Fun with Cut Shells 12g

[0faustus0]

We know that SAMII max pressure for a 12ga 3” shell is 11’500 psi. We also know that modern shotguns are pressure tested and proof tested to around 20’000 psi. We also know that it will take around 55’000 psi to blow up an 870 barrel.

Now, I have not come across one incident in my research and where a cut shell did blow up a gun or barrel.

And we can probably conclude that a cut shell will be shooting at SAMII max pressures or above. And really that is not the question …. the question is how much above SAMII max pressure.

And because there are no reports of cut shells blowing up barrels, my guess is that we are talking somewhere between 11’500 psi and 20’000 psi. (I have not seen yet a report of pressure testing cut shells.) And some hunting and target loads that normally shoot at 8’000 or 9’000 psi might not even reach that range as a cut shell …

Now, would I shoot a cut shell through my 100 years old Damascus SxS ?? Probably not ! But I would not hesitate to shoot a cut shell through my 870s any day …


https://www.shotgunlife.com/shotguns/tom-roster/important-information-about-shotshell-pressures.html

 

[OkayShooter]

"We did this a lot back in our teenage years,it would blow threw a chev square body tailgate both sides"


holy smokes !!!

and so much cheaper than Slugs.

I make prepper slugs, I turn old trap loads into slugs. Got a cutter that cuts the inside of the rolled crimp so leaves the wad in place. Then I cast the shot into slugs and push it back in.

 

[Big bore dinosaur]

Easier than shopping for 28 gauge slugs. Thx

 

[CobraGT]

I played with cut shells and then switched over to dumping the shot into a pot of molten wax and then pouring the mixture back into the shell. The result is a hard wax slug.

I shot a porcupine with one. In one side and out the other. No sign of falling apart.

Good plinking slugs for 30 cents each.

Once I got the hang of making them, they will cycle through a pump or semi.

I've long been tempted to try this. Any particular type of wax you use, or just the remains of old candles??

 

[Lexthedestroyer]

I make prepper slugs, I turn old trap loads into slugs. Got a cutter that cuts the inside of the rolled crimp so leaves the wad in place. Then I cast the shot into slugs and push it back in.

What kind of cutter do you use for that?

 

[OkayShooter]

What kind of cutter do you use for that?

I got it off ebay from a username called Nimrod. But there are others you can print.

Also should say he sells a mini press to help push the slugs thru the rolled crimp.

 

[lone ranger]

Originally Posted by Grouse Man View Post
Remind me never to buy a shotgun from you guys.

Why Not....Its PROOF Tested LOL

 

[nwtbolthunter]

Find a piece of pipe that fits snugly over a shotgun shell. Cut pipe to length so when on shell its against brass lip on one end the other end is just shorter the the plastic crimped end use exacto knife to cut end off. Dump pellets in old pot add any wax. Higher melt point the better. Use spoon pour mixture back into shell. Make mixture level with cut end of shell. Take your time make them clean and level. The new wax slug will be slightly lighter than original load. Aswell as removing crimped section this will lower the pressure keeping your shinanagins safe. They are actually decent as far as accuracy and hitting power. Shoot them in a 2 3/4" chamber if possible less distance for it to jump before engaging barrel better accuracy/consistency. Dont chamber these into a hot gun and leave them chambered the wax can melt. Once you have this fun and its outta your system go buy a couple boxes of slugs and keep them with your shotgun. Cut shells are same diameter as the chamber but larger than the barrel as the design is for the hull to stay in the chamber when fired. Wax slugs are fun and cheap. Be careful

 

[buckbrush]

Cut shells are pretty sedate compared to shooting 50 B.M.G. ball out of 12 gauge shotguns. Check out YouTube.

 

[Intrepid]

I would say this is not something that should be done - period.

Pbbbt. Used to do it all the time, with various shotguns. Called them "ringed loads". As long as you didn't try to fire them out of a choked bore, or a damascus barrel.... They worked really well with the old fiber wads.

 

[Grouse Man]

Yet we're still waiting to hear from the total noob if he was using cut shells in his little mishap.

 

[OkayShooter]

Here is how I make my trap load slugs. Using some 3D printed tools I got off ebay, 5/8" hole puncher, cardboard. The shot I collect, I cast back into slugs.

Just got back from the range, the Federal shells I used this time, fitted the 7/8oz Lee slugs loosely. But did shoot well. 5 shots rested at 25M.

 

[Longwalker]

"safe as long as you don't shoot them out of a choked bore" is a statement that displays a profound misunderstanding of how pressures work in a shotgun barrel. Peak pressure during firing happens at the chamber, and pressure is much lower at the choke.

Anyone who does this should realize a cut shell is producing pressure far far in excess of what shooting a 3" shell out of a 2-3/4" chamber would do. Would you shoot 3" magnums in a regular chamber? Most sensible people wouldn't. The extra length of shell case reducing the effective interior diameter of the forcing cone makes pressures spike dramatically. Even so, you'd be dealing with lower pressures than a cut shell.

In a cut shell, it's not only the extra thickness of the shell case that is being fired into the chambers forcing cone squeezing the shot and increasing pressure, but the crimp has not opened up and the shot is much less "fluid" as a result.
Go ahead and have fun while playing and risking your fingers and eyesight, I'll pass.

 

[warzaw]

"safe as long as you don't shoot them out of a choked bore" is a statement that displays a profound misunderstanding of how pressures work in a shotgun barrel. Peak pressure during firing happens at the chamber, and pressure is much lower at the choke.

Anyone who does this should realize a cut shell is producing pressure far far in excess of what shooting a 3" shell out of a 2-3/4" chamber would do. Would you shoot 3" magnums in a regular chamber? Most sensible people wouldn't. The extra length of shell case reducing the effective interior diameter of the forcing cone makes pressures spike dramatically. Even so, you'd be dealing with lower pressures than a cut shell.

In a cut shell, it's not only the extra thickness of the shell case that is being fired into the chambers forcing cone squeezing the shot and increasing pressure, but the crimp has not opened up and the shot is much less "fluid" as a result.
Go ahead and have fun while playing and risking your fingers and eyesight, I'll pass.

Most sensible post submitted so far .

 

[Big Bad]

^^^ Cut shells are supposed to be for emergency use. But I've never heard of a mishap with one.

 

[Butcherbill]

Here is how I make my trap load slugs. Using some 3D printed tools I got off ebay, 5/8" hole puncher, cardboard. The shot I collect, I cast back into slugs.

Just got back from the range, the Federal shells I used this time, fitted the 7/8oz Lee slugs loosely. But did shoot well. 5 shots rested at 25M.

View attachment 603896

That’s a great way to make some plinking slugs I bet, how accurate are they out to say 50-60y?

 

[B]

"safe as long as you don't shoot them out of a choked bore" is a statement that displays a profound misunderstanding of how pressures work in a shotgun barrel. Peak pressure during firing happens at the chamber, and pressure is much lower at the choke.

Anyone who does this should realize a cut shell is producing pressure far far in excess of what shooting a 3" shell out of a 2-3/4" chamber would do. Would you shoot 3" magnums in a regular chamber? Most sensible people wouldn't. The extra length of shell case reducing the effective interior diameter of the forcing cone makes pressures spike dramatically. Even so, you'd be dealing with lower pressures than a cut shell.

In a cut shell, it's not only the extra thickness of the shell case that is being fired into the chambers forcing cone squeezing the shot and increasing pressure, but the crimp has not opened up and the shot is much less "fluid" as a result.
Go ahead and have fun while playing and risking your fingers and eyesight, I'll pass.

Nobody said the issue was with pressure. Slamming into a restriction can cause a bulge or send a threaded choke flying. Everything you said has been brought up already, with much less filler and purse-clutching...

It isn't a great idea but those who choose to do so will almost certainly never have any issues, especially ones related to a catastrophic failure. Think what you like but that's how it is in reality.

 

[mbogo3]

As a youth I took out the lead shot and replaced it with a rolled up coil of 50/50 solder .........you could stick your head through the hole it made in plywood.

 

[OkayShooter]

That’s a great way to make some plinking slugs I bet, how accurate are they out to say 50-60y?

I only shot the Lyman ones out to 50. And was under 3inch, but there is yawing issues with those ones. I'm shooting them out of a 870 P with 18" cylinder bore.

Need to cast some more 7/8oz slugs. But the federal wads hold them loosely which I may need to pour some wax in.

 

[Butcherbill]

I only shot the Lyman ones out to 50. And was under 3inch, but there is yawing issues with those ones. I'm shooting them out of a 870 P with 18" cylinder bore.

Need to cast some more 7/8oz slugs. But the federal wads hold them loosely which I may need to pour some wax in.

Nice, I’ll have to try this at some point.

Have you thought of making a two piece sleeve or sabot out of a 12g hull to make the Lee slug fit tight in the wad? I’ve seen this in Taofledermaus videos for underside projectiles or as a discarding sabot for steel slugs being shot through rifled barrels. They cut a hill into two half’s and it discardes as it exits the barrel.