dovedescending
Member
Somebody suggested to me that for cheap practice with a revolver, spent casings be re-primed and pressed into a sheet of paraffin, creating a paraffin practice bullet. Has anybody here tried this? Thoughts and feedback...?
Paraffin Practice Rounds?
- Thread starter dovedescending
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rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Yes, it's older then dirt.
If you are shooting a revolver, the primer flash holes must be drilled out to 1/8" to prevent primers backing out and locking up the cylinder.
To load, just melt canning paraffin in a flat shallow pan.
Let it start to set up but before it gets completely hard, use the empty cases to "cookie cutter" the bullets out.
Afterwords prime the cases and go for it.
If you do it with primed brass, air pressure trapped in the case will blow the wax slugs back out.
rc
If you are shooting a revolver, the primer flash holes must be drilled out to 1/8" to prevent primers backing out and locking up the cylinder.
To load, just melt canning paraffin in a flat shallow pan.
Let it start to set up but before it gets completely hard, use the empty cases to "cookie cutter" the bullets out.
Afterwords prime the cases and go for it.
If you do it with primed brass, air pressure trapped in the case will blow the wax slugs back out.
rc
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Certaindeaf
member
^
True.. older'n dirt. They work good! You can buy reusable plastic slugs but those are kinda newfangled and not as cool.
True.. older'n dirt. They work good! You can buy reusable plastic slugs but those are kinda newfangled and not as cool.
gpb
Member
I used paraffin years ago. The results, for me, were so so. I always found the Speer plastic cases and bullets easier to use and more accurate. At least they were for me. The plastic bullets will get beat up after a while and will need to be replaced. Not as cheap as paraffin.
Hunter125
Member
What kind of cleaning would have to be done after doing this? Something special to break down the parrafin?
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
It's just petroleum based wax, or hard mineral oil.
You can clean it out with any gun cleaning solvent.
Or don't clean it out.
Basically, it's pretty much the same thing as lead bullet lube, or the outside lube used on .22 RF ammo, or wax paper wax, or a birthday candle.
In other words it's harmless & food safe.
rc
You can clean it out with any gun cleaning solvent.
Or don't clean it out.
Basically, it's pretty much the same thing as lead bullet lube, or the outside lube used on .22 RF ammo, or wax paper wax, or a birthday candle.
In other words it's harmless & food safe.
rc
Certaindeaf
member
You could look down the bore and see what it needs.
Parafin/wax is cut with denatured alcohol and or a mechanical action.
Nevermind, RC is on the job so I best just learn/go away.
Parafin/wax is cut with denatured alcohol and or a mechanical action.
Nevermind, RC is on the job so I best just learn/go away.
Hot glue bullets made in a bullet mold work great. Some use cut glue sticks for 45, but I made a bunch of 38/357's with my Lee mold and they are reusable. I stuff the bullet all the way into the case and prime it. Fun to shoot at a paper shopping bag with a towel or newspapers inside. The bullet punches through the bag but is easily recovered and reused.
It would be better if you did not shoot these indoors or in your garage. The smoke is 100% from the primer which is Lead Styphnate. Outdoors, it's no worse than shooting at the range, but indoors, the stuff has nowhere to go but on the floor, walls or in your lungs.
Ugly bullets, but they work fine.
It would be better if you did not shoot these indoors or in your garage. The smoke is 100% from the primer which is Lead Styphnate. Outdoors, it's no worse than shooting at the range, but indoors, the stuff has nowhere to go but on the floor, walls or in your lungs.
Ugly bullets, but they work fine.
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Carl N. Brown
Member
Hearing protection strongly recommended
The rounds I tried like that in .38 Spl were loud, even tho' primer-only.
Make sure that the noise would not frighten the neighbors!
The rounds I tried like that in .38 Spl were loud, even tho' primer-only.
Make sure that the noise would not frighten the neighbors!
Certaindeaf
member
I forgot about that.. good call!
30Cal
Member
The .45 dia glue sticks will drop into the case neck of a .45 just perfectly. Cut them off at the mouth. You'll need to drill out the primer pocket--I forgot how large, but google will tell you.
Drill the flash hole out to 1/8". If you don't want to sacrifice any useful brass (once drilled out, you can't use it for live rounds) go to the range and pick up some of the Speer Blazer aluminum cases (boxer primed only) left lying around in the caliber(s) of your choice and use them instead. They tolerate that reuse just fine and you've helped clean up the range. I keep some around in .45 ACP, .45 Colt, .44 Mag and .38/.357. I clean the bore by running a live round through it on my next trip to the desert. 
Use a sturdy backstop. Wax bullets penetrate cardboard and sheetrock, wreak havoc on metal garage doors, and hollow core man doors, and can kill small critters.
Go ahead. Ask me how I know.
mike
Use a sturdy backstop. Wax bullets penetrate cardboard and sheetrock, wreak havoc on metal garage doors, and hollow core man doors, and can kill small critters.
Go ahead. Ask me how I know.
mike
ArchAngelCD
Member.
I'm sure you already know this but I feel I have to say it. "Practice" wax bullet are still dangerous. If you hit someone with one you will cut them up pretty well. They will break skin and at close enough distances penetrate the body. Treat wax bullets as you would "live" ammo... (they ain't paint balls)
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