Author Topic: Spent cartridge hulls for projectiles ? (Read 981 times)

tapwater · « **on:** April 11, 2009, 07:35:39 PM »

Just sitting up late and letting my mind wander. How about pouring lead into spent handgun hulls for
for projectiles? I don't shoot the smaller bores, but this may be a cheap source for projectiles. You
could even fill the bottom with plaster and the top with lead for the "rock in a sock" effect.
I'll have to get my caliper out to check, but I'll bet there are rimless shells that would fit many of the
tabletop calibers. Anyone ever thought of or tried this?

Victor3 · « **Reply #1 on:** April 12, 2009, 12:25:20 AM »

I don't see why not. You could even cut the neck off of rifle brass, or file down the rim on rimmed cases for more selection.

Might be a good idea to make sure the primer isn't live before pouring in the lead.

I have an aluminum case from a 30mm GAU-8/A cannon here that measures 1.73" at the rim. Good for a golf ball mortar/cannon.

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #2 on:** April 12, 2009, 02:24:23 AM »

[don't do this at home]

I use .223 and .380 cases (.375 OD) in either my .375 Win or .375 H&H, SO using them in a smoothbore should work as well.

Pouring lead alloy into them works, but there are no vents so air does get trapped and weights are not that uniform.

There are a number of straight-walled pistol calibers to choose from, I think I'd build a small smoothbore cannon in one of the common calibers.

seacoastartillery · « **Reply #3 on:** April 12, 2009, 04:29:20 AM »

Quote from: Victor3 on April 12, 2009, 12:25:20 AM

Might be a good idea to make sure the primer isn't live before pouring in the lead.

Sorry tapwater, I really like all of your other stuff, especially the scissors jack elevation mechanism, but I can't endorse this idea. Here's why: Just one moment's inattention, and you have a personal disaster on your hands. You can surely imagine how fast that molten lead would come out if that was a primed rifle or pistol cartridge case. I joined the U.S.Army as an Infantryman. I've jumped out of perfectly good aircraft and driven motorcyles at high rates of speed, but, as careful as I am now, as a seasoned citizen, I would not trust myself to pour molten lead into a cartridge case. 99% of your ideas are top notch! Keep them coming.

If you decide to do this, pay strict attention to Victor3's warning in RED above.

Respectfully,

Tracy

BoomLover · « **Reply #4 on:** April 12, 2009, 05:40:16 AM »

Sounds like it might work, and in fact, I'm going to get some blank brass casings from an old re-loader here in town, but the main thing, by going that one step further, starting from the bare case, there will be no primer, just a little vent hole. I'll see what he's got in rimless calibers. My second stop will be the library to check out a set of Rudyard Kipling's poems and find the whole copy of "Screw Guns", thanks Mike and Tracy! BoomLover

Terry C. · « **Reply #5 on:** April 12, 2009, 05:58:53 AM »

These days, I would consider good brass cartridge cases too valueable to use in such a manner.

In days gone by I used them for all sorts of things, I've ruined many a good case. And left many on the ground for others to scavenge.

No more, now I treat them like gold, carfully recovering every ejected case.

45-70.gov · « **Reply #6 on:** April 12, 2009, 06:09:44 AM »

i thought a few times of makeing a wildcat cartredge to use spent cases

Double D · « **Reply #7 on:** April 12, 2009, 06:33:52 AM »

The Seacoast Warning is very important. Pay very close attention to it. Make real real sure you don't have live primers. The small amount of molten material that will be blown out if you pour on a live primer, is just enough to cause some serious burns...you don't have to worry about burning an eye out do we. Because since you are dealing with molten lead you would already have your safety glasses on. Right!!!!

THe warnings being said and "re-said" I too have tried this method of making cheap jacketed bullets. I used 10 MM and 40 S&W to make bullets for my son's .404 Jefferies. The results were less than satisfactory. Dismal at best.

The other issue is finding the right diameter case to fit the bore, unless a cannon was made to fit a specific case. Good luck, be careful an dlet us know how it works.

rmagill · « **Reply #8 on:** April 12, 2009, 07:19:29 AM »

I've shot quite a few empty 300 win mag cases out of one of my small cannons. They work well enough that I've never bothered to try to fill them with anything. Keep in mind they still make a dangerous projectile even if it isnt a ball.
Bob

tapwater · « **Reply #9 on:** April 12, 2009, 08:01:44 AM »

The warnings about a live primer are good advice. Like I said, I don't shoot the small caliber stuff, but if I did, I would never use picked up range brass. It would be from my own guns that I know were fired. A dimple in the primer could come from a "dud" that someone pulled the bullet from, leaving live primer compound.
Best would be to use de-primed casings. Not much plaster would leak out the primer vent. Or, if you poured all lead, maybe find something to plug the vent until the lead set up. It only takes a few seconds.
Warnings are always welcome. They remind us of things that might be overlooked. Thanks.

Terry C. · « **Reply #10 on:** April 12, 2009, 09:42:00 AM »

On a related note, Corbin makes a set of dies to draw spent .22 LR cases into bullet jackets of .223 or .224 diameter, and swage lead cores into them. With spent rimfire cases and source of free lead, you could literally have a supply of free bullets.

I once considered making something like this on a larger scale, to draw copper pipe caps into projectile jackets, to be filled with lead similar to what your describing above.

But when the cost of copper fittings went through the roof the project was scrapped.

RocklockI · « **Reply #11 on:** April 12, 2009, 02:30:34 PM »

.22 long rifle brass makes great projos , if you have a brooks .30 cal mortar or gun .

Somehow they have been seen in my front yard

45-70.gov · « **Reply #12 on:** April 12, 2009, 03:37:24 PM »

Quote from: 45-70.gov on April 12, 2009, 06:09:44 AM

i thought a few times of makeing a wildcat cartredge to use spent cases

i gave up on the idea once i thought about how good cast bullets work

any threads here about the 22 rim brass for the ar/223??

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #13 on:** April 12, 2009, 04:07:53 PM »

OK. Here's evidence that it works. This is a hard 2x4.

TAKE NOTE OF THE POWER OF SHOOTING AN EMPTY CASING. These are not 'practice' bullets.

These were fired in a .375 H&H or Win. Don't remember. They are .380 auto casings. Used a little (5gr ?) Unique.

You can see the striations in the wood. They were fired open-end first. (That kept the FIRED primer in.)

One could expect the same velocities from a smoothbore cannon.

AGAIN, these pix are posted as evidence of the NEED FOR CAUTION.

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #14 on:** April 12, 2009, 04:08:52 PM »

And, the 2nd shot.

Double D · « **Reply #15 on:** April 12, 2009, 04:09:35 PM »

Quote from: 45-70.gov on April 12, 2009, 03:37:24 PM

Quote from: 45-70.gov on April 12, 2009, 06:09:44 AM
i thought a few times of makeing a wildcat cartredge to use spent cases

i gave up on the idea once i thought about how good cast bullets work

any threads here about the 22 rim brass for the ar/223??

You should ask over on Bullet Swaging Discussion and not here on the Blackpowder Cannon board.

ratpatrol · « **Reply #16 on:** April 12, 2009, 08:32:48 PM »

How about something bigger, like 12ga hulls minus the rim, fits just right in a 20mm barrel also try putting a small co2 bottle into 12ga hull, empty co2 bottle full of lead, cut off the bottom and fill, you need to use straight wall hulls to make it work. It works like a sabot good seal and riflling marks in hulls.

warning these can not be loading from the mussle end of your cannon.

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #17 on:** April 13, 2009, 04:31:14 AM »

It's a symptom of the addiction - looking at ANYTHING that is cylindrical (a cylinder or a hole in something) and pausing to determine the caliber and it's suitability for being either a cannon or a projectile!

C02 cylinders are 12ga. (Cylinder bore of course). Don't ask how I know - besides that was back in H.S. when I knew for years that I'd never live to see 21.

Terry C. · « **Reply #18 on:** April 13, 2009, 02:12:21 PM »

Quote from: Cat Whisperer on April 13, 2009, 04:31:14 AM

C02 cylinders are 12ga. (Cylinder bore of course). Don't ask how I know

So, I wasn't the only one...

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #19 on:** April 13, 2009, 02:18:04 PM »

Quote from: Terry C. on April 13, 2009, 02:12:21 PM

Quote from: Cat Whisperer on April 13, 2009, 04:31:14 AM
C02 cylinders are 12ga. (Cylinder bore of course). Don't ask how I know
So, I wasn't the only one...

We have a set of rules on this board, some of which deal with the issue of SAFETY. I feel that we've developed them from EXPERIENCE. Some of the experiences are just plainly prudent NOT to repeat.

ratpatrol · « **Reply #20 on:** April 13, 2009, 06:12:58 PM »

That's true to a point, a experience on a riskie advent, related to others can save there life and be more memberial to not try that STUPID thing. It also makes good stories to tell poeple who under stand.
The tv show " A 1,000 ways to die" I am sure everybody on this sight and our dangerous hobby does'nt want to be "No 999"
" Think Ahe
ad stupid." I have never run from a lit fuse, I walk because I know what is about to happen. Any body that is so retarded to poor lead in a primed case and read a safty warning , telling him not to,really needs a bad experience to get his attension.

Back to cannons. (Very unsafe Idea removed by moderator)

RocklockI · « **Reply #21 on:** April 13, 2009, 07:51:25 PM »

Ahhhhaaa CO2 cartridges ! That takes me back ....

It seems that I have swapped silly stories of stupidity with nearly every interesting person I've ever run across .

Some more than others , but the one common theme seems to be ... in so many words ..."Damn I was dumb", but then there are grins all around . "Harr har teehee "remember what stupid sh*t we did and did not get hurt .

Did you know that if you were to file the nipple down ..... and ......Oh heck I lost my train of thought ! sorry

45-70.gov · « **Reply #22 on:** April 14, 2009, 03:14:24 AM »

(Very unsafe Idea removed by moderator) read my signature......i know this isn't the forum to post but i couldn't find the bomb section

Double D · « **Reply #23 on:** April 14, 2009, 03:45:16 AM »

That is 2 (Very unsafe Idea removed by moderator) in 2 days. Finding common items for cannon projectile has long been a common part of this board. Making pyrotechnics and bombs has not. It may be accpeptable on U-Tube, it's not here. No more!

45-70.gov · « **Reply #24 on:** April 14, 2009, 04:13:20 AM »

my appology

i will do more reading and less posting in this section

i have no experience with cannons and lots to learn

this is an interesting subject but i am a gun guy......mostly handguns

it has been a long time dream to built a golf ball muzzle loader

-------------------------------------------------------------------
this is a thread about spent hulls as projectiles
while not germain to cannons it is to hull/casings as projectiles

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,169315.msg1098795325.html

Double D · « **Reply #25 on:** April 14, 2009, 05:37:21 AM »

No problem...if you want to learn more, just ask and we'll help you learn. A good place to start is the stickies at the top of this board. Lots and lots of stuff up there written by the folks that visit this board on a regular basis.

Most of us are gun guys also, but Cannon and mortars interest us also.

blhof · « **Reply #26 on:** April 14, 2009, 09:37:30 AM »

My brother and I used the empty CO2 carts for our 3/4" cannon for years; surprisingly accurate from a 14" smoothbore. With practice, we were able to hit milk cartons from 20yds consistantly. This was back in the 60's and we didn't want to waste spent CO2 carts especially once we found they fit the bore of the cannon. We reused them until we lost them or they were bent from rock impacts. The cartons were 1/2 gal cardboard back then.