lemat specialty shotgun loads

The lemat shotgun barrel is its most distinguishing feature. In its general usage the barrel with .31 caliber balls or small buckshot (#2, #1, etc.). But over the past 100 years various changes to warfare have and can make the lemat's shotgun barrel a fearsome weapon with different loads that can be adapted for different use. The examples below i have tested with 60 grains of pyrodex.

#1. The bolo round,

relatively easy to make. Take a double cavity lead bullet mould (preferably .44 caliber) and pour lead in. Before the lead cools take a steel leader commonly used in fishing or other flexible steel wire and stick each end into the molten lead. When it cools the cast balls will be securely fixed to the wire. A suggested loading method is to wrap in cheesecloth and coat in bore butter or other lubricant.


#2. Flechette round,

Tightly wrap 10 flechette darts rear first in a thin plastic so the flechettes do not damage the bore. Wrap upwards and secure with a strip of scotch tape. The load must be tightened to avoid spillage of darts and can be fixed by taking an 11th dart and forcing it in the middle of the hive.


#3. Steel shot,


This one is easy and works great on small game. Take a small piece of plastic such as the wrapper of a cigarette pack and pour a half ounce of bb's. Be sure to apply a small amount of crisco or bore butter into the bb's for protective lubrication of the bore. (If the load does not fit in the bore push the bottom of the plastic into the bore with the rammer making a basket and make sure to leave excess hanging out to secure it. Once the load is in place wrap the ends and secure with tape twine or any other material you may like. The plastic will burst once the load leaves the barrel so untying would be unnecessary.


#4. Sabot slug,

A little harder to make. There are four kinds i have made. Lead, copper, silver, and aluminum. The hardest hitting being the lead. And the one with the most impact aluminum.
A .50 caliber bullet mold is requuired to make these.
The sabot is the hard part. I used a spray foam insulation to mold it in the barrel. To protect the barrel you need to stuff a piece of paper towel to the bottom and coat the inside of the barrel with vaseline as to pull out the sabots with ease. hold a long screw (preferably 7-8 inches long) in the middle of the bore. Next you spray the foam into the barrel. Let sit until almost dry then slowly pull the nail out of the barrel. A long cylinder should appear out of the bore.
The final process is to find a drill bit the exact or a hair smaller than the molded bullet. (premolded bullets work as well). And drill out the foam cylinder. There should be enough to make four sabots. Seat the molded bullet into the hole and tack glue a .62 caliber wad on the back of the saboted round. Load and fire.


#5. M-80 launcher,

Really cool looking on the fourth of july. (minimal powder charge 30 or less) Requires two .62 caliber wads, 5 inch arrow shaft(carbon preffered) and 1 m-80 firecracker.
Cut a hole in the two wads and glue in arrow shaft up to back of fletchings. Fill back end of arrow shaft with glue or anything to plug hole. Next glue or tape m-80 to top of arrow. And you are ready to send firecracker into the stratosphere.

#6. Small arrow launcher

Same as above but replace firecracker with field tip.