Looks like an interesting idea as long as the neighbors don't see you.

Growing up, we had plastic .38 rounds that fired resuable plastic bullets and were powered by shotgun primers.  Hours of family fun in the laundry room!

On my second pump to afghan we took out the projectile and powder from a .50 cal round. We then packed the tip with a few pieces of gum. Rigged up a "bad" fifty bolt and shot them at things. Blows holes through cans ) ahh. The things i miss about being an aviation ordy giant guns giant bullets and all linking 100 rnd belts of tracers

Plastic and rubber bullets are still available
http://www.midwayusa.com/Find?userSearchQuery=x-ring
http://www.midwayusa.com/Find?userSearchQuery=plastic+bullets

Wax is cheap and easy to work with. Be careful, they still have enough zing to kill small critters or put an eye out.

That's pretty cool.  I think I'd rather just get a box of rubber bullets from Midway USA, though.  Costs a little more, but I understand they're reusable, so that should offset the cost somewhat.

If I remember correctly, you've got to ream out the flash hole in the cases when using wax or rubber bullets, otherwise the primer will set back and tie up your revolver.  The Speer plastic bullets with plastic cases work fine. 

I'd hate to be standing to the left of that guy.

that said, I think my neighbors would be in the garage playing too
thanks for the links Teichi!

I wanted to try the wax bullets, but I didn't want to fuss with the mess of making them on my own. So, I did a quick google and found this place that sells them by the 1k, about $25.
I had to drill out the flash hole to about 1/8" in my .357 to prevent primer setback, then put in extra small rifle primers that I had lying around.

Worked great.  Kept rapid doubles on a center mass at 7 to 10 paces easily double action in my wheel gun. Wear those safety glasses. They look like they hurt if you were to get nailed.

Wax is easy to play with just get a parafin slab and use striaghtwall casings only.  just press the shell into the wax and viola!  Dont forget to prime the brass!
Cleaning the gun is easy with wax too.
Effective range on a 9mm handgun is about 20 feet
My M1 Carbine is about 35 Feet.

Why do you have to ream the flash holes?  I would have thought that the primer firing would create the same pressure in the primer pocket regardless of powder charge, and with no powder, your overall chamber pressure would be a tiny fraction of a full load.  I don't understand! 

Why do you have to ream the flash holes?  I would have thought that the primer firing would create the same pressure in the primer pocket regardless of powder charge, and with no powder, your overall chamber pressure would be a tiny fraction of a full load.  I don't understand! 

During firing of a full load the firing pin strikes the primer, primer ignites, backs out of the primer pocket slightly, ignites the powder charge, mass of the bullet moves forward, at the same time the pressure is building, expnds the brass case, seals the chamber, recoils rearward, re-seats the primer flat into the primer pocket.

With the wax, or rubber bullet, there is not enough mass or pressure to drive the primer back into the primer pocket flush. The protruding primer then blocks up the revolvers cylinder from turning, thus hanging up the gun.

The larger flash hole lessens the pressure inside of the pocket, allowing the primer to stay where it needs to be.

After reaming out the flash hole, the case cannot be used to load regular full power round. It is dedicated for wax bullet reloading only.

Theyve got a little shooting gallery in Tombstone, AZ that you can shoot different length Colt SAA's with the wax bullets, theyre about as loud as a .22 but wouldnt leave damage to a mdf target set up in your house.  The store owner said shooting wax was very dirty though, and they arent very accurate.

I shot about 30 with Wolf small rifle and small rifle magnum, also a few CCI 450 small rifle mag primers. There are small pieces and shavings of wax and soot from te primers fouling the handgun. However, just a little CLP and a bronze brush and the gun was clean in no time. (cleaned right after the session) Easier than cleaning lead and jacket  when shooting full power loads. (cleaned when I get home, and many more rounds fired)

careful out there, I was advised at OGC that these are still considered firing live ammo / discharging a firearm and subject to all applicable rules/restrictions/laws etc. 

reminds me of one Christmas I wanted to give my nephew a bb gun (mainland) but city ordinances disallowed use within city limits.  how freaking sad is that, no bb guns.   we must turn this anti tide back no matter where we live.

 that said, who's got a deal on a hand priming tool? 

Bill Jordan used to practice with wax loads all the time.  There are five slabs of wax in a 1-lb box of paraffin.  He'd soften a slab slightly, then press 50 cases into one of the slabs all at once, using the perforated trays in the ammo boxes to hold the cases in position.  Don't remember whether he opened up the flash holes or not.  ETA:  But he did this with unprimed cases because otherwise the air compressed in the case would push the wax plug back out.

He also used these rounds in exhibition shooting and would shoot asprin tablets off a table with them at 15 feet in demonstrations.

I don't think I'd even be able to hit the table.

Terry, 230RN

REF:
"No Second Place Winner," by Bill Jordan

Sorry to bring up a old thread, but just saw it again and looks like a great idea to save on ammo and practice at home, assuming that it is legal and acurate.  Might have to try this out