The Great Gumball Test & Evaluation

[sm]

Once upon a time, your observant resident rebel here, used to test, evaluate and piddle with shotguns and loads.
Yes, some of this was actually serious business, being asked to what is now called "beta testing" , some was simply because I was curious and wanting to learn, and some was...err...Rebels are Rebels 'cause they don't do conformity real well.
*yep*

Popcorn Loads:
See pigeons get into barns and such down on the farms and ranches.
You don't start blasting up the inside of a barn with lead pellets,
Dead pigeons fall in cracks and crevices, holes in barns are not good, tractors and equipment cost money, so you don't go shooting lead pellets in a barn.

Popcorn Kernels, instead of lead pellets, in say a single shot .410, will scare these heathens from the noise, and kernels being fired.

Yep. This works , still does.
So sometimes pest control does not mean killing, instead running off the heathens , and not damaging barns, sheds or anything.
Heck fire off a shot of these popcorn loads over a garden and the birds will fly off.
A few times doing this the birds wise up and "Hey, we better stay out of there, they shoot at us when we do show up".



Now lead costs money too.
So if one uses popcorn, and similar things, like some grits, or something ruined for human consumption, but will work to "shoo" critters, it save lead pellets along with not damaging stuff.


Gumballs.

I got some free gum balls .
These were damaged in shipping, and therefore these were not going to be used in gum ball machines where a kid was going to stick a penny in the machine to get one.

I had the regular ones, and some miniature ones.

Now understand I was raised right , had Mentors & Elders, and I always liked slugs.
Back then we made roundball slugs, for .410, 28, 20 and 12 bore.
Oh, even .38spl round ball was reloaded for revolver use, great load btw!

I have no idea what Brady, Kennedy , and the rest of the bunch were doing when they wuz coming up - but I wuz having a helluva time being a kid, and being mentored *smirk*.

Gumball looks like a round ball slug *light bulb*
Itty bitty gum balls look like pellets *light bulb*

*Grin*

I had me new a T&E for the sake of Southern Property Pest Control and whatever the hell I could figure out a use for this idear for...

Single shot gun shot guns are great for T&E, not expensive, tough as all get out, and a good used one, not much money at all!

I had this .410 single shot, fixed full choke, typical gun used down on property's. Best recall I gave $10 for this H&R Topper, as it had been neglected , looked bad, cleaned up fine and internally pristine.

I loaded up a Gum Ball, regular one, a "round ball slug" and this possum, that had been getting into a hen house, - was running, I mounted gun to face, focused on possum, come from behind, matched speed and angle, pulled ahead, kept swinging slapped trigger and followed thru.

Kilt 'em deader than a door nail I did! *Success!*
Busted that head just behind his nose...

Hot Diggety Dawg! I done come up with a winner!
Got some loaded up, folks tried 'em and they worked.

Itty bitty gum balls...<rubs hands> ...oh boy...more T&E!


Err...them itty bitty ones, if they get wet, act like a too big solid one.
Years later this problem would occur with steel shot rusting, and becoming one too big of a load trying to exit a choke at the muzzle end.

Oh well, I wuz needing a open choke .410 for some pattern testing anyway...

FWIW, a .410 muzzle piece of barrel with gum stuck to it, will go through a 55 gal drum!
*whups*


Chiclets brand, itty bitty square gum works...

I always thought my load testing was the reason they took that other itty bitty round gum ball out of gum ball machines....still do.


*Grin*

 

[Okiecruffler]

Steve, wish you'd have been around with your popcorn load on the day I was using dad's 25-06 to blast pidgeons in the barn. Man it was cool watching them explode. But on that august day in Oklahoma it was 104 in the shade. I can't tell you the exact tempeture on the top of that metal barn, but it was hot enough to blister you if you stayed in one spot too long while patching holes. Turns out dad was real glad I got rid of those pidgeons, not so glad I shot the roof full of holes doing it.

 

[sm]

John,

I understand how hot a tin roof can be in a 104.
That roofing is also dangerous to handle, even with gloves!

Loading Data: We all know to follow instructions, measure thrice and weigh often and be safe.

Still these popcorn loads do work, and not just for pest control.
They are a mild load, having less felt recoil.
Kids , new shooters busting balloons...

Teaching tool, such as shooting a pond, and letting kids see the loads richchet off the water, and hit the newspaper set up on backstop and seeing holes.

There may or may not be any truth to the rumor, that some folks have been given a shell(s) of reloads, that were popcorn loads, and they had no idea why a duck, rabbit, or dove, just would not fell, as they knew they were on it.

*hehehe*

Paybacks are something and some folks quit pulling stuff once a payback has been paid in return.

*not me- I am good wittle boy*

 

[Okiecruffler]

We did load some popcorn loads once, but only because some damned fool got the idea the corn would pop when fired. I don't know, it made sense at the time.
Decided we needed some buffer in our duck loads once so we used what was handy, white flour. I'll bet those duck are still laughing. So they didn't work so well in the duck blind, but they would occasionally turn up in other situations. Ever tried to find that second clay thru a cloud of white smoke? I have, it ain't easy.
BTW, it should without saying, don't go trying this stuff and then blaming me when things go horribly wrong. Growing up I was about 75% stupid and 25% lucky.

 

[sm]

Re: Buffer

I had some Win Buffer, Grex [tm], and earlier I had taken apart some buffered 12 ga loads to steal the pellets for making 28 ga buckshot loads.

Anywho, I weighed Grex made notes and compared Malto-Meal, Grits, Oat meal and Farina in weight and all.

Worked great for buffering loads. Never had a problem with smoke impeding vison or anything.
Pattern Board revealed same load, with buffer was doing better that without the buffer.


Disclaimer:
Folks are expected to mature adults, that read and follow directions, and get the assistance of seasoned folks to assist in doing new endeavors such as reloading.
If you blow yourself up, don't come running to Oleg, THR, or me

 

[Okiecruffler]

I wondered about Creme of Wheat as a buffer. I use it to fireform 30-30AI and 6tcu brass from 30-30 and 223 cases respectively. Sent a letter to the makers of COW once, telling them how their product fireformed more uniformally than malto-meal, grits, or tissue paper. (Hey, I was bored and it was raining out.) They just sent me back the form letter, thanking me for using their product, glad I liked it, blah blah blah, and a 50cent coupon for my next purchase.

 

[Warren]

Popcorn loads are what I use against clowns and mimes.

 

[Titan6]

Given the price of corn this past year I am not so sure you would have saved any money. But it sure sounds like fun.