Exotic Rocks
What are some exotic hand-loads for shotshells?
I was thinking about rock salt but wouldn't that corrode the barrel?
Rock salt is pretty much worthless other than very close range. Before the modern lawyers in love thing it was used by farmers to run off thieves. And at times it was mixed with small lead bird shot for more range but to be non-lethal. And its not good for a shotgun bore if you don’t clean it after firing it.
Some less known loads where swan shot which was a tear drop shape of lead pellet rumored by some to be very destructive at close range. Also square shot commonly just chunks of lead cut from a roll of lead “wire”. This can be made today by cutting the string lead used by fishermen. This was also a close range load.
There also is buck and ball passed down from muzzle loader days. Its buck shot with one big round lead ball and this is a very lethal round.
There are many other “novelty rounds” one can hand load however unless you follow load data and know what your doing you could destroy the gun and injure or kill yourself. Its not something to play with. And frankly I see little use for any of them other than the buck and ball. And believe me I have tried about everything you can think of over the decades. I have even made home made shotgun grazer slugs and breaching loads. So while it may sound fun you may find them as disappointing as I did.
A bit of warning; exotic or novelty hand loaded ammo should never be use for home defense. A prosecutor would have a field day with such and would make you look like a nut job waiting for someone to shoot to the jury’s eyes. Stick to factory ammo for defense against criminals.
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