Cut shells are stupid.

[MistWolf]

Everything is relative.

Including your facts...?

 

[Stumper]

Cut shells are fun and interesting. Ideal for anything? No but still fun , interesting and perhaps useful in an emergency.
How well they work as improvised slug largely depends upon the loads you are cutting, where you cut and the choke of the shotgun.....a full choke is more likely to have the shot blow through the a more open choke.

 

[kudu]

Let's keep it civil on the discussion please.

 

[entropy]

Looked (and definitely sounded like) like you might have got some pellet backsplash from the shot @2:00...like the caption in the corner!

 

[Crawdad1]

I just pulled the trigger on my shotgun and I have how many 30 caliber projectiles coming your way?
You pulled the trigger on your AR, you have one.

 

[bikerdoc]

Choppin bloc

In the interest of full discosure.

Please disclose that it is your you tube video

And maybe a caveat that you are not condoning violating game laws with use of this technique.

We woulnt want some newbie run a foul of a warden because he read it here.

Just my .02 Im sure the resident mod will be along shortly.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

It essentially turns bird shot into a slug.

That's the theory, yes.

Unfortunately, that's not the reality. The shot does, in fact, separate; and because they don't actually form a solid projectile, they act as individual pellets. And individual pellets, no mater how closely they are grouped, have the penetration characteristics of...individual pellets.

This also applies to "wax slugs".

 

[loneviking]

Is anyone actually using this depression-era contingency slug except for testing and historical interest?

Mike

Maybe not,Mike. But if times get hard and ammo gets real scarce this is something good to know about.

 

[Dog Soldier]

Is the idea of a "cut shell" that the separated upper half of the shell will keep all of the shot in the shotcup and, therefore, make it impact as a tight group rather than a pattern?

Sorry, as I indicated, this is a brand new term/concept to me.

BTW, if I am going to be using a shotgun in a defensive scenario it will, almost certainly, be loaded with double or triple aught buck.

GBXPAT, How are things down in the "Old Dominion"? The cut shell delivers ballistics similar to a slug. Watch this link. Good luck.

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?...8D0F09DAE8D6205F2DA18D0F09DAE8D6205&FORM=VIRE

 

[GBExpat]

Very interesting, Thanks!

The following verbal exchange provided an unexpected grin:

"Ayup ... poor man's slugs"

"Poor man's slugs"

"Back before they made slugs"

"Right"

"So this is kinda Anarchist's Cookbook Technique"

"Well, the slug didn't come out until 1931 and they were using these cut shells during the Depression."

 

[kozak6]

On another forum, I saw a recommendation to use cut shells for defense...

...in an S&W Governor .

 

[lemaymiami]

I don't know a thing about "cut shells" except what I've read here on THR... You're welcome to your opinion about shotguns not being very useful for self defense - but I have to disagree...

In a career in law enforcement I carried a standard riot shotgun (basic popper, 18-20" barrel, bead sight, four shot tube - loaded with 2 3/4" 00 buck rounds) on the street with me and had it in hand any time weapons were expected. In my personal experience, for close quarters work (less than fifty feet) a well placed single shot is an absolute fight ender... I only fired one shot in 22 years (and was in and out of court because of it for about six months afterwards...) and that's been my experience. I really had little skill with it at the time. In the following years I made a point of learning all that I could about how to use one when it's all on the line and you're absolutely scared to death... To this day, for close quarters work it will be my first choice and I'll only be using one round per target...

 

[stoky]

"it's a seventy caliber Glaser, that's all it is"

 

[mavracer]

The following verbal exchange provided an unexpected grin:

Problem is stuff like that gets repeated on enough forums folks lose sight of the real facts.
Foster slugs were invented in 1898 and round balls a bit before that lol

 

[GBExpat]

In addition to that, the Great Depression began with the 1930s and spanned for the entire decade.

 

[AI&P Tactical]

Stating a shotgun is a poor choice for defense is an "Opinion". I state that for those that can Master the Shotgun it is the "Perfect Choice for Defense" as it has more initial firepower then any shoulder weapon you can use. I back that statement up in the Link "Gun Fight" on my web site www.aiptactical.com where I describe a shoot off between an 870 and a SMG. Facts sure make forum reading more fun.

My Grandfather showed me cut shells about 50 years ago and cut one for me to shoot out of my 20ga. I thought it was so neat and showed my friends. Even took one to school and of course was simply told not to bring ammo to school. Today they would Arrest my parents and put me in the custody of Child services for that.

 

[murf]

really need to see a pic of where and how you cut your shells. couldn't tell from the vid.

thx,

murf

 

[Dog Soldier]

"it's a seventy caliber Glaser, that's all it is"

Stokey, That is a very good analogy. The discussion of firearms experimentation should be civil on a firearms forum.

 

[Browning]

You cut too high.

 

[guyfromohio]

really need to see a pic of where and how you cut your shells. couldn't tell from the vid.

thx,

murf

Do a YouTube search and you'll find many good videos. I'm not a proponent or an opponent of cut shells. Chances are very good that I will never try one. That being said, I don't see some hidden danger to it.

 

[murf]

gfo, i would like to see how chopinblock cut the shell so i can better evaluate his experiment. i have already gone through a few vids on cutshells and see the different ways the shell is cut. need to know his way.

murf

 

[Jason_W]

Very interesting, Thanks!

The following verbal exchange provided an unexpected grin:

"Ayup ... poor man's slugs"

"Poor man's slugs"

"Back before they made slugs"

"Right"

"So this is kinda Anarchist's Cookbook Technique"

"Well, the slug didn't come out until 1931 and they were using these cut shells during the Depression."

The foster slug, yes. But weren't there roundball loads prior to that?

 

[WestKentucky]

Slightly off topic, but I'm wondering if there are ever any exceptions to the 12 inch rule when it comes to defensive rounds.

For example, el cheapo 12 gauge slugs may not yield 12" of penetration in gelatin at across the room distances, but they dump a ton of energy into the target and would leave a gaping wound and presumably a lot liquified vital tissue.

It's hard to imagine someone walking off a hit to the midsection with a 12 ga slug regardless of gel performance.

Agreed. A bean bag round has proven to be pretty effective with zero penetration. Like taking a sold baseball bat hit to the gut or ribs when used properly. Any penetration is going to be better than the beanbag, and if the beanbag is already moderately effective, those cheapo slugs or buckshot shells will work well enough for me.

 

[AI&P Tactical]

My be off topic but old slugs have come up and I ask this. By Round ball are you guys referring to what we called "Pumpkin Balls"? Those are the slugs I remember using as a boy. I think they had a raised star in the center of them so you identify them.

 

[Jason_W]

My be off topic but old slugs have come up and I ask this. By Round ball are you guys referring to what we called "Pumpkin Balls"? Those are the slugs I remember using as a boy. I think they had a raised star in the center of them so you identify them.

I've heard them called pumpkin balls. Basically just a bore diameter lead ball making for what's basically a repeating brown Bess musket.

I don't think there are any factory loadings incorporating a single round ball anymore.

I have read about some casters and handloders placing a round ball in a cheap shot cup and sending it down a rifled barrel for a kind of cheap sabot slug.