[Scare_Rab]

As a young child I watched an old guy fire a shot gun.
He'd 'done something' to the shell / casing .. .I don't know what.

After the 'boom' - a smouldering hunk of 'something' landed a little way off.

He raced over , picked it up and applied it to pre-readied kindling:
Hey Presto = 'Fire/ flame' from a shotgun.

Any one got any suggestions of how to do this?

[Jo da Plumbr]

I was taught at a young age not to play with fire, and not to play with firearms. Those were good lessons that I still believe in.

[Scare_Rab]

Survival situation:
Need heat, need light, need cooked food


have no matches , no lighter.

But ...have shotgun.

Knowing "How to make fire" from shot gun + shell(s) : could save a life.

? How is it done?

[indy_kid]

Originally Posted by Scare_Rab

Survival situation:
Need heat, need light, need cooked food


have no matches , no lighter.

But ...have shotgun.

Knowing "How to make fire" from shot gun + shell(s) : could save a life.

? How is it done?

Unload the shot, cup and powder from the shell. Cut slits lengthwise in the casing, but DO NOT make them full length; you want a small collar at the top.

Fill with very, very fine kindling. Try to find a dry bird's nest - it will be lined with very fine, very flammable material.

Once loaded (not too tightly), press the shell against a rock to open up the slits. This will allow the gas to escape while retaining the kindling.

Firing the primer might get a little hairy. You might wrap the shell loosely with some strips of cloth to help protect you hand and still retain the kindling.

I have NOT tried this, but it seems reasonable.

[JiroZero713]

Couldn't you just take the gunpowder from the shell and set it on fire around some fire making pieces?

[Amur]

Originally Posted by Scare_Rab

After the 'boom' - a smouldering hunk of 'something' landed a little way off.

He raced over , picked it up and applied it to pre-readied kindling:
Hey Presto = 'Fire/ flame' from a shotgun.

Any one got any suggestions of how to do this?

To my mind, he picked up burning wad. Now they are made from plastic, many years ago they were made from wool.

[orangello]

You would probably be safer to use an empty shell as a stash for some wrapped matches & just keep it with you camping gun.

[CA357]

If you're in the woods somewhere and you didn't bring some type of firestarter, food and water, you shouldn't be in the woods in the first place.

[spittinfire]

I don't like the idea of setting of a primer in my hand, that is just asking for something to happen. There is no way I would ever "test" this idea to see if it works. In theory, sure but when that explosion happens and there is nothing around it to contain it the energy will go some where. Your guess is as good as mine as to which direction it will choose and each time it's going to be a crap shoot.
I set off a primer once when I first got into reloading, it had gotten dirty and didn't want to load it. I was surprised by the energy, enough to never do it again. I put this one on a big rock and smacked it with a hammer and it was a small pistol primer. A shotgun primer is going to have more energy.

[subie-jeep]

the survivor man guy did it with a rifle by removing the bullet and some of the powder and then crimping the brass shut.i would imagine if you took out every thing but a small amount of powder and put the removed powder on a pile of kindling,and used something(more kindling?) to keep the powder from falling out the barrel you may get something after manny tries.never tried this though.


disclaimer: i am not resposible if you blow your hand/foot/dogs tail off while attempting this.