Don't Shoot Clay Ammo!

[MBTull]

I thought I was being clever, making my own ammo out of scrap clay from my wife's ceramic studio. I dried the ammo in the sun and it was a lot of fun shooting it at a plank. The ammo disintegrated in a small cloud.

The clay dust destroys the rubber on the bands. I guess I am still ahead because new bands are cheap enough. I could also try firing the clay to stop the dust.

Any advice?

[Flatband]

Hi MB,I would think that was a good idea and cost effective too! Would never have guessed that the dust messed up the bands. Hey fire a few up and see what happens! Flatband:)

[Vic]

MBTull

Do you mean your bands brake, maybe its because clay is so light making bands shoot to quick, like dry firing

Vic...

[MBTull]

The clay ammo is a pretty good size and weighs about the same as Trumark tracer ammo or marbles. I dried them in the sun as opposed to firing them in the kiln. I shot them at a plank and they disintegrated when I hit the target, kind of like reverse sporting clays. The problem is that the clay balls dried in the sun have clay dust on the surface and that clay dust dried out the rubber on my slingshot. I figure I shot about 100 clay balls. The rubber did not actually break. I could see lots of cracks in the rubber and it was dry, so I deemed it no longer safe.

Anyway, I am now shooting .50 cal paintballs at a plank. A lot of fun and worth the cost.:D

[Christopher]

It sounds like you need a "candy" shell around the clay shot. Can't you take biodegradable cornstarch peanuts and dillute them with water and then spray the dilluted compound the clay shot after they have dryied, and then let it dry again?

I say that as a questions because I haven't tried it. All you want is a light shell to coat the shot from dust coming off. I once tossed a bag into a bucket of those bio-peanuts and filled it with water. It took me some time to get the cornstarch out of the bucket.

[MBTull]

If I took the time to glaze and fire them in the kiln, they would work just fine. At that point, it is cheaper to buy marbles, especially when I can shoot them numerous times into a foam broadhead target.

[chief]

are the bands tapered?causes them to try out faster.so if dust got on it.i could see that happening.

[wilbanba]

i use ceramic pie weights/beads
already fired
no metals (hence microwave safe)
consistent shape
adequate weight
biodegradable

[SlingArt]

i use ceramic pie weights/beads
already fired
no metals (hence microwave safe)
consistent shape
adequate weight
biodegradable

where you got those stuff?

[wilbanba]

online
they are called ceramic beads, pie weights, balls etc.
just make sure they are oven and microwave safe that way they contain no metal (only clay) and will break down