Shot Gun Cartidge: vertical cut?

sindbad4u

Hi all!
I am new at this forum, but I need your help. I need to know if anybody of you guys knows why a shot gun user would make a vertical cut in the shell a of shot gun cartridge.
Please feel free to have a look at this picture, and let me know what you think of it?
http://www.killersbrabant.be/pieces/brabant_8_Moyen.jpg
Are there any ballistic properties to be gained by performing such a vertical cut in the outer shell of a cartridge?

Thanks very much
Kind Regards
sindbad4u

Mooseyard

If it wasn't done by accident, my thought would be that he was cutting the shell to salvage the components. Sometimes when reloading they make mistakes and want to save the powder and shot (especially at $40 a bag). There is a company that actually makes a tool for cutting the shells in half.

rufe-snow

Years back I heard of this being done. It was a very foolish and dangerous procedure, though. The theory/old wives tale, was upon firing the whole front portion of the shell would separate at the cut. Supposedly upon leaving the end of the barrel in one piece, it would be similar in ballistic properties to a rifled slug. This in turn would make make a conventional shell loaded with small diameter bird shot, effective against larger game animals, if slugs weren't available.

XXCross

Any shell cut like this one is an invitation to desaster if fired!

Tailgunner1954

First, I'd define that has a horizontal or radial cut, not a vertical or lengthwise cut.
Second, if the cut is deep enough, the shell will separate at the cut.
Third it won't hurt the gun at all, although it does make a weird "whistling" noise when it leaves the barrel
Forth, anyone that has reloaded enough Peters Blue Magic's (AKA Blue Tragics) has experienced a similar separation.
Fifth, in many states if a shell like that is found in your possession during small game season, say good bye to your gun, gear, vehicle and say hello to your new bed buddy Bubba.
This is a old poachers trick, used to kill deer during small game season, and is listed in most game regulations as a "cut shell".

Hawk Carse

Agree with Rufe.
Cut shells were common during the Great Depression, when a rural home would be lucky to have a cheap shotgun and a few shells. The intent being that if a deer was seen while hunting small game, the front half of the shell would go down the barrel and hit in a lump comparable to a "punkin ball". Probably the main reason there were not a lot of well worn guns blown up was that there were not really many deer to be found in the 1930s.

sindbad4u

Thanks very much for your help!
Does anyone of you know if such a procedure is taught by the army, and especially to special ops guys?

thanks very much

Txs

I'd guess it was done to salvage shot. It's not a "cut shell" because it's cut at an angle, meaning it won't fly anywhere near straight.

I've experimented a bit with cut shells and they do work, but have nowhere near the effective range of a real slug. If anyone's inclined to try this, it's not a bad idea to check the bore for obstructions after each round.

EDIT: Cut shells are addressed during SF improvised munitions training, during the same portion where they explain how to launch grenades with a shotgun. Seriously.

Tailgunner1954

quote:Originally posted by sindbad4u

Does anyone of you know if such a procedure is taught by the army, and especially to special ops guys?


Only in the elite chairborn commando division. IOW no

Txs
The real problem with answering this type of question is that 99.999% of the guys that claim they learned in in the military NEVER got near a SF unit. Know what I mean?

givette

I was stationed with a SF team (B52-Chau Doc). With the exception of the odd Sterling, Stoner, or XM177E1...I saw nothing really out of the ordinary..when it came to weaponry. CIDG (SF's mercenaires) had M16's. To look at them, they looked just like any well equipped VN outfit, except for the tiger-stripes. Joe

EDIT: Hope I don't fall under the 99.999% heading. Joe

bobski

SEALS dont do it. they dont need to. they can afford anything they want.[8D]