shotshell reloading for pistol caliber

Rule3 said:
Not my video, just an idea. Who needs 1,000 shot shells and how do you crimp cardboard?

Shot capsules are $10 for 50 and are a PITA when they crack.
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I shoot several hundred each spring at carpenter bees. I don't crimp my loads. Not necessary. My wads are over size and I seal with a little glue or finger nail polish.

BTW For years I used a .22 and "ratshot" till it got too expensive for the amount I was shooting.
 
I ended up using cardboard (old juice carton) and the sharpened casing to make over powder wads, cut down about 15 quite old 12 gauge shells for the shot (7 1/2), and then seated a gas check just below the case neck and crimped it so as not to have gas checks and shot running everywhere either during recoil or simply carrying in the holster.

Took some experimenting to get the settings just right, but I now have 50 of them for rattlers here in Montana.

Randy
 
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I just wonder how much pressure can be built up using only cardboard for the top of the round? Not much pressure would be needed to move lose shot and a cardboard top. The shot doesn't have neck tension like a solid lead bullet,
Just a guess however,
 
What I saw on various youtube videos was those using a non-metallic cap like cardboard, felt etc. all seemed to use some form of a glue (hot glue gun, elmers,) to hold the card in place.

Most looked like they had a very strong crimp for that purpose and ease of feeding. Might have an effect on the amount of pressure generated.

All I know is that the final result of my adventure raised hell with an attacking empty beer can!!! Very devastating to say the least.

Randy
 
elmers school glue works well to seal the card on the top. Probably the cheapest sealant around.

I bought the hollow punch drill bit set from Harfor Freight, they have various sizes that work well for cutting the cardboard cards for different cartridges. You can handload .410s the same way. I chuck them up in my drill press, use any old card board packaging and go to work cutting them out.

Rosewood
 
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rosewood said:
Depending on your intended use, a gas check as the top card can do more damage than the shot.

Rosewood
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And how in the world would that be? A gas check is supposed to go down the barrel...........or are you referring to damage on the snake?

Randy
 
Rule3 said:
I just wonder how much pressure can be built up using only cardboard for the top of the round? Not much pressure would be needed to move lose shot and a cardboard top. The shot doesn't have neck tension like a solid lead bullet,
Just a guess however,
Click to expand...

The velocity/pressure is perfect. Shot will penetrate a plastic jug at 10 ft. YET not damage the roof of my shed when I shoot bees under it...........Don't need a BEAR KILLER load for this. Works perfect for me and that's all that matters.
 
Many years ago, I loaded .357 shotshells using two gas checks. The one on the bottom over the powder charge was cup side up, same with the one on top; the cartridge was then crimped over the lip of the top cup. #9 shot worked well in between.

The gas checks, when they come out of the muzzle, lose velocity very quickly, while the lead shot continues on its way. I think the gas checks also help to keep the barrel cleaner by scraping some lead as they are fired.

At the time I had plenty of gas checks for use on Lyman's SWC 358156 cast bullets; easy peasy.

John
 
Mike said:
The velocity/pressure is perfect. Shot will penetrate a plastic jug at 10 ft. YET not damage the roof of my shed when I shoot bees under it...........Don't need a BEAR KILLER load for this. Works perfect for me and that's all that matters.
Click to expand...


But what if, just what if, they are Killer bees or Hornets? The there are the killer milk jugs:eek:;)



No not much to kill a bee but the subject was snakes.:D __________________
 
growr said:
And how in the world would that be? A gas check is supposed to go down the barrel...........or are you referring to damage on the snake?

Randy
Click to expand...

Yes, for someone shooting something like bees on a roof or something, that gas check could knock a hole they didn't intend on.

I guess maybe using lead shot, it wouldn't be a big deal, I had considered loading grits or the like for carpenter bees. A gas check will do much more damage in that case for sure.

Rosewood
 
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To me shot shells are a joke and especially in 38/357. Not reliable enough to kill snake. If it’s coiled it may strike. You are better off loaded up with cast bullet or HPs. Even near miss will do as much as fine shot load from 38
I have shot a lot of snakes and never shot one because I was in immediate danger of being bitten. I would shoot them before I allowed them to get away. Snake hide with holes is a big dock when selling.
 
Bug-A-Salt
Check local gun laws for assault weapon laws!:D


iu
 
Rule3 said:
Bug-A-Salt
Check local gun laws for assault weapon laws!:D


iu
Click to expand...

I have been eyeing these for a few years now. They go for $40-50. Just more than I want to pay for a plastic toy.

I hear they are a blast on carpenter bees.

Rosewood
 
A bird takes a lot less killing than a snake. When I was hunting snakes for hide I just carried a 44 with HPs. Copper Heads and Rattlers are a much heavier bodied snake than out non poisonous species. They strike from coil and a slug into random hit in body is going to do instant major damage. It’s a whole different ball game than shooting odd water snakes and garter snakes just because they are there.
 
I have a real phobia about snakes. Where I used to go fishing, there were zillions of Copper Heads. One day I took out my trusty Model 17 which I shot well at the range with and couldn't hit a snake about 6 feet away. I bought TC Contender Shot Shells in .357 and .44 and then also their loading components. Still have some and they are great. 7.5 Shot in .44 Mag and 9 in .357. Wish they still made the loaded rounds and the components.

Bob
 

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I don't mean to be the odd man out here but we run into tons of rattle snakes, especially while dove and quail hunting. In the past 40 years or so, I've only been forced to dispatch one or two.

I'd prefer that the snakes be left alone to fulfill their role in natures grand scheme.

Let the hate mail begin. LOL
 
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