Clay projectiles?

[tom deinek]

Found a sling forum. Like David & G. Pretty neat.
Some of those folk make projectiles from clay using a sun/air dry.

Anybody here ever tried that? Patching would probably obviate barrel damage. I'd imagine accuracy would be nil.

Thoughts?

 

[jethro224]

The biggest problem I can think of with using clay balls in your muzzleloader would be getting the size right and consistent. I would suppose you'd need to use some sort of mold to do that. Then, would they shrink when they dried? :idunno:
Other than that, the resulting balls would be very light compared to lead. Point of impact would most likely change quite a bit from lead and range would be limited. If you can get the size right I don't see why they wouldn't be accurate for close range shooting on paper or even small game tho.
I have heard of folks using brass balls, steel ball bearings, and glass marbles. Why not clay? Try it out and let us know how they work.

 

[nkbj]

Small game doesn't need much of a thump.
A dirt clod wizzing along faster than you can throw it might be plenty. And it's earth friendly too so you could offset the effect of your carbon footprint.

 

[Spikebuck]

It would be interesting to see what happens to it. I would think if only patched it would start out as a clay ball and quickly turn into clay shot. Clearly a slingshot is not launching these projectiles with the explosive power of a powder charge. Maybe loaded in front of a thick wad to absorb some of that initial explosive burst? And why only a ball? Maybe a clay bullet if more weight is desired?

 

[BrownBear]

If 'twas me messing with clay, I'd be thinking more along the lines of the old "ballettes," however it's spelled.

I'd roll out a sheet roughly the same thickness as ball diameter, then use some kind of cookie cutter, also ball diameter. Likely have to do a little experimenting with that since I'm pretty sure clay shrinks when it dries, and certainly when fired in a kiln if you want to go that far in hardening them.

My best guess is that they wont need to be kilned if you're shooting low vel for plinking and small game. I'm betting they'd be darned accurate once you worked out the kinks.

I have just one insight on small game use. Some of you might be geezerly enough to recall the old "gallery" 22 loads, basically short-shorts with clay bullets at low vel intended for indoor use. About 40 years ago I got a whole bunch for darned near free (still have a few of those boxes, as a matter of fact). Didn't like the noise for indoors, but they were a hoot outdoors.

Got inspired by rabbits in the garden and tried them on head shots. Absolutely decapitated the rabbits. No other way to say it- those clay bullets exploded on impact, kind like stuffing a grenade up a rabbit nose.

A 50 cal clay bullet? DO NOT take a body shot! :shocked2:

 

[mooman76]

Reminds me of these pellets I bought many years ago when I was still a teenager and was into shooting a slingshot for awhile. Some magazine advertised some pellets when fired they would make a "loud cracking" noise when they hit an object and leave a mark also. Just ended up being baked clay pellets.

 

[Bon Sauvage]

Various ceramic balls in uniform sizes are for sale online should you wish to experiment with them.

 

[Dane]

My only question is...... Why?

 

[TFoley]

Small game doesn't need much of a thump.
A dirt clod wizzing along faster than you can throw it might be plenty. And it's earth friendly too so you could offset the effect of your carbon footprint.

:rotf:

tac

 

[jethro224]

My only question is...... Why?

Because, with the right marketing, they could be sold as high-tech state-of-the-art super home-defense frangible muzzleloader bullets for the low-low price of $57 per 20 in a handy blister pack. :wink:

 

[coloradoclyde]

Indeed! but you would have to add sensationally descriptive power words like,....."extreme disintegrator" or "zombie frangible" and their wallets would fly open....... :rotf:

 

[Rifleman1776]

It would be interesting to see what happens to it. I would think if only patched it would start out as a clay ball and quickly turn into clay shot.

Yeppers. My thought also.

 

[AZbpBurner]

Paintballs are available in many calibers & may be fun (especially when frozen) for musket shooting.

Something (low) on my list to try in 2016 ....

 

[omarick1948]

Every time something pop's-up like this using clay balls for projectiles. I always think that sometimes we are trying to reinvent the wheel again and nibbling away again at traditional muzzle loading and the purpose some of us take the pastime very seriously for so many years. Sure, clay can probably be made to work, but for hunting purpose's, I think that any game that we take aim at deserves a quick HUMAIN KILL every time .... period! :td:

 

[coloradoclyde]

Paintballs are available in many calibers & may be fun (especially when frozen) for musket shooting.

Something (low) on my list to try in 2016 ....

That's how stupid people get killed!

 

[tom deinek]

That's how stupid people get killed![/quote] --

" Here. Hold my beer. Watch this!"

 

[Vaino]

If you are thinking of marketing clay balls, an appropriate name would be "Adobe Ammo". The addition of straw to the mix would yield an even tougher ball.....that's why adobe bricks don't break. You could copywrite the name and apply for a patent......Fred

 

[omarick1948]

If you are thinking of marketing clay balls, an appropriate name would be "Adobe Ammo". The addition of straw to the mix would yield an even tougher ball.....that's why adobe bricks don't break. You could copywrite the name and apply for a patent......Fred

SERIOUSLY??..........

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Found a sling forum. Like David & G. Pretty neat.
Some of those folk make projectiles from clay using a sun/air dry.

Anybody here ever tried that? Patching would probably obviate barrel damage. I'd imagine accuracy would be nil.

Well one would need to kiln fire them so they would be hard enough to survive being fired from a gun...

I agree with Dane why would you want to?


LD

 

[tom deinek]

Only have 6# of lead left.