Putting a cotton ball in a shotgun shell.

[Red Rider Rudy]

Would putting a cotton ball in the wad under the shot increase the pressure?  

[Sedalia Dave]

No, the weight of the cotton ball is insignificant compared to the weight of the shot. 

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

Try a dried red Kidney bean. 

Trust me, it works well.... 

[Blackwater 53393]

A cotton ball will look like feathers when fired from a shotgun!  Put it on top of the shot for the best effect!! 
 

 

Doesn’t work well with Black Powder!!

[watab kid]

i know of folks putting glitter and confetti in them just to entertain , 

[Tyrel Cody]

5 hours ago, Blackwater 53393 said:

 

Doesn’t work well with Black Powder!!

Well now I gotta ask how you know that  

 

 

[Blackwater 53393]

9 minutes ago, watab kid said:

i know of folks putting glitter and confetti in them just to entertain , 

Don’t use glitter!!  It’s too likely to get into someone’s eyes and it doesn’t show up very well. Use larger mylar sequins! They’re flashy and they don’t get into places that could be harmed!!

3 minutes ago, Tyrel Cody said:

Well now I gotta ask how you know that  

 

 

 

I know this because I’ve done it!  One of my very good friends from the legendary Possum Trot traded me that knowledge for the sequin trick mentioned above!  

[watab kid]

46 minutes ago, Blackwater 53393 said:

Don’t use glitter!!  It’s too likely to get into someone’s eyes and it doesn’t show up very well. Use larger mylar sequins! They’re flashy and they don’t get into places that could be harmed!!

 

I know this because I’ve done it!  One of my very good friends from the legendary Possum Trot traded me that knowledge for the sequin trick mentioned above!  

great point , safety first 

[Orient Express]

Would sequins melt in a BP loaf?

[Woodchuck Willy 114613]

I am a personal user of the lovely cotton ball filler.  I put them on top of the shot to make the stack height right on our super light 

APP  12 gauge loads.  It makes a lovely snowing effect and works great.   It gives new meaning to the "powder puff" load name.  

 

I saw the glitter in action at Land run and wanted to try it for my wife.  Now I better look for sequins instead. 

[Frontier Lone Rider]

I have seen yellow bird feathers come floating down after some shooters shot for fun.

[Totes Magoats]

On the press, it would probably be easier to put it on TOP of the shot.

 

Ginger didn't like it when I snuck them in hers.   

 

Totes

["Big Boston"]

I've dabbled in loading shotgun shells since the mid 70's, and IMHO the best spacer is a card wad or wads, under the shot for a folded crimp shell. For a roll crimp, you need a over shot card anyways, so if you need more than one, you can put one under and one over or two over, whatever. 

 

But the reality is, even a mediocre, haphazardly loaded shotshell will get the job done in our game, I'm just a bit fussier than mediocre. 

 

BB

[Texas Maverick]

4 hours ago, Totes Magoats said:

On the press, it would probably be easier to put it on TOP of the shot.

 

Ginger didn't like it when I snuck them in hers.   

 

Totes

So that is what that knot I saw on the back of your head came from. LOL

 

TM

[Reverend P. Babcock Chase]

Howdy Red,

 

Just recently a cowboy I was shooting with looked at the "caved in" crimps on my shot shell reloads and suggested that I drop a cheerio into the shot cup. Haven't tried it yet, but I have the Cheerios. I figure if I don't eat too many of them, the box will last me for the rest of my cowboy career 

 

Rev. Chase

[Tulsey, SASS#11236]

Years ago I use to use one sheet of folded blue or pink TP as a filler. Got some interesting comments. Some people actually believed me when I said I put a drop of Hoppes on each sheet to make a self cleaning shotgun shell..  Never really did that. .

[Abilene Slim SASS 81783]

On 10/22/2024 at 10:26 PM, Orient Express said:

Would sequins melt in a BP loaf?

Depends on how long you leave it the oven…

[J.S. Sooner, SASS #73526]

I remember a story of someone swapping out the shot with a rather small garment years ago. After the shooter finished the stage it was found hanging on a target. 

[Blackwater 53393]

57 minutes ago, J.S. Sooner, SASS #73526 said:

I remember a story of someone swapping out the shot with a rather small garment years ago. After the shooter finished the stage it was found hanging on a target. 

That was Howdy Doody!!  We had a club called the Insane Clown Posse that shot all sorts of things out of our guns!

 

Willy McCoy and I started it back in ought six!!

 

We developed loads containing crepe paper that looked like we were shooting flowers out of our shotguns.  Cotton balls and feathers, sequins, colored chalks, paint balls, and finally, actual fireworks loads followed.

 

When some folks got carried away and set too many props and berms afire without enough people around to manage the extinguishment, some places banned them.

 

These are not loads that I’d recommend for any regular use or for use by inexperienced shooters.  We spent a lot of time researching and testing our loads and many hours making sure that they were safe to shoot!

 

The old, “DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME!!”  warning is absolutely imperative here!!!

 

 

 

[Fretless]

For those that want to use glitter, apparently you can get biodegradable glitter in a chunky size that won't carry the typical hazards of regular glitter

 

Here's one example:

 

Hemway Eco Friendly Biodegradable Glitter 100g / 3.5oz 

Extra Chunky (1/24" 0.040" 1mm) - Pink Holographic https://a.co/d/gICb9TS

 

[Irish Pat]

Twice I have had the honor of shooting shotgun shells that were loaded with the  cremated remains of friends that had requested to be fired at their favorite range

[Eyesa Horg]

9 minutes ago, Irish Pat said:

Twice I have had the honor of shooting shotgun shells that were loaded with the  cremated remains of friends that had requested to be fired at their favorite range

We've put that request in our will.

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

If you use fiber wads, they very much looks like confetti coming out of the barrel.

[Blackwater 53393]

We used to remove the streamers from those old hand held “popper” party favors and load them in shotgun shells in place of fiber wads.

 

That one got plenty of laughs from the peanut gallery!!

[Red Rider Rudy]

Thanks all, I worked out a fun load.

[Abilene, SASS # 27489]

23 hours ago, Reverend P. Babcock Chase said:

Howdy Red,

 

Just recently a cowboy I was shooting with looked at the "caved in" crimps on my shot shell reloads and suggested that I drop a cheerio into the shot cup. Haven't tried it yet, but I have the Cheerios. I figure if I don't eat too many of them, the box will last me for the rest of my cowboy career 

 

Rev. Chase

When I dropped my BP loads from 1 1/8 oz to 1 oz, the crimp became a bit concave.  Not bad, but I've been putting a cheerio on top since then. 

[Reverend P. Babcock Chase]

Howdy Abilene,

 

You say you put the cheerio on top. On top of the shot? I haven't had a chance to try it yet, but I thought it would go under the shot. Or does it not make any difference? I figured one wanted the shot to hit the target before the cheerio. What say you?

 

Rev. Chase. 

[Abilene, SASS # 27489]

2 minutes ago, Reverend P. Babcock Chase said:

Howdy Abilene,

 

You say you put the cheerio on top. On top of the shot? I haven't had a chance to try it yet, but I thought it would go under the shot. Or does it not make any difference? I figured one wanted the shot to hit the target before the cheerio. What say you?

 

Rev. Chase. 

Hi Rev, maybe it depends on the loader.  I use a Lee Loadall and if I drop the cheerio in before the shot, when the shot dispenser tube pushes the wad down, the cheerio clogs the hole and stops shot from coming out.  Plus, part of the idea is not just making the stack height right, Lumpy Grits' kidney bean trick does that, it also to block any shot from leaking like the overshot pieces of paper do.

[Reverend P. Babcock Chase]

Thanks Abilene,

 

I'm using a MEC Jr. so I guess I could do either. My theory is that if the cheerio under the shot makes the stack height right then the crimp will hold all the shot like it should. It would be easier to drop the cheerio on top of the shot. I guess I'll try both ways to see what works best for me. On the face of it, the idea of a cheerio right under the crimp offends my sense of propriety. I can't explain why.

 

Rev. Chase

[Eyesa Horg]

Don't store them where there are mice 

[El Sobrante Kid]

A soft cheerio will be obliterated before it ever leaves the barrel. It is very possible (likely) that it is crushed when the crimp is made. The kidney bean might make it to the target, but it will get there after the shot does. Based on what others have posted on the Wire, a better solution is to use a wad that is one size too small, 3/4oz wad for 7/8oz shot, etc. If you already have a gazillion wads in your reloading supplies, you gotta do what you gotta do to make it work.

[Warden Callaway]

I've used biodegradable packing pellets from Uhaul as filler.  Last I bought were about $5.00 for a big bag.  I use in 12 gauge whole. Cut I 1/3 for 44 and 45.

 

https://www.uhaul.com/MovingSupplies/Packing-Supplies/Biodegradable-Packing-Peanuts/?id=730

 

 

[Abilene, SASS # 27489]

Forgot to add, but I also use 7 1/2  size shot instead of 8 because if there is a tiny hole in the crimp center, less likely to leak any shot.

[Texas Maverick]

20 hours ago, Abilene, SASS # 27489 said:

When I dropped my BP loads from 1 1/8 oz to 1 oz, the crimp became a bit concave.  Not bad, but I've been putting a cheerio on top since then. 

So that is why I saw you nibblin on that shotshell at out last match. Trying to get to the cheerio. LOL

 

TM

[Reverend P. Babcock Chase]

Howdy Abilene and others who care,

 

I tried your Cheerio trick to correct the stack height of my shot shell load. Shot a whole match this weekend with them. Worked perfectly! And you're right, putting the Cheerio in before the shot clogs the funnel. On top of the shot gives me a near perfect crimp. I detect a little crunching and dust in the crimp but it makes no difference on the performance. Thanks for the tip.

 

Rev. Chase