I'm trying to get heavier broadheads, but I'm a bit disappointed with the traditional archery selection at my local archery store (which is also a major distributor of archery gear), so I bought the 160 grain STOS broadhead and 75 grain steel adapters. The store only had 75 grain adapters (or so the guy told me- he seemed bothered by my questions regarding stock I could not find on the floor) so I picked up a dozen to see how they would work. So with the broadhead, steel adapter and 100 grain brass inserts I'm already fond of, I'm looking at 335 grains up front.
Then I had this idea.
I've been shooting a new pellet gun out in the backyard for a few months now, and had some cheap pellets I bought for $0.99 at WM. The steel adapters are a hollow cone, and three of these pointed pellets nestle into each other. I put them inside the cone, pointed side down, cut the head off a fourth and smashed it into the last pellet skirt and with a few drops of super glue set them into the cone. I only did this to two of the adapters, and would like a grain scale to see how much more they weight now. Based on my internet research, it looks like the .177 pellets are about 7-8 grains each, which should get me another 25 +/- grains up front. I originally thought I would have to melt the pellets, but they slid right in and with half of a fourth, I could smash them in by turning upside down and pressing against the file. It should force the lead into any empty cavities in the cone to fill it more and increase the density.
I know they make the adapters in 100 and 125 as well. I'm not sure, however, if the cones are simply longer, or if they are not hollow. I plan to order a bunch of small stuff from a different store, including a half dozen of each steel adapter and a grain scale to check them out.
I've yet to shoot them, but am pretty excited about my serendipitous finding and thought I'd share.
All the best.
(http://s1073.beta.photobucket.com/user/barnestonbowyer/media/leadadapterfiller.jpg.html)
Good idea, I'd thought about using buckshot pellets also.
I've used shot out of a shotgun shell on more then a few occasions for the same purpose.
I have used shot,and pellets. the taper on your arrow will have to be shorter to compensate for the crushed pellets(shot is hard to crush). if you melt the shot or pellets do it outside the burn off from lead is toxic. Oh and its a pain to get the crushed pellets out after they are crushed in the ferrel.
Have used #8 birdshot with success
You can do the same thing with solder. Just cut a length to suit your purpose and glue it in or melt it if you wish.
#8 shot is as close to 1 gr per pellet as you can find.
You can buy a box of cheap dove and quail loads and harvest them from that..
Count the number of pellets, add a bit of heat to the adapter and the shot will melt and bind to the steal.. Nothing better, nothing more precise without a scale.
I cut off solder, weigh it out, and then melt it into the nose of the steel inserts.
I too use solder and just melt it