commented... 😒😒😂😂

[@jessehayes486]

Now that we know the paper shells work, I'm curious how well seashell shotshells from the seashore work.

[@louisbabycos106]

How about razor sharp coral ?

[@pulaski1]

Soaked seashell shotshells from the seashore shall shoot safely, I'm sure. 😃

[@missingnola3823]

@@pulaski1 Now try to type it 3 times fast!

[@lightweight1974]

You mean, she sells shotshells by the seashore.

[@gierhedd75]

Sheesh...😅😅

[@crazyize1864]

There is nothing I love more than seeing Paul run into the ocean like the intro to an 80s cop show

[@chase_h.01]

Paul in a speedo when?

[@flickthenick]

@@chase_h.01 No, that thought is now in my brain and I'll never sleep again!

[@markchapman2585]

I can't believe he wasn't out of breath

[@BPS10-Ga]

That's a bit weird 😳.

[@marcogenovesi8570]

@@markchapman2585 he is a fit not-too-old person, I'm ready to bet he can still run circles around most people

[@steveinla8963]

Paul never disappoints! ...in shorts, running out to the surf, collecting 5 gallons of sea water then running back is priceless! Thank you Paul! R, Steve

[@markh.6687]

While Paul was out getting the seawater, I started to reply various Monty Python's Flying Circus beach scenes in my head; I expected John Cleese to be sitting in the surf behind his BBC desk ending a phone call, hanging up, and saying "And now for something completely different."

[@hartzvier2588]

Almost felt like an art house movie

[@TheeApple]

What insane person goes in the ocean with shoes and socks

[@joeridehaeck7677]

Can we plz take a moment to appriciate now much effort was put in this video? Collecting seawater looks easy, however for Paul it is another story. The sheer site of Paul in his swimshorts made the ocean pull back miles. Normally the place were the video was shot was well under water however due to panic and fear the ocean tried to escape...

[@marcogenovesi8570]

the ocean recoils in fear of Paul, as he should

[@mattschmitt9924]

The ocean is actually all contained inside his shooting jacket. Like a world in a world.

[@fizzlebug]

@@mattschmitt9924 All of the above is true, and at the same time. It is still being investigated among theoretical physicists as to why, but a general consensus is starting to form that the presence of Paul Harrell does indeed bend the very laws of the universe. Positrons become electrons when he draws a Taurus Judge. Uranium is enriched to pure U-235 in the earth below him when he proves a troll wrong. Fusion is spontaneously created by his mere proximity.

[@kens8776]

Is it just me or was anyone else hoping for the biggest sneaker wave of all time?

[@robertoflores4546]

Yes running while carrying 5 gallons if sea water! Haha

[@Kaboomf]

I've done some hunting with paper shells, and since game isn't all that abundant I wound up carrying the same shells for several hunting trips. Often in the rain. My experience is that if the wax gets rubbed off from carrying the shell in a pocket, the water resistance goes way down. They typically go bang anyways, but can swell enough to be hard to chamber. Also, I once had a damp paper shell act like an accidental cutaway slug; instead of the crimp opening to release the shot, the paper tore behind the wad and half the shell went downrange more or less in one piece.

[@laptopdragon]

that's sort of what I expected would happen only in my imagination the primer would seperate the paper from the brass and the entire paper body, with wet powder+shot would squib. thanks for that info about the wax too, I was wondering if they were coated with something.

[@stans5270]

It's been almost 50 years since I used paper shells. While I was watching this I was saying to myself, "Yes, they're paper, but coated in Wax." And I am old enough to have had all my school lunches packed in wax paper, and waterproofing my boots with wax. Thanks for reconfirming my memory.

[@mpetersen6]

​@@stans5270 Did they use wax or a lacquer? And it's been 50 years since I shot a paper shell. Heck I remember when when some shooters were wondering about "them new fangled plastic shotgun shells".

[@will9357]

@@mpetersen6 I've always used plastic shells, but occasionally collected empty paper hulls from the field in my youth. I'm pretty darned sure they were lacquered, but I suspect there's a pretty good chance they were lacquered and waxed. I'm thinking it would be far easier to seal the business end of the shell with wax than lacquer. (I honestly wish I could start shooting paper shells now... I'm pretty good at collecting my hulls, but there have been plenty of occasions where I couldn't find one, and the paper shells are going to break down a lot faster than the plastic ones... not to mention all the plastic wads I've put out into the field.)

[@davidhenderson3400]

Can we just step back and look at the lengths he went to make this video. He went to the beach (how far is that for him?) to get REAL sea water. I am impressed. Anyone else would just have used a box of salt and tap water.

[@clangerbasher]

Lincoln City is on the ocean. I am just wondering why the Pacific didn't run away........

[@dentalnovember]

Instant ocean synthetic sea salt.

[@marcogenovesi8570]

He lives in Oregon so it's a relatively short trip. Faster than for people in states that don't border the ocean anyway, it's still a big state

[@Vuntermonkey]

Making this movie allows him to write off a beach vacation on his taxes.

[@nevisstkitts8264]

You'll need to use a box of sea salt and weigh the salt and water to achieve the concentration of 35 parts per thousand.

[@leokimvideo]

That sea water won the Paul Harrell prize, specially selected from the sea, peppered with shotgun ammo and left forever in a plastic tub in the Oregon wilderness

[@kathyarmstrong649]

The " shotgun " in the show 1923, a spin off of the Yellowstone series is actually a Big Game double Rifle, as the character was in Africa. The cartridge are brass.

[@ICBMPIRATE2]

Thank you, literally just came here to say exactly that

[@stradleybidley8893]

Remember, he hasn't seen the show, and is simply going off of what he's heard

[@justins8802]

Wild how such an interesting video originated from a silly misunderstanding.

[@model7374]

Yup. Double rifle. Express rifle. Like 416 rigby. Good show BTW. I recommend it.

[@Tadicuslegion78]

When I read Hemingway's Islands in the Stream, the Main Character kept a Mannlicher Rifle on his boat for sharks

[@dryroasted5599]

Only Paul Harrell would drive to the coast, wade into the surf, and collect seawater for an experiment! True dedication.

[@krashgamingandoutdoors1125]

The lengths you would go to Paul are outstanding. You're the best gun channel hands down.

[@mitchelloates9406]

I can certainly appreciate Paul's efforts, especially considering that he's basically going to have to completely disassemble the shotgun for cleaning, to ensure he gets rid of all the salt and minerals from that seawater.

[@jeremymcadam7400]

It's a double barrel. Not much disassembly to be done. Your point stands though

[@MountainFisher]

Probably oiling the barrel after every shot string.

[@larrywilliams153]

10/4 Michell not a chance I’d do that to my gun ! Yeah they will swell after being exposed to high humidity for long periods of time I’ve had one to do it after it got rained on and left in a shell vest a month or so .

[@johnkinsel5027]

A gun writer visited the Federal plant up in Minnesota where they still make paper shells. It was 2 or 3 guys using 75 year old equipment. One phase was putting the hulls into a vat of paraffin at a set temp for something like 24 hours. That would waterproof them!

[@Salieri47]

That explains some of the paper shells that I've handled. They didn't feel like 'paper' at all.

[@edgarburlyman738]

If it's just 3 guys who know how to do it, why do they still work for Federal? They should set up to do it themselves and keep all the profits!

[@Kaboomf]

@@edgarburlyman738 Federal isn't the only current maker of paper shotshells, several European brands also have them available.

[@Drgunzo616]

I have an old box of federal 16 gauge shells I inherited from my grandfather. They are in good shape and I've kept them for nostalgia. Good to know they probably still work.

[@mpetersen6]

​@@edgarburlyman738 Costs of tooling. Manufacturing space. Possible Federal licensing requirements for ammunition manufacturers. Age? Maybe they are three old farts. Limited market? Actually in the 1800s given the issues they had with drawn brass cartridges for a while I'm kind of surprised there weren't more centerfire pistol and rifle ammunition made with paper cases. It is my understanding that it was tried but the issues with drawn brass didn't take that long to figure out. Mostly a problem of alloy used iirc.

[@quentinking4351]

I've been in the ocean in Oregon in August. Water was 60 degrees. Felt like it was 40. I can't imagine how cold that felt. Props to you sir for another excellent video

[@missingnola3823]

I've felt the water in Monterrey, CA in June and it's not exactly warm there, either. That had to be a chilly dip filling that jug.

[@life_of_riley88]

Yeah the Pacific Northwest coastal beaches are never warm when it comes to water.

[@samueljlarson]

60 degrees on the Oregon coast is considered warm... water or air LOL

[@ericn7677]

I've been in there when the water was a bit colder than 60. Took a few minutes before my bare feet became acclimated. I was in La Pine, Oregon, on a hot summer day, dangling my legs in a river coming off the east side of the Cascades. That water was painful even after 15 minutes. Finally gave up and pulled my legs out of the water. It was way colder than the Pacific.

[@LuvBorderCollies]

I was in Seattle in June five years ago. Just the wind coming off the ocean was too cold for me. Had the same experience further south at San Fran bay and Monterey area. I couldn't wait to get back to the Midwest.

[@chase_h.01]

He should do a bunch more vids on waterlogged ammunition. Even modern ammo. Im curious

[@Aikibiker1]

I offered to donate some ammo I had that was submerged in flood waters during hurricane Ian, but he refused over safety concerns. Not sure I blame him.

[@davidgray3701]

Yes

[@Klausvonpape318]

sealed premium ammo vs nonsealed, like old type of critical duty's that was sealed with red paint, and new without it. it will need more time, like a week under water

[@julesbower762]

Yes. Are the new plastic any better? :D

[@youtube.commentator]

It all works

[@petebraccini4663]

Paul, Great demonstration I have to say I was surprised at the results. Incidentally I watched the show 1923. It was a side by side dangerous game rifle. (Like a Holland &Holland) the caliber was a big bore straight wall brass case. Not depicted to be a shotgun. Thank you for what you do.

[@pyrrhusinvictus6186]

I can always rely on this channel to answer questions i didn’t even know i had.

[@jonrolfson1686]

Watching the beautifully filmed Oregon beach and surf opening scene brought back a memory from a family vacation more than sixty years ago. My little brother, then only three years old, had never seen anything like Pacific Ocean surf. After watching for a while, he asked why it just kept on ‘flushing and flushing?’ Also, thanks for the demonstration of the utility of well-made paper shotshells: Those old-time bees produced good wax, and our dads and grandads seem to have known how to use it effectively.

[@sat_homeless]

Im surprised that none of the cartridges malfunctioned. Your point about their functionality after they have been out of the water for a day, week, etc., is probably where they will end up failing. Great video.

[@bryandamkaer3646]

The things Paul does for us to bring the great content. Great appreciation ... thanks Paul.

[@zerofox9900]

Paul Harrell videos -- where a man belongs.

[@imissyoujimmy]

I like that Paul is a skilled presenter that when I start noticing something, like the left barrel snagging a lil bit, he times it perfectly with "Oh by the way you might notice that..." and explains it

[@rayjankoski5320]

Ok here’s a little update on what I could find for anyone that’s interested . By 1895 waterproofing paper hulls were quite effective when Eley produced the Pegamoid case. This featured five layers of paper, bonded with water-resistant adhesive. Later on in the 1960s Remington introduced plastic cases and Eley started selling a plastic-cased version of the Grand Prix in 1974. They soon became the craze outselling paper case sales. Still up and help me with my World War I reference and I do remember there was an issue with shotgun shells in the trenches still looking. Although could be possible that I got everything completely wrong but I do believe that after World War I they change the construction of shotgun shells. might’ve just been military though.

[@ihateyankees3655]

Could be some sort of combination of a pump action shotgun and a muddy trench on top of the paper shells that caused issues in ww1, or maybe just bad batches of ammo. I think c&arsenal did a video on the Winchester 1897 that went more in depth on the use it saw in ww1.

[@michaelblacktree]

THIS is why I subbed to this channel. Paul and crew are not afraid to go the extra mile. Sometimes literally. 👍

[@tonyv8925]

The last time I saw Paul in the water was the episode where he is in this pond, barechested and slapping the water with a spatula...lol

[@rifleandcarbine7656]

This is the best test I could have asked for. I believe 1923 was also the year Winchester Staynless (non-corrosive, non-mercuric) primers started being used. The original Staynless primers were less chemically advanced than later primers, and the US Army thought they were too vulnerable to moisture during storage, resulting in less than satisfactory reliability. The primers in your old shells were probably better than 1923 primers, but I doubt the difference would matter for an hour of time submerged.

[@beliasphyre3497]

It's like all the ingredients of a cake, but just not quite stirred up and baked together. ASMR of crashing waves on a beach, report of a shotgun, and Paul's Shatner-esk style of talking. So soothing and calming. To bad you can't shoot on the beach _legally._

[@chaimafaghet7343]

*esque

[@Stevarooni]

♪ Skeet shootin' USA! ♪

[@chrissherer2047]

@@Stevarooni I don't know if getting Val Kilmer to collaborate with Paul would be a good idea

[@manofthetombs]

As a partially disabled fan, watching him jog out of the surf with (probably) 40+ pounds of water in his hand was inspiring!

[@paisleyprince5280]

We can add Beach Model to Paul's already impressive resume.

[@quisp1492]

17:15 The sound of these shells going off is epic. Great acoustics location.

[@clukinvar]

Thanks for making the Water Resistance of Paper Shot Shells video.

[@crabbyhayes1076]

As I recall, back in the day, around the mid-60s, moisture problems were often more pronounced with empty shells awaiting reloading - especially if they had been sitting around for awhile - like in a damp basement or garage. I also recall that was around the time when there was a transition between fiber wadding and plastic cups - with the plastic being more forgiving. I wouldn't have thought a shell would still function perfectly after a long time under water. Great video - thanks so much.

[@0neDoomedSpaceMarine]

Makes a lot of sense.

[@randallmunson9909]

I've paper shells from the 30's that still works. Good presentation.

[@michaellacy8510]

I came up at the end of the waxed paper shotshell era. New shells were all plastic but there were tons of older paper shells around. Never had a problem with either paper or plastic. The paper shells were thick and impregnated with wax. We often did have concerns about reloaded shells because you can't reproduce the factory crimp. Still, I don't recall a single problem.

[@FCV0511]

Now here's a topic that never crossed my mind. Another excellent video, as always!

[@Hjerte_Verke]

Oh I thought it crossed everyone's mind? We're always concerned about wet, corroded, musty ammo and ammo storage, which ammo box is best and what conditions it will be stored under to ensure it stays functional. I thought this was a topic of concern to all gun geeks.

[@FCV0511]

@@Hjerte_Verke It is, but not specifically with paper shotshells.

[@MidwestPicker]

I like sunsets, poetry and long walks on the beach with Paul Harrell

[@greybone777]

One phenomenon rarely reported is with stee shotl shotgun shells. It has happened that steel shot, if exposed to moisture, can rust and fuse the shot together. This essentially turns the shot into a steel slug. Old gun magazine article.

[@mateusstein1438]

We will never find another channel with Paul's disposition, he INDEED collected seawater just for the sake of the video you just know that a generic channel from leviathan would not even come close to his genuine way to educate us.

[@davidnicholas7516]

What impresses me the most about stuff like this is that Paul doesn't assume anything. It would have *seemed* obvious (to me anyway) that this wouldn't work. Rather than put forward a similar opinion, Paul actually went and did a real-world experiment, and figured out I (and presumably others) was wrong...

[@JohnS706]

Every Paul Harrel Pop Tarts ad is pure gold.

[@OlMrEllis]

Any other guntuber: [Drops some paper shotshells in a bowl of tap water] Paul Harrell: [Travels to the nearest ocean and shows himself collecting the seawater to perfectly match the conditions of the scenario] That's why I love this channel.

[@BungSpoot]

Good to see Paul again. When he ran out of the sea with the jug and said "I got the sea water lets go to the range!" I died.

[@gottadomor7438]

I'm kinda surprised the ocean didn't recede rapidly - "advance in an opposite direction" - as he approached.

[@BungSpoot]

@@gottadomor7438 me too man

[@hitmonkey2984]

His jog there, and waterlogged jog back was one hell of a flex too.

[@spicy110]

Fully expected Paul to come back with a bottle of sea water in one hand and dragging a shark by the tail in the other.

[@brianhillis3701]

They circle respectfully in the background just like his deer.

[@westernjeep4015]

Episodes just keep getting better. Excellent content.

[@stuartb9194]

That openning reminded me of "the fall and rise of Reginald Perine", a great old BBC show

[@justvisiten]

Well I was pretty certain that I knew what the outcome of this video would be. Since I've hand loaded since the mid 70's. But Paul's commitment and the effort that it will take to clean this shotgun and even other stuff associated with this video is crazy to my old mind, down here on the seacoast. Thank you, Paul.

[@silverwings21]

In the video game "Alone In The Dark" (1992) which takes place in 1924, you get a shotgun with paper shells, if you fall in water, the shells become useless. (The brass revolver rounds still work though.)

[@glennschunemann4800]

The character in 1923 is a guide and big game hunter in Africa. The weapon he has is a double rifle, not s shotgun.

[@AM-hf9kk]

Huh, cool. I mean, obviously the paper hulls are impregnated with wax or resin of some sort or they would be worthless in a high- humidity environment. Shipping across various thermal conditions, heating and then condensing water vapor when they cool, would be hell. Still neat to see just how well that sealing works.

[@kakoopa]

should've added some Baywatch music to you running back, Paul! Great video.

[@mikesadventures1597]

Your channel is outstanding. Thank you for all your hard work .

[@ReubenOaks84]

This was very interesting and something I've never thought about. Really enjoy and appreciate your informative and knowledgeable videos, Mr. Harrell.

[@yankeegmail]

That was a nice touch: wearing socks into the ocean! No sacrifice is too small. 👍🏻

[@minuteman4199]

I got caught in a heavy rain once while out with my .22. The ammo got wet and started to have about a 50 percent misfire rate. I went home, the ammo sat in a closet for a year then I tried it again and it worked.

[@bobjordan8283]

Brave man our Paul I used to live in Oregon and can tell you that Pacific Ocen water is about 50 degrees in the Summer time!! Bravo sir well done that's why you are the best!!

[@chiptaylor7916]

Love it Paul…having watched 1923, I’m pretty confident it was a double-barrel safari-style rifle though. Not a shotgun. Great show!

[@johnlea8519]

Interesting video, I am 74 so used a lot of paper shells back in the day, of course I never submerged them in sea water but living in England they did get wet regularly and I never had a problem but I have seen old paper shells that have swollen after damp storage. For several years I carried matches in a paper cased 16 gauge shell inside a paper cased 12 gauge shell they fit together better than plastic shells.

[@KarlHeckman]

Fantastic. Your dedication of running into the surf in Oregon, in winter, reflects great credit upon yourself and is in keeping with the highest traditions of your channel. On a side note I can confirm that paper shotshells dropped into a watery ice chest for a quick second, will indeed work as hoped.

[@ericn7677]

That water is warm enough for us natives, this time of year. Been there many times and usually get used to the cold water after a couple minutes. Then it's fine.

[@JaredAF]

Paul probably has a ton of AAMs

[@TheKentuckyPatriot]

Very interesting results. I would not have thought they would have performed that well in salt water. Thanks for the video 🙂

[@bashisobsolete.pythonismyn6321]

there are some really hard and impermeable papers made with bagasse (sugarcane fiber). at my job, the canteen served food in bagasse containers. took a few hours for moisture to penetrate and only slightly affected the container's strength.

[@bengeyer6996]

Love the pop tarts intro!

[@An34syT4rg3t]

when I was buying my Winchester 1897, I kept seeing forum posts about how in WW1, soldiers would have issues with feeding, firing and ejecting their paper shells. I wonder how poor their storage conditions were after seeing this. Would love to see a video about that.

[@MrSmith-ok7tl]

Excellent video! A good follow up would be how long underwater before some shotshells fail, and how long before most fail. Also, the depth underwater may affect the time to fail (deeper underwater means higher pressure and the water will seep in faster). I suggest a similar test but deeper underwater, perhaps 5' and also 10' deep in a swimming pool. Salt water Vs fresh water affects how quickly it corrodes, but water ingress may be similar. Of course, no one should trust personal protection to ammunition that's been underwater, but it sure is interesting to learn what happens! Great work Paul, thank you.

[@markh.6687]

Ammo makers hawk their pro ammo sometimes advertising having sealing for moisture resistance even today, even brass handgun rounds.

[@robgraff]

Paper shotshells are wax impregnated. When you reload them, you should use an electric paper hull conditioner/heater to draw the wax back into the area that gets crimped. I used to do this as a boy with my father.

[@Hjerte_Verke]

I have never heard of such a device, neat!

[@n.b.barnett5444]

Man, that ocean looked cold. What dedication!

[@RenlangRen]

I love your dry sense of humor Paul. Your videos are always fantastic and educational.

[@rebilacx]

I was half expecting Paul to just dive straight into the water after he ran out there, lol.

[@DaybidLay]

Paul Harrell running on the beach is something my heart desperately need and now has.

[@ikocher]

That's not a shotgun in the show. Its a double rifle but it's fine. My wife and I were talking about wondering if the cartridges were still water tight so this is still relevant. Good demo.

[@FirePirate099]

I thought the same thing. Not a shotgun- it was a double rifle. Whoever asked this question obviously didn’t look very closely…. 🤦‍♂️

[@scottyallen7237]

Great demonstration. Only caveat I can think to bring up is that the sea water was a few inches deep, which would be representative of someone swimming on the surface with a shotgun. It does not represent the higher water pressure trying to penetrate the shells when submerged at a depth a diver with a shotgun might encounter. That depth could be 10's of feet. 33 feet of depth would represent an atmosphere of differential pressure. I realize it is not nearly as easy to do such a demonstration simulating depth, but a similar amount of sea water and a tall PVC pipe setup you could create the higher pressures - that could be a real science project. Thanks again for your interesting, well-done, and informative, practical videos.

[@cornpopwasabaddude4188]

His dedication is inspirational

[@robbrown5702]

Nice and different! I collect 1960s shotshells just because I grew up using them. I still prefer to use them in my old shotguns. (just seems appropriate.) I know this sounds a little weird but They smell right. It takes me back to my youth. Thanks Paul!

[@Quadrenaro]

Hey Paul, I remember some time ago you tested cut shells, but have you ever tested split point bullets? Like the kind you cut out yourself? I've found them kind of interesting, but have found almost no real world data on them, like what they are actually doing to a target. It might be a neat idea for a video. I shoot alot of hand load 38 special and 357 loaded with cast flat point projectiles and always wondered if I could make a viable round for taking deer at close range in heavy brush.

[@DyslexicTurtle]

This is a great idea, although it may be a legal hurdle, especially given laws that are being passed in the pnw

[@Quadrenaro]

@@DyslexicTurtle Ah yeah, forgot about the problem in Oregon. Not sure if "modification" of ammo is somehow in the law.

[@noturfather1106]

@@DyslexicTurtle OR 114? Or is it another thing?

[@PaulHarrell]

We have some rules about "modifying ammo" in this format, so I have been reluctant to do a presentation on this subject. And no, I don't know how Turdfladermouse gets away with it.

[@majorlorne6224]

I have tried drilled out and drilled and cross topped lead round nose 190gn .452. Drill diameter was 1/8". Depth was matched to a .44 cal 240gn cheap shot, approx 1/8" deep. I was using a cap and ball 1858 8" remington with 30gbv of 777 3f with #11 magnum cci caps. Target was 3 inline gallon jugs full of water. I made 3 of each. None of them expanded or fractured beyond the normal performance of said round nose. When I get a chance I'll try this in my 50 call muzzleloader, to see if velocity changes anything. I will use sabots so as to be able to use the exact same round nose hard cast bullets.

[@RyeOnHam]

All of the shotgun ammo I shot for the first 2 decades of my life was reloaded paper shells. My dad was too [frugal] to have EVER paid for new ammo when we had ammo at home! I never experienced a single failure to fire the whole time and I can't remember my Dad ever having a misfire. That said, I've continued to shoot lots of shotgun and have had at least half a dozen failures over the years, probably all that 100-round Walmart Special ammo.

[@lieutenantcoloneltanyavond8273]

Would be interesting to see how they fare in a magazine fed gun. The reason shotguns were pretty terrible in ww1 was apparently due to the cardboard ammo. Granted, the shells you shot are much older and waterproofing should have improved over the decades. Also I imagine in the shells would spent more than just an hour in wet conditions in the trenches.

[@2bitmarketanarchist337]

I *though* I heard something about them using alll brass shells because of that

[@gameragodzilla]

My understanding was they would run the shells they have through the action before any combat and discard the warped ones. The warping usually happens after long periods of being soaked, so if the shells were immediately used up, not an issue. Brass shells were designed since they would be immune to the issue, though they were issued so late in the war that they were basically non-existent.

[@OdeeOz]

*_IRON MAN PAUL HARRELL!_** That is some pretty chilly water this time of year, out there, as I recall.*

[@MrVuicho]

Just when you think PH couldn't get more badass - he goes swimming in the ocean in winter!!! Respect 💪

[@ratroute8238]

That water is COLD year round, but yeah Paul is a badass...

[@MrVuicho]

@@ratroute8238 yea and that surf is not to be taken lightly as well, those waves can do a number on you even in normal temp water! I gotta give it to the man he is a warrior - humble too and that is Badass!

[@fermacht213]

I’ve binging his videos. Hands down best gun channel on KZbin. Practical, pragmatic, informative, and entertaining. Thanks Paul.

[@saskafrass1985]

As a general rule none of us mind taking the long way through your videos. However thank you for not having us sit through the soak intervals. We trust you to do this honestly.

[@nastytime4507]

Great video but they were not shot shells in the show ,it was a double rifle elephant gun in some very large caliber. But again great topic and video

[@bernieeod57]

Looked like .450 Nitro Express

[@nastytime4507]

@Bernie EOD looked like it to me too but you know what happens when you say the wrong thing on the internet.

[@PaulHarrell]

As I said, I didn't see the show.

[@nastytime4507]

@Paul Harrell Maby you can do outher ammo myths and old wives tales as a regular topic. Would love to hear your unique take on the subject 😀

[@stardog62]

The ammo makers understood very well the conditions in which their ammo was being used. Those paper rounds could be rolling around in the bottom of a duck boat for hours along with all the water from the dogs shaking off or draining off everyone's hip waders, to say nothing of rainwater. A year or two back Remington-Peters released some limited-edition paper shotshells in the prettiest blue color you've ever seen. I wanted to buy some, but it was hard to justify doing it when I haven't gone hunting in years and I don't even shoot trap or skeet. By the way, I thought Paul was padding the segment when he showed himself collecting seawater in real time, but I understand why. He wanted people to see that he really was gathering seawater and not substituting fresh. It would have taken less time if the camera were placed closer to the waves, but if it were closer then there would be a chance a sneaker wave might topple the camera. I'll have to show this video to my Dad so he will know that his 12-gauge shells should be fine even though they got wet when the garage caught fire and the fire department got them wet putting out the fire.

[@itsapittie]

I must admit I was surprised by the results. I've read many times that in WW1 the paper shotshells were problematic limiting the effectiveness of shotguns. However, it's entirely possible (IMO likely) that shells stored in a damp environment for weeks or months as trench gun ammo would have been would show very different results.

[@schmolischmolenbergen7986]

I heard the issue was that the rounds would deform or swell up so they wouldnt reliably chamber in a pump action shotgun.

[@WayStedYou]

having it sit in water for an hour is very different than it sitting in humid places like the pacific or WW1 trenches

[@itsapittie]

@@WayStedYou exactly. Still, I didn't expect it to survive the one hour soaking.

[@markjohnson6425]

This brings back good memories. I lived in San Diego for two years and I'd fish almost every Saturday morning. Get up early and hit Imperial Beach before any of the loonies showed up. For bait, I'd dig up crabs. Once the crab is on the hook, I'd walk out as far as I dared into the Pacific and cast the line as far as possible, then walk back to dry(ish) land (sand) and fish. I caught a couple small sharks and a lot of sea perch. Even caught a small sting ray once. I was amazed at how fast the tide was going sideways some days. Most days you could just walk along the beach to follow the tide. Other days the fishing was impossible because of all the kelp. One day, when I arrived, they had bulldozed a ton of sand around for some reason. The banks were 15 feet high but you could still climb down, cast, and climb back to the top to fish. So, I did my thing. After about an hour of fishing I wasn't paying attention and a rouge wave was in my face--literally, in my face! It soaked me and washed all my gear (including my vehicle keys) about 75 feet inland into a large puddle. I was soaked! I was lucky to find my keys but some of my gear was gone forever--including the crab catcher. Anyway, nothing to do with Paul's video but thought you folks might find it entertaining. I'm sure the people on the beach who were watching me did! Doh!

[@justinholmes5328]

This has got to be one of the most underrated channels on KZbin. Thanks Paul for all you do

[@MrSmokincodz]

not really underrated at all. but nice try

[@Nick-wn1xw]

And "underrated" has to be the most over used word in the YT comments.

[@calebchristensen8207]

I lived in Oregon for 25 years. Paul is a brave man to go running into the Pacific off the Lincoln City coast in March. 🥶

[@daveyorke3818]

I have watched the show but if memory serves me correctly he did not have a shotgun but rather a double rifle for African hunting. Good content none the less.

[@theochrist9453]

some 30 years ago, when Bulgaria was still an Eastern Block country, we used to meet hunters from Bulgaria on the Greek side of the mountain, and they where really happy to get some of our plastic shells. They had paper shells produced in Bulgaria, and they did notoriously fail when wet.

[@Nathan-Roman]

Paul have you ever considered testing 5.45x39 and comparing it to 5.56?

[@moritamikamikara3879]

This would be really nice!

[@archvilethe87th60]

Or 7.62x51 vs 7.62x54r

[@noahcount7132]

Seeing these paper and plastic shotshells remain viable after being submerged for an hour was a big surprise. Back in the 1950s and 1960s Remington produced shotshells in ribbed paper hulls that would swell if they got damp, which prevented them being chambered. They were fine for upland hunting in dry weather, but could not be relied upon when hunting waterfowl in wet weather.

[@toddk1377]

Great presentation Paul, but I have one question...what about other types of modern shot shells like slugs and European roll crimped style of shells? There was a KZbinr who specifically said slugs and other shot shells with the roll crimp were not his fancy to use in Alaska because they are not water proof. I question it, as I've hunted with my 870 in snow storms, rain, ect, and I've never had a shell of any kind that would not fire when I needed it too and this also includes shells exposed to the elements that were on the side saddle of the shotgun. May be something worth a dive into if you have the time, I'm sure I'm not the only one who's curious. Thanks!

[@MB-jg4tr]

Roll crimps and slugs are indeed not watertight, and if you submerge them they are likely to fail. A little moisture probably won't hurt them, but I bet the powder will get wet if exposed to water too long or dropped underwear for a little bit. A little wax added to the end under the roll will probably fix this problem.

[@Quentin217]

These modern-day plastic shells are almost impervious to water. I had some subjected to a slow plumbing leak for some months before I discovered the damage. There was fungus grown around the container and some of the plated steel case heads were rusted through. For all that, none of them hesitated when the firing pin hit the primer.

[@trenthaugen1005]

Paul is such a chad pop tarts need to sponsor him if they don’t already

[@calkinsb0713]

Paul, i enjoy and learn a lot from all your videos…keep up the great work!

[@pickeljarsforhillary102]

Please do an episode on what firearms you would carry if Escape From Portland was a John Carpenter film.

[@noturfather1106]

Lol what

[@anomalyp8584]

Quite disappointed that Paul didn't just pull that full jerrycan from out of his shooting jacket.

[@jimdavenport8020]

I knew a man, long ago, who had helped salvage a Sears Roebuck after a flood. Granted, this was NOT Salt Water. They had something like a pallet of Shot Shells that had been 1/2 submerged. This was in the 1940s... long before plastic shells. The bottom half of the pallet was simply dumped out into a bin and sold per round as the boxes were icky. Not one round of the shotgun shells was returned/complained about. Proves absolutely nothing, but it was an interesting tale.

[@WilliamHearnTOEFL_Tutor]

The production of this video is AMAZING!! From the beach to the mountains within the first 5 minutes is EPIC!! Thank you, Paul, for your hard work and devotion.

[@StarionJA]

I recall seeing a lot of paper shot shells being clear coated or waxed for moisture protection as well. I'd be happy to see paper shells made popular again, there are a lot of spent plastic hulls laying around on the family farm from decades ago where the brass / steel has rusted away but the plastic has not. They would be completely gone by now if they were paper and I doubt there would be any performance loss at all in the paper vs plastic debate.

[@retiredfederalie178]

I did this experiment, sort of, back in 1970-1 or so. We had been duck hunting and a couple of shells had rolled under one of the seats in the boat. Fast forward a week or so to the next hunt when the shells were found. They had been in a few inches of water (fresh not sea) for the entire time possibly even frozen for some of the time. They definitely were crusty looking but they fired just fine. I don’t remember if they were plastic or paper since both were readily available at the time .

[@skylarsmith9205]

imma be real with you in my few years of watching paul this man has never been wrong