12 Gauge Shotgun Base Caps for Crafting | Real Spent Casings – Pack of 5
Real Casings for Craft Projects
If you’re looking for authentic materials for your next craft project, these recycled 12 gauge shotgun base caps are a natural starting point. Sourced from genuine spent shotgun cartridges, each one is carefully selected for quality, then cleaned and polished to bring out the distinctive metallic sheen of the brass base.
They work well across a wide range of projects – resin art, jewellery making, fridge magnets, keychains, woodwork inlays, and mixed media crafts. The solid brass construction holds up well in resin and takes paint, sealant, and adhesive reliably. Each base cap has its own subtle character from being a real fired round – slight variation in tone and finish that adds to the handcrafted feel of whatever you make with them.
Popular with clay shooters and hunters looking to repurpose spent casings, as well as crafters and makers who want an authentic material with a bit of history behind it.
What Is a Shotgun Base Cap?
A shotgun cartridge is made up of two main parts – the plastic hull (the coloured tube) and the metal base cap at the bottom. The base cap is the solid brass and steel disc that contains the primer and forms the head of the cartridge. When a shotgun is fired, the hull is often damaged but the base cap typically survives intact and in good condition.
The base cap is the most structurally solid part of the shell – it’s the section that looks most like metal, that has the manufacturer’s headstamp pressed into it, and that holds up best in crafting applications. It’s this section you’re buying – removed from the hull, cleaned, and polished.
Gold or Silver – Which Should You Choose?
We stock base caps in two finishes – this listing is for the gold brass version. The brass gives a warm, traditional look that suits vintage-style projects, wooden frames, and earthy resin work. If you prefer a brighter, more modern silver finish we also stock nickel-plated silver base caps – see the link in the related products section below.
Both are genuine spent 12 gauge casings – the finish is the only difference.
See also: Shotgun Cartridge Keychains & Shotgun Breach Flags
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FAQ Section
Q: How many base caps are in a pack? Each pack contains 5 base caps. If you need larger quantities for a bigger project, contact us – we may be able to accommodate bulk orders.
Q: Does the pack include magnets? No – these are base caps only. No magnet is included. If you want to make fridge magnets, you will need to source magnets separately and attach them. We do stock the 12 Bore Shotgun Magnets which come with magnets already fitted – see the related products below.
Q: Are these real shotgun casings? Yes – every base cap comes from a genuine once-fired 12 gauge shotgun cartridge. They are not replicas or novelty items. Each one has its own subtle character from being a real fired casing.
Q: Are they safe to handle? Completely. The base caps are inert – there are no live components, no primer compound remaining. They are safe to handle and use in craft projects without any restrictions. Always check with your airline before travelling abroad with this item.
Q: What finish do these have? This listing is for the gold brass finish – a warm, traditional metallic tone. We also stock a silver nickel-plated version if you prefer a brighter finish. Both are genuine spent 12 gauge casings.
Q: Will they all look identical? Very similar but not perfectly identical – each cap comes from a real fired casing so there may be subtle variations in tone, minor surface marks, or slight differences in the headstamp. This is part of what makes them authentic rather than factory-stamped replicas.
Q: What projects work well with these? Resin art, jewellery making, fridge magnets, keychain pendants, woodwork inlays, picture frame decoration, mixed media art, and candle holders are all popular uses. The brass base cap is solid enough for drilling if you need to add a jump ring or fitting.
Perfect exactly as described
Very very happy with the above items, also quick delivery. Plus would order more if needed for my project.