These water-resistant, wax-impregnated paper shotgun shells were introduced in the 1870s as a lower-cost and lighter alternative to brass shells. Paper shotgun shells remained popular until the 1960s when plastic hulls took over the market.
Despite paying higher costs for paper over plastic, people are creating a greater demand for paper shotgun shells that is creating a revival for this type of ammunition.
“The shells have maintained a following in the skeet and trap world because the softer hulls can feel more recoil friendly than plastic in high-volume tournament shoots,” a shotgun instructor noted recently. “And as environmental concerns about plastic continue to grow, paper shells may well be poised for an even bigger future.”