Do shotgun slugs really need a cushion?

Beer_drinker

Beer_drinker

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I'd like to try and copy Aguila's idea and make my own mini-shells. I'm not sure how anguila makes em so short, but after a quick look at winchesters slugs, I realized how much space a "cushion" takes up. Without knowing much about shells, I googled this "cushion" and read that it's used to prevent deformation of the shot/slug.

So now i'm wondering, is this cushion really needed?

Would there be any danger in loading a 2" slug without a cushion, into a 3" chamber? Could it deform enough to cause any health problems, or is that cushion mainly used for accuracy/shot pattern issues?

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The cushion serves to reduce/control the pressure. Upon ignition, the cushion section allows for some give, this will increase the case volume and help keep pressures safe; do not omit it or you'll spike pressures.
 
These take up space, to make the loads work, reducing pressure as well as providing a seal of sorts, so progressive burning powders(smokeless) don't burn alongside the slug or wad. Among other things, this results in those really "off" sounding shots you hear at the trap range.
 
Zuke makes a good point. Part of the reason for the cushion is also to bring the load column to the length of the hull so that you can get a decent crimp.

What kind of 2 inch slug are you thinking of? Keep the slug weight and other components in line with the load data that you are using and work up carefully if you are going to be changing things.
 
I don't have the equipment, not sure if I ever will to load shotshells but I've also wondered this myself. Shotgun powder is on the quicker end of the scale. Why not lose
the buffer and use some powder a few steps slower?
 
Thanks for the quick and informative replies, I guess my plan needs tweaking.

vagrantviking said:
Zuke makes a good point. Part of the reason for the cushion is also to bring the load column to the length of the hull so that you can get a decent crimp.

What kind of 2 inch slug are you thinking of? Keep the slug weight and other components in line with the load data that you are using and work up carefully if you are going to be changing things.
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I wasn't gona bother crimping them. I've been transforming cheap winchester birdshot shells into slugs by removing the shot, casting it into slugs, then placing it back into the original hull/powder/primer. This is what I wanted to use for my mini-shell idea.

I like zukes idea, just remove some of the powder. But how much? Does anybody know what powder winny uses for their bulk-packs of birdshot? Or what the load difference would be with or without a cushion?
 
Weigh the powder and then remove 15%.
Good place as any to start.
I'd cut out the area's you have circled and use the overpowder wad right under the shot wad.
 
I think that yer' doin' things backasswards and looking for trouble, hulls are easy to cut down, and data for the shortened cases can be found on the net, a simple crimping tool(roll crimp) can be bought for very little, it works on a drill or I prefer a drill press. Wads that have much shorter cushion systems are avail. such as WAA12R or Rem. RP12, which can be used in the shorter case. Don't be guessing about what powders the factory uses, match components with the published data, esp. with the smaller shell! Ballistic products has all kinds of over powder wads and seals and data avail....be safe!!
 
Can I ask why you're going thru the trouble to make a short shell? Some companies make a 2 1/2" shell already. Use your same system on those shells. It would be safer and less risk of ruining your gun

Altering those factory shells is only getting you around 1150-1200fps if that
Either way good luck
 
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