Is filling the bases of Lyman slugs really necessary?

[Blood Trail]

I’ve fired both the Lyman 525 and Russian clone of the 525 using the same data and achieved the same 50 yard accuracy. Shot with my USH. Slugs where cast with pure lead and a little tin.
Data used was 25 grs of Herco, STS hull, Winchester primer, real WAA12 wad, and an 8 pt fold crimp. Some of the petals of the wads were torn, but it didn’t seem to affect access I had no fliers. Base of the slug did dome out a little from slug setback.

For feces and giggles, I shot 4 at 100 yards with ok accuracy. I know I can tighten them up a bit at 100.

So the question is, is it really necessary to fill the skirt to prevent skirt collapse? Is skirt collapse even a thing?

50 yards:

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181221/0778b7aa8c432ed60d1c8dd9e2d601bd.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181221/809e056ada843470fd68322dd870014f.jpg

100 yards:

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181221/2c5e4488a4860a7294109fe4adf32a73.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181221/57ed8523d9da2500dc0117a0ef8c3bd2.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181221/e5f363a7264fa1e6c1984b365a377cf5.jpg

[jdfoxinc]

Mine have always keyholed.

[jmort]

The best 50 yard grops I have seen had the bases filled with Precision Reloading "PSB" Spherical Shotshell Buffer.

[jeepvet]

With groups like that, who cares.

[Hogtamer]

BT, girly loads? :-) Speed those things up to 14-1500 fps and yes, gotta have filler, also lose the blow-by in the process. Looks like they're bulging into wad just enough to let gas by. I want more killing pictures! I hope grandson and I have some next week. Merry Christmas!

[Blood Trail]

BT, girly loads? :-) Speed those things up to 14-1500 fps and yes, gotta have filler, also lose the blow-by in the process. Looks like they're bulging into wad just enough to let gas by. I want more killing pictures! I hope grandson and I have some next week. Merry Christmas!

I was thinking on running these with Steel or ProReach. These ain’t fast at all, running around 1250 fps.

Now granted, I haven’t spent a lot of time with these slugs due to other endeavors, but I’ll get after it after duck/deer season.

How can you tell if the skirt collapses?


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[Blood Trail]

HT,

Oh, and Merry Christmas! Good luck!


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[longbow]

BT:

I have not shot that slug but have recovered several others have shot and seen posted pics. All show skirt collapse. The slug is shorter and fatter, the bevel is gone on the bottom of the skirt and the taper is flattened out some on the skirt "cone".

So the answer is to recover some slugs and look at the skirts. Shoot some into water or some soft media (got snow?)... even long range into sand should do it as long as they hit nose first.

I'd say those sheared petals you've got are a sign the skirts are expanding. They some wheelweight or even heat treated slugs then look at the wads.

Is it a bad thing? Maybe not if it happens the same every time. It may even be a good thing if it happens the same every time. If the skirt obturates to fill the bore it could make up some for poor wad/slug fit to bore and it improve accuracy.

If skirt obturation shears petals then I'd say not so good and if skirt obturation is not the same every time I'd say not so good. Soft lead and heavy powder charge should = consistent skirt obturation. Light powder charge maybe not.

Just my rambling thoughts.

Longbow

[longbow]

Me too...

Merry Christmas to all!

[Lon246]

I killed 5 whitetail does in a couple years (resticted to shotgun in populated valleys) with the 525 and 3", 12ga hulls. I got 3" group at 50yds, 6" at 100yds. Velocity above 1500fps, load from the 5th ed. Lyman manual. Kicked hard. Rifled choke tube on an '870. Drop after 100yds made me call it a 100yd gun. No filler in the slug. If the load meets my range and accuracy requirements, why would I care what the wad looked like? The wad was not forced inside the slug, I don't remember any missing petals. I guess, in general, I reload from a manual to get what I need and call it good. If you experiment (I do but very little) gents, be carefull.

[longbow]

If it is working for you that is what matters.

In my experience with HB slugs I have had repeat issues with wads jamming into hollow cavities so I fill the cavities.

TAOFLEADERMAUS has video of Lee Drive Key slugs with wads jammed in and not releasing. Not sure what load data they were using or what wad.

I use nitro card wads under Lee slugs in my smoothbore because recovered wads were in bad shape with bulged/cracked bottom of shotcup and accuracy was poor. The nitro card wads seemed to help that.

In my case, I have limited selection of wads so use what I have or can get. I'd have to check if the Lee recipes include Winchester wads for 1 1/4 oz shot (forgotten the part #).

I tested one load that I used Pacific Verelite wads for and they were almost totally destroyed but accuracy was pretty good. That is an exception though. Normally when a load recipe results in poor accuracy for me the recovered wads are generally in bad shape. Odd too in that those wads are thicker and tougher than most I've tried so tend to look good when recovered.

Anyway, if it ain't broke, don't fix it! You've got a combination that works for you and your gun.

Longbow

[toallmy]

That's the way I shoot them 25 gr Herco cast out of pure through a MP dual cavity mold , without filling the base loaded in a clone wad folded in a STS hull - because the AA hulls are a touch to short . Funny thing it seams the fist reload shoots good but the next time I load the hull the groups open up .

[Petander]

I tried a new 12 gauge girlie load (1130 fps ) today,using hi antimony alloy, BHN 18. Vihtavuori 3N37.

My cups are for tungsten shot so they are tough,I also use a felt wad under the cup. These Lyman slugs snap into the cups real nice.


Velocity was only 1130 fps but there was hardly any spread in five chronoed shots. I didn't shoot groups but it cycled fine in a cylinder M3 and I seemed to hit the rocks I was aiming at. Fired cups looked like they coud be reloaded.

232514.

[Hogtamer]

Nice looking loads there Petander. You know I was giving that Biiig old Marine Bloodtrail a little poke as his loads often are just this side of heavy artillery! Don'tcha love the clear hulls?