transforming bulk pack birdshot into buckshot.

[jeremy1391]

Ok so I was thinking about getting one of those old school lee handloaders and busting open (carefully mind you) some of the 100's of rounds of cheap wal-mart birdshot I have and using a lead mold and casting my own buckshot, how feasible or crazy is this? am I likely to ruin the cheapo shells or am I potentially going to save myself a ton of money on training ammo/ SHTF ammo?

[Illini Warrior]

any particular reason why you can't buy a MEC loader and start reloading?

[Blacksmith]

I think you should try it just so you can see. People will try to talk you out if it. They will talk about powder loads and proper forming of slugs. They might mention other stuff too.


Don't listen to them.

Do this instead:

http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2009 ... f-defense/

[VinnieD]

Less powder means a little less power, but also a lighter recoil. It's not hard to pull open the crimp on those bulk pack shells either. I've had success making wax slugs with them, and considered getting a slug mold to just recast the shot into slugs, so recasting it into buckshot wouldn't be too far off. You might just have yourself a cheap source of good enough to get the job done, low recoil buckshot.

[ultra magnus]

Ok so I was thinking about getting one of those old school lee handloaders and busting open (carefully mind you) some of the 100's of rounds of cheap wal-mart birdshot I have and using a lead mold and casting my own buckshot, how feasible or crazy is this? am I likely to ruin the cheapo shells or am I potentially going to save myself a ton of money on training ammo/ SHTF ammo?

You will save about $20 per hundred. How much is your time worth?

[jeremy1391]

Ok so I was thinking about getting one of those old school lee handloaders and busting open (carefully mind you) some of the 100's of rounds of cheap wal-mart birdshot I have and using a lead mold and casting my own buckshot, how feasible or crazy is this? am I likely to ruin the cheapo shells or am I potentially going to save myself a ton of money on training ammo/ SHTF ammo?

You will save about $20 per hundred. How much is your time worth?

where are you finding buckshot for $40ish for 100 rounds?

[ultra magnus]

Ok so I was thinking about getting one of those old school lee handloaders and busting open (carefully mind you) some of the 100's of rounds of cheap wal-mart birdshot I have and using a lead mold and casting my own buckshot, how feasible or crazy is this? am I likely to ruin the cheapo shells or am I potentially going to save myself a ton of money on training ammo/ SHTF ammo?

You will save about $20 per hundred. How much is your time worth?

where are you finding buckshot for $40ish for 100 rounds?

http://www.ammunitiontogo.com/index.php ... d=&sort=8a

[Sheriff McClelland]

I wouldn't chance it . Also , getting the crimp properly done is a skill . You might end up with unreliable feeding/chambering .

Save the birdshot for practice . Pick up a few boxes of 00 as you can afford .

[Brock Meatstone]

Going off of what Blacksmith posted, it looks like it can be done reliably and successfully without messing with the crimp too much; that dude in the link fired all of them out of a Mossberg 12 Gauge without any catastrophic damage to the weapon.
I'm just wondering if the same technique can be used with $20/100 bulk pack low-brass birdshot; I'm apprehensive about the shell's integrity with a slug in it.

[ForumCrawler]

Going off of what Blacksmith posted, it looks like it can be done reliably and successfully without messing with the crimp too much; that dude in the link fired all of them out of a Mossberg 12 Gauge without any catastrophic damage to the weapon.
I'm just wondering if the same technique can be used with $20/100 bulk pack low-brass birdshot; I'm apprehensive about the shell's integrity with a slug in it.

>de-lurk<
Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but most of the pressure caused by the firing of the shotgun would be contained by the chamber, not the shell itself. The whole "high-brass/low-brass" thing is more for visual ID than integral strength. I want to say that the difference goes back to paper shotgun shells but I could be wrong on that as well. This is the reason, for example, that a 5.56 cartridge can be up to 62,000 psi when fired but be made of plastic.
TL;DR
Cartridges don't contain the pressure of the shot when fired; the chamber of the firearm does.
>re-lurk<

[mough]

I have done this many times converting birdshot into both buckshot and slugs. It is great for practice ammo.

Low brass means nothing.

The important things to know when reloading/reworking shot shells is this.

Always follow established recipes.

The size of the shot doesn't matter. Only the weight of shot and powder charge.

A 1oz birdshot load will be the same as a 1 oz buckshot load and a 1oz slug.

Weigh your pellets precicely and err on the side of caution. Its okay to use less shot per given powder charge, but not more. Shotgun pressure tolerances are less forgiving than with rifle or pistol.

When you get your mold, don't get 00buck. They wont fit in the shot cup properly. Get a .31 calibre ball mold, which is right between 1 buck and 0 buck.

[mough]

Also, if you want to buffer your shot, the buffer counts as shot weight

And it will be easiest to just cut off the top of the shell, and use an over shot card with a roll crimper, instead of the lee loader.

[Brock Meatstone]

That sounds like a better plan than what I was originally do; which was to pry the shell tip open, pour out the bird shot, melt it, pour it into a slug mold, then tap it back into the top of the shell to fit flush then seal with glue or wax...

I mean, technically its the same weight right? It's just one solid slug instead of birdshot.

[mough]

That sounds like a better plan than what I was originally do; which was to pry the shell tip open, pour out the bird shot, melt it, pour it into a slug mold, then tap it back into the top of the shell to fit flush then seal with glue or wax...

I mean, technically its the same weight right? It's just one solid slug instead of birdshot.

That method works just as well. I've done it with super glue. The weight will be actually a little less. Most slug molds are 1oz. Winchester bulk universal shells are 1 1/8 oz

I'd reccomend the lee 1 oz turn key slug mold. It works great out of smooth bore barrels, and if you have a rifled barrel, it works just like a sabot slug.

[Blacksmith]

Or you could just pour super glue into the pellets and close it back up. Making a short range fragmenting round.

[Dawgboy]

Found this vid on Wax slugs and thought it belonged here. Seems like the easiest way to turn that old box of #9 into something actually useful...

Anybody want to skool me on how you guys embed youtube vids?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hIrdHqijvg&feature=related

And what it does to a propane bottle...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQIOHde8pxg&feature=fvwrel

[stringbanger7]

Don't worry. You aren't the first one to have this idea. People have been doing this for years and all the bugs are worked out. It is feasable to make wax slugs from birdshot and it is more deadly than any buckshot out there, bought or made. You will need:

1. Candle wax or bees wax (bees wax is better)
2. A way to measure your lead (can be a small cup or a scale. Its up to you, just be sure to get the exact same weight on every shell I will explain below.
3. A knife (razor knife is best)
4. Heat source (cheap $5 candle warmer is the BEST thing. It doesn't get too hot)

Open the end of the shell with the knife by cutting it evenly just below the crimp at the top. Make it pretty and straight for better feeding and consistency

Dump the shot into the measuring device you are using (you can purchase a scoop that is adjustable for about three USD.

Dump the shot into the candle wax (dump in only enough for one shell. This will make sure your shot weight is the same.

After shot and wax are both hot, take a spoon and scoop the shot out with very litte wax in it and dump it in the shell. If you spill a few pellets, collect them and put them in the shell. Consistency matters here. Leave about three millimeters of space at the top of the shell.

Fill the remainder of the shell (remember the three millimeters from earlier) with just wax until it is level with the top.

Allow slug to cool. It is completely cool when the top of the wax becomes concave. Best to just leave it overnight

Use open sights or optics like a red dot or low power slug scopes and sight shotgun in with your newly made slug loads. They are like massive one inch, 7/8 oz bullets now. They will only begin to spread after the hit the target. You can expect softball size exit wounds and if you loaded them properly and sighted you gun in properly, you can expect 6 inch groups or better at 100 yards. Considering the size of the average human head is 10 inches you will score a headshot every time. If you practice, you can have super tight shot groupings that are comparable to a rifle. These slugs will also penetrate trees, car doors and most conventional body armors should we ever face something different beside zombies.

The biggest advantage to this is that you have a shotgun that can be both a scatter gun and a rifle like show stopper. One weapon multiple purposes. Just carry different ammo to suit your needs. This lightens up your gear in the case of a bug out on foot.

[Doctorr Fabulous]

Use open sights or optics like a red dot or low power slug scopes and sight shotgun in with your newly made slug loads. They are like massive one inch, 7/8 oz bullets now.Nope They will only begin to spread after the hit the target. You can expect softball size exit woundsNope and if you loaded them properly and sighted you gun in properly, you can expect 6 inch groups or better at 100 yards.Maybe Considering the size of the average human head is 10 inches you will score a headshot every time.Doubt it If you practice, you can have super tight shot groupings that are comparable to a rifle.Not a good rifle These slugs will also penetrate trees,Nope car doorsNope and most conventional body armorsNope should we ever face something different beside zombies.

The biggest advantage to this is that you have a shotgun that can be both a scatter gun and a rifle like show stopperNope. One weapon multiple purposes. Just carry different ammo to suit your needs. This lightens up your gear in the case of a bug out on foot.

I'm gonna drop a big [CITATION NEEDED] on everything followed by red text. Wax slugs penetrated LESS than a regular slug. Also, the OP was talking about casting slugs from shot, not making was slugs.

ETA: Buckshot from birdshot, not slugs. My bad.

[jeremy1391]

umm i was actually talking about making buck shot, I've done wax slugs and yea they are fun but not my cup of tea for anything other than truly dire sittuations.

[AKFTW]

Use open sights or optics like a red dot or low power slug scopes and sight shotgun in with your newly made slug loads. They are like massive one inch, 7/8 oz bullets now.Nope They will only begin to spread after the hit the target. You can expect softball size exit woundsNope and if you loaded them properly and sighted you gun in properly, you can expect 6 inch groups or better at 100 yards.Maybe Considering the size of the average human head is 10 inches you will score a headshot every time.Doubt it If you practice, you can have super tight shot groupings that are comparable to a rifle.Not a good rifle These slugs will also penetrate trees,Nope car doorsNope and most conventional body armorsNope should we ever face something different beside zombies.

The biggest advantage to this is that you have a shotgun that can be both a scatter gun and a rifle like show stopperNope. One weapon multiple purposes. Just carry different ammo to suit your needs. This lightens up your gear in the case of a bug out on foot.

I'm gonna drop a big [CITATION NEEDED] on everything followed by red text. Wax slugs penetrated LESS than a regular slug. Also, the OP was talking about casting slugs from shot, not making was slugs.

ETA: Buckshot from birdshot, not slugs. My bad.

That shit was pretty hilarious, especially for a first post. I went through and bolded my favorite parts

[mough]

Use open sights or optics like a red dot or low power slug scopes and sight shotgun in with your newly made slug loads. They are like massive one inch, 7/8 oz bullets now.Nope They will only begin to spread after the hit the target. You can expect softball size exit woundsNope and if you loaded them properly and sighted you gun in properly, you can expect 6 inch groups or better at 100 yards.Maybe Considering the size of the average human head is 10 inches you will score a headshot every time.Doubt it If you practice, you can have super tight shot groupings that are comparable to a rifle.Not a good rifle These slugs will also penetrate trees,Nope car doorsNope and most conventional body armorsNope should we ever face something different beside zombies.

The biggest advantage to this is that you have a shotgun that can be both a scatter gun and a rifle like show stopperNope. One weapon multiple purposes. Just carry different ammo to suit your needs. This lightens up your gear in the case of a bug out on foot.

I'm gonna drop a big [CITATION NEEDED] on everything followed by red text. Wax slugs penetrated LESS than a regular slug. Also, the OP was talking about casting slugs from shot, not making was slugs.

ETA: Buckshot from birdshot, not slugs. My bad.

6 inches at 100 yards with wax slugs? Not a maybe, A definate no. A big definate no, But I definately wouldn't be surprised if they penetrated soft armor and car doors. Especially my car doors. I don't think iron oxide offers much protection.

[Doctorr Fabulous]

Wax slugs penetrate less. Yes, shrapnel might come through the sheet metal, but as far as how effective it will be on a target? Well, someone tell all the gangbangers to use wax slugs, cuz I'll feel safer. Same thing with soft armor. If regular shot won't penetrate it, then a wax slug won't either.

[mough]

Even if it didn't penetrate, that is a heck of a lot of energy being transferred. I'm sure it would at least cause some blunt force trauma.

Someone should test this.

[Doctorr Fabulous]

Most gunshots on soft-vests cause massive bruising, often times broken bones. Wax slugs might concentrate the energy a bit more than a load of shot (smaller impact area) but it's not goign to penetrate the vest. No matter what you're wearing (as far as modern armor goes) getting shot hurts.