I carried one of my two Body Guards loaded with Blazer bird shot rounds for snake medicine when I fish. Recently, when I fired at a big snake (BIG), the cylinder got stuck. Shape of the ammo? Too hot and swelled up? What?

I carried one of my two Body Guards loaded with Blazer bird shot rounds for snake medicine when I fish. Recently, when I fired at a big snake (BIG), the cylinder got stuck. Shape of the ammo? Too hot and swelled up? What?

You mean you had no problem with cylinder rotation beforehand, but immediately after you fired the birdshot round it would not advance to the next position? That sounds like a case tie-up to me.

Could you release the cylinder and swing it out without difficulty?

Did you check the extractor rod to make sure it was solidly screwed in and hadn't come loose?

I guess it might be a couple of other things too. I don't know. I have a Bodyguard (649, recent manufacture), but this hasn't happened to me. On the other hand, I haven't shot it much either, and I haven't tried bird or snake loads in it.

David W.

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David Wilson

Let's see: No, I could not release the cylinder and swing it out for a long time; that's why I thought of heat; it fired a couple of rounds fine then bound up. I did not try the extractor rod for tightness; I think I'll go try and duplicate the problem and take better notice of what's happened. Thanks for your reply.

The shot cups pull and bind up the gun. I've never had any luck with those things.

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Centennial Every Day

You do have to crimp the living heck out of them. After I learned that, no problem.

I thought my crimp would cut the plastic case, it was so severe.

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NRA Instructor

Hi:
I would not use Shot Cartridges in my revolver.
I never found them effective for snakes.
I would carry whatever bullet weight shot to point of aim.
A short 410 shotgun would even be better.
Jimmy

I usually load one for the first shot. Never had an issue with a capsule pulling out of the case and binding the cylinder. Handloaded #12 shot kills snakes graveyard dead.

Photoman: that has a ring of truth. I double checked that the gun was clean, really clean. Those snake loads are pretty long. I'll shot a few and check the length of the fired round. thanks.

I was shooting CCI factory loaded ammo.

For what it's worth, I have killed snakes and ground squirrels with .40 CCI shot loads; probably ruined the rifling in my Glock.....

Probably.

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Memory of Randy Freas-Rimfired