Pictorial of making crimped .38S&W shot loads

[noshow]

Just a thought on 38 shotshells

If your making shotshells for the shorter(38S&W, 38LONG or 38SPL) chambers, from longer donor brass(357MAG, 360DW or 357MAX) you can neck them down with the die body of a 32-20 seater according to Tony M.
I think you may be able to neck them down to the .354 level by using the 30Carbine sizing die as well. Has anyone tried that?

 

[J. R. WEEMS]

NECKING DOWN

If your making shotshells for the shorter(38S&W, 38LONG or 38SPL) chambers, from longer donor brass(357MAG, 360DW or 357MAX) you can neck them down with the die body of a 32-20 seater according to Tony M.
I think you may be able to neck them down to the .354 level by using the 30Carbine sizing die as well. Has anyone tried that?

I haven't yet but it IS a thought as I load 30 carbine for this rascal. THANKS for the hint.

Stocks are Hippo Ivory picked up somewhere years ago.

 

[J. R. WEEMS]

CLEANING UP

It also pays to straighten up now and then. A couple days ago I was doing just that and found a unopened bag of #81/2 shot I forgot I had. I am not even looking for any #12 shot any more. Some little containers with screw on lids found at my local Smart Shopper, provide a decent way to move the shot around the shop and easy too.

 

[noshow]

Sorry to see this thread die. I was hoping to gain some insight into 380 shotshells

 

[J. R. WEEMS]

.380

WHERE"S TONY???????????????

 

[Green Frog]

I'm still entertaining the idea of a 32 H&R or 327 FM shot shell with gelatin capsules for the shot (if I can find the right size medical capsules.)

Froggie

 

[6GUNSONLY]

I experimented with some .38 Special shot loads a week or so ago. I had some of the empty Speer capsules. I tried to make a dulpex load with #9 and #12 shot, and some with just #9s or #12. All three methods yeilded within 5 grains of the same weight, averaging 110 grains. I used 700x powder at book starting load level for a standard pressure 110 grain bullet load.
In this limited experiment, the staight load of #9 patterned best at 10'. This from my 3" model 60-4. I thought I might try some using old .357 brass with a heavy enough roll crimp so they would chamber in my .38; foregoing the Speer capsules and using a heavy card over shot, crimped, then maybe wax sealed, too. It's a fun diversion with a potentially useful purpose, as creek fishing time is here and old no-shoulders is plentiful in my haunts.

 

[J. R. WEEMS]

38 SHOT SHELLS

I experimented with some .38 Special shot loads a week or so ago. I had some of the empty Speer capsules. I tried to make a dulpex load with #9 and #12 shot, and some with just #9s or #12. All three methods yeilded within 5 grains of the same weight, averaging 110 grains. I used 700x powder at book starting load level for a standard pressure 110 grain bullet load.
In this limited experiment, the staight load of #9 patterned best at 10'. This from my 3" model 60-4. I thought I might try some using old .357 brass with a heavy enough roll crimp so they would chamber in my .38; foregoing the Speer capsules and using a heavy card over shot, crimped, then maybe wax sealed, too. It's a fun diversion with a potentially useful purpose, as creek fishing time is here and old no-shoulders is plentiful in my haunts.

I seem to find cards dont get as dense pattern as crimping. but that might be just me. Green frog speaks of medical capsules? Wonder what kind of looks you would get buying those?? I remember what I got buying some rubber tubing some years back.

 

[J. R. WEEMS]

SIZES

I'm still entertaining the idea of a 32 H&R or 327 FM shot shell with gelatin capsules for the shot (if I can find the right size medical capsules.)

Froggie

FROG- Not sure how one would use these but I see two sizes listed-- size 'O' an 'OO' good thought but how would one know?


I still want to try and make some using 357MAX brass as well. When I can get some.

 

[J. R. WEEMS]

CAPSULES

Not sure the of sizes of the medical capsules, but- in checking my stashes, I found a couple boxes of SPEER shot shell capsules. These are of course a two piece operation. A quick test found that chamfering the mouth of a .32/20 piece of brass and making a card out of a waxed half&half carton, which I have a lifetime supply of, that card will pressure fit in the capsules made for the 38 SPL. A lot will depend upon the size of the medical capsules. I will try and get some frome a local venue this week. I have NO idea at this rime of sizes or durability of the medical stuff. Speer s capsules mike out at .347-- Will keep this posted for those who have an interest. Would be nice id the said medical capsules fit the smaller sizes of brass.

 

[noshow]

Here ya go

Not sure the of sizes of the medical capsules, but- in checking my stashes, I found a couple boxes of SPEER shot shell capsules. These are of course a two piece operation. A quick test found that chamfering the mouth of a .32/20 piece of brass and making a card out of a waxed half&half carton, which I have a lifetime supply of, that card will pressure fit in the capsules made for the 38 SPL. A lot will depend upon the size of the medical capsules. I will try and get some frome a local venue this week. I have NO idea at this rime of sizes or durability of the medical stuff. Speer s capsules mike out at .347-- Will keep this posted for those who have an interest. Would be nice id the said medical capsules fit the smaller sizes of brass.

Here's a chart showing all the dimensions of gelatin medicine capsules. The body and cap of the same size are two different diameters. Hope this helps to determine their usefulness for 38 or 32 ss loads.
https://capsuline.com/pages/empty-capsule-size-chart

 

[Green Frog]

Here's a chart showing all the dimensions of gelatin medicine capsules. The body and cap of the same size are two different diameters. Hope this helps to determine their usefulness for 38 or 32 ss loads.
Empty Capsule Size Chart — Capsuline

Thanks no-show! I knew there was a chart like that somewhere, but my Google-Foo was not at its best today. It looks like what I want is between an ought and a double ought, so I probably should take the larger one and let it squeeze down a little. Does anyone know whether these sizes are an industry wide standard, or if they vary somewhat from manufacturer to manufacturer?

Since they come in lots of multiple tens of thousands, I think I'll try to get friendly with my local compounding pharmacists and buy a hundred or so, which would probably be a lifetime supply. I wonder how it would work to reverse the smaller end and insert it into the larger one all the way to achieve double thickness... or whether this would be necessary or even helpful.

Froggie

 

[J. R. WEEMS]

POWDER CHARGE

Not sure the of sizes of the medical capsules, but- in checking my stashes, I found a couple boxes of SPEER shot shell capsules. These are of course a two piece operation. A quick test found that chamfering the mouth of a .32/20 piece of brass and making a card out of a waxed half&half carton, which I have a lifetime supply of, that card will pressure fit in the capsules made for the 38 SPL. A lot will depend upon the size of the medical capsules. I will try and get some frome a local venue this week. I have NO idea at this rime of sizes or durability of the medical stuff. Speer s capsules mike out at .347-- Will keep this posted for those who have an interest. Would be nice id the said medical capsules fit the smaller sizes of brass.

On the box, Speer lists 5.00gn of Unique for the 38spl. -- I use W231-- just FYI--

 

[noshow]

Better Capsule size chart

Here's a capsule size chart that includes the larger size(veterinary) capsules. It is a printable pdf file that will print them to actual size that you can measure.

http://www.torpac.com/Reference/Torpac Size Chart.pdf

 

[noshow]

357 MAX brass

Not cheap, but "in stock"

Starline Brass 357 Maximum Unprimed Bag of 100 - Graf & Sons

 

[Dakotakid]

outstanding post !! thanks to all who contributed--have been making my own 45 L Colt loads with gas chks and they work well. good enough for So. Dak rattlers while prairie dog shooting ! Remington make some 45 acp brass shells a few yrs ago. Killed 3 rattlers with those in a colt LW commdr yrs ago--didn't work the slide tho--

 

[J. R. WEEMS]

CAPSULES

Here's a capsule size chart that includes the larger size(veterinary) capsules. It is a printable pdf file that will print them to actual size that you can measure.

http://www.torpac.com/Reference/Torpac Size Chart.pdf

Funny, I had that thought as well. Good to know they exist. Am on the road, but checked 3 pharmacies today with no luck. They didn't sell them but one suggested I try a sourly store or even a health food place/ We have both at home as well as several vets. THANKS!!

 

[J. R. WEEMS]

SPEER CAPSULES-HEADS UP

Ok, seems to be a fly in the shotshells as in SPEER -- maybe-?? I mentioned above I discovered a few boxes of Speer shot shell capsules the other day. Just for grins I decided to load a few-- Capsules are breaking off right at the case. Crimp is NOT excessive, so I am wondering if the plastic has a shelf life?? I remember they were old but NIB when I got them some 30 years ago so I am wondering what the problem is. After the 5th shell broke, I put the whole mess aside. Any guesses here?? Just wondering..

 

[Skwirl]

Great thread guys.
I like to try this to sometime with some 357 brass. The question I have is why neck down the brass?
Then see if I can do the crimp part on my sdb press.

 

[6GUNSONLY]

I'd guess the plastic got brittle over time. Although the ones I have are pretty old, too and I have not had that problem.