Snake Shot

[FloriDave]

I've made a bunch of 44 mag shotshells from 445 Supermag brass by sizing down the top of the case where a 44 mag bullet would be.
Here are a couple beside regular 44 magnum 240 SWC rounds.

I use styrofoam before and after the shot and also seal the top with glue. In this case, I got the shot from and OLD box of corroded shotgun shells. 8's I believe.

I bought 100 of these cases a while back, and I'm pretty sure I'll never need more.

It pretty much fills the whole 44 mag chamber and I've had 3 of these in the chamber while firing 3 regular magnum rounds from the other 3 chambers, and not had any issues with them coming apart. I keep a few rounds in the cartridge belt for both my Super Redhawk and Super Blackhawk.

 

[steve8261948]

Yep, just an old wives tale. The lead in these won't hurt a thing.
Steve

 

[Salmoneye]

Strange this just came up again...

I just loaded up a few .44 Mag cases with 4 grains of Red Dot, 2 cards and 150 grains of #8 chilled shot in between...

 

[Rugerhunter]

post pics of loads --- great thread

 

[steve8261948]

#12 shot will give much better pattern and density.
Steve

 

[wolfee]

Seems to me a low velocity load, with nothing but soft plastic and soft shot in it, would be about the LEAST damaging thing you could send down the bore of a pistol. Certainly less wear than a hard cast 44 Magnum at 1400fps, propelled by hot burning sperical powder. I trash a lot of money just playing with this stuff. Mostly patterning it on cardboard boxes at point blank range. I can tell you that 15 feet is about the maximum range I would want to use it (from a 38) on a big rattlesnake. Much farther than that and I think your just gonna piss him off.

 

[Salmoneye]

#12 shot will give much better pattern and density.
Steve

Not for my intended 'pests'...

Since seeing the pic above, I am now looking for a few .445 Super Mag cases so as to increase my payload and a bit more powder...

 

[steve8261948]

salmoneye, will those fit into a .44 special or magnum cylinder even before loading? Too long aren't they? I think your best bet is to go with the CCI capsuls. By the way don't try taking a rattler with one of these at 15 yards. More like 5-7 yards range is max.
Steve

 

[FloriDave]

Yes, the 445 Supermags I have in the picture are shot in 44 magnums. They fill the cylinder, don't think they would work in 44 special. You could use a 44 magnum case and do the same thing for 44 special. If you have other dies that can be used to size the neck, it's very simple to do. If you don't, the CCI's are the easier way to go.

Completely agree on your 15yd for a rattler comment. Pattern is too spread out at that point.

salmoneye, will those fit into a .44 special or magnum cylinder even before loading? Too long aren't they? I think your best bet is to go with the CCI capsuls. By the way don't try taking a rattler with one of these at 15 yards. More like 5-7 yards range is max.
Steve

 

[Salmoneye]

salmoneye, will those fit into a .44 special or magnum cylinder even before loading? Too long aren't they? I think your best bet is to go with the CCI capsuls. By the way don't try taking a rattler with one of these at 15 yards. More like 5-7 yards range is max.
Steve

Timber Rattlers are few and far between around here, and you really have to know where the few pockets are and actively seek them out...

Then don't get caught intentionally 'hunting' them...

Nah...The ones I load are for 'rats'...My Sister has a bunch of fowl, and she has a rat issues...

I'm trying to stay away form the Speer shot capsules, as they are expensive...Trying to stay away from the CCI pre-loaded, as they have tiny shot, are even more expensive, and do nothing to 'rats' but tick them off...The #8's I have loaded in the past are good to 20 feet, and don't make a mess of the barn wall...

Only take 2-3 pellets on a small 'rat'...

 

[Rugerhunter]

I've been loading the Speer in .45 LC using #6 shot for squirrels and vermin at 10-20 ft. Works pretty well in my 5.5" Blackhawk, not so well in my .45 Colt Carbine, though. 8( The target picture was taken from a load shot at about 15 foot. The bigger holes were already in the dirty bird but I just wanted to see the pattern.

Can you expand on your comments of shooting these out of your carbine?

not sure why but I wants to know -- I have a 45 lever action -- would they shoot out of that? Even if just loaded as a single shot - how would that work?

Yes I know -- I need a Ruger 45 to go with it ...

 

[toysoldier]

If you have a revolver chambered for .45 Auto, you can make shotshells from .308 or .30-06 shells.cut them to fit the cylinder. You may have to turn them a little to clear the chamber. I load them I/2 shot, 1/2 pistol Pyrodex or American Pioneer. Much better shot load than capsules.

 

[Three44s]

Lead bird shot can't hurt steel. It does not matter if it's in a plastic capsule or not ....... lead can't hurt steel!!

I have heard of the cardboard wad and the copper gas check being used in calibers that don't have the plastic capsule available.

I have also bought empty shot capsules and loaded my own.

I have found that the bigger the gun the better the shot works. At the point where a .38/.357 is running out of pattern and gas ...... the .44 is still going for a ways.

That's got me thinking: I better get some gas checks and try my .480 Ruger!!!!

Best regards

Three 44s