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12gauge slugs

Posted: Sun Jan 26, 2020 11:31 pm
by 12gauge
12gauge slugs are far too expensive these days, so I decided to start making my own.

Started with the 7/8oz Lee keydrive slugs (to the right in the picture), but found them to shoot very inaccurately.

I then got a Svarog Paradox mould from Russia. It comes with its own wads that stay attached in flight keeping it very stable. I have been really happy with these, but at 1 - 1/4 oz they are a hefty slug!
I use a roll crimping tool drill bit to finish the shell off.

Not sure how fast my loads are going, as I don't have a chronograph. Would be interesting to see what they clock.

But first I need to get a hold of some lead. Didn't take me very long to go through the little I had on hand.

Re: 12gauge slugs

Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2020 8:59 am
by Matt Flynn
Real pig-busters, nice work :mrgreen:

Re: 12gauge slugs

Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2020 8:29 am
by rhookie
I like the idea of the was being attached, for stabilization.
But I wonder how much drag it produces?
Of course the base of the wad needs to cup the powder, but it also will catch wind as it leaves the barrel.
Close range (20 to 30m) it will hardly make any difference.
But over longer distance, say 50m, which with a slug is still a viable distance, it may become unstabe due to air creating it's own vortex behind it, then making the slug wobble, and going back to shooting without a wad will have the same outcome.
Does that make sense.

Boat tail projectiles leave very minor air disturbance, where a convex or flat back will create drag and negative air pressure.

I'm very interested, just wondering what other improvements could be made.

Re: 12gauge slugs

Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2020 5:41 pm
by theodosius
Interesting

Re: 12gauge slugs

Posted: Sat Feb 01, 2020 10:53 pm
by 12gauge
rhookie wrote: Fri Jan 31, 2020 8:29 am I like the idea of the was being attached, for stabilization.
But I wonder how much drag it produces?
Of course the base of the wad needs to cup the powder, but it also will catch wind as it leaves the barrel.
Close range (20 to 30m) it will hardly make any difference.
But over longer distance, say 50m, which with a slug is still a viable distance, it may become unstabe due to air creating it's own vortex behind it, then making the slug wobble, and going back to shooting without a wad will have the same outcome.
Does that make sense.

Boat tail projectiles leave very minor air disturbance, where a convex or flat back will create drag and negative air pressure.

I'm very interested, just wondering what other improvements could be made.
There are videos on youtube of others getting 1 inch groups out to 50 yards, and not much more out to 100yards. Using loads with Longshot and BlueDot powders.

Using BB shells I've cut open to load the slugs I was getting about 4inch groups at 50m. Only one of the 18 rounds I shot keyholed, the rest cut perfect circles through the chipboard my paper taget was taped to. That was shooting supported by a tree trunk, with a red dot on the shotgun.

I'm not the best shot out there, but I was happy with that degree of accuracy. Would be nice to work on making it a bit better though, when the new ADI powders are released. Presently the gunshops have no suitable powders in stock, so I'm stuck waiting.

Re: 12gauge slugs

Posted: Sun Feb 02, 2020 1:50 am
by COOPS
They would hit hard at 20-30 metres!