Does anyone have any experiance with this stuff?CCI makes these cute little shot loads with tiny little shot inside;suppost to be for varmits like snakes and such.I dunno how well they would work in a barrel with a twist;seems like they would work better in a smooth barrel.
CCI Pistol Shot Loads
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mkk41
US Veteran
They're good for pests at 10-15 feet.
An unrifled , smoothbore pistol is highly illegal per GCA '37 or '68.
An unrifled , smoothbore pistol is highly illegal per GCA '37 or '68.
stiab
US Veteran
The .38 Special and larger sizes work pretty well, the .22LR are a little on the weak side, other than for hornets. The shorter the barrel the better, as per actual tests I have done. Less rifling creates less pattern spin. That is why Remington used to make bolt action .22 rifles with no rifling, for shooting rats in barns, etc.
Beware of the backstop when you shoot, they can ricochet straight back at you, even when hitting wood. There are also some other brands out there also, but they can be hard to find.
Beware of the backstop when you shoot, they can ricochet straight back at you, even when hitting wood. There are also some other brands out there also, but they can be hard to find.
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HAWKEYE10
Member
Yes I have used them. As others have posted10 to 15 ft.range is about the limit. Don
GatorFarmer
Member
A smoothbore pistol would have to be registered as an AOW - $5 transfer tax or $200 making of tax - but would not be illegal per se if registered and legal under state law.
Anyway, I used to use the .22LR shotshells in a 317 to shoot mice. My then g/f hated the way that they squealed when in the glue traps. Worked well enough for that purpose.
For snakes or some such... well I have some of them in .38, but I'd rather have a Bond Arms Derringer or some such in .410 for such matters honestly.
Anyway, I used to use the .22LR shotshells in a 317 to shoot mice. My then g/f hated the way that they squealed when in the glue traps. Worked well enough for that purpose.
For snakes or some such... well I have some of them in .38, but I'd rather have a Bond Arms Derringer or some such in .410 for such matters honestly.
duckloads
Member
I've shot 3 timber rattle snakes, about 4' long with my 625-9 Mountain gun in 45 colt using the CCI shot loads. From 4-6 feet away, its like hitting them in the head with a golf club.
38-44HD45
Absent Comrade
I have extensive experience with both the .38 Special shot caps for reloading and with CCI's loaded shotshells. Most recently, and in most volume, I've used .45 ACP and .22 lr shot loads. I've killed over 15 pack rats with the .45s, and a couple more with the .22s, from a Model 63. I've also used the 63 to shoot sparrows and starlings that have gotten into my barn, without risk of damaging the sheet metal, though I did break one light bulb. Several years ago, a big, apparently rabid tomcat holed up in the corner of my barn. I didn't want him to escape, or to fight with my dog or cats. As I approached him with my Commander, loaded with the CCI .45 shotshells, he was on top of a stack of boxes about 3 feet tall, and he rose up and started snarling, hissing and spitting. When I shot him the first time, he jumped at me, and I shot him twice more in the air. He was dead when he he hit the floor, but was only about 4-5 feet from me when I fired the last shot. He'd have weighed close to 20 lbs., and I sure don't recommend using these loads on critters that big.
I used to use a lot of the reloaded .38 capsules, but had problems a couple of times with the caps not breaking up when fired. They worked well when they did break up. I like the factory loaded ones better. As to how far they are effective, it depends on what you're shooting. I've killed pack rats up to about 30 feet away with the .45s, and sparrows on the wing at up to about 25 feet, but patterns are getting pretty thin by then, and closer is better. BTW, the .45s have functioned in at least 3 of my 1911-types.
I used to use a lot of the reloaded .38 capsules, but had problems a couple of times with the caps not breaking up when fired. They worked well when they did break up. I like the factory loaded ones better. As to how far they are effective, it depends on what you're shooting. I've killed pack rats up to about 30 feet away with the .45s, and sparrows on the wing at up to about 25 feet, but patterns are getting pretty thin by then, and closer is better. BTW, the .45s have functioned in at least 3 of my 1911-types.
mkk41
US Veteran
Remington , Winchester and Marlin all made pump or leverguns in 44-40 smoothbore for use with shot loads.
Colt even made a few smoothbore SAAs in 44-40.
Winchester , Western , Remington , Peters and the US Cartridge Co. all made 44-40 (and other cals) shot cartridges. They're shown in Barnes Cartridges of the World.
The Marbles Game Getter and H&R Handi-Rifle were short barreled 'smoothbore pistols' with detachable stocks and barrels in various lengths. These are also considered 'Any Other Weapon' and also have C&R status. They require the NFA $200 transfer tax and registration.
These short barreled , pistol caliber smoothbores were quite popular with trappers back around the turn of the 20th century.
Thompson Center made a version of their Contender for use with shot cartridges. They had a removable 'choke'(?) that countered the spin imparted by the rifling. They also made extra capacity shot cartridges in .357 and .44 mag.
dixiedawg119
Member
They've worked great for me. I use the .38 SP shotshells in a old Ruger with a 4" barrel and my 686 with a 6" barrel. I use them to kill snakes. Haven't used them on anything else. Shots have been between 5 to 10 ft. I patterned one out of my 686 at about 5 -7 yards one time. It wasn't a pretty pattern.
I've never understood why the makers of those 45 Colt/410 derringers didn't simply put shallow, straight rifling in the barrels. Doing so would make them legal, probably be cheaper than spiral rifling, would not effect the performance of the 45 Colt and would improve the performance of the 410.
duckloads
Member
I don't mean to hijack the thread, but why would smooth bore pistols be outlawed?
38-44HD45
Absent Comrade
Same reason that buzzguns, switchblade knives, short-barrel shotguns and rifles, etc. were "outlawed" in 1934: To give jobs to Treasury agents who were put out of work by the repeal of Prohibition.
David Sinko
Member
I use my .38 shot reloads mostly to kill skunks that are stumbling around in broad daylight and make people nervous. I need to get real close but the sick skunks don't seem to mind. I never had to shoot one twice and I sometimes shoot them in urban areas with no property damage whatsoever.
Dave Sinko
Dave Sinko
safearm
US Veteran
I carry two CCI .38 Special shotshells and three or four ( J frame or K frame) Speer .38 Special Gold Dot 125 grain +P while working around my ranch. The shotshells work great on snakes and small varmits (mice, rats) and I have the GDs for larger varmits, including two legged ones.
stiab
US Veteran
Me too, but you have to be careful with that. Twice when shooting the regular rounds in my M60 recoil has caused the plastic cups of rat shot to move forward, causing the cylinder not to turn. I now put a small drop of super glue at the base of each plastic cup.
safearm
US Veteran
I have had .45 Colt shotshells pull out when shooting 255 grain LRN rounds from a 625 Mountain Gun, but I haven't had a problem with .38 Specials. Thanks for the superglue idea; I'll try it tonight.
mkk41
US Veteran
Even back as far as 1937 , the ballistic experts put great stock in being able to identify a bullet to its firearn by 'reading' the unique rifling marks.
Beside , unrifled pistols or rifles are not very accurate. Much like the unrifled muskets of the 1700s.
mkk41
US Veteran
Straight rifling would add zero stability or accuracy. Remember the football comparison. A nice tight spiralling pass will be much more accurate and travel much furtehr than a pass with no spin. That's why different calibers have different rates of twist. Each optimised to a certain (ength x dia) ballistic coeffcient. Longer bullets need faster twist (ex. 1 turn-9.5") than shorter bullets , which need less (1 turn-15").
A muzzle loading rifle meant for patched round balls typically uses a 1 turn in 66 or 72 in twist , yet a barrel meant for Minie , Maxie , or sabotted pistol bullets will have 1 turn in 36 or 48 inches.
Glock 'em down
Member
Ok. Stupid question time.
Is the CCI shotshell coming out of a 2 inch .38 Special revolver as loud as a standard 130gr FMJ load?
I know, I know...stupid question, but I gotta know. I've got a gopher tearing up my yard and it's snake season again, and I live in the city limits. I've already had one visit from the local P&D and I don't think it will be such a nice visit the next time I discharge a firearm in the city limits.
However...if it's "quiet" enough, I might be ok.
Is the CCI shotshell coming out of a 2 inch .38 Special revolver as loud as a standard 130gr FMJ load?
I know, I know...stupid question, but I gotta know. I've got a gopher tearing up my yard and it's snake season again, and I live in the city limits. I've already had one visit from the local P&D and I don't think it will be such a nice visit the next time I discharge a firearm in the city limits.
However...if it's "quiet" enough, I might be ok.
