Suffolk shooter Posted October 17, 2006 Report Share Posted October 17, 2006 I read some time ago in one of the many shooting mags I buy, that you can make your own Widgeon call from spent cartridges. The article in question didn't from memory have pictures, and only a brief description, but tonight I decided to give it a try after i saved some cartridges I shot at Pigeons on Sunday. Items needed: Spent cartridges (2 minimum) I used 12 gauge, Lighter, small penknife, Small hammer, Teatowel.... patience 1. With Lighter gently heat up the brass end until you can start to prise the cap away from the plastic casing using the penknife. Careful here as the brass and plastic get very hot (I know I now have ELEY burned on my thumb), using the teatowel (damp if poss) to hold with. Do this to the other cartridge as well. 2. Once you have two brass caps you need to push out the primer cap, gentle tap with hammer or with thumbnails. 3. With one of the caps you now need to use the hammer and placing on it's side on the folded teatowel (saves damaging the table, trust me I have an irate wife) tap round the sharp edge of the cap gently folding the edge in all the way round. This is where the patience is needed as you need to make it so that this one will slip inside the other brass cap. 4. Once it just sits inside the other cap, you can do one of two things, either: - a ) Place on the folded teatowel untouched cap face down, and smartly tap the other cap in place. My method. b ) Place the two bits into a vice and gently crimp together. 5. You should now have one homemade Widgeon Call. To test it put in front of your teeth and suck (Not blow). I would be interested if anybody could make one out of say a 20 gauge and a 12 gauge and a 10 gauge or bigger gauge to see if there is a difference in the pitch noise (I only shoot 12 gauge so can't check). So for the cost of a cartridge you not only get a shot at clay, pigeon, game or fowl but also a free widgeon call. Just a thought but a 20 gauge or smaller might even produce a high enough pitched squeak for Foxes. Enjoy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tiercel Posted October 17, 2006 Report Share Posted October 17, 2006 I am all for making it yourself. If the calls work well done. I have never heard of this before and think I will give it a try. When I was younger with more energy than wealth we used to use kettle whistles. As you describe we used to suck not blow on them. Well done we could do with more posts like this. Tiercel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC Posted October 18, 2006 Report Share Posted October 18, 2006 Also for the price of a cartridge you can buy a widgeon whistle from your local gunshop and save yourself a burnt thumb. That's the trouble with the old boys from suffolk they are bleeding tight. They are almost as bad as a yorkshireman. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suffolk shooter Posted October 18, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2006 Also for the price of a cartridge you can buy a widgeon whistle from your local gunshop and save yourself a burnt thumb. That's the trouble with the old boys from suffolk they are bleeding tight. They are almost as bad as a yorkshireman. Your right they are tight here in suffolk, good job I'm not from around here then!?!?!?!? You can also use this method, but using just one brass caps to slide over the end of another spent cartridge to make a matchstick/air rifle pellet holder holder. Dip the end of the matches in wax to make them waterproof. Very handy out in the field. To cut down on them rattling, place a piece of cotton wool into the cartridge case. God, spent to many nights reading and not enough time doing!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fulltimeshooter Posted October 22, 2006 Report Share Posted October 22, 2006 Well SS i made one to keep you happy mate and the point about making them out of diffrent cartridges for diffrent pitchs wouldn't work as they all have the same size primer all the best FTS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suffolk shooter Posted October 22, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 22, 2006 Well SS i made one to keep you happy mate and the point about making them out of diffrent cartridges for diffrent pitchs wouldn't work as they all have the same size primer all the best FTS. Would the area size inside not make a difference??? As I said I only shoot 12g so have no way of knowing, although saying that I do have different length brass caps, so I think I may try that to see if I can get a difference. God I need to get out more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fulltimeshooter Posted October 22, 2006 Report Share Posted October 22, 2006 Yes me and you both Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fulltimeshooter Posted October 22, 2006 Report Share Posted October 22, 2006 well ill show you mine so you can show me yours Everyone sorry about the picture quality im totally rubbish with these things! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suffolk shooter Posted October 22, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 22, 2006 Well, hopefully you can see this (first time of putting a photo on here). Well I tried to put photo on here but failed miserably, will read section on how to put photos on and try again shortly. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest AP1shooter Posted October 22, 2006 Report Share Posted October 22, 2006 Hope this helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suffolk shooter Posted October 23, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2006 Hope this helps Spot on, I'll try again to put my pics up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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