My first wooden cartridge.

[GunnyUSMC]

Today is the first day in a week that I’ve turned something on my wood lathe. I didn’t have time to turn a bowl, still working on gun stocks so, I turned a cartridge.
This topic will show you what I’ve been doing all week.
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/summer-2021-stock-repair-fun.893198/

Today I took a little break from stock work and grabbed a pice of wood from a bag of cutoffs that I bought a few months ago. I’m not sure what type of wood it is but it turned very nicely.


It took about 30 minutes from start to finish. I didn’t measure anything, just turned it with an image in my head. I’ve been thinking about making some larger ones like 50 cal or larger, but I need to order some wood spindle blanks to do that.
It was a fun little project.

 

[BigAlShooter]

Pretty cool. Could probably sell them for like $10.
Or, you could make them into snap caps, if the wood is hard enough. I think the firing pin would quickly wear it out, but you could glue in a piece of hard rubber where the primer would be.

 

[troy fairweather]

Looks like 375 ruger
I was messing with a cherry log today, wish it was big enough for a stock but I'll make a nice fishing rod wrapper with the wood. Pain in the butt to get made into boards tho, showing some nice grain.

 

[troy fairweather]

Pretty cool. Could probably sell them for like $10.
Or, you could make them into snap caps, if the wood is hard enough. I think the firing pin would quickly wear it out, but you could glue in a piece of hard rubber where the primer would be.

Hot glue works good, when it starts to deform just touch it quick with a lighter and good as new.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Pretty cool. Could probably sell them for like $10.
Or, you could make them into snap caps, if the wood is hard enough. I think the firing pin would quickly wear it out, but you could glue in a piece of hard rubber where the primer would be.

That would take a lot more time to get the size correct. But the wood would most likely split from the firing pen impact. And then there’s the fact that the rim would not hold up.
I do need to get some small jaws for my Chuck. It would make turning small items easier. I just used two centers to turn this one.

 

[Waveski]

I do need to get some small jaws for my Chuck.

Did you mean to say "Bruce"?

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Did you mean to say "Bruce"?

Nope, his name is Chuck.

 

[troy fairweather]

You have the 4 way there so you just need the different plates to clamp round things

 

[gyp_c2]

Careful Gunny!
Make 'em too real and the damn ATF will outlaw YOU!

 

[GunnyUSMC]

You have the 4 way there so you just need the different plates to clamp round things

Been thinking about buy a complete set of jaws like these. Then I could hold just about anything. Right now my jaws only go down to 2 inches.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Careful Gunny!
Make 'em too real and the damn ATF will outlaw YOU!

I do have some examples to go by, but don’t think I’ll try and make exact copies.


I’m also thinking about making some Shotgun shell bottle stoppers like these.

 

[Archie]

Looks like a fun sideline.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Looks like a fun sideline.

I have always had hobbies that paid for themselves or funded other hobbies. Woodturning is one of them. I started back in December and basically thought myself how to turn bowls. Been having a lot of fun making and selling bowls.

Making wooden bullets is just going to be for fun, not sure I could sell enough to make money on them.
I might try and make another one today.

 

[Airborne Falcon]

Wooden bullets have been around for awhile. I have some somewhere, I'll look for them later, that are sold in order to flavor bourbon .... they're expensive too.

50 Cal if I remember correctly.

I'll take a pic and upload it asap.

 

[Archie]

I think larger ones could be incorporated into bookends for one's assortment of reloading manuals, reference books and other 'gun books' on a shelf somewhere. That might sell. The single rounds could be weighted and serve as paperweights.

 

[dogtown tom]

Ink pens are poplar

 

[troy fairweather]

I just cut up a 4 foot cherry log if I remember to I'll make you some staves you can turn down. I should have cut a foot off the round to make a bowl but kinda forgot before I split the log lol.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Wooden bullets have been around for awhile. I have some somewhere, I'll look for them later, that are sold in order to flavor bourbon .... they're expensive too.

50 Cal if I remember correctly.

I'll take a pic and upload it asap.

I’ve made a couple of whiskey barrel cups that I gave to friends that like to drink.
One is a big bourbon drinker, he said that the barrel gives the bourbon a smoother taste.

I think larger ones could be incorporated into bookends for one's assortment of reloading manuals, reference books and other 'gun books' on a shelf somewhere. That might sell. The single rounds could be weighted and serve as paperweights.

Bullet bookends sounds cool, may give that a try. I’ve been thinking of gun related things I could turn.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Ink pens are poplar
View attachment 1018563

I’ve looked into turning pens. There are a lot of firearm types of pens sets available, but I’m not set up for turning pens.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

I just cut up a 4 foot cherry log if I remember to I'll make you some staves you can turn down. I should have cut a foot off the round to make a bowl but kinda forgot before I split the log lol.

I’ve got some large cherry logs drying in my shed, but it will be another year before I can turn them.
I do have a couple of pieces of cherry in my shop. Just think, Cherry bullets.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

Sweet!

Sooo... did it pass a plunk test?

 

[Speedo66]

Very attractive work on the bullet, bowls and cups!

I had some military ammo when I had Swedish Mausers that had wood bullets as practice rounds, but just the projectile was wood.

 

[troy fairweather]

I’ve got some large cherry logs drying in my shed, but it will be another year before I can turn them.
I do have a couple of pieces of cherry in my shop. Just think, Cherry bullets.

This one's been sitting for 4-5 years about 12" wide. I split it down the middle which was a pain, brain turned about 90° in 3'. Just fit on the band saw but it didn't like it, so I may try ripping the boards I want with the Circle saw and a straight board to keep thing flat. Trying to make some 1"x4" core a fishing rod guide wrapper in making. I've got a 1' chunk I can make into 1" x1" or 2" x2"

Grain was looking good on the off cuts I got so far.

 

[WestKentucky]

I think larger ones could be incorporated into bookends for one's assortment of reloading manuals, reference books and other 'gun books' on a shelf somewhere. That might sell. The single rounds could be weighted and serve as paperweights.

Or insert a magnet for fridge purposes… or other metal stuff.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Very attractive work on the bullet, bowls and cups!

I had some military ammo when I had Swedish Mausers that had wood bullets as practice rounds, but just the projectile was wood.

Those were actually called blanks. Unlike most blanks that only have powder in them and need a BFA (Blank Firing Adapter). Here’s a pic of the Swedish M1896 M38 Blank Adaptor with ammo.

This is a BFA for a Mosin.


I have over 300 rounds of Egyptian 7.62 x 51 NATO training blanks. The wooden bullets are dyed blue and are hollow.