I have been thinking of going BACK to something that had simply WORKED in the past for me. What have I been looking for in a slug?
Consistent accuracy of 3 to 4 inches out to 40 to 50 yards, using homemade slugs cast out of birdshot, and replacing birdshot In 2 ¾ or 3” shells. Covered with plastic over-shot frangible disk and roll-crimped.
As many of you know – I have had some success locally with Lyman 525 Sabot Slugs (Cavity filled Hot Glue) on top of plastic disk hard-cards inside shotcups.
[I am based in a RESTRICTED country, with almost NO access to components for proper reloading.]
Sadly – the level of work involved stresses me, and I have been getting an increasing percentage of flyers – leading to groups of up to 2 feet!
I am now shooting these out of a Mossberg 500A, Rifled Barrel.
I suspect it is simply because of mangled wads, caused mainly because the Lyman slugs sit a little high in the shotcup, and some shotcups just do not work with the slugs.
Why do the Lyman Slugs have to sit high? Because I have to use plastic disks under the slugs to stop the wads from being pushed into the Slug cavity.
So my questions are:
1. Has anyone ever ground off the plug on the Lyman mold to cast SOLID Lyman slugs? Would they be dangerously over-weight? Pressure issues possibly?
Idea is – if I have nice, long solid slugs: I do not need the plastic disks, and slugs can sit completely enclosed inside shotcup: with good plastic-to-steel contact and good rifling imprinting all the way down the bore.
2. Another thought, reminding me of what I used to do before I was able to get my roundball and Lyman molds – I resumed casting SOLID Lead slugs in 15mm Socket Wrench bits. When measured on the upraised bits (the lands?) these slugs size out at about 17.5mm and sit in shotcups perfectly- giving a nice little bulge/ snug fit in the shotcup.
When push-tested down the barrel – they went through with some initial resistance, but could be pushed down the bore – hammering initially with soft mallet and then by palm. (Sore palm the next morning!) One could see the rifling imprint on the wad from this test.
They mostly weigh in at 30grams versus the 32grams of shot being replaced.
They tend to be short and squat – that worries me. But if shot from a rifled barrel – with the wads being spun by rifling, and them gripping the inner walls of the wads – I suspect they could do okay.
I have loaded a few of these, they really bring back memories! I hope I get good performance out of a rifled barrel.
So, what are your thoughts?
Anyone ever file off the nub for the Lyman Slug plug to cast a solid slug for rifled barrels? What could be the potential possibilities of this out of rifled barrels?
And what do you think of the Solid Lead 15mm Socket Slugs for rifled barrels? See pictures below.