Home Made Practice Ammo

[BigRix]

I shot a series of videos casting hot glue bullets and loading my own practice ammo.

I made a few mistakes along the way but I think I have all the problems ironed out in my latest one.



I'm having a "blast" shooting this stuff in my garage. .45 ACP is even easier, just lube up the glue stick and press it into an unprimed case then cut it flush with the mouth of the case. Instant wadcutter.

[tmd17]

Nice! A few questions: What about residue / build up in the barrel? Anything worth note about how to clean? And how many uses can get from a glue stick projectile?

[BigRix]

With enough lube the only build up I'm getting now is soot from the primer. My first try was dry and that was a mess to clean up.

[PonyLover]

You might try rubber bullets. I bought mine from Dillion Precision. Just drill out the primer pocket to prevent set back (and mark cases to prevent using for full loads). Accurate across the width of the garage. I suggest using lead-free primers though. I used a large box with a broom handle stuck through holes on either side and a floor mat to stop the bullets.

[peacemaker]

Did you open up the flash holes any? If not, did you experience any high primers after firing? Standard primers, or magnum? What did you find to be a realistic maximum distance for shooting these? Thanks.

[BigRix]

I had to open the primer holes up on the .38 specials but the .44 mags worked fine as is. I used Winchester primers that said they were for standard or magnum rounds. I've only shot it inside my garage at 15 feet or so. Plenty accurate. I'm sure it would do 25' plus with no problem. I do however have to aim high as the gun has no recoil and that affects point of aim.

I've read about guys using rifle primers, magnum rifle and drilling out the case to install shotgun primers. Even a grain or less of powder.

Here is the 4 year old thread I found that helped me dial things in.

Casting hot glue boolits - Cast Boolits

[Armed_OMS]

Great post. Thanks for sharing.

[PonyLover]

I strongly urge you to consider drilling out the flash holes in the primer pockets. It will only take one primer that backs out and brads itself in the firing pin hole to ruin your day. You will have to take a wooden block to drive the cylinder out to cut the primer loose. Not fun. My experience goes back to a new Colt that the part was improperly swagged into the frame too low.

[Armed_OMS]

I strongly urge you to consider drilling out the flash holes in the primer pockets. It will only take one primer that backs out and brads itself in the firing pin hole to ruin your day. You will have to take a wooden block to drive the cylinder out to cut the primer loose. Not fun. My experience goes back to a new Colt that the part was improperly swagged into the frame too low.

How wide should the flash holes be drilled? The size of the primer pocket?

[Frank V]

That is interesting & makes a pretty bullet.
Years ago Bill Jordan used to make bullets for his demonstraitons using parifin. He'd warm the parifin, use the cartridge case as a cookie cutter by pushing it through the block of parifin, & bingo a ready made wadcutter bullet. He'd also drill out the primer flash hole, I think to about 1/8", mark the cases so he wouldn't get them mixed up with cases he used for live ammo. He'd wait till just before he was going to use them to prime them to prevent oil from the parifin from migrating into the primer & killing the primer.
I've used this method & it really is accurate at about 15'. It is driven with enough force to cause the parifin bullet to mushroom a bit & stick to a wooden fence post. They are a lot of fun, & easy & quick to make. This ammo will shoot quite a bit below the sights & you will have to compensate in aiming.
Good shooting.
Frank