lscocoa
Member
I used to buy Speer plastic capsules and make shot loads but does anyone have experience making loads that didn't need a plastic capsules? Example: a gas check, bb's, then gas check over powder.
Snake load
- Thread starter lscocoa
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
Bosquebass
Member
You may find some ideas here:Pictorial of making crimped .38S&W shot loads
ArchAngelCD
Moderator, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
There are many ways to make snake shot loads but IMO the easiest and most efficient way is with the shot capsules from Speer. The capsules seal the case better than any other way I've tried so the velocity is better and you get a tighter spread too.
I use #9 shot in most but also #12 for smaller varmints.
Since I don't load for shotguns I buy 1 box of 12ga #9 shot and disassemble the 25 rounds. That gives me a large supply of shot since not many are usually needed.
I use #9 shot in most but also #12 for smaller varmints.
Since I don't load for shotguns I buy 1 box of 12ga #9 shot and disassemble the 25 rounds. That gives me a large supply of shot since not many are usually needed.
Making .38 special shotshells? [Archive] - Cast Boolits and look at post #6... I plan to try this, sounds pretty good. He likes the Speer capsule.
Last edited:
Ole Joe Clark
Absent Comrade
I do one with gas checks, unique powder for .38's. Got it from the American Rifleman. I think I have a scanned copy, will look and post it tomorrow.
Have a blessed day,
Leon
Have a blessed day,
Leon
I've got Speer 357 & 44 shot caps. I have used gas check method and cut off 410 shot cups capped with gas checks. For serious snake protection 357 is a joke. 44 & 45 aren't much better but you can use bigger shot that has better penetration. The most effective killer out of Speer Caps is leights of lead solder straighten and stacked in capsule like pencil lead. Was in a gun magazine article back in 70s. Junk Yard Dog loade was name of article. Don't rember mag or writer.
I load .38 spl snake and carpenter bee loads as such. I prime a 38 case. Add 1.5 grs of Bullseye. Tamp down a card board wad(cut from a primer sleeve box with an arch punch). Pour in enough #9's to about fill the case. Tamp down another car board wad on top and seal with glue or finger nail polish. Been shooting these for years. Same method would work in any caliber. I filed a 22LR case to hold 1.5 grs of BE and glues it to a small flat piece of wood. This is my dipper. GS's are way too expensive for the amount I shoot.
My simple loading kit and some bees shot with them around the shop.
My simple loading kit and some bees shot with them around the shop.
Attachments
ajgunner
Member
No disrespect but I have to disagree on this. I have killed several with just the 22 shot loads coming out of a 1" NAA revolver. This little revolver lives in my fishing vest. I have found at 3-6 feet it will stop a snake pretty much dead in it's tracks with very little twitching. It also works out nice if you plan to do some skinning. You really have to look hard to even find the holes in the hide.
I have also loaded 38/357/44 in the capsules and in different duplex loads. I have filled the capsules with #2 or # 4 shot then dribble in #12 to fill every bit of space. One thing nobody mentioned is to be careful with applying too much crimp. The capsules can and will crack.
Another option is to load the powder, cover it with a cardboard wad cut from a box as stated above. Load it with some shot---duplex if you like that idea, then find some 70 to 90gr tiny little wad cutters to cap the shot and lightly crimp it in place. With the additional little lead "pill" you also have the option of taking out more than just a snake if the opportunity comes up. Pretty handy especially if this is what you have as the first round in the cylinder. Just in case you happen to have a badger or coyote surprise you at close range, you don't need to rotate or hammer drop past the first round to "put some lead in them".
Last edited:
Ole Joe Clark
Absent Comrade
Almost forgot.
This came from the 1975 American Rifleman. I have used this from around 1975 until present day. It works really well for me, from Rattlesnakes to squirrels in the attic.
Have a blessed day,
Leon
This came from the 1975 American Rifleman. I have used this from around 1975 until present day. It works really well for me, from Rattlesnakes to squirrels in the attic.
Have a blessed day,
Leon
gwpercle
Member
Just for reference , a dipper made with a fired standard 22 Short case will dip 2.5 grains of Bullseye .
A drop of glue placed in the bottom of the case can also be used to "lighten the load" .
I have seen charges from 1.5 grs. to 3.0 grs. given .
Old Joe Clark ,
Thanks for posting the Dope Bag article , printing it for future reference ... your way-back machine is awesome !
Gary
A drop of glue placed in the bottom of the case can also be used to "lighten the load" .
I have seen charges from 1.5 grs. to 3.0 grs. given .
Old Joe Clark ,
Thanks for posting the Dope Bag article , printing it for future reference ... your way-back machine is awesome !
Gary
max503
Member
This is way cool. Me and a co-worker split a bag of #12 shot years ago. I still have most of it. I just don't have much use for loads like this where I live. Now I want to make some just for fun. Maybe I could gather fish bait with them. I could hunt those big grasshoppers.
Do you remember what you make that punch out of?
I use 12's when I can find them. The punch is an ARCH PUNCH used to make bolt holes in homemade gaskets. You can buy a set from harbor freight cheap that includes 1/4" to 1/2". A piece of sharpened copper tubing may work. The punches just make it easier as you can cut a dozen wads before you empty the punch.
I just filed down the case till I got the charge I wanted...Easier than glue.
Squarebutt
Member
I've used candle wax to seal the mouth of the case on .38 snake loads. Didn't seem to gum up the barrel.
max503
Member
I found a bag of wax bullets I made up some time ago. You know, the ones where you press the case mouth into a block of paraffin. Some of the bullets melted and made a mess. Just sayin'.
SixGunSancho
Member
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2019
- Messages
- 139
- Reaction score
- 152
Out wet where Mojave greens slither, Claymore mines and cluster bombs dropped from F-16's have proven efficacy. But the US military ain't always available for Mojave green eradication. So I'd recommend buying a box of CCI's Big 4 snake loads. Unless its a rattler apocalypse, a box ought to last you a season. That way you don't have have to endure tedium of loading your own.
But I shoot 3-400 of these at carpenter bees drilling in my shop an shed each spring......Imagine how much $$$ would be if I had to buy that many? I started out with .22 "rat shot". That got expensive fast.
I shot a load I had made several years before using the gas check method, the case looked really strange, almost as if the gas check was fused to it.
I usually use card wads now but the best thing I'd ever used for a base wad was lubed Ox-Yoke wads made for cap and ball revolvers.
I make them for my .41 mags and use .30-30 cases cut down to the full length of the cylinder and the rims thinned to fit. They hold a bit more shot than a standard case. I'm thinking of making some more but we live in the city limits now and don't have a lot to shoot at them with anyway.
I usually use card wads now but the best thing I'd ever used for a base wad was lubed Ox-Yoke wads made for cap and ball revolvers.
I make them for my .41 mags and use .30-30 cases cut down to the full length of the cylinder and the rims thinned to fit. They hold a bit more shot than a standard case. I'm thinking of making some more but we live in the city limits now and don't have a lot to shoot at them with anyway.
