Modified 12 Ga. Loads

[Chainsaw2]

This came up recently. Back in the 1960's my Great Grndfather mentioned how when times were hard they would pour hot wax into the top of a shotshell loaded with bird shot to make it into a slug. They hunted deer with this in the heavy brush of the Hill Country west of Austin, Texas. A coworker mentioned that he was going to try this using rubber cement or hot wax.

Would this work at ranges under 5 yds, and would it be a dangerous over pressure load? Doesn't sound safe to me.

jim

 

[oneounceload]

You have added the weight of the wax to the load, so that needs to be factored - it really won't hold together well. For the amount of time and effort, buying a few slugs would be better and safer. IMO, the wax would not hold together well from the pressure of firing.

 

[bullseye308]

Get a used Lee slug mold for around $20 & free lead can be found(craigslist ) and you are in business.

 

[zoom6zoom]

Rubber cement sounds like a bad idea, might not release from the inside of the hull very well.

 

[JimKirk]

Might want to try syrup, I been told that is what some of the old timers around here used at the turkey shoots... It would be a heck lot sweeter load any way!

 

[qajaq59]

A box of 6 slugs is easier and if anything went wrong it'd be cheaper too. I don't think I'd do it.

 

[Chainsaw2]

Thanks gents. The oldtimers did some pretty dangerous stuff, that I'd be afraid to try. Being not much of a shotgunner, or shotshell reloader I thought I'd ask folks likely to know for sure. I'll stick with factory loads for whatever my needs might be.

jim

 

[rcmodel]

Reminds me of the old timers trick of "ringing" a shell to make it act like a slug.

Seems they would cut a paper shell almost clear through with a sharp knife right in front of the high-brass shell head so the entire front of the shell containing the shot and wads exited the barrel in one piece when it was fired.

Yikes!!!

rc

 

[GRIZ22]

IMO, the wax would not hold together well from the pressure of firing.


Or the heat for that matter.

 

[depoloni]

Apparently late to the party...

But if you're wondering if it'd hold together at 5 yards? If that's the range you're talking on deer, which by my calculations is around 15 feet, why not just use #6's? Ain't like they seperate that much.

Certainly no deer in the (michigan) woods that would go far after being hit at that range with "anything" in a 12-gauge, from 6's in a modified+ choke straight through turkey- or buck-shot LOL With my modified choke on a SW Model 1000 (semi) I guarantee you I'd have to pull the shot cup from the entry wound hole!

 

[Eb1]

rcmodel, I have witnessed this technique. My Papa did this with his 16 gauge shells when we went rabbit hunting. Just in case he saw a deer around. I have seen deer shot with this method, and it did just what you said.
I wouldn't do it, but at 8 years old, you don't tell Papa that doesn't look like a good idea. Actually I did not know it wasn't til I was older, but still...

 

[MonthOfAngle]

How 'bout one or two drops of locktite?

 

[rcmodel]

There is nothing you can put in a shot charge to glue it together that won't come apart when the charge exits the shell and expands under 12,000 PSI pressure to fit the forcing cone & bore.

Then later on, is squished down again to go through the choke at 1,200 FPS.

rc

 

[Eb1]

Shot did spread, but there seemed to be a tighter holding with the wad when this was done. I am not by any means in disagreement with anything said. I just remember seeing a few shot holes and a nice wad sized hole at 15 or so yards in a doe one time. I am also not condoning any of these methods.

I just saw that a local Gander Mountain had Remington Buck Hammers and Reduced Recoil slugs on clearance for $2.50 per box of 5. I bought all of them they had. Maybe there is a sale going on near the OP that he can pickup some cheap 2 3/4" slugs.

 

[The-Reaver]

These things seem to be quite impressive actually. I mean for what it is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOxw1BxY4wY

 

[Duckdog]

We used to ring shells.. but plastic as well as paper! They really blow a leak-hole in a deer. Another "trick" was to remove the fletching off of a wood arrow and stick it in a 410 shell without the shot. That would also do a number on a deer!