Condition
Cut Shells - A Depression Era Trick
If you’re anything like me you have a strong fascination with historical ingenuity—especially when it comes to resourceful ways of enhancing shotgun performance on a shoestring budget. Cut shells epitomize just such an approach: a Depression-era technique for crafting a makeshift slug from standard birdshot or buckshot shells. While the method might sound clever, modern shooters should exercise caution, as it comes with serious risks and potential damage to both shooter and firearm.
Various gauges of shotgun shells. 12 and 20 ga. were probably the most commonly used as cut shells. (Source)
Table of Contents
The Origins of Cut Shells
According to popular lore, cut shells first gained traction during the Great Depression, when cash-strapped hunters needed more stopping power but could not afford specialized slugs. By cutting a band around the shotgun shell’s midsection—at the point where the wadding rests—shooters could create a “slug-like” projectile on the cheap. A partial spiral cut would detach most of the hull when the gun was fired, propelling the top half of the cartridge (and the shot inside) in one piece.
The Making of a Cut Shell
The technique for making cut shells is surprisingly simple. However, I really don’t recommend this, I repeat this for educational purposes.
- Identify the Wadding Location: Typically, around the midpoint of the shell.
- Cut a Spiral Band: Do not cut all the way through; the cut should overlap slightly but remain unconnected so the hull stays in one piece.
- Leave the Base Intact: Only the top section of the hull and shot payload separates during firing.
In theory, this creates a rudimentary slug. However, the practice is fraught with potential downsides.
Potential Pitfalls and Dangers
While cut shells sometimes perform as intended—launching a concentrated mass of shot—there are several serious concerns:
- Feeding Issues: The altered hull can fail to chamber or cycle properly in pump or semi-automatic shotguns, leading to malfunctions.
- Pressure Spikes: Forcing the front half of the hull through the barrel can raise pressure beyond safe limits, damaging the firearm or causing injury.
- Weak Penetration: Once the hull hits a target, its energy rapidly dissipates. This can result in inconsistent or shallow penetration compared to a factory slug.
- Risk of Damage: Reports exist of cut shells damaging shotguns (In this case a M1100), especially if the hull or wadding lodges inside the barrel or if the gun lacks the mechanical strength to handle pressure spike.
Below you can see TAOFLIEDERMAUS experiment with cut shells for an idea of how they perform.
Why Old Shotguns Might Have Fared Better
Historically, break-action single-shot shotguns with robust breech lockups would have been the most common for poor depression era hungers. At this time paper hull shells were common so it stands to reason they may have experienced fewer catastrophic failures with the thinner shells. But this is speculation at best and should be taken with a grain of salt.
Modern Advice: Don't Bother with Cut Shells
Today, commercially produced slugs are affordable and widely available, making cut shells largely unnecessary. I’d advise against using this old technique in modern shotguns due to the danger of barrel obstruction, over-pressure, and potential firearm damage. At best this is something to file away as a curiosity or for an extremely unlikely situation. No matter how intriguing the history, caution and safety should come first.
