22lr snakeshot - can I make it?

[AlHunt]

I need some snakeshot 22lr ammo for use in a revolver. Cost to buy it is obscene and I can't find individual capsules.

I have plenty of 22lr primed cases. I have some shotgun ammo I can take apart that I think is #8 shot. I have Titegroup powder but I'm thinking I won't need a powder charge in this case.

I'm trying to dream up a process to make 20 or 30 rounds of shotshells.

Maybe paper punch some heavy paper disks, put one or two in the bottom of the case, drop a few pieces of shot into it, cover it with another disk or two of paper, then dribble some candle wax to seal it all up.

Since the place I want to shoot them has some concrete, I'm thinking instead of real shot, I might clip up some smaller gauge copper wire.

If anyone has a process, I'd be grateful to read about it. I suspect the braintrust here has many more and better ways than I've described.

Thanks for any ideas.

 

[arjay]

I’ve made them in 38,44 and 45 colt brass,with just a bit of Bullseye,an over powder card,shot and another card sealed with silicon caulking. I made the cards by sharpening the end of a case and using it as a punch

 

[rockquarry]

.22s hold an incredibly small amount of shot. Consider Speer Shot Capsules in .38 Special. Lot more shot and they work well to about ten feet, far better than a .22 shot cartridge.

 

[Farmer17]

I guess you could shoot bees and wasps at close range but not sure it would work on snakes. I've heard Speer .38 shotshells do OK on rats, mice, and small snakes but the .410 revolvers would be superior.

 

[tops]

I have read about using gas checks for wads. Over the powder turn the gas check up and over the shot turn it down and crimp. I
bought 2 boxes of .22 shot years ago and still have part of a box left so that's the reason I've never tried it. Larry

 

[diyj98]

I guess you could shoot bees and wasps at close range but not sure it would work on snakes. I've heard Speer .38 shotshells do OK on rats, mice, and small snakes but the .410 revolvers would be superior.

Just outside of biting range, the 22 shot cartridges generally make short work of a snake's head. We even killed sparrows around the house with a smoothbore Remington shooting 22 shot shells. Of course you've got to be within spitting distance

 

[Goldstar225]

This site shows the CCI shotshells at $8.33 for 20 rounds, apparently in stock. I think I would go that route.

I have had no dealings with this company so I can't vouch for them, just an FYI. I wouldn't think the cost to be excessive.

CCI 22 LR Shotshell (Per 20) Mfg# 39 – OpticsandAmmo.com | Hunting, Shooting, Sport Optics and Ammunition Products with Free Shipping

EDIT and UPDATE: After reading Geojelly's post regarding Opticsandammo I did a google review check and it doesn't look good. My apologies to my forum brothers:

https://www.bbb.org/us/tx/houston/p...icsandammo-llc-0915-90049984/customer-reviews

 

[Hair Trigger]

If you're going to load .22RF cases with shot, you need something really small. The CCI .22LR shotshells I have are loaded with #12 shot, and the .38/357 shotshells have #9. Larger size shot in a handgun cartridge leaves insufficient quantity of pellets for an effective pattern, even at close range. With either of the above shotshells, you can kill a snake or rat-sized critter easily at ten feet with a handgun, and maybe out to 25 feet with a rifle, but any further than that there aren't enough pellets to ensure an adequate number of hits.

I'd also use .22 Magnum cases if you decide to try this, more room for shot, since you don't have a shot cup that will protrude from the end of the case.

 

[mikerjf]

Just remembering my 22 shot post...

22 shot comparison

 

[ddixie884]

My opinion is, no. That said you might get it done but I suspect the performance will be less than stellar. I don't think you can beat factory.

 

[30-30remchester]

Shot cartridges were quite the rage in days when men carried guns daily. Nearly all handgun cartridges had a shot loading. I have a few for the 32 S&W and 38 S&W. Few were available in rifle cartridges though. Larger caliber like 45/70 and 43 Egyptian had shot loads. I have always wanted to start making a shot cartridge for big game cartridges for small game but like many other things, I have yet to get around to it.

 

[6GUNSONLY]

You won’t be able to get enough #8 shot in a .22 LR case to be effective.

 

[YkcorCal]

I am squirreling the little I have left for "emergency use only" in my S&W 617-4 8 3/8". The "Green Mojave Rattlesnake" where my home was out in Landers, CA has a potent neurotoxic-hemotoxic venom, which is considered one of the world's most potent rattlesnake venoms and nothing to mess around with. I killed one out at my back door just before I moved to where I am now in Santa Clarita. Good luck with your quest. Hopefully the drought will end soon!

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Not worth it for .22. I make 100's each year in .38 Spl. cases to shoot carpenter bees.

 

[Drm50]

The 22s are a joke for anything serious. Shot capsules do have a purpose.
That is to shoot something where it’s not practical to use a bullet. It has to be close range too. I’ve loaded Speer shot capsules in 357 and 44 and they are a little better but not much. I have a few hundred capsules that I filled with shot and never loaded. I was hunting snakes at the time and wasn’t shooting them because of ruining skins. If I had to shoot one I wanted to hit it hard enough to avoid it striking. A bullet would do that. Did carry a couple shot in case I had to shoot a snake in a garage or basement. Only if it was going to get away before I could grab it.

 

[PALADIN85020]

I have read about using gas checks for wads. Over the powder turn the gas check up and over the shot turn it down and crimp. I
bought 2 boxes of .22 shot years ago and still have part of a box left so that's the reason I've never tried it. Larry

I worked up some .357 shot loads years ago for my dad doing exactly that, with #9 shot. My dad was having trouble with a feral house cat going for the birds in his nearly rural home. I figured that if the shot was taken more than 20 yards away, it would discourage a cat but not do much damage.

My dad said he actually fired at that cat once, than came inside and deposited his model 28, went back outside, and when neighbors inquired about the noise, he acted dumb and told them he didn't know what it was, but he heard it too....

He saw the cat jump, and said it didn't come around after that.

John

 

[YkcorCal]

Now that I have a .45ACP revolver I would much rather carry a .45ACP round for snake defense than any .22 round that is for sure!

 

[ken158]

Factory 22 shot shells are loaded with #12 shot and my experience is they are very ineffective...

 

[Rpg]

Why bother?

22 shot shells are useful for introducing a child to wing shooting using balloons with some water in them and shooting dragonflies at about 15 feet. Other than that, they are miserable devices.

If you absolutely must have 22 shot shells, they’re readily available. You won’t need many to discover that they’re pretty useless.

 

[Buford57]

I have killed dozens of red squirrels (think extra large mouse to small rat) at 10 to 15 feet with Federal .22LR shot shells out of a rifle. The trick is to hit them. Otherwise, I agree: they are ineffective. (I know the range because that's the distance from the porch to the tree).