Reloading shot shell, a practical approach to the zombie apocalypse

[wolfsburg62 66]

Its the zombie apocalypse, why are people not reloading their shot shell ammunition?

Shot shell is the easiest of all ammo to reload, players can simply pick up their spent shells and reload them later on.

Now, this is where it gets cool. The fantastic thing about shotguns, and what makes them THE MOST VERSATILE WEAPON available (not even debatable) is that you can pretty much put whatever the fuck you want inside shot shell. Don't have pellets? Fine, break a car window and fill that bitch with glass, but don't stop there, you can put metal shards, rocks, nails, you can even cut up a tin can :emptycan: and make your own little shrapnel round if you so please.

This can potentially open the door for more versatile ammunition types and damage done. Maybe glass filled rounds might not do so much damage or travel very far but will require TWO bandages to stop the bleeding.

Just a thought, if this were my apocalypse I would be reloading my shells with anything I found.

Check out the link below to see just to see a few different kinds of shot shell rounds.

as they say in Russia: А дело бывало -- и коза волка съедала.

"Pigs might fly"

Edited February 13, 2013 by wolfsburg62

[maui.arupa@gmail.com 16]

Soubds fine, but you'd still need powder.

[HERBERT-THETREE 44]

i like the idea, but theres a problem. when you fire the weapon the primer is spent, meaning it cant be used again. plus theres the issue of power (not big problem). also most people dont have the tools nor the knowledge to use them to accomplish this. You have to measure out the correct amount of powder, too little and the bullet doesnt have enough velocity to be effective, too much and the weapon could explode. The biggest issue here is of course the primers, i dont know if its possible to recycle/repair old primers but i know if its been used you have to replace it if you reload your shells.

Like i mention before certain tools are required for example a press, die and shell plate. plus the knowlegde to use them, this isnt something you can just figure out as you go ( doing so could kill you)

[-Gews- 7443]

I don't like the idea because you're not going to find people using "Dragon's Breath" shells or rock salt in a zombie apocalypse. If they managed to find 12-ga shells, they wouldn't be taking out the pellets and replacing it with what-have-you.

I doubt most people have the equipment, supplies and knowledge required to reload shotshells either.

[scoffield77@gmail.com 192]

you can pretty much make a shot gun shoot anything if you make it right... Would be nice to have some craft-able shot shells. But dragon breath is silly

[mr_chabowski@live.co.uk 2416]

If you want more interesting shotty-shells, I don't see why you couldn't just cannibalize the ones that you find.

It'd be worth the effort if your home-made shells were more damaging. And it's the easiest way to get the primers and powder you need.

All you need is a pair of pliers.

I wouldn't be collecting spent cartridges. You're more likely to find a new box of shells than a box of primers.

[enforcer1975 1111]

I'd like someone shooting at me in game with rock salt thinking it would effect me that much then recieving a volley of AK fire in return...

And finding stuff to renew shells isn't that easy as going to your local gun store and asking for a box of primers and a load of propellant... It has been months if not years into the apocalypse and even if you find an ammo plant who says they didn't remove all of it or are there even raw materials left or all materials available to produce ammo? Hollywood just makes it look too easy most of the time...

[wolfsburg62 66]

i like the idea, but theres a problem. when you fire the weapon the primer is spent, meaning it cant be used again. plus theres the issue of power (not big problem). also most people dont have the tools nor the knowledge to use them to accomplish this. You have to measure out the correct amount of powder, too little and the bullet doesnt have enough velocity to be effective, too much and the weapon could explode. The biggest issue here is of course the primers, i dont know if its possible to recycle/repair old primers but i know if its been used you have to replace it if you reload your shells.

Like i mention before certain tools are required for example a press, die and shell plate. plus the knowlegde to use them, this isnt something you can just figure out as you go ( doing so could kill you)

Yes but not everyone knows how to work on cars or helicopters either. They dont make that complicated, you wont necessarily need to find every component, but if you could find a few key ingredients and find a reloading bench in a barn or something it might be a new way to gather some freebie ammo.

[HERBERT-THETREE 44]

Yes but not everyone knows how to work on cars or helicopters either. They dont make that complicated, you wont necessarily need to find every component, but if you could find a few key ingredients and find a reloading bench in a barn or something it might be a new way to gather some freebie ammo.

Very true, but like i said i like the idea, i just think if it were implemented in the SA they should make it similar to repairing cars/helicopters.

On a side note i wasnt trying to shoot down your idea, i just like giving people as much info on things as possible so that they understand things arent as easy as they may seem. Many people on this site i have found have a "stretched" view of reality, they think everything is simple and easy. (Not talking about you, you seem fine)

[sinkatze 52]

Yeah its not a bad idea, this could make shotguns a bit more usefull also.

I think its funny how people mention that normal people wouldn't know how to do this or that, or recharge a shotgun, but in other games they are able to jump out of a plane and shoot down another plane while falling, that is more logical of what normal people can do? Lol its just a game, many things can be adjusted.

[HERBERT-THETREE 44]

Yeah its not a bad idea, this could make shotguns a bit more usefull also.

I think its funny how people mention that normal people wouldn't know how to do this or that, or recharge a shotgun, but in other games they are able to jump out of a plane and shoot down another plane while falling, that is more logical of what normal people can do? Lol its just a game, many things can be adjusted.

I believe you may be missing the intended purpose of this game. The devs and rocket have said they want realism, therefore the unrealistic features of other games are irrelevant.

[sinkatze 52]

I believe you may be missing the intended purpose of this game. The devs and rocket have said they want realism, therefore the unrealistic features of other games are irrelevant.

I know, that's why I said "I think its funny". I don't think it should be the opposite way, the more realistic the game, the better. Apologies if I was misunderstanding :P

[wolfsburg62 66]

Very true, but like i said i like the idea, i just think if it were implemented in the SA they should make it similar to repairing cars/helicopters.

On a side note i wasnt trying to shoot down your idea, i just like giving people as much info on things as possible so that they understand things arent as easy as they may seem. Many people on this site i have found have a "stretched" view of reality, they think everything is simple and easy. (Not talking about you, you seem fine)

I get it, its cool :thumbsup: And I agree with you that it should be similar to other actions in the game. It shouldn't be so difficult it scares other players away, I mean hell I didn't even attempt to build a car in DayZ for the longest time because I thought it was too much work. I would assume it would be as simple as finding primers, powder & something to fill the shells with, then a reloading bench to slap it all together.

[catweazle (DayZ) 28]

I like the idea...

Some people on Chernarus sure were gun owners(why else would you find so many of them; just hypothetically)

It would be logical to find some bullet making machine/press(don't know the exact word) in some garage or elsewhere from time to time....same with gunpowder, shells and more...making bullets with a stronger propelling charge...or even make paper-bullets...exploding arrowheads...

So you could make better ammunition and you can turn yourself into living torch by using too much...

(I couldn't find this idea when I was searching, so sorry in case if it has been posted before)

Edited March 18, 2013 by catweazle

[DayzForumer 284]

Or we could just find pellets on the ground... ;)

[enforcer1975 1111]

lol another revival of this thread.

Like the people above said. You need the materials and tools to reload them in the first place. And if you mix it wrong you will be the one who has spent his last breath on the first shot with the "new" ammo. Yes the shotgun is very versatile but using stuff that was not supposed to be shot out of that gun can/may/will damage/destroy it.

Edited March 18, 2013 by Enforcer

[thesodesa 99]

I wouldn't be collecting spent cartridges. You're more likely to find a new box of shells than a box of primers.

Should that be the case though? I mean, this is not a first person shooter, so shouldn't guns and ammunition be valuable rarities?

[-Gews- 7443]

Should that be the case though? I mean, this is not a first person shooter, so shouldn't guns and ammunition be valuable rarities?

The case should be "attempted realism"... most people don't reload, and most of the people who reload don't reload shotgun shells. You'd be EXTREMELY unlikely to find equipment for doing so, even here in the US where people can afford reloading equipment.

In Chernarus they wouldn't have people firing thousands of rounds per year in trap or CAS competitions, they'd more likely have poor villagers firing a dozen rounds per year at deer and those dunderhead boars.

[Fun With Flares 72]

I'm just going to point out a practical failure.

There is no goddamn way I'm carrying empty shells around with me because I have a chance to make them into new ones.

[terminal_boy 860]

You might not carry them around, but you would pick up the empty cases and take them back to your camp in case you did find an opportunity to get them reloaded.

Unless you had several caches full of ammo hidden around the area of course.

[PracticalTactical 164]

frig off with that fps russia bullshit.

[Lady Kyrah 1110]

I'll mention that beyond the standard shotgun shells, buckshot/birdshot/slugs most of the homemade mixes are not designed with efficacity in mind, but for "fun" or to cause additional pain.

Dragon breath is a "fun" cartridge, you can hurt people with it, sure, but you can do a better job at it with buckshot or a slug.

There is a reason why we don't put glass or other funny things in shotgun shells. plain shots simply work better.

On the reloading part, making primer by hand is not difficult, it is tedious and unrewarding but you can produce ghetto working primers by hand.

(granted he only make very light loads considering his guns are made of paper, but the concept remain the same)

Edited March 19, 2013 by Lady Kyrah

[thesodesa 99]

I honestly think allowing players to make their own shotgun ammo is not a bad idea. Screw efficiency, if ammo and guns are going to be rare why wouldn't you make your own makeshift ones?

[wolfsburg62 66]

The case should be "attempted realism"... most people don't reload, and most of the people who reload don't reload shotgun shells. You'd be EXTREMELY unlikely to find equipment for doing so, even here in the US where people can afford reloading equipment.

In Chernarus they wouldn't have people firing thousands of rounds per year in trap or CAS competitions, they'd more likely have poor villagers firing a dozen rounds per year at deer and those dunderhead boars.

Most people don't repair helicopters..