Wax slugs?

PoorRichRichard · February 21, 2012, 07:54 AM

The concept has my wallet's attention. Heard they are good out to about 40 yards or so which suits my range needs just fine. Interested to hear what all you shotguns guys think.

johnbt · February 21, 2012, 10:34 AM

I have never heard of anyone I know using wax in a shotgun. They work fine in a .38. That's all I know.

JT

shortwave · February 21, 2012, 03:07 PM

Same here johnbt.

Have played with wax and soap out of handguns but never shotguns.

Dave McC · February 21, 2012, 03:41 PM

What's the mission?

zippy13 · February 21, 2012, 04:03 PM

What's the mission?

^+1^

PoorRichRichard · February 21, 2012, 04:52 PM

Sorry guys. I realize my post begs a bit of clarity. Here is what I mean by making your own wax slugs:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBWWq...e_gdata_player

zippy13 · February 21, 2012, 07:49 PM

For all the trouble he's going through, I think I'd just get a Lee slug mold. In an earlier thread, one of the members reported outstanding accuracy with his Lee slugs.

The thing with wax slugs is temperature control, a warm day and a hot gun could turn wax slugs (in the mag) to soup -- what a mess.

Dave McC · February 21, 2012, 08:08 PM

OK, got it.

Pop grew up in coal country PA during the first Depression. His version used melted tallow instead.

As an emergency improvisation, it's OK.

But good slugs are neither scarce nor expensive. Better choice, IMO.

I doubt shoving a semi solid mass of wax and lead through any great degree of choke is dangerous, but I believe accuracy will be iffy.

Dave P · February 21, 2012, 08:18 PM

Richard - I followed these directions a few months ago. Worked great! I was impressed with the power, and accuracy was just fine.

It is a simple and good experiment - try it!

PoorRichRichard · February 21, 2012, 10:03 PM

Thanx guys. Had a few extra minutes today and put 6 of them together. Was pretty easy and kinda fun. Will report back after testing these few at the range tomorrow.

johnbt · February 21, 2012, 11:50 PM

I wondered who in the world thought a wax slug would be useful. After finally getting home and watching the video I see it's not a wax slug at all; there's shot in it.

I guess the guy wasn't sharp enough to figure out how to put together a double boiler and melt wax the safe way. It's a hydrocarbon mix and burns easily. You know, like methane, etc. I guess he never did any canning with his granny.

John

zippy13 · February 22, 2012, 06:04 PM

John's correct, they might be called wax buffered shot shells, or shot buffered wax shells. I wonder what the fish & game officials think of them.

PoorRichRichard · February 26, 2012, 01:59 AM

Took out the six shells out that I made earlier this week, and man, I wish I'd made more! Punched quarter size holes in the metal plating of a computer tower a 20 yards. Gonna test more at varying distances later next week.

radom · February 26, 2012, 08:31 AM

Probalby less hassle to just cast the things in a mold for slugs in the long run. Or fill the mold with 7 1/2 shot then pour the lead in and have a sintered shot load.

TheKlawMan · February 27, 2012, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Punched quarter size holes in the metal plating of a computer tower a 20 yards.

Now that's the kind of thing that encourages public support for gun ownership. For real fun try shooting at passing vehicles.

publius · February 27, 2012, 10:50 PM

What's the problem with shooting an old PC?

Gunplummer · February 27, 2012, 11:26 PM

Holy crap! When I was a kid the neighbors horse used to get out and run through the garden and flower beds. Chased my mother and tried to stomp the dog. On an old guys advice, I opened up the crimp on a paper 12 gauge shell, poured out the shot, and melted a candle in and recrimped it. Next time the horse came around I shot it in the butt and it lit out of there like it was in a race. After seeing that video I have to wonder how bad I screwed up that horse. The old guy said it would come out as melted wax.

Dragline45 · February 28, 2012, 02:37 AM

Quote:

After seeing that video I have to wonder how bad I screwed up that horse. The old guy said it would come out as melted wax.

In the videos he was mixing shot in with the wax, saying that it wont lose even one ball of shot until it hits the target, so as long as you didn't mix any shot in with it the horse probably just got a good sting.

olddrum1 · February 28, 2012, 04:30 AM

Any idea what kinda of pressure these things run?

jknight8907 · February 28, 2012, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheKlawMan

Now that's the kind of thing that encourages public support for gun ownership. For real fun try shooting at passing vehicles.

You don't know what a computer tower is, do you?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using Tapatalk

johnbt · February 28, 2012, 03:59 PM

Is it like a cell phone tower?

John

PoorRichRichard · February 28, 2012, 06:50 PM

Computer tower- The metal box that houses old PC computers. Usually about 24" tall by 10" wide, and about 18" to 24" deep. Super fun to shoot at with slugs/centerfire rifle rounds.

jknight8907 · February 28, 2012, 07:37 PM

Not so much this:

But this:

zippy13 · February 28, 2012, 07:51 PM

But, the first tower looks more challenging and possibly more fun.

And, the possibility of incarceration adds to the adrenalin buzz.

PoorRichRichard · February 28, 2012, 11:16 PM

Zippy- Dig your style

February 21, 2012, 07:54 AM	#1
PoorRichRichard Senior Member Join Date: April 13, 2011 Location: San Berdoo Posts: 262	Wax slugs? The concept has my wallet's attention. Heard they are good out to about 40 yards or so which suits my range needs just fine. Interested to hear what all you shotguns guys think.

February 21, 2012, 08:18 PM	#9
Dave P Senior Member Join Date: August 17, 1999 Location: North Florida Posts: 1,042	Richard - I followed these directions a few months ago. Worked great! I was impressed with the power, and accuracy was just fine. It is a simple and good experiment - try it! __________________ ... still waiting for that stimulus to kick in ...

February 26, 2012, 01:59 AM	#13
PoorRichRichard Senior Member Join Date: April 13, 2011 Location: San Berdoo Posts: 262	Fun! Took out the six shells out that I made earlier this week, and man, I wish I'd made more! Punched quarter size holes in the metal plating of a computer tower a 20 yards. Gonna test more at varying distances later next week.

February 27, 2012, 10:50 PM	#16
publius Senior Member Join Date: January 25, 2005 Location: Mississippi/Texas Posts: 2,349	What's the problem with shooting an old PC? __________________ "Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were a member of Congress, but I repeat myself." Mark Twain

February 21, 2012, 10:34 AM	#2
johnbt Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 1999 Location: Richmond, Virginia USA Posts: 6,005	I have never heard of anyone I know using wax in a shotgun. They work fine in a .38. That's all I know. JT

February 21, 2012, 03:07 PM	#3
shortwave Senior Member Join Date: December 17, 2007 Location: SOUTHEAST, OHIO Posts: 5,009	Same here johnbt. Have played with wax and soap out of handguns but never shotguns.

February 21, 2012, 03:41 PM	#4
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 14, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,831	What's the mission?

February 21, 2012, 04:03 PM	#5
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,281	What's the mission? ^+1^

February 21, 2012, 04:52 PM	#6
PoorRichRichard Senior Member Join Date: April 13, 2011 Location: San Berdoo Posts: 262	Sorry guys. I realize my post begs a bit of clarity. Here is what I mean by making your own wax slugs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBWWq...e_gdata_player

February 21, 2012, 07:49 PM	#7
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,281	For all the trouble he's going through, I think I'd just get a Lee slug mold. In an earlier thread, one of the members reported outstanding accuracy with his Lee slugs. The thing with wax slugs is temperature control, a warm day and a hot gun could turn wax slugs (in the mag) to soup -- what a mess.

February 21, 2012, 08:08 PM	#8
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 14, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,831	OK, got it. Pop grew up in coal country PA during the first Depression. His version used melted tallow instead. As an emergency improvisation, it's OK. But good slugs are neither scarce nor expensive. Better choice, IMO. I doubt shoving a semi solid mass of wax and lead through any great degree of choke is dangerous, but I believe accuracy will be iffy.

February 21, 2012, 10:03 PM	#10
PoorRichRichard Senior Member Join Date: April 13, 2011 Location: San Berdoo Posts: 262	Thanx guys. Had a few extra minutes today and put 6 of them together. Was pretty easy and kinda fun. Will report back after testing these few at the range tomorrow.

February 21, 2012, 11:50 PM	#11
johnbt Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 1999 Location: Richmond, Virginia USA Posts: 6,005	I wondered who in the world thought a wax slug would be useful. After finally getting home and watching the video I see it's not a wax slug at all; there's shot in it. I guess the guy wasn't sharp enough to figure out how to put together a double boiler and melt wax the safe way. It's a hydrocarbon mix and burns easily. You know, like methane, etc. I guess he never did any canning with his granny. John

February 22, 2012, 06:04 PM	#12
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,281	John's correct, they might be called wax buffered shot shells, or shot buffered wax shells. I wonder what the fish & game officials think of them.

February 26, 2012, 08:31 AM	#14
radom Senior Member Join Date: January 21, 2000 Posts: 1,270	Probalby less hassle to just cast the things in a mold for slugs in the long run. Or fill the mold with 7 1/2 shot then pour the lead in and have a sintered shot load.

February 27, 2012, 11:26 PM	#17
Gunplummer Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2010 Location: South East Pa. Posts: 1,088	Holy crap! When I was a kid the neighbors horse used to get out and run through the garden and flower beds. Chased my mother and tried to stomp the dog. On an old guys advice, I opened up the crimp on a paper 12 gauge shell, poured out the shot, and melted a candle in and recrimped it. Next time the horse came around I shot it in the butt and it lit out of there like it was in a race. After seeing that video I have to wonder how bad I screwed up that horse. The old guy said it would come out as melted wax.

February 28, 2012, 04:30 AM	#19
olddrum1 Senior Member Join Date: March 23, 2008 Location: Mid Missouri Posts: 774	Any idea what kinda of pressure these things run?

February 28, 2012, 03:59 PM	#21
johnbt Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 1999 Location: Richmond, Virginia USA Posts: 6,005	Is it like a cell phone tower? John

February 28, 2012, 06:50 PM	#22
PoorRichRichard Senior Member Join Date: April 13, 2011 Location: San Berdoo Posts: 262	Computer tower- The metal box that houses old PC computers. Usually about 24" tall by 10" wide, and about 18" to 24" deep. Super fun to shoot at with slugs/centerfire rifle rounds.

February 28, 2012, 07:37 PM	#23
jknight8907 Member Join Date: February 25, 2006 Posts: 82	Not so much this: But this:

February 28, 2012, 07:51 PM	#24
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,281	But, the first tower looks more challenging and possibly more fun. And, the possibility of incarceration adds to the adrenalin buzz.

February 28, 2012, 11:16 PM	#25
PoorRichRichard Senior Member Join Date: April 13, 2011 Location: San Berdoo Posts: 262	Zippy- Dig your style