Cut shells?

[mcantar18c]

Seems like forcing the larger upper body of the shell through the smaller barrel just wouldn't be a good idea.

Uh... do you know the particulars of bullet diameters, bore diameters, rifling, gas seals, etc? Plastic is a lot more forgiving than copper...

[rondog]

Oh, I understand that, just seems like shoving something that much larger down the tube with that much pressure behind it might be a little dangerous.

[mcantar18c]

Oh, I understand that, just seems like shoving something that much larger down the tube with that much pressure behind it might be a little dangerous.

I'm basically gonna rephrase my last comment, so nothing really new here, but...
Think about a bullet being forced into a barrel... sure, there's a smaller difference in the diameter of the bullet and the diameter of the barrel than there is between a full shell and its barrel, but the lead and copper bullet has much more resistance as its forced into its barrel, both from the lands and grooves and from the difference in materials (metal vs. plastic).
Based on that, I don't see it being any more dangerous than other guns... not to mention that people have been shooting cut shells since before slugs were developed and as far as I know, other than the freak everything-that-could-go-wrong-did accidents that I'm sure have happened, nobody's had their face blown off doing it (not the ones doing the shooting anyway).

[Ah Pook]

Repost x3

[hollohas]

Interesting. My initial thought was that would be hell on a standard forcing cone...



But hey, if people have been doing it forever, then I am obviously wrong.

[rondog]

Well, I've got a sawed-off single shot 16 gauge and some shells, I just might have to try it.

[CrufflerSteve]

Just know how to do it so you're prepared for the zombie apocalypse. If bans on ammo ever come along heavyweight buckshot & slugs might make the list so this is how to make 'sporting' birdshot behave like a slug. I'd be willing to try it in a modern shotgun. I'd have to be convinced it wouldn't jam up a pump action if not done perfectly.

Steve

[joeyshoe]

When cut right, the hull separates clean from the brass. When not cut right, the end unfolds and blows out like normal. It worked fine in my 870, but I didn't try to cycle them (cut shells in magazine). Once a cut shell was fired, it would extract like normal. It sounds/feels different than an uncut shell.