We would also like to know about your home made cartridges.
I've made mostly exotic ammo shotgun shell. my first one was Rock salt, when fired it throws rock salt at the assailant at high speed and temperature supposidly causeing severe burning sensation but no permanent harm.
I've made rubber slugs supposidly knock down an opponent, its also less-then-lethal. no permanent harm (i'm assuming the rubber slug to be fired at chest/legs no head shot).
there were plenty more, some were good ideas (rubber, rock salt) other were just plain stupid (nails, blades etc).
currently i'm working on a low weight, high velocity, flatter trajectory, around 3,000 ft/lbs of energy foster type slug which can be safely fired through any degree of choke (i'm actually aiming for extra full choke). I've designed it totally by myself however the tappered head is being designed by my cousin (mechanical engineer specializes in wind drag/resistance) who is calculating the degree of the tapper of the slug head while keeping the coefficient of drag to the minimum to ensure lower wind resistance hence resulting in flatter trajectory. I've made and successfully fired slugs before but this time i'm aiming for 100 yards plus slug. and my approach this time is highly professional.
here is the paperwork that i've done so far:
it looks simple i know, but to get to these dimensions it took me almost one month of paper work and had to request the services of a maths/physics genius and had to consult with few reputable slug manufacturers.
foster type slug dimensions:
weight: min 25grams to 28grams
length: 17mm
dia: 17mm
cavity dia. 12mm
cavity depth. 12mm
cavity is subjective to weight constraint, the slug is being designed to achieve following objectives:
1. 100 yards plus effective range with reasonable accuracy
2. safe to shoot even from extra full choke
3. safe to shoot from local (desi) barrels
4. to only require normal trap hulls or No. 4 shot cup wad
5. to require standard shot charge.
6. to achieve higher velocity and flatter trajectory by keeping the weight low.
7. minimum of 3,000 ft/lbs of energy delivered at the target at 50 yards
8. cost of making should be as low as possible.
Regards.
p.s. kindly look into my design and see if you can add anything i'll greatly appreciate it.