trap loads to slugs?

M

mckutzy

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on another thread in the shotgun forum- http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=477473
the man known as Y-man uses hunting loads or i guess "trap loads", taking out the shot and using the same lead from that cartridge, melts it into a homemade mold and the loads the shot shell with the new made slug.

Now i understand he has done it and seems to do well with it.
From people here who have knowledge and experience of reloading slugs for shotguns, could this be a viable option for someone, seeing as the cost of slugs are really expensive? I myself have toyed of the idea of trying to put a musket ball in a emptied of shot target load shell as a cheap alternative to buying slugs, but wasnt too sure of what was a proper way of loading these shells?
 
in Yman's example, just cuts off the end at the roll crimp and pushes the slug into the shell and glue's it shut.
On a cheap winchester trap load from wallmart i looked at, the shell has the wad petals at the end of where the crimp is. if i load a slug or ball how do i secure the slug, shorten the petals or just thumb in the slug and seal it with some glue?
 
You can probably just push the slug in and the pressure from the wad will hold it in place. I would not recomend glueing of any kind. This could be dangerous and raise internal chamber pressures. If you want to load slugs I sugest buying a inexpensive LEE Handloader Kit. You can load to suit your needs and you will have the info needed for safe loading. Remanufacturing any shells to shoot differant types of projectiles is wrong. Use the rounds for what they were intended for. Cheaping out isn't very smart if you blow up a gun or yourself. Thats why Gun and Ammo manufacturers put all Those big gaudy WARNING signs on everything.
 
I would not do this. I would have no idea of what kind of pressures would be generated by a slug going through the barrel with the shot petals in place, and no idea of what kind of velocity you would be getting without a crimp. Without crimp or other retention what kind of durability in the gun?
Far too many variables, for saving a few dollars, and risking a more expensive gun, and possible injury.
 
If there was no other way to get slugs, or reload them... Many people do this and it works for them but I prefer to load using real data and slugs.

Cheapest way, buy a Lee Load All II, Lee Slug mold, Lead melter, then some lead, powder, primers, trap wads, and empty trap hulls. With a Lee round ball mold you can do buckshot too, in the .25 cent per round range for either type. Other companys also make shotshell presses, slug molds, large shot molds etc. such as MEC, Lyman, RCBS.
 
i was thinking about the retention of the slug, what about using water glass as a sealer. black powder reloaders use this for retaining the top card on shotshells?
 
With the Lee slugs, you recrimp the shell closed over it just like shot load. The waterglass is used over a paper disk in brass shells, but I have not tried this and don't know how it would work in a plastic trap hull.
 
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The easiest way would be to remove the shot and leave the wad in the shell, melt the lead and quickly pour it back into the wad(shell), this must be done quickly or the lead will start to harden too quickly. Reseal the shell and go hunting.
 
I've done it by just cutting off the crimp and putting a thin smear of glue on the outside of the slug to hold it in place.

I wouldn't use these slugs for hunting, I'd only play at the range with them. Cheap enough to buy a box or 2 of slugs to last a hunting season.
 
Why continue with your original train of thought, when several posters have written that it's not wise to modify an already loaded shell. Do it right and load from scratch, and you'll have no regrets. Aswell, take some of the responses you get from people on here with a grain of salt.
 
Quigly said:
Why continue with your original train of thought, when several posters have written that it's not wise to modify an already loaded shell. Do it right and load from scratch, and you'll have no regrets. Aswell, take some of the responses you get from people on here with a grain of salt.
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Im sorry were you talking to me? did i miss something.
and if any thing i have already thought of getting into reloading slugs, but the cost of setup is quite unreasonable.
 
Quigly said:
Why continue with your original train of thought, when several posters have written that it's not wise to modify an already loaded shell. Do it right and load from scratch, and you'll have no regrets. Aswell, take some of the responses you get from people on here with a grain of salt.
Click to expand...

You'll also hear guys who chuck out glock fired brass, and most will tell your junk will fall off if you shoot cast lead through a glock. There are numerous examples of things that can be done safely, but perhaps are either not for beginners, or at least require extra care and attention. To be sure, I would not recommend this practice to anyone who was not fairly familiar with safe loading practices, but a good discussion, will certainly benefit the board. Given the number of loaders who've had success with this process, I don't see any reason why more of us shouldn't be interested in it.

I do agree with the grain of salt, however. No matter how experienced the one giving the free advice is, it's your gun, your hands, and your eyes, there is no excuse for not using your own best judgement.
 
I have never subscribed to taking half measures when it comes to reloading. I reload for two reasons. One is because it saves me money. The other reason is to tailor my ammunition to each particular firearm I own. This is a bit off topic, but I have two 45LCs, a Ruger Redhawk and a Ruger bisley. For both I cast my own bullets using 300 Grain WFN and LFN LBT moulds. I wish I could hunt with them, but that's totally off topic. I reload for all my pistols and revolvers, my rifles, and of course my shotguns. Though I have not as yet hunted with the slugs I cast(Lyman 525 Grain Sabot), and loaded, I know they are a viable alternative if I can't happen to find the loaded slug ammunition I love, which is the Federal loading of the Barnes tipped expander bullets. They are very accurate and devasting on deer. The 140 yard through and through shot on the buck I got last year is proof enough for me. I digress, the point I am trying to make is that reloading should be done right. Sure I've invested quite a bit of money over the years on quality reloading equipment, but I don't regret spending a penny, cause the end result is exactly what I want with no compromise. I know that money doesn't grow on trees, but you can do as I have done. Don't succumb to the " I must have it right now" mind set. Buy what you can over time and one day you'll have everything you need to reload the way you want and should. What it comes down to is how important, to you, is it that it be done right?
 
ben hunchak said:
The easiest way would be to remove the shot and leave the wad in the shell, melt the lead and quickly pour it back into the wad(shell), this must be done quickly or the lead will start to harden too quickly. Reseal the shell and go hunting.
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Have you actually done this? sounds dangerous, from pouring melted lead into a shell with powder already there, to and oversized slug bonded to the plastic when it melts on.
Was this done with a rifled barrel, or a smoothbore with a choke?
Accuracy?
 
Al-Sway said:
Have you actually done this? sounds dangerous, from pouring melted lead into a shell with powder already there, to and oversized slug bonded to the plastic when it melts on.
Was this done with a rifled barrel, or a smoothbore with a choke?
Accuracy?
Click to expand...

I'm thinking Ben was pulling our legs...:p
 
I have agree with Quigly. Do it right ,do it safely. I have said before that the reason gun and ammo manufacturers stamp those big warning labels on their products is because some tinkerer thought he could save some cash or make it work better. When people blow their fingers off or lose an eye it just gives more fuel for the anti-gun crowd as to the reason why guns and reloading should be banned in Canada. I can just imagine the headlines with Ignatief,Cuikier and Layton waving pictures of dismemberment and death and how this tragedy could have been avoided if only they could take reloading supplies and guns away from Canadian hands...
 
You just want to get into a philosophical discussion of right and wrong, don't you. Were you captain of the high school debating team? OK, let me make my position clear. Firstly, half measures are not right for me. Secondly, deciding what's right is ultimately up to the individual.

No, using factory ammuntion cannot be classified under what's "right", but what is best under the circumstances. Further, it does not compromise my rule of no half measures. I made black powder, when I was a kid, but would I now make it and load it into a muzzleloader? No, not under the current circumstances, where I have and abundance of powders to choose from. Making black powder, and slug loads from trap loads might be something good to know if circumstances were ever to change, but for the time being, I'll do what's best.
 
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