Copper shot

[theoldredneck]

Curious if anyone has used this and results. Friend has a bag of what looks like number 12 or 14 size copper wire cut in diameter length sections. Round in diameter but with cut ends, looks like wire ran through a chopper of some kind. Guy that he got it from said was copper shot to meet the no lead laws? He is going to load in shotgun shells, not a muzzleloader shooter. First I have seen or heard of like it? Would be about like number 4 to 6 shot in size just guessing.

 

[Britsmoothy]

I would try it without any hesitation.

 

[Zonie]

14 guage wire is .081" in diameter so if it was cut to the same length as its diameter, it would be about the size of #9 shot (.080" diameter).

Copper weighs about 0.32 pounds per cubic inch. Lead weighs about 0.41 pounds per cubic inch so, copper is about 21% lighter when compared with an equal size lead object. That means, a copper projectile will have about 21% less energy than a lead projectile.

The shape of a cylindrical piece of "wire shot" will also cause the pieces to fly in odd directions which will open the pattern up causing fewer hits on the target.

All in all, it sounds like a fair idea if that's all you've got to shoot but I sure wouldn't go out of my way to try to make a bunch of chopped copper wire pellets for my guns.

 

[Carbon 6]

I would try it without any hesitation.

Me too.

 

[russellshaffer]

If you had enough time you could roll the individual pieces between steel plates to round them off.

 

[Carbon 6]

If you had enough time you could roll the individual pieces between steel plates to round them off.

I've heard that before, but have never managed to get it to work, even with lead.
I think it's a muzzleloading myth. One of those things that is often repeated but never actually accomplished.

 

[SDSmlf]

Why not try it? Might be surprised with results. You have the copper ‘shot’ and the gun. No one else has tried it. ‘Speculators’ speculate without real testing.

 

[Carbon 6]

Why not try it? Might be surprised with results. You have the copper ‘shot’ and the gun. No one else has tried it. ‘Speculators’ speculate without real testing.

I tried it.
With both copper and lead, problem was I cut mine by hand with a side cutters.
Do I even need to tell you how tedious and laborious that is ?
Then I spilled half my shot on the floor. I had enough for a couple shots, but not enough for thorough testing.

 

[theoldredneck]

Zonie was right about the patterns and weight having less energy. I was wrong on guessing diameter. Closer in size to #7 shot. It really looks like chopped copper wire. From what friend said loaded in brass hulls with wads, not plastic shot cups patterns are larger than lead shot. He also said does not go as deep in plywood backing for his pattern board. I would like to play with it some if cost was reasonable. Probably would not hunt with is as long as lead was legal where hunting. Dont know who is making it, the size is very uniform. To me it would be better if a little larger in diameter so heavier.

 

[Sparkitoff]

There have been lots of commercial shot that were cubes or had two flat marketed as "spreader loads". The shot may open the pattern but otherwise its still shot. Like steel, use a larger size (if that's an option) than you normally would or use a heavier shot charge. Try some patterning and try some clay targets. I don't think a dove, quail or woodcock would know the difference.

 

[Tom A Hawk]

Once upon a time, I called in a group of six jakes. Two of them were helpful in putting their heads close together as they searched for the eager young hen. One shot from the right barrel, loaded with copper plated 4's brought both down. Season over...

 

[SDSmlf]

Once upon a time, I called in a group of six jakes. Two of them were helpful in putting their heads close together as they searched for the eager young hen. One shot from the right barrel, loaded with copper plated 4's brought both down. Season over...

Isn’t New York one bird per day, two per season in the spring, and then one bird in the fall?

 

[tenngun]

I’ve watched some vids of home made ‘frontier shot. Sometimes called swan shot today since it looks like little swans or teardrop shapes.
Don’t want to start a name fight here since swan shot back in the day referred to a shot size, not its shape.
I’ve not shot such shot. I have read it opens up pretty quick. But would be better then gravel off the ground.
I’ve also read of but never tried, a ball could be hammered flat and cut up. Again not the best patterns reported from shooters, again I can see it being used by someone who needed shot but a trading post wasn’t close by.
So a question is would such teardrop shot or hammed shot preform worse then cut up copper wire?

 

[Carbon 6]

I’ve watched some vids of home made ‘frontier shot. Sometimes called swan shot today since it looks like little swans or teardrop shapes.
Don’t want to start a name fight here since swan shot back in the day referred to a shot size, not its shape.
I’ve not shot such shot. I have read it opens up pretty quick. But would be better then gravel off the ground.

I have made such shot, and it performed quite well. Too well maybe.