Wax Shotgun Slugs?

[Sikvenum93]

Was trying to find a way to practice longer distance accuracy with my shotgun without spending too much money. I came across wax slugs on Youtube and I was wondering if they work for testing, accuracy purposes? I made a couple wax slugs based on this video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBWWqXVbAfA

Anyone ever give wax slugs a try and whether they work or not?

[Thefeeder]

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Altering shotgun shells is a dangerous practice....you never know what pressure is being generated in the chamber when fired. I have seen what it can do to a shotgun.....luckly the shooter got through it unscaved.

[bigbearbear]

You're better off just buying factory slugs that are priced nicely rather than resorting to something like that, which can be dangerous.

You can get a case of Remington Slugger slugs for $150 with free shipping here:

http://www.targetsportsusa.com/p-2474-remington-express-slugger-12-gauge-2-34-1-oz-rifled-slug-ammunition-sp12rs.aspx

Also, keep an eye on Freedom Munitions. They have their own shotgun slugs and they sometimes put them on sale, I got a case of their copper plated slugs for $150 with free shipping too, very good stuff.

[Sikvenum93]

You're better off just buying factory slugs that are priced nicely rather than resorting to something like that, which can be dangerous.

You can get a case of Remington Slugger slugs for $150 with free shipping here:

http://www.targetsportsusa.com/p-2474-remington-express-slugger-12-gauge-2-34-1-oz-rifled-slug-ammunition-sp12rs.aspx

Also, keep an eye on Freedom Munitions. They have their own shotgun slugs and they sometimes put them on sale, I got a case of their copper plated slugs for $150 with free shipping too, very good stuff.

Ahh ok thanks for the advice. I wanted to use factory slugs but my LGS wanted $8 for a 5 pack and the range wanted $9 for a 5 pack which is frankly insane. Especially since buck is $9 for 10 and bird is $6 for 25.

[Thefeeder]

Was trying to find a way to practice longer distance accuracy with my shotgun without spending too much money. I came across wax slugs on Youtube and I was wondering if they work for testing, accuracy purposes? I made a couple wax slugs based on this video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBWWqXVbAfA

Anyone ever give wax slugs a try and whether they work or not?

If you want to practice long range accuracy....practice at a Trap range...cheeper...about 50 cents a shot which includes shells range time and clays........if you can hit a 4" clay flying 40pmh through the air 40 yards, then shooting a 3 foot target in front of you at 15yds becomes comical

[SBsasquatch]

Wax slugs tumble in the air. Accuracy past 50 yards is minute of man. Don't expect much. These are great for hitting gallon jugs close up. No real practical use IMHO.

[dominic]

Wax slugs wont behave the same as lead slugs, but if you don't want to spend a whole lot of money find some cheap bird shot and make some cut shells, they will act like slugs of the same weight.

[sl0re10]

Altering shotgun shells is a dangerous practice....you never know what pressure is being generated in the chamber when fired. I have seen what it can do to a shotgun.....luckly the shooter got through it unscaved.

+1 on bigbear.

Wax is tougher than most people realize... Not quite non Newtonian but close. If you hit a block of wax hard it pushes back hard (but if you push slowly with a knife you can cut it)... combined with sticky.. in a high pressure chamber... = unpredictable results.

I use small amounts of wax in my slugs but its as a lube and to hold the cards together... ergo I melt and add oils to it, before use, to soften it up. I don't want pure hard wax in my shells... and if you used softer wax it probably wouldn't hold the shot together.

[sl0re10]

Ahh ok thanks for the advice. I wanted to use factory slugs but my LGS wanted $8 for a 5 pack and the range wanted $9 for a 5 pack which is frankly insane. Especially since buck is $9 for 10 and bird is $6 for 25.

If you reload; 69 cal musket balls make great slugs.

If you don't reload; shotshells are good to get into because they're easy / don't take a lot of equipment (to clutter the house). A vintage lee loader kit from ebay that fits in a small box (around the size of four decks of cards) and a digital scale is about all the gear you need.

You can push the price down to 50 cents or less if you roll your own... plus you can then experiment with tweaking the load.

[Wicked Pete]

Wax slugs melt and pellets go everywhere, especially the action.

Some are having better results with a glue gun.

One person made a box of wood and a blade for cutting off the end of the shell, stick in the hole and twist it. EH?

BTW: I took a hack saw and cut off the choke.

[wweigle]

I have made them using low base shells, and I personally do not see any danger in doing so. They shoot reasonably accurate at short ranges, and certainly will severally injure or kills someone if hit by one. Mine had some of the shot pellets stray off the slug and spread around the target, but for the most part the slug stayed intact, and punched a slug type hole in the target. I used crayons for the wax. They are not the way you want to go if your intent is to shot for accuracy. You need to buy several boxes of different brands of shells, and slug types and projectile weights to see what is most accurate and consistent in your gun if your intent is to wring out the absolute best accuracy. Unfortunately, it can get expensive doing it this way. Good Luck

[SD 7.62x39]

They shoot reasonably accurate at short ranges, and certainly will severally injure or kills someone if hit by one.... I used crayons for the wax.

I found that kind of funny, taking a children's art tool, and turning it into a deadly projectile.

[robcoe]

Was trying to find a way to practice longer distance accuracy with my shotgun without spending too much money. I came across wax slugs on Youtube and I was wondering if they work for testing, accuracy purposes? I made a couple wax slugs based on this video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBWWqXVbAfA

Anyone ever give wax slugs a try and whether they work or not?

I make them, but I only use low brass shells to do it, and don't expect any long range accuracy, buckshot with a decent choke is probably more accurate than a wax slug.

Also, forget loading them in the tube, either use a break action or hand load them one at a time into the chamber, and don't use them in a hot gun, the wax will melt if left in a hot chamber long enough(shorter time than you think), the slug will fall forward and you will have a bad situation.

As a rule, I have found I get about 80% of the pellets back in the shell and the total weight of the projectile goes down a bit, so take that into consideration and don't try to cram all the shot back in.

[Dattebayo]

I have made many Hot Glue Slugs. I personally like them more than wax as it is less messy to make. I combine both lead and hot glue to create a frangible slug round. You have to take care not to add more lead than what was originally in the shells. For me, I use 1 ounce load data to reload hot glue slugs and ensure to not have more than 1 ounce of lead within the shell. I have only used them out of 25 yards, and at those ranges, they are still rather accurate. The keep the same shape as the wad and is basically a large flying cylinder. The hot glue slugs maintain their shape and form until impact where they shatter into lead shrapnel. I have easily shot over 1000 of these and have had no issues out of both pump and semi auto shotguns. I have also made them out of the Walmart bulk packs - can't beat .25 cents a round for hot glue slugs.

Technique in making them is important. You don't want to load a bunch of lead then add hot glue or vice versa as the lead and glue will be separated. What you want to do is add a little glue, pour in some shot, empty out of the shell the loose lead, add more glue and then add more lead and continue that until you have reached the weight equal or less than the shot originally in the shell or what the load data suggests if reloading.

[deadcoyote]

Ahh ok thanks for the advice. I wanted to use factory slugs but my LGS wanted $8 for a 5 pack and the range wanted $9 for a 5 pack which is frankly insane. Especially since buck is $9 for 10 and bird is $6 for 25.

I buy the sluggers at Walmart for $11 for a box of 15. Not great, but how many slugs you need to shoot at one time?