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wywindsor
01-01-2021, 05:22 PM
Anyone ever use #12 or #10 wire for non toxic shot. I have not. But I have all the copper I can use. I just need a quick way to cut it.

maxreloader
01-01-2021, 05:48 PM
It would be cheaper to cut up pennies and use them. :bigsmyl2:

wywindsor
01-01-2021, 06:04 PM
Wire is free to me. And most newer pennies are steel.

Joby
01-01-2021, 06:44 PM
I thought about this before for waterfowl. But when I read rules solid copper wasn’t listed as approved. So I didn’t go down that road.
I figured I’d ball mill it to round it a bit.
Therefore I didn’t devise a method of volume cutting.

wywindsor
01-01-2021, 08:28 PM
I will look into solid copper on the Game and fish web. I don't know why one couldn't. The new Boss ammunition is copper coated bismuth.

rancher1913
01-01-2021, 08:29 PM
look into lead wire cutters used in swaging, copper should be soft enough that the same cutter might work.

turtlezx
01-01-2021, 08:40 PM
long as it isnt lead should be legal thats what there tryng to stop

CLAYPOOL
01-01-2021, 10:42 PM
Naw their trying to stop hunting a little at a time....older ones first, the young ones will give up easily....

CLAYPOOL
01-01-2021, 10:45 PM
WHEN they got steel in, WHY did all the poising stop instantly..? LEAD they said will lay there for years building up...HMMmmnnnn? The crippling sure did pick up...

country gent
01-01-2021, 10:56 PM
Solid copper shot would be much lighter than lead bismuth or tungsten. When steel was mandated the rule of thmb was 1 to 2 shot sizes larger than you normally used to compensate for the weight difference of the shot.

wywindsor
01-01-2021, 11:21 PM
Lead 11.34gr per cc
bismuth 9.8gr per cc
steel 7.9gr per cc
copper 8.94 per cc
tungsten 19.25 per cc

wywindsor
01-01-2021, 11:23 PM
I have a core cutter for swaging. It may cut a few strands at a time with the right die. I need a way to cut say 4/0 to 500mcm at one time

dtknowles
01-01-2021, 11:51 PM
Wire is free to me. And most newer pennies are steel.

No new pennies are zinc. You can melt them and cast them quite easily. When the first new pennies came out I cast a zinc ring for giggles. All my reloading stuff was in storage so I melted the pennies in a spoon on the stove and poured it into a sand mold. Pretty crude but just wanted to mess around.

Tim

dtknowles
01-02-2021, 12:00 AM
Anyone ever use #12 or #10 wire for non toxic shot. I have not. But I have all the copper I can use. I just need a quick way to cut it.

What do you consider quick. Do you mean automated. Wire cutters are pretty quick. Feeding the right length quickly would seem to be the challenge. Dies to swage it round would be a challenge too.

Tim

Joby
01-02-2021, 01:06 AM
https://www.fws.gov/birds/bird-enthusiasts/hunting/nontoxic.php

Here is some info. What copper alloy is the wire. (Or would they even know how to check ),or care. And the required Fluorescent coating might be fun.

Drm50
01-02-2021, 04:45 PM
Years ago in Army all we had was 00 12g. We would try for ducks off rice paddies and I don’t remember any kills with 00. We pulled crimp with sheet metal screw and cut up #12 copper with dikes for shot. At first it was no good because no velocity. We ended up pounding 00 flat and putting copper in with it. We got a few ducks, but did much better when we found out Navy had 71/2 shot for recreation. We traded up some of that and ate more duck. Only guns we had were riot barrels which ain’t much of a duck gun either.

Alferd Packer
01-09-2021, 06:38 AM
I coil the 12 or 10 copper around an 3/16 welding rod so the coils are side by side ,then I slide the thing off and snip between the coils making cheerios of copper.
also on a 1/8 inch rod for smaller cheerios.
You can load these into a shotshell
since lead is scarce.
They really tear up something at close range
You can also drop a few into the nose of a hot glue bullet for weight.They really hit with authority on a squirrel or a rat.

trapper9260
01-09-2021, 09:08 AM
I coil the 12 or 10 copper around an 3/16 welding rod so the coils are side by side ,then I slide the thing off and snip between the coils making cheerios of copper.
also on a 1/8 inch rod for smaller cheerios.
You can load these into a shotshell
since lead is scarce.
They really tear up something at close range

Good idea i have some not able to use copper wire sit around now can see about make use of it if need to .

sharps4590
01-11-2021, 02:15 PM
wy, I was an electrician for 40+ years. Could you use a ratchet cutter and take a small slice of the 4/0 or 500? I've cut off some pretty thin slices, probably about the size of #2 shot. I believe the insulation would still have to be on the conductor for it to work. Be worth a try if you wanted to pursue it.

Drm50
01-13-2021, 09:57 AM
I have mold to cast cores for 22 & 30 cal bullets. They were home made by somebody not me. It would be simple machine job to make mold in diameters you want and have lead wire to cut up for shot.

Scrounge
01-13-2021, 10:01 AM
Wire is free to me. And most newer pennies are steel.

Nope. 97.5% zinc, 2.5% copper. Last time we had steel pennies in production was 1943.

sharps4590
01-14-2021, 02:41 PM
I don't know abut the zinc/copper content but, 1943 is correct for steel.

Alferd Packer
03-14-2021, 05:21 PM
get a LEE no4 buckshot mold
makes 24 at a time
they are joined together 4 on a chain of lead.
You just clip them apart.
I make them and size them and shoot them from my .223
Forty some dollars and shipping from MIDSOUTH SHOOTERS SUPPLY.
Rotometals will sell you some lead
they used to pay shipping if you spent 100 dollars.
worth checking if you have a mould but no lead.

Drm50
03-14-2021, 08:47 PM
What Sharps45/90 said will work perfect. With insulation left on measure and mark. Ratchet cutters will leave neat ends and razor knife would split of the insulation easy. I have Klein’s that run $140 but saw some at Harbor Freight for $20. Make sure you cut nothing but copper and aluminum or you will ruin your cutters.

William Yanda
04-16-2021, 09:08 AM
It would be cheaper to cut up pennies and use them. :bigsmyl2:

I hadn't noticed that they are magnetic. Aren't the new pennies zinc?