Okay, So Laugh At Me, But...

S

Single Six

New member
I admit it. I was raised in a suburb. So, I honestly don't know the answer to this, otherwise I wouldn't ask....but exactly what is Rock salt? I recall seeing TV shows in my youth where characters indicated that it was what they loaded up the shotgun with to either scare, sting, or lightly wound someone. What is this? Is it available commercially, or do you make it yourself? Exactly how lethal [or non-lethal] is it? Any response appreciated; any jokes at my expense on this one are expected.:rolleyes:
 
Its also known as Halite, its the mineral form of sodium chloride. I've always heard the stories of farmers loading up their shotgun with it. I've lived off and on a farm for 46 years, never knew anyone who did it in real life,
 
From what I understand and I could be completely off base, rock-salt is none-lethal, and from that what friend indicated it would serve as a warning, by the time you got to the hospital the rock-salt would have melted out, and all you are left with the small holes, that may or may be still burring. Most often is would go unreported if some was shot with it, since most of the shots were but shot, no pun intended.

I kind of hope from friend was just telling me a BS story, but knowing his background it may just be true, I have no firsthand knowledge either way. so take this for what it is.
 
rigby06,

Rock salt at close range is just as lethal as buckshot. The wad alone can be, and has been, lethal. Most laws dealing with the use of deadly force don't differentiate between what the projectiles from a firearm consist of--shooting at someone with rock salt is treated the same, legally, as shooting at them with buckshot or slugs.
 
The reason most rock salt shootings went un-reported is because the shootee was trespassin/stealin or tryin' to shag the farmer's daughter...:D
I was shot when caught short cutting a crazy ol' guy's place. Probably 8-12 yards. Some skin intrusion and burned like fire! It was worth it because to not cut across his place would be more than an additional mile of walkin' in the michigan cold or dark to get home from most of my "stompin' grounds"...

Brent
 
I suspect rock salt instances can be traced back to muzzle loader days when custom loads were easier to set up. Salt and steel aren't the best mix to keep you gun in good shape.

Back in the day, if there were punks poaching from your pumpkin patch: You might not want to mess up your new cartridge gun; but, the old front loader might still have some utility.
 
I suspect it's mostly a wives' tale and that any perpetrator shot at by such a load was frightened by the sound much more than any impact by the salt. Makes a good story for the guys though, "I remember that time I was caught stealin' watermelons from ol' Joe's patch, and he showed up with his shotgun and....". It would also rust the hell out of the barrel in short order unless cleaned immediately.
 
In my collection of old shotshells I found what I thought were bad crimped reloaded 410's. Upon closer inspection I discovered they were factory rounds someone had open the crimp, emptied the shot, and inserted rock shot in its place. I cant even recall where they came from. Apparently the original owner had a teenage daughter.
 
Rock salt, when coating a standing rib roast, does a nice job of sealing n the juices - when fired in a shotgun shell it vaporizes as it scours your barrel - neither of which is a good thing

If you are firing a gun - use lethal force or you cannot justify the use of deadly force
 
When loading rock salt, you always load the salt and top off the shell with fatback.
When you shoot it the fatback softens the buttocks just before the salt arrives.:eek:

If you don't think the rock salt is a good deterrent, let someone shoot your "hind end" at about twenty yards:D
 
was shot when caught short cutting a crazy ol' guy's place. Probably 8-12 yards. Some skin intrusion and burned like fire! It was worth it because to not cut across his place would be more than an additional mile of walkin' in the michigan cold or dark to get home from most of my "stompin' grounds"...
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I got my introduction to rock salt while paying a visit to a local salvage yard. This savage yard was posted but made no difference to us kids. The yard was large and full of WW-II and Korean war "Booty". There was one large mound of nothing but bayonets and too great of a temptation for our bunch to ignore. We especially liked playing in the tanks. I took a partial load to my arm while trying to leap over a big gate. All I can remember, is the burn. ...... :)


Be Safe !!!
 
I suspect rock salt instances can be traced back to muzzle loader days when custom loads were easier to set up. Salt and steel aren't the best mix to keep you gun in good shape.
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A family member has an otherwise nice LC Smith, that has one bore badly pitted from a rock salt load. It was applied to a local thief about 40 years ago and while he never came back, whatever he was trying to steal probably cost a lot less than what that Elsie would be worth today.
 
It sounds as though the days of blasting unwanted visitors with rock salt are gone. While you could have shooed them away with a load of rocksalt in the past, instead of taking the hint they might be more likely today to spray you with a 9.
 
Yep, back then you didn't go to the local cop if you got peppered because everyone figured you deserved it anyway.

Heck, I can remember getting shot at with bird shot when I was admiring a fine specimen of watermelon one night, no harm no foul, I got the message:p

Today, the police and judicial system have lost their sense of humor about poetic justice, another reason the world is in a downhill spiral!
 
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but exactly what is Rock salt?
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Used in water softners, to clear ice etc. My brother was shot by some, it went under his skin and burned bad. We used to sneak into gardens and eat the goodies, well that was all we could do in them days. No tv, no ipod, no cell phones, 3 channels on tv...... no a/c..... yep no a/c
 
Ever make homemade ice cream??????

C'mon guys you never made homemade ice cream? That's the best use of rock salt.

Another great way to get rid of would be thieves is a good stout sling shot and ball bearings.

My dad used to make the things out of good hardwood for the handle and surgical tubing. With practice you could kill squirrels out to 25 yds. Well he made one for a friend who had a construction business. During the "high gas prices of the mid 70's (you remember it got to a $1 a gallon) the thieves started sifoning gas out of his machines at night. One of them made too much noise and received a 1/4" ball bearing in his buttocks. When the thief went to the hospital, they reported it as a gunshot wound and the guy fessed up to the cops what he was doing and where he was doing it. The cops questioned my dad's friend and asked if he had heard any gunshots. Of course the friend played dumb about the whole incident.

The cop said, "well, it must have been an old muzzle loader" because there weren't any signs of riflings on the bullet". Word got out to the local gas thieves and no more gas was stolen:D:D:D
 
Used in water softners, to clear ice etc. My brother was shot by some, it went under his skin and burned bad. We used to sneak into gardens and eat the goodies, well that was all we could do in them days. No tv, no ipod, no cell phones, 3 channels on tv...... no a/c..... yep no a/c
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YOU had TV???!!!!!!!!:eek::D
 
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