Cut Shells

S

Sphawley

New member
Saw this video and im mildly interested, purely for the fact im not quite sure how this works. Anyone care to calrify and explain how the shell "turns inside out?"

Are these actualy safe? Seems to me like there could be some serious underlying danger...

http://youtu.be/k3M46XVfVOU

Thoughts and opinions??
 
Sorry I hadnt seen the second post, I understand wax slugs are a cut shell but this seems like a pretty different concept...to me at least.

Thanks for the links
 
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A wax slug is where you cut off the top of the shell, the crimp, and add wax to bind the shot into one mass.

With a cut shell (poor man's or emergency slug), the front portion of the hull, the shot cup and the shot remain together until contact. Upon impact the heavier shot breaks through the crimp and the hull section inverts (supposedly). As I've previously discussed, there's the distinct possibility that the hull section may not pass the choke. This is more apt to happen with reloads and results an a hazardous condition.
 
I've fired cut-loads. When they work, they are surprisingly accurate and devastating. One I particularly recall left a nice circular hole about the size of a man's thumb in the front of a dead tree. The back of the tree was gone from about 2 feet above and below the point of entry. It was like a flying grenade exploded in the trunk of that dead tree.

Another time I fired a cut-load and the entire hull of the shell jammed in my barrel something fierce. IIRC I had to take a ram-rod and slide it in from the muzzle and bang the hull back out towards the breach. It was a PITA, but thank God almighty I didn't fire a second round without first checking to be sure the barrel was clear. The thing that prompted me to do that was that the round gave results like a normal birdshot shell would, as opposed to the slug-like effect that was desired.

If you do experiment with cut-loads please take every precaution. Check your barrel for obstructions after each shot and follow all other cardinal rules of gun safety.

Cut-loads are really cool when they work right and it's a good little technique to stow away in your mental tool box. Someday you might need that knowledge! Just remember guns aren't toys. Give them the respect they deserve.
 
Poor mans deer slug, old timers showed me the trick years ago. With the ammo avail today I would rather use a real slug. They work best out of a break open, them hulls can turn and get caught in a auto or pump.

Shot a truck wheel with one, put a big hole in that steel wheel. Aimed at a wood sign was 200 yards away and hit the durn thing. Boy was I amased at that.
 
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