Hansol's Slug Gun Part II

Andy,

Thanks for the info. I wasn't trying to disagree with you, I just misunderstood.

It's good to know that a guy CAN see a few pressure signs in hulls. Mostly all I've been told regarding shotgun pressure signs was that they don't exist and are impossible to see and that I was going to die. So this is a refreshing change. Thank you.

On that note, maybe it would be better to not drill the chamber and set up a pressure gauge, but instead use the shotgun to test increasing powder charges, and look for pressure signs on the hull itself. Many people have said pressure signs don't exist, but how many have actually tested a shotgun with over-max loads to see what happens to the brass?

Or for that matter, maybe wealthy guy could buy 2 guns, install a guage on one, and test powder charges on another. OR do both tests on the one gun, if the pressure apparatus holds up... Holy crap there's a lot to play with here.
 
Last edited:
I don't want to sound like someone from Alberta Outdoors, but all that having been said, you've done some nice research on known loads for shot, erred on the side of caution, and actually shot some of those loads - so far so good. I would not be inclined to go outside of the knowns (pressure and strength of the gun) to deliberately test the theory, but it's nice to know what it means if and when you see the signs.
 
Andy,

I certainly agree with you. Mostly this idea of a "pressure gun" is a fleeting exercise, and who knows if I ever get around to building/testing it or not. I don't have the money at moment to buy another shotgun that could essentially blow up on it's first test, so that project will remain a project for quite some time until I am in a postition to take $200 and "burn" it, essentally.

It's a fun academic exercise, and certainly looks neat on paper. We'll see how it goes.
 
Last edited:
Alright to take this thread in another direction, here are my current wonderings regarding loads:

Regarding Round ball versus Bullet/slug penetration.

Through my reading of the old books on Africa and India, I've come across discussion of the standard round ball loads compared against conicals. And one of the interesting things that seems to be noted repeatedly is that the round balls tend to penetrate better, and in a straight line, when compared to conicals.

This too was noted by surgeons in the crimean war, where they noted how while the round ball wounds tended to be straight "in and out" affairs, with the balls destroying everything in their path, the conicals tended to impact something hard, and then be "turned" into the softer flesh, and proceeding to travel on a path of least resistance.

This too is seen in many wounds on the current battlefield, with small caliber bullets impacting bone and winding up in strange places perpendicular to the original direction of travel.

Has anyone else here noticed that their round ball loads tend to penetrate better than conicals?
 
From what I have researched there are 2 reasons conicals may not penetrate as deep as round balls. The first is that a round ball can be pushed faster than a longer/heavier conical. At the low velocities that are produced from a shotgun/bore rifles, extra velocity will net you extra penetration. This contradicts the findings with current high velocity stopping rifles in the 2100fps range.. that a heavy solid even though traveling slower (but still much faster than a shot gun) will out penetrate a lighter solid traveling faster. To exaggerate this point, a 1000g slug will not go as deep at 100fps as a 550g round ball at 1000 fps. There is also a high velocity threshold where more velocity does not increase penetration. In stopping rifles this centers mostly around bullet construction, if you push your lead ball to 3000fps it will explode on contact and penetration would suck.


The second reason that balls would penetrate deeper and straighter is that the conicals of the time were "pointy". Common knowledge today suggests that a flat nosed bullet with a wide meplat will penetrate deeper and straighter than a pointy bullet.
 
Last edited:
there are strain gauges that can be bought and attached to your gun, i think one of the chronograph companies sells them.
 
Republic of Alberta said:
The second reason that balls would penetrate deeper and straighter is that the conicals of the time were "pointy". Common knowledge today suggests that a flat nosed bullet with a wide meplat will penetrate deeper and straighter than a pointy bullet.
Click to expand...
Not to common, in fact I'd never heard of such a thing until right now!
 
Hey guys,

Yes I know most of you want to see stuff blow up; that will be happening this weekend probably. Right now I'm putting the finishing touches on a round ball mold, as I'm too poor at the moment to buy one. I'll post pics when I'm finished this evening.

Once this thing is finished, I can test round balls vs. slugs. vs a 375.
 
Hansol,

Re: your mention of "proof load" recipes, and using that as a max/danger load, proof loads will likely produce 50% to 100% greater pressure than what is considered the "safe" pressure. The idea being that if you run a REALLY hot load through it once,and it survives unscathed, then it is likely safe to bang away with normal pressured loads, for the rest of the firearms life.

Ian
 
hansol said:
Hey guys,

Yes I know most of you want to see stuff blow up; that will be happening this weekend probably. Right now I'm putting the finishing touches on a round ball mold, as I'm too poor at the moment to buy one. I'll post pics when I'm finished this evening.

Once this thing is finished, I can test round balls vs. slugs. vs a 375.
Click to expand...

Better be careful Hansol, Mr TSX is gonna come along and tell you you're crazy and this stuff doesn't work and you should buy store bought slugs and forget all this foolin' around with ancient round stuff.
 
303carbine said:
Better be careful Hansol, Mr TSX is gonna come along and tell you you're crazy and this stuff doesn't work and you should buy store bought slugs and forget all this foolin' around with ancient round stuff.
Click to expand...

You know, who am I kidding. None of this stuff works, store-bought is obviously better, all the "factory" people can do things better than I can...

I think I should just give up on life, and have everyone do things for me, lest my attempts be considered "unsafe"... :D

Actually I'm really happy with the way this thread has gone. Not too many nay-sayers, no blown up guns, no missing fingers, and hopefully people here can learn a thing or two from my rediculous antics.
 
hansol said:
You know, who am I kidding. None of this stuff works, store-bought is obviously better, all the "factory" people can do things better than I can...

I think I should just give up on life, and have everyone do things for me, lest my attempts be considered "unsafe"... :D

Actually I'm really happy with the way this thread has gone. Not too many nay-sayers, no blown up guns, no missing fingers, and hopefully people here can learn a thing or two from my rediculous antics.
Click to expand...

No nay sayers here Hansol, another member here makes some of the same stuff as what you're making and has some fun and success with it. I was given one of the round balls after it was fired into a piece of fir, it was still perfectly round and could be reloaded again. I'm glad you didn't get injured during your testing, I don't consider "antics" ridiculous. Where the hell would this world be without people willing to take a chance on untested data. All data at one time was untried, someone had to do it. Good on you and keep us posted....:)
 
so i picked up some caps to give this a try. if anything they should make some cheap plinking shells :)

I picked up some of the end caps but I also grabbed a few of the 1/2" connector fittings. although the end is open, they are about twice as long. hopefully the long tail will help stabilize the slug a bit.
 
Wildfoot, I don't know how "safe" my loads are (specifically the smokeless one), so just be aware. If you are going to try 'er out, start with lighter powder charges and go from there.

Also, I don't recommend you use these slugs in a choked gun. I wouldn't say you "can't", but I'm pretty sure if you use them in a choked gun, the constriction will cause a barrel to burst as it attempts to compress the slug. Cylinder bore only.
 
Last edited:
hansol said:
Wildfoot, I don't know how "safe" my loads are (specifically the smokeless one), so just be aware. If you are going to try 'er out, start with lighter powder charges and go from there.

Also, I don't recommend you use these slugs in a choked gun. I wouldn't say you "can't", but I'm pretty sure if you use them in a choked gun, the constriction will cause a barrel to burst as it attempts to compress the slug. Cylinder bore only.
Click to expand...

thanks. i will be trying much lighter loads. and will have someone helpin me who has a bunch of experience with reloading. I will be getting a cyl bore choke as well. :)
 
Good to hear. I'll be interested in hearing how they perform in a smoothbore other than mine. And glad to hear you are being safe. I don't mind blowing myself up, but when other people attempt it, that's a different story.

Keep us posted. I'll be out this weekend testing the slugs and roundballs against my 375 Taylor, and figuring out velocities and penetration. Should be a good way to spend a weekend.
 
hansol said:
Actually I'm really happy with the way this thread has gone. Not too many nay-sayers, no blown up guns, no missing fingers, and hopefully people here can learn a thing or two from my rediculous antics.
Click to expand...

Maybe the nay-sayers realized that nobody else is listening. How do you think John Browning or Henry Ford or countless other inventors/tinkerers/visionaries got to where they did? Sitting on the couch gets nothing done. And remember, the only man who never made a mistake, never did anything... Just be careful and take it step by step to avoid any of those nasty blown up guns or other calamities.

Mark
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom