The ZLUG Thread

[Hogtamer]

LB, no disappointment here, that's why I'm waiting for your hands on inspection. No risk in the cylinder bore as it was an easy push through out of the barrel I shot.

[bikerbeans]

Hog,

I have a rifled barrel 12ga handi that I will volunteer as a guinea pig for testing your Zlugs. I have a remote trigger operator (30'
of parachute cord) and a milsurp flak jacket.

BB

[xacex]

Hmm. Anyone try a Lyman 525 with Zn yet. I would much rather use Zn vs all the lead I have been using. Maybe make a plug so it is a solid base to bring the weight up? I have Zn, and a mold but I need some ideas to try.

[Electric88]

Is the consensus right now for zinc shotgun slugs that they will work out of smoothbore, just unsure about rifled barrels?

[ohland]

I read the thread, but I didn't see any paper patch or the crushable sabot wads (like accordian ribs all the way around the wad, er, skirt, whatever...

[Hogtamer]

Well, they will shoot out of smootbore but accuracy is untested. Longbow will certainly try some as will I next week.

[Hogtamer]

BB,
You've got a deal! PM me your addy. I need all the quality input I can get and you're a likely suspect.

[longbow]

Without drag stabilization there won't be any accuracy out of a smoothbore... well, anymore than a few feet from the muzzle anyway.

However, with the addition of an attached wad there is a possibility of some accuracy anyway.

I won't likely bother shooting naked Zlugs out of my smoothbore just to go "BANG". I will attach a wad of some description then give that a go. Then there will be a "BANG" and some potential accuracy. I will also use some end grain wood or other stopping material to check penetration as well. I'm betting a Zlug will shine in the penetration department.

Longbow

[Electric88]

I'm excited to hear results about doing this! I am interested in finding out what wad is used and the effect, and will be following closely!

Keep up the awesome work guys!

[Hogtamer]

Just talked to Tom Armbruster @ ballistic research. He's intriqued by this project too. I will load 3 each of 2 or 3 different charges and he shoots them. Rocket science on his end but not mine! He will be shooting them out of a Hastings barrel too. He can make recommendations based on the results. I will get these off next week some time. Man this is moving along! Thanks for all the good advice and encouragement.

[bikerbeans]

The Zlugs have arrived! Range report soon. I was preparing my shoulder for this project by shooting 650g boolits with my 50-90 this morning.

BB

[Hogtamer]

Hey BB, the point of this whole exercise is to produce a full bore slug that does not dislocate shoulder! 50/90????? Sheesh, hurts to think about it. I'm getting a package to Ballistic Research this week with 3 each of 4 loads: For the Zlugs loads of 34, 37, and 40 grns. of Steel in 3" Winnie Hulls, a Fed. 209a primer, an x12x gas seal and 3 hard cards, roll crimp. Also a zinc .600 2-ball load that weighs about 15/16 oz w/ 42 gr Steel that oughtta be pretty snappy.

[bikerbeans]

Progress, loaded 10 Zlugs tonight. Load #1, 35g blue dot, (1) x12x gas seal, (4) .125" nitro cards, fed 209a, win 2.75" AA hull, roll crimp. Load #2 is one nitro card, 60g sr4759 other items same as load #1.

I engraved a slug in my rifled barrel with a ball peen and half inch dowel rod. Very light engraving and it only took very light strokes to tap the zlug down the bore. Me thinks my barrel is a tad on the overbore side. FWIW, it was harder to drive one of turbo's fullbore slugs down my barrel than the zlug.

My scales said the Zlugs weighed 1 1/16 ounce, or just over 30 grams for our friends on the other side of the "pond".

BB

[longbow]

I still haven't received my Zlugs yet so have at 'er BB, you are in the lead and have a rifled gun so more interest for more folks.

It will be interesting to see how they do but if engraving was that easy I doubt pressure will be an issue. Even if the Zlugs are a bit undersize for your barrel I am betting they are hard enough that they center up and do okay... as long as you have a good gas seal ~ I don't see mention of a gas seal. I found I got significant leakage in loads using nitro card wads and no plastic gas seal not long ago.

Longbow

[elvas]

Hogtamer,
I have found that X12X gas seals are usually destroyed at firing leaking gas in the slug area, even with slow burning powders. Actually the only gas seals I found that work satisfactory are those cut from a standard lead shot wad (overpowder cup only).

[bikerbeans]

LB,

I edited my post to include the gas seal I used.

I am not too concerned with pressure in this particular shotgun as the bore is a bit large and I am using starter charges (for a 600g fullbore slug) of powder. I have decided to pass on testing Unique, too fast a burnrate.

BB

[Hogtamer]

This is reminding me of the first time I launched my big wooden boat I built 15 yrs ago. Anxious a bit, hoping for good results. Nothing to do but point it in the right direction and give 'er the gas! LB, I thought the postman would have wandered your way yesterday, package went out on the 1st.

[bikerbeans]

I fired two 12ga Zlugs this morning in my fully rifled H&R. Both the gun and I are alive and well. Both Zlugs went through about 8 inches of OSB and then dug a furrow in my barn floor, a mix of limestone screenings, gravel, dirt and sawdust. I found one zlug and I am sure I could reload it. I am still looking for the other slug. I will make a range trip shortly with the chrony and some targets.

BB

[Hogtamer]

BB, you da man! And that was a starter load?!!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QAnky-QJwII

[bikerbeans]

Fired Zlug, 60g SR4759.

BB