Does anyone here use wax loads for cellar practice? If so, I would greatly appreciate any information on these as I am interested to try them.
Thanks much,
Dick
Thanks much,
Dick
38/357 wax loads
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venomballistics
Member
ahh the memories.
yup ... they work and of course there IS a catch.
The only fly in the ointment is the need to drill out the flash holes in the brass to keep the primers from setting back and binding up your revolver.
yup ... they work and of course there IS a catch.
The only fly in the ointment is the need to drill out the flash holes in the brass to keep the primers from setting back and binding up your revolver.
Here is a link...
How to Make and Reload Wax Bullets - American Rifleman
fwiw, I did this years ago with just the opened up flash holes, and the energy was amazing. I was shooting the wax bullets through a piece of tightly stretched CARPET from a distance of about 15'. I only add this so you will be completely clear on just how much energy a small pistol primer can contain.
How to Make and Reload Wax Bullets - American Rifleman
fwiw, I did this years ago with just the opened up flash holes, and the energy was amazing. I was shooting the wax bullets through a piece of tightly stretched CARPET from a distance of about 15'. I only add this so you will be completely clear on just how much energy a small pistol primer can contain.
DWalt
Member
I have used wax loads for many years. From clear back in the days when primers were about half a cent each. You do have to drill the flash holes larger, no magic number. I use un-resized fired cases, and just press the case mouths into a block of canning parrafin. You can recover the fired pellets and re-melt them for re-use. Don't use your cats and dogs as targets, as they can cause injury.
rog8732
US Veteran
Best not to melt down your Gulf wax in an open pan, as it has a very low boil point and will "pop" some. Instead,float a pan of wax chunks on water brought to boil till wax is at the thickness you want your bullets .
By the way Gulf canning wax is available at most all grocery stores, especially if they carry Mason or Kerr jars.
They are not toys. First experience here; through 3 thick cardboards, a set of window blinds,glass window, and bulged the outer window screen.
I think a MUCH better idea is to use those little orange ear plugs as your bullet, but while they fit great in .45 Colt cases, I have not tried with .38/.357 cases
By the way Gulf canning wax is available at most all grocery stores, especially if they carry Mason or Kerr jars.
They are not toys. First experience here; through 3 thick cardboards, a set of window blinds,glass window, and bulged the outer window screen.
I think a MUCH better idea is to use those little orange ear plugs as your bullet, but while they fit great in .45 Colt cases, I have not tried with .38/.357 cases
Nesmith
Member
I read a magazine article (probably Guns and Ammo) back in the 60's that explained how to load wax bullets into .38 casings that had been drilled and counter-sunk to allow the use of shotgun primers. The shotgun primers provided enough velocity that the wax slugs would dent pine boards at 50 feet. The process involved the use of a shallow cookie pan into which one poured pure wax to a depth of 3/8ths of an inch. The wax slugs were loaded by pressing the mouth of the casings into the wax while it was still warm. I prepared a box of casings that I used for years in my four-inch-barreled Colt Commando.
DWalt
Member
"Best not to melt down your Gulf wax in an open pan, as it has a very low boil point and will "pop" some. Instead,float a pan of wax chunks on water brought to boil till wax is at the thickness you want your bullets".
I melt in a cake pan in the kitchen oven.
I melt in a cake pan in the kitchen oven.
A microwave oven works well, too. Melt the wax in a glass cake pan using the "defrost" setting.
DWalt
Member
It's a tough job to drill holes in a case suitable for using shotgun primers unless you have a lathe. I have done that so I could use obsolete Berdan-primed rifle cases with shotshell primers, and i had to grind down a drill bit's diameter to get the proper hole size. And why would you need that much velocity? I have put a couple of grains of bullseye in wax loads, but accuracy is better without the powder. I think the wax strips in the barrel rifling at higher velocity.
Bozz10mm
US Veteran
I tried wax bullets back in 1980 with my Ruger Blackhawk. It worked pretty well and I had some fun with it. Didn't even need to resize the brass.
You don't need a reloading press, just a hand held priming tool and a depriming tool.
You don't need a reloading press, just a hand held priming tool and a depriming tool.
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Shooter Magaven
Member
Classic !
I cant breath from laughing so hard. Thanks for that DWalt
The key word is "your" pets. Neighbors cats and yapping dogs are fair game.
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Speer plastic bullets...
Speer plastic cases and bullets are reusable if you have a trap for them. They are powered by just a primer, I use a magnum primer and get pretty good velocity with them. Easy as pie to reload. Prime (by hand if you want) and snap the bullet in.
Speer plastic cases and bullets are reusable if you have a trap for them. They are powered by just a primer, I use a magnum primer and get pretty good velocity with them. Easy as pie to reload. Prime (by hand if you want) and snap the bullet in.
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Just read some of this thread to my wife. When I got to the part about cats and dogs, you should have seen the look she gave me! Hum... think I'll take some .44 Spec. cases and fix up some nice soft-ball grade .44 wax wadcutters. I imagine that the little bit of extra mass will make a nice impression on neighborhood dogs where the sun doesn't shine! Doubt it'll really hurt 'em. But it'll certainly get their attention! Sincerely. brucev.
Maximumbob54
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Anyone thinking of shooting animals with these...
The last time I made wax bullet loads I was shooting them through a few layers of cardboard leaving dents in my garage door insulation before I caught what I was doing. You will mess up an animal and cause some serious hate and discontent with your neighbors or the wife not to mention the vet bills. Or you are just a miscreant that enjoys animal suffering. I would think these loads would kill smaller dogs and most cats.
Just an FYI.
The last time I made wax bullet loads I was shooting them through a few layers of cardboard leaving dents in my garage door insulation before I caught what I was doing. You will mess up an animal and cause some serious hate and discontent with your neighbors or the wife not to mention the vet bills. Or you are just a miscreant that enjoys animal suffering. I would think these loads would kill smaller dogs and most cats.
Just an FYI.
Around here, at least, it is a felony to shoot someone's pet. I am also certain this would be an illegal discharge of a firearm within city limits.
Not funny at all.
Not funny at all.
Shooter Magaven
Member
They actually make something like this? I never knew anything like this existed. Do you have any more information on this. You say Speer makes them? They still do?
Thanks
Shooter Magaven
Member
The only thing that was "funny" was that someone had to say " dont use your dog or cat as targets.." . Of course you wouldn't do that but the way it was said so matter of fact was hilarious.
I think this condemnation of members who were simply finding humor in having to state the obvious has run its course...i mean jeez, lighten up guys.
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I did the same with the plastic bullets...
I thought I had plenty of 'stop' but I saw that the plastic bullets went right through and left LARGE impressions in the wallboard.
I thought I had plenty of 'stop' but I saw that the plastic bullets went right through and left LARGE impressions in the wallboard.
Yes indeed....
Speer Bullets - Plastic Training Bullets
You can use the cases until the primer pockets wear out (I've never worn one out) and the plastic bullets are reusable if trapped softly. You can sit the primer on the bench and snap the case onto them or prime any way you want. You just push the bullet in until they reach the stop. The are neato and have almost no recoil, which will require some adjustment. Since they are really reusable they are cheap in the long run. I still have some around but the last time I messed with them was a long time ago. Great solution for indoor or back yard shooting. They make .38, .44 and .45 caliber. The .45 bullets are made to fit in a brass case with a drilled out flash hole.
Speer Bullets - Plastic Training Bullets
You can use the cases until the primer pockets wear out (I've never worn one out) and the plastic bullets are reusable if trapped softly. You can sit the primer on the bench and snap the case onto them or prime any way you want. You just push the bullet in until they reach the stop. The are neato and have almost no recoil, which will require some adjustment. Since they are really reusable they are cheap in the long run. I still have some around but the last time I messed with them was a long time ago. Great solution for indoor or back yard shooting. They make .38, .44 and .45 caliber. The .45 bullets are made to fit in a brass case with a drilled out flash hole.
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