Author Topic: Shotgun slug shooting  (Read 1185 times)

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Offline Michael Az

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Shotgun slug shooting
« on: July 18, 2006, 05:49:53 AM »
Just something I was wondering about as I haven't read anything much about it here. Are any of you fellows shooting the slugs? It seems firsthand like a good way to go if you wanted accuracy. With the slugs rifled I was wondering how much it might help with the small cannons. Maybe too expensive. Also thought I would try posting a photo of my first mortar project. Building two of these golf ball mortars and now working on the breach end.
Michael

Offline jeeper1

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Re: Shotgun slug shooting
« Reply #1 on: July 18, 2006, 06:05:00 AM »
I'm going to be using 2 ounce cannon ball fishing weights in my little bronze boat howitzer. I haven't taken it out yet so Powderkeg (he built it for me) is the only one who has fired it. Two ounce CB fishing weights are about .850 diameter.
I may not be completely sane, but at least I don't think I have the power to influence the weather.

Offline Double D

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Re: Shotgun slug shooting
« Reply #2 on: July 18, 2006, 06:22:33 AM »
Just something I was wondering about as I haven't read anything much about it here. Are any of you fellows shooting the slugs? ...Michael


Oh we don't shoot a lot of little guns here.  ;) ;)  Golf ball is about smallest then we skip down to the micro's 

Larger and micro but no little ;D

If you take a look at the  Soutrh African Miniature Cannon club post you will see that round ball is plenty accurate.


Offline Rickk

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Re: Shotgun slug shooting
« Reply #3 on: July 18, 2006, 07:51:15 AM »
Rifled slugs vs unrifled have been a subject of debate for years. Accuracy tests go both ways between rifled and un-rifled slugs in shotguns. The way they are commercially made (in a swage press), adding rifling is no big deal anyway, and it helps the marketing departments out when they are advertising.

In a small cannon, whcih probably won't have a tight fitting bore, the rifling probably can't do anything usefull anyway.

That being said, unrifled slugs (which fly the same as badmitton shuttlecocks) are real easy to make. I have made them for my 12 G shotgun using a Lyman mold. You can cast at least one a minute with a single mold. The resulting slug is going to weigh less than a solid ball, making recoil less of a factor.

Since you arn't passing the slug thru a choke, the bullet metal doesn't have to be soft and can be anything you can find for cheap or free.


Offline Double D

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Re: Shotgun slug shooting
« Reply #4 on: July 18, 2006, 05:43:42 PM »

Oh we don't shoot a lot of little guns here.  ;) ;)  Golf ball is about smallest then we skip down to the micro's 

Larger and micro but no little ;D

If you take a look at the  Soutrh African Miniature Cannon club post you will see that round ball is plenty accurate.

I don't like the tone of my message, doesn't come across in the warm  friendly nature we like on the board...give myself a conduct warning. :( :(

What I intended to say is I don't think we have any shooting that caliber...yet the first is always welcome and the rest encouraged!

Offline Michael Az

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Re: Shotgun slug shooting
« Reply #5 on: July 19, 2006, 02:21:09 PM »
Thanks for the replys fellows. Double D I did understand the joke and saw the smilies. Got to remember I am a newby and would rather screw up a small one than a big one on the first go around. I guess the shotgun slugs wouldn't be all that cheap anyway to buy them. I really don't want to get back into casting as lead is hard to find where I live and don't really have the time.
Michael

Offline Cat Whisperer

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Re: Shotgun slug shooting
« Reply #6 on: July 19, 2006, 02:33:12 PM »
I have hand-gonne's in 20ga, 12ga and 3/4"copper tubing calibers (and a few others).



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Offline Rickk

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Re: Shotgun slug shooting
« Reply #7 on: July 19, 2006, 03:31:56 PM »
Michael, if you can find a club with a Savage Arms "Snail" bullet trap, you may be able to walk away with all the clean lead you can carry. I have done some PR work for them off and on (I am on the BOD of their local "showoff" range") I seem to recall they may have done a few traps for Arizona cusotmers if the "Az" in your user name means Arizona.

Offline Michael Az

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Re: Shotgun slug shooting
« Reply #8 on: July 19, 2006, 04:21:50 PM »
Rickk, thanks for the tip. I live three hours out of Phoenix and over two to Tucson. Guess I'm in the outback!
Thanks Cat.
Michael

Offline Rickk

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Re: Shotgun slug shooting
« Reply #9 on: July 19, 2006, 04:41:53 PM »
I think they sold a trap system in Prescot... prolly not supposed to mention names though... but if you are near there ask around.

The lead comes out of a "Snail Trap" really easily, and really clean.

Offline Double D

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Re: Shotgun slug shooting
« Reply #10 on: July 19, 2006, 05:50:53 PM »
I thought you were in Safford...don't they have tire shops there?

Offline Michael Az

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Re: Shotgun slug shooting
« Reply #11 on: July 19, 2006, 06:30:28 PM »
Rickk, I'm a long way from Prescott but the next time I get there I will check it out.
Double D, yes Safford and when I was casting bullets I could never get wheel weights. I think because everybody here is a shooter! I remember 20 years ago the big copper mines went through lead by the tons for the processing of copper. Maybe I could find a stash somewhere.
Michael

Offline Double D

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Re: Shotgun slug shooting
« Reply #12 on: July 19, 2006, 06:42:31 PM »
I use to get mine from the Truck stop at Wilcox...big hunky truck weights.

Offline Michael Az

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Re: Shotgun slug shooting
« Reply #13 on: July 19, 2006, 06:50:32 PM »
I hauled diesel and gas for that truck stop about 30 years ago. Did you used to live around here Double D?
Michael

Offline Rickk

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Re: Shotgun slug shooting
« Reply #14 on: July 20, 2006, 12:06:35 PM »
Wheel weights are worth money to scrap yards now, so don't expect to get them for free unless you are way luckier than me.

Call all the local ranges and see who has a recovery system. If anyone has one, they probably have more lead than they can use and will be happy to see some of it go away. The recovered lead is worth money, but to most ranges it is not worth enough (especially during the summer when it is really hot) to haul the stuff to a scrapyard.

If they have a Savage Snail trap, bring some 5 gallon plastic buckets and a coal shovel. Lead out of a trap is about 25 # per gallon, so don't fill a bucket to the top unless you work out with Arnold S. on a regular basis. Out of a Snail treap the lead will be clean except for copper jackets. The jackets will float to the top for easy removal.

Offline Double D

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Re: Shotgun slug shooting
« Reply #15 on: July 20, 2006, 04:02:02 PM »
I hauled diesel and gas for that truck stop about 30 years ago. Did you used to live around here Double D?
Michael

Was a Contract Cop for a year at Wilcox after the entire Police department was arrested for running a burglary ring.  They tried to get me to stay, but at the end of my year I went back to Oregon. The new Contract Chief of Police was an alien smuggler.  I couldn't get away from there fast enough.

Might have better luck getting scrap wheelweights in Safford AZ or Wilcox AZ becasues it's long ways to the nearest scrap yard.

Offline Michael Az

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Re: Shotgun slug shooting
« Reply #16 on: July 20, 2006, 07:29:49 PM »
When was that DD? I lived in the God forsaken place for five years in the early 70's. I never knew that story happened.
Michael

Offline Double D

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Re: Shotgun slug shooting
« Reply #17 on: July 21, 2006, 03:22:06 AM »
Happened about 77-78. I was there in 78-79.  The Chief of Police alledgedly open fire on one of his hired burglars with the department Thompson and missed...the burglar change professions to Canary!

I know that I came away from there with 5 30cal  ammo cans full on of one pound lead ingots.  I have one can left.

Offline Michael Az

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Re: Shotgun slug shooting
« Reply #18 on: July 21, 2006, 04:44:19 AM »
You must have arrived not too long after I left so I guess all that was going on while I was there. Just remembered while I lived there was the only time I was burglarized, got my guns and everything. Wonder if it was them.
Michael