Wax bullets

Lager

Lager

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Years and years ago when I had nothing to do with my time, I did some experimenting with wax bullets out of my 357 revolver and found the results interesting. I just resized a 357 case ,installed a primer and filled it with paraffin wax. Found out the wax just shattered and sprayed out from the barrel. Then I figured that the wax needed to be protected from the impact of the primer.
So, I made a gas check from stiff cardboard,, this would go thru a beer can at 10 feet.
Then added a half grain of fast burning powder, then the gas check. Would penetrate a paper target at 25 yards, with some spray.
Then added some lead from a turkey load shot gun shell to the wax.
Found it to be a very successful bird removal tool, that takes up residence right near your bedroom window and a snake dispenser that makes little report that will not alarm your neighbors.
Plus, its kind of fun to play with when your really bored. Your results might vary..
 
I've always wanted to load up some wax .38 specials for up close, shoot from the hip, target practice. I didn't know you need to use a gas check but it make sense. I may have to try it one day.
 
I've made of wax slugs for the shotgun.

I poured out the bird shot and mixed in wax and then spooned it back into the shell.

Punched a hole at 25 yard into a hot water heater
 
2afreedom said:
I've always wanted to load up some wax .38 specials for up close, shoot from the hip, target practice. I didn't know you need to use a gas check but it make sense. I may have to try it one day.
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For what you are considering, member nbkky71's suggestion might be right for you. The price seems real good for that many heads if thats what your wanting to do. I was just playing around many years ago, well before the internet and information gathering was easy. I just remember talking to other reloaders years ago about this and they never heard about it so I was on my own.
If I remember correctly, I only started using a gas check when I started adding powder and pellets into the mix..The gas check was easy to make, I just used something like shirt collar card board. Took a resized piece of brass, and hammer and pounded out a circle. Placed the gas check into the empty case with a pencil, then filled with wax and pellets. Seemed to keep the wax together better for a better hit.
 
I was thinking of some one I knew that bought some foam rubber bullets and used a empty case with a magnum primer. They looked like foam ear plugs. I wonder if you could use those? His would go through both sides of a wicker basket.
 
We use to use S&W 649s with .38 primer powered rounds before Simunition came into play. Googles, gloves and a sweatshirt meant you better be on your game ...
 
I've used my Lee Bullet molds and filled them up with hot melt glue to make my own rubber bullets. Any bullet style will work but the .358 wadcutter worked the best. Use with just a primer in 38 Special or 357 Magnum cases. You can re-use the bullets several times as well.
With any of the primer only practice loads it helps to drill out the flash hole in the primer pockets. If you don't the primers may partially unseat themselves when they ignite and it can bind up the revolver. I used a 1/8" drill bit to make the flash holes bigger.
 
I've shot some of the pre-made wax bullets, they are a lot of fun. I also bought the brass that has the primer pockets slightly enlarged, so the primers just drop in. These can be easily reloaded at the firing line. I tried using regular brass with primers seated normally, but the primers push out enough on firing to cause the cylinder to lock up. I did not try enlarging the flash holes, that might help.
 
Toprudder said:
I tried using regular brass with primers seated normally, but the primers push out enough on firing to cause the cylinder to lock up.
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Why do you think this is? Evidence would say that pressure is higher with just a primer vs with a powder charge, that doesn't make sense to me. Can anyone explain?
 
JimB said:
Why do you think this is? Evidence would say that pressure is higher with just a primer vs with a powder charge, that doesn't make sense to me. Can anyone explain?
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Thank you !!!! Does not make any sense to me either, but I keep seeing it pop up even on sites selling the wax or plastic heads..
 
What happens with the primers, when they first ignite, they are pushed out of the case until they touch the breechface. Normally, the pressure from the powder will push the brass back and reseat the primer, but since there is no powder, the brass does not move back, leaving the primer high.

BTW, high primers in fired rifle rounds is an indicator of low pressure, not high pressure.
 
DickFord said:
What about hot glue bullets ?
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I've done those before. They're alright.

I used 38 SPL cases. Drilled the flash hole way out to prevent primer setback like @Toprudder is describing. Put a heavy chamfer on the mouth. Then hammered 1/2" long chunks of 1/2" diameter hot glue sticks in. Seated a small rifle primer.

They only work properly about half the time, though. Sometimes I'd get high primers in spite of the embiggened flash hole. Sometimes I'd get gas blow by causing a bullet stuck in the barrel. Sometimes the primer would pop and the bullet wouldn't budge. When they do work, they have barely enough energy to puncture an aluminum can.
 
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I used to melt wax in a shallow container and allow it to harden. Before it was completely solid I'd push primed cases into the wax to cut their own bullets. I too drilled out the flash holes and they worked fine. Before drilling put the flash holes the revolver would lock up tight from primer setback.
I also had the Speer plastic bullets. The were fun. You could build a stop box by using a cardboard box and hanging a towel on a cross stick inside.
 
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