Making and Testing Wax Slugs

By: Steve Kynard It Happens in Alabama, Edited: Janet Kynard janet@ithappensinalabama.com

As I mentioned in the previous video “How to Make Your Gun more Versatile” about shotgun adapters and chamber inserts, this next video is about wax slugs and how to make them. We will even test them, in the video, for you.
I didn’t invent these but found them on Youtube and immediately knew I had to make some and see for myself if they were as strong as people were claiming. I followed the instructions I saw and just made some minor changes that seemed would work better for me. One big change was using just enough melted wax to cover the shot in your metal cup or bowl.
The hardest part was carefully cutting the rim off of the shotgun shell to expose the birdshot. I wanted to leave as much of the sides of the shell, as possible, and not make a slip and cut my thumb in the process. All the while I’m cutting the shells my metal cup is on a low heat, just enough to melt the candle wax. About 2/3 of the way through the cut, I’ll dump my shot into the melted wax before finishing the cut and discarding the end. I’ll repeat this process until I’ve done as many as I want in this session.

I then take a spoon and dip the wax covered shot back into the shell only filling to within 1/8 inch from the top. I fill the last 1/8^th inch with just wax, so I will have a smooth end.

With a break action single shot or double barrel shotgun the ends of the slug aren’t important. A semi auto or pump action with a tube magazine is another story. If one of the shot is poking through the wax and pushes just right on the shell in front of it, that shell could go off in your magazine. A nice smooth end eliminates that problem. Let the freshly made slugs sit until the wax is nice and cool then you’re ready to test them out.
Be sure to know the laws in your state. In some states it is legal to make these and to have them but illegal to hunt with them.
The next video we’re going to do for you is preventive maintenance on your pocket knife. A lot of folks carry a knife. I know that it’s a tool I use every day. If Janet ever asks me “Have you got your knife?” my answer is “If I’ve got my britches on then I have my knife.” In carrying one every day, I have run into some unusual problems and have had to come up with solutions. The next video will help all of you avoid these problems.