Dug my 2,000th shotgun shell! Paying my dues or a lesson in futility?

[FreeBirdTim]

I've been saving my dug shotgun shells since I started detecting in 2013. Counted them a few years ago and had over 800 at the time. I've kept track of them ever since that day. I only add to the pile once a week, so they can build up. Found 36 more last week to bring my total to 2,024! Wish I never started saving them, but I can't stop now!

 

[GroundSweeper]

Turtlefoot would be proud. That's pretty cool actually - I've honestly liked finding them when I do, because I don't find of ton of them like some do. I saw where someone drilled some 7/8"? holes into plywood and made a really nice display with some of them cleaned up. Always wanted to do that but the ones I've found are in a mason jar for now.... cool pic and congrats on 2k+

 

[MasonDixonMding]

Wow that’s a lot of holes.
Just wondering they ring up close to nickels. So how many nickels have you found?

 

[vmc1161]

Wow that’s a lot of holes.
Just wondering they ring up close to nickels. So how many nickels have you found?

For me it’s the same range as musket balls. One day I dug up about forty of them… no musket balls
2000 plus is amazing

 

[FreeBirdTim]

I don't find too many nickels because I spend most of my time hunting deep in the woods. They also tend to ring up in the mid to high 50's, which is higher than nickels.

I dig those signals because many small 1700's flat buttons ring up in that range. And as vmc1161 just posted, musket balls are in that range as well.

 

[vmc1161]

I don't find too many nickels because I spend most of my time hunting deep in the woods. They also tend to ring up in the mid to high 50's, which is higher than nickels.

I dig those signals because many small 1700's flat buttons ring up in that range. And as vmc1161 just posted, musket balls are in that range as well.

I forgot about flat buttons they indeed are the same range. I didn’t find any of them that day either

 

[hoser]

I saw where someone drilled some 7/8"? holes into plywood and made a really nice display with some of them cleaned up.

An excellent idea! In fact it would make an awesome insert for a table or coffee table for the man cave with the pourable epoxy on top for protection. That's a boatload of headstamps for sure.

 

[bottlecap4u]

love to see a side by side of keeper finds next to these hunter nuggets, puts things into perspective.

 

[FreeBirdTim]

I do remember selling a few shells to someone online a few years ago. Not sure if it was here or TNet, though. He wanted to make bolo ties with them. They looked really cool! I wish I had some artistic talent. I'm way too practical to come up with new ideas for things.

 

[Ken Clad]

That's kinda cool/interesting. I think I'd tumble them... then see which ones have old or unique head stamps. The ones that disintegrate or are super common just go to scrap metal. Somebody with artistic ability (not me, of course) could dream up a nice way to display them. I have shot shell cufflinks and a tie bar.

 

[Princess]

That's quite a large collection, Tim! Congrats on reaching that fun milestone... 2,024 in 2024.

 

[HungryGhost]

That’s pretty cool, yeah I can tell your a woods hunter