16 Nebraskaland • May 2021
IN THE FIELD
Still thinking about that day last duck season when
you only got off one shot, or that time last week your gun
jammed on that tom turkey at first light?
Most sporting goods stores have an item that can safely
check for feeding and ejecting problems. They are called
"dummy loads," and the cost is nominal at around $12 for
two to three shells.
Or, for those that reload or have a friend who does, you
could make some custom dummy loads.
Here how:
1) Take three empty shotgun shells and resize them so
they will chamber in any like-gauge shotgun.
2) Re-insert the old primers. (No live primers, please!)
3) Substitute sand for powder — same volume.
4) Insert wad cup, add shot and crimp.
Using dummy loads, you can safely and effectively prepare
your shotgun for the rest of turkey season or this fall's wide
array of shotgunning seasons.
By Larry Kurrus
DUMMY LOADS
JEFF KURRUS, NEBRASKALAND
