Tweet
Why you should NEVER use cut shells for home defense
As I'm sure you are all aware the internet is full of myths about "super tacticool" ammo that can
"stop a guy in his tracks". Recently I ran across some folks that seem to think
using a cut shell for home defense is a good idea. Before I get into this post let me be clear.
Using cut shells for defense is a terrible idea!
What in the world is a cut shell?
A cut shell is a standard shell of birdshot that has been modified to act like a slug. To make one you take a knife and score the outside
of the shell all the way around. This incision is done about halfway up from the base of the shell. The idea is that the front end of the shell
rips off the base when fired. This front end contains all of the shot and prevents
it from spreading. Once the projectile strikes the target all of the shot is released.
Where did the idea come from?
There are a few origin stories for the cut shell, but the most widely accepted explanation is the Great Depression. During this time hunters
couldn't afford to purchase both slugs and shot, so they found a way to modify their ammunition. This way they saved money, and they
could easily take any game that they came across.
Defensive Use?
I've heard a few people around the interwebz claim that this would be an ideal defensive load. Most of the claims are based on the idea
that the slug wont over penetrate and hit bystanders because the shot disperses the energy. Prior to this test I was incredibly
skeptical and I did not recommend this idea.
Testing Setup
Like always we are using a block of clear synthetic gelatin from ClearBallistics.com. This is a substitute for ballistic gelatin,
and it meets all of the FBI requirements for testing. We fired the shell out of the Remington 870 from 15 feet.
Results
The cut shell gave us the best looking high speed footage I've seen in a while. Withing 1 inch of penetrating the gel, it had released the shot.
By the 2 inch mark the front portion of the shell and a piece of
the wadding had expanded and lodged itself in the block. Each group of shot penetrated in a expanding conical fashion. By the 9 inch
mark all of the shot had stopped inside of the block. The affected area was roughly 6 inches in diameter.
The cut shell did not meet the FBI penetration requirement of 12 inches, and therefore would not reliably stop an assailant. The modified shot
was very effective at transferring its energy into the block. The temporary cavity was roughly 8-9 inches in diameter.
Other Inherent Problems
"stop a guy in his tracks". Recently I ran across some folks that seem to think
using a cut shell for home defense is a good idea. Before I get into this post let me be clear.
Using cut shells for defense is a terrible idea!
What in the world is a cut shell?
A cut shell is a standard shell of birdshot that has been modified to act like a slug. To make one you take a knife and score the outside
of the shell all the way around. This incision is done about halfway up from the base of the shell. The idea is that the front end of the shell
rips off the base when fired. This front end contains all of the shot and prevents
it from spreading. Once the projectile strikes the target all of the shot is released.
Where did the idea come from?
There are a few origin stories for the cut shell, but the most widely accepted explanation is the Great Depression. During this time hunters
couldn't afford to purchase both slugs and shot, so they found a way to modify their ammunition. This way they saved money, and they
could easily take any game that they came across.
Defensive Use?
I've heard a few people around the interwebz claim that this would be an ideal defensive load. Most of the claims are based on the idea
that the slug wont over penetrate and hit bystanders because the shot disperses the energy. Prior to this test I was incredibly
skeptical and I did not recommend this idea.
Testing Setup
Like always we are using a block of clear synthetic gelatin from ClearBallistics.com. This is a substitute for ballistic gelatin,
and it meets all of the FBI requirements for testing. We fired the shell out of the Remington 870 from 15 feet.
Results
The cut shell gave us the best looking high speed footage I've seen in a while. Withing 1 inch of penetrating the gel, it had released the shot.
By the 2 inch mark the front portion of the shell and a piece of
the wadding had expanded and lodged itself in the block. Each group of shot penetrated in a expanding conical fashion. By the 9 inch
mark all of the shot had stopped inside of the block. The affected area was roughly 6 inches in diameter.
The cut shell did not meet the FBI penetration requirement of 12 inches, and therefore would not reliably stop an assailant. The modified shot
was very effective at transferring its energy into the block. The temporary cavity was roughly 8-9 inches in diameter.
Other Inherent Problems
- The shape of the cut shell does not allow stable flight patterns which could raise some problems.
Out of the twenty shells fired roughly 15 were close to our bullseye.
- The cut shell also may lead to loading problems if cut incorrectly. A cut too deep will destroy your shell, which would
not be fun to clean out of a shotgun especially under stress. - A shotgun with a choke should not be used to fire cut shells. This can cause over pressure which has the potential
to damage your shotgun and harm you. - The lack of penetration may lead to the round being ineffective.
Firing twice isn't always an option.
Comment