How-To Hollow Based Lead Slugs

rna_duelers · Posted: 01/17/2008 0:39 AM Post subject:

I've been making a heap of rounds for my new copper musket and I have perfected a way to make Hollowed Based Slugs.The hollow base is supposed to help the slug have a more stable flight,this is much like the design used in some shotgun slugs.

What You will Need

-Hammer
-Lead Sheet
-Electric Drill
-Drill Bit,the same ID as your pipe
-length of pipe Same as your barrel
-Hole Punch
-Shaping Die
-Metal Rod,2millimeters thinner then the I.D of your barrel
-Scissors
-Grease/vaseline

1.First of you are going to need to make your shaping die,which is important to get the initial shape of your rounds.I used an old axe head to make my die.Drilling a hole in your piece of metal till the head of the drill bit has disappeared you only want this to be about 1-2millimeters past the cutting head.

2.The Metal Rod you are going to use is going has to be rounded on the head so use a file and some sandpaper to get it nice and rounded smooth,this is going to give the hollow bas of the round.

3.The round I make are for 15mm copper and I happen to have a hole punch that was a perfect fit over the outside of my barrel,the hole punch size you are going to need must be bigger then then O.D of you barrel by about 2 millimeter.

4.Now get your sheet lead and put the hole punch over a section near an edge(so you save your lead by being neat).Punch out a piece nice and slowly,when the punch has cut the lead you should end up with a convex disc.

5.With your disc of lead place the convex side down in your die and place your metal rod in the center and carefully tap the disc down into the die.It should take on slightly deformed flower shape when it touches the bottom of the die.Carefully take out the shaped lead,this may require a tap on the side of the die with a hammer or tweezers but more then often they come out very easily.

6.Now place your piece of lead in the piece of pipe same as your barrel and get the metal rod and apply plenty of grease to both the lead and pipe.Now slowly and carefully tap the piece of lead down into the pipe trying to keep it as straight as possible.Follow tapping it till it has reached the end of the pipe and remove it from your pipe.

7.Trim the rough edges with your scissors and you are ready to shoot!Make sure you have the hollow at the base Wink

.

Trouble Shooting

I Can't find Lead Sheet-Try getting some sinkers and beating them into the die,you will need to remove excess lead and there is a higher chance of the round getting stuck in the die,which requires it to be drilled out.You could also try making some lead sheet as well by beating large sinkers flat until they are about 2 millimeters thick.

The rounds cut when I tap them through the tube-Did you apply enough grease to both areas?You can also try tapering the tube outwards slightly if you have a way possible,but I did not and it would make it much essayer if you could.Remember,Practice Makes perfect here,it takes a while to get the hang of making these but after a few tries you will be able to reproduce these easily.

The Rounds always stick in the Die-You could be hammering them into the die to hard,the die gives the rounds shape easily as lead is soft.The lead doesn't need to be smashed into shape.

Any thing you would like added or don't understand? P.M me or contact me on. MSN Goth_thugg@hotmail.com and there is an underscore in there.