12 Gauge Shotshell hull nail dart.

[boyntonstu]

This dart is almost a perfect fit in 3/4" Type L copper tubing.

This photo shows the brass ring, but it was cut off prior to shooting.

The weight is 212 gr with a 10d nail.

Chronograph result was 656 fps at 600 psi.


A hole in one! The nail went through the plywood behind this board.


The blowout at the rear. I stuck the hull into the hole for the photo. It actually bounced away.



What happened to the hull on impact.

[dla888]

Do you just stick the nail through the primer hole? Or did you use some glue or epoxy or something to hold the nail in place?

[Mr.Sandman]

Nice work as always boyntonstu i really like your work in the diy darts. I never knew shotshells fit snugly into any size of commercially available copper pipe, now I have an idea.

[boyntonstu]

Nice work as always boyntonstu i really like your work in the diy darts. I never knew shotshells fit snugly into any size of commercially available copper pipe, now I have an idea.

I used hot glue to attach the 10d nail to the hull.

A glass marble can be used instead of a nail makes a 160 gr round nosed projectile.

I shot one at 712 fps today for 180 FPE.

A BIG find today!

I discovered that by using a heat gun on the steel end cap of the hull just enough to make the plastic begin to flow, I could twist the steel off with a pair of pliers.

No more metal grinding for me!

Just 30 seconds and you have an almost perfect tail in your hands.

Use a bench grinder for another 10 seconds to trim away the plastic bulge.

I keep a 2" length of barrel tubing next to the grinder as my fit tester.

[Marffy]

damn those are nice darts! i wish i had a shotgun.

[ThegunGuy]

Shotgun shells are nice because you can put almost any kind of payload into it. And then when the shell is all torn up weld a nail to a few washers hot glue it in and you have a dart. I've only used them as lawn darts though.