FYI - PISTOL SHOTSHELLS

I SUSPECT THAT IN MANY PARTS OF THE COUNTRY RATTLERS AND OTHER POISONOUS SNAKES ARE A THREAT TO YOU, YOUR KIDS, YOUR DOGS, YOUR HORSES, AND MORE. CCI MAKES A VARIETY OF SHOTSHELLS FOR PISTOLS. ALL OF THE ONES SHOWN ABOVE, EXCEPT FOR THE 2nd FROM THE LEFT, ARE CCI. IF CCI MAKES ANY OTHERS, BESIDES PERHAPS SOME RAT SHOT 22 LR's, I AM NOT AWARE OF THEM. THE ONES AHOWN ARE, RIGHT TO LEFT, 22 MAG., 9MM (I HAVE TRIED THESE IN A LUGER, P-38, HIGH POWER, BERRETTA, SIG, GLOCK, AND BROOMHANDLE, AND THEY WILL NOT CYCLE A SEMI-AUTO, BUT THEY DO WORK IN MY SP-101), 38/357, 40 S&W (THESE WILL CYCLE IN A GLOCK SOME TIMES, AND, BECAUSE OF THEIR SHAPE, SIMILAR TO THE 45 AUTO ONE, I WOULD NOT TRY THEM IN A REVOLVER, SEE 45 AUTO DISCUSSION BELOW), 44 SPL/MAG, 45 AUTO (THESE WILL CYCLE IN SEMI-AUTOS, BUT DO NOT TRY THEM IN REVOLVERS AS THEY SUPPOSEDLY SET BACK AND TIE UP THE CYLINDER), 45 AUTO RIM (I LOADED THESE USING EMPTY 45 COLT SHOT CAPSULES AVAILABLE FROM SPEER, FILLED THEM UP WITH #9 SHOT AND LOADED THEM OVER 7.5 GRAINS OF UNIQUE, SLIPPAGE CAN BE A PROBLEM BUT I USED AS HEAVY A 45 ACP CRIMP AS I COULD AND RESIZED THE CASES ONCE THE CAPSULES WERE IN, PERHAPS A LEE FACTORY CRIMP DIE FOR THE 45 AUTO RIM, IF THERE IS SUCH A THING, MAY BE THE ANSWER), AND 45 COLT (AN AWESOME SHOTSHELL). SOME DON'T BELIEVE IN SHOOTING RATTLERS, THEY SAY JUST WALK AROUND THEM. RATTLERS AROUND HERE ARE NOT ENDANGERED, YOU CANNOT ALWAYS AVOID THEM, AND WHAT ABOUT THE NEXT PERSON THAT COMES ALONG? WHAT IF THEY ARE IN CAMP, AROUND YOUR HOME? ME AND MY BUDDIES, IF WE SEE THEM AND CAN SHOOT THEM, WE DO.

NOTE THE 2 MAIN GAPS IN CCI SHOTSHELLS FOR REVOLVERS: NONE FOR THE 32's AND NONE FOR 41 MAG.

It's easy to load your own shot shells by using cardboard for wads between the powder and shot and over the shot. Wax or Elmer's glue works great to seal the top wad. If you can find some #11 or 12 shot they make a much more effective shot shell. There are some videos on Youtube showing how.

TEEP: I SALVAGED THE #9 SHOT OUT OF SOME SHOTGUN SHELLS, USED WHAT I COULD GET BUT I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND LARGER THAN #9 SHOT AS YOU WOULD END UP WITH TOO FEW BB's. I HAVE NOT USED THE CARDBOARD BUT HAVE LOADED 45 COLT SHOTSHELLS USING GAS CHECKS, THE ONE OVER THE POWDER FACING UP AND THE TOP ONE OVER THE SHOT FACING DOWN AND THEN HELD IN PLACE WITH A CRIMP. WONDER IF ANYONE OUT THERE IS LADING SHOTSHELLS FOR THE 41 AND THE 32's?

The only problem I had with shot shells were they didn't kill our big rattlers (from 3 to 7') in the WV mountains) very well until you got to 4-6 feet.
I've treated around 20+ rattler bites. plus a few copperheads, and have seen the damage they do and the misery they cause even with proper treatment.
So, my standard snake load is a HP in .44 or .454 to the head. No head, no bite. I'm not getting that close to these big boys.

DOC: LOOKS LIKE YOU SUBSCRIBE TO THE "KILL 'EM IF YOU CAN" SIDE. MY BUDDIES AND I HAVE HAD GOOD SUCCESS WITH THE 45 ACP SHOTSHELL AND I HAVE DONE WELL WITH THE 45 COLT SHOTSHELL, BUT WHEN IN SNAKE COUNTRY, WE USUALLY HAVE THE FIRST 2 ROUNDS UP BEING SHOTSHELLS. MAYBE I COULD BE A HEAD SHOOTER BUT IT WOULD BE ASKING TOO MUCH OF MY BUDDIES WHO REQUIRE LARGE TARGETS, LIKE A BARN WALL. THANK YOU FOR THE POST RE HOW SERIOUS THESE SNAKE BITES CAN BE.

Rey, Like I told you earlier... the only poisonous snakes I`am likely to run into around here are the two legged kind...

I can tell you with 100% certainty that the .45ACP shotshells will tie up an S&W 325PD after the first shot. Have not tried them in the S&W 1917

And I'm with you on the rattlers. If they are around my house, they die. Out in the woods, I'll leave them be if I can

In my experience when a snake is shot with a shot shell from a handgun it usually doesn't kill them. However, they coil themselves into a ball or big cluster allowing for a 2nd shot with a regular round to finish them.

One other note on shot shells. Don't make the mistake I did. I usually take my home made target stand with cardboard backer for short range testing. One day at the range I didn't have it so I stapled my shot testing target to the particle board at the range. I took a shot from 5 steps away and most of the load ricocheted back in my face. Thank God I had glasses on.

ALUMINUM BEVERAGE CANS, PLASTIC WATER BOTTLES, POTATOES AND CACTUS PATTIES ARE MY TARGETS OF CHOICE FOR CHECKING SHOTSHELLS.

j.m.h.o. from what little testing i've done with shot shells from a handgun is that it is about 1/2 step above useless. if i was concerned with snakes i would carry a shot single shot 20g.

Back in the early 70's I had a Contender with a .44 Mag. with the shredder attachment for plastic shot capsules. Now these would definitely kill a snake and a lot of other things. I've used .22 shot shells in a North American revolver with the 1" barrel to kill several snakes close to my feet and never had one that didn't die quickly. It seems to me that the shorter the barrel the better with these shot shells. I have 12 of the first 20 round pack of CCI shot shells I purchased when they first came out, price sticker is still on them: $1.84 which I though was very high at the time. Those 8 missing have accounted for 8 snakes, all cotton mouths.

My snake gun of choice is a 480 Ruger Alaskan.
I use a 50 cal muzzleloader over powder felt wad over the powder then add approximately 150 grains of #9, and a gas check seated backwards over the shot and crimp.
A couple weeks ago bush hogging I got 2 copperheads on 2 consecutive days from the tractor seat. Four in 2 days is not a bad haul. A couple days later I got a cottonmouth about 30 inches long at the creek. Believe it or not, this is a very light snake year.

Bob

MY BROTHER DISPATCHED A 3 FOOT RATTLER THE OTHER DAY, 1 SHOT WITH A 45 ACP SHOTSHELL. 45 COLT AND 45 ACP SHOTSHELLS HAVE ALWAYS WORKED WELL FOR US ON RATTLERS, BUT HAVE NOT USED ANY OF THE SAMLLER CALIBERS SO CANNOT VOUCH FOR THEM.

Here's some hand loaded shot shells I carry in my 45 Blackhawk for snakes.

https://www.wildtraxx.com/2017/07/20/range-day/

BEEN TRYING TO LOAD UP SOME 480 RUGER SNAKE SHELLS. I HAD GOTTEN SOME 475 GC's FROM A GOOD SAMARITAN BUT THEY WERE .482 IN DIAMETER AND I COULD NOT GET THEM TO SEAT IN A MAX BELLED 480 CASE (TRIED STARLINE AND HORNADY AND "NO GO" WITH EITHER CASE). AN OUTFIT NAMED SAGE OUTDOORS SELLS SNAKE SHOT KITS BUT NOT FOR 475L/480R. AT SIXSHOT's SUGGESTION I SHARPENED THE MOUTH OF A RESIZED CASE WITH A CHAMFER TOOL AND PUNCHED OUT SOME WADS (DISCS) FROM THE BLACK PLASTIC TOP OF A LARGE FOLGERS PLASTIC COFFEE CAN, 1 FOR OVER POWDER AND 1 FOR OVER SHOT. THE TOPS ARE SOMEWHAT FLEXIBLE AND I WAS WORRIED ABOUT THEM FAILING UNDER RECOIL WHEN THEY ARE IN THE CYLINDER AND I AM SHOOTING A REGULAR 480 LOAD. THE SIDES OF THE PLASTIC COFFEE CANS ARE THICKER AND STIFFER, BUT NOT BRITTLE, SO I CUT SOME DISCS OUT OF THE SIDES. LOADED 6grs OF UNIQUE, SEATED A "SIDE" DISC OVER THE POWDER, USED A 38 SPECIAL CASE TO SCOOP UP APPROX. 150grs OF #8 SHOT, POURED THE SHOT IN THE 480 CASE, PUT ANOTHER SIDE DISC OVER THE SHOT, PROFILE CRIMPED IT, THEN USED A LEE COLLET DIE TO CRIMP AGAIN. FINISHED IT OFF WITH SOME LOCTITE "SUPER GLUE" TO SEAL THE TOP DISC. WENT OUT THIS MORNING AND PUT 1 OF THESE LOADS IN A CUSTOM 5 SHOT RUGER 5 1/2 INCH BLUE "NIMROD" STYLE BISLEY WITH A 480 CYLINDER, PROCEEDED TO LOAD AND FIRE, 1 AT A TIME, 6 ROUNDS OF 480 AMMO (A 340gr THUMPER BULLET DOING CLOSE TO 1,200fps). AFTER EVERY SHOT I CHECKED THE SNAKE LOAD AND COULD NOT DETECT ANY MOVEMENT OF THE DISC. I THEN FIRED THE SNAKE LOAD AND IT FUNCTIONED FINE BUT THE POWDER CHARGE WAS A LITTLE LIGHT, GOING TO TRY 7.5grs OF UNIQUE NEXT. MY PREFERENCE WOULD BE TO USE GAS CHECKS, TOP AND BOTTOM, BUT "ADAPT" OR BE "SOL".

45man, you might try a fired 45acp case this would allow an extra large projectile in the mix, I?ve read where folks have fired them in 475?s.
I?ve always had good luck with leather and a drop of Elmer?s......I make shot for my 500?s.

Trapr

Actually, the CCI .22 Magnum shot shell is quite effective from a Single Six.

WENT OUT THIS MORNING AND TRIED A 480 SHOTSHELL LOAD WITH 7.5grs OF UNIQUE, "BINGO", ITS A WINNER, WILL LOAD UP 10 - 15 OF 'EM, DO NOT PLAN ON PLINKING WITH 'EM SO THIS MAY BE DARN NEAR A LIFETIME SUPPLY. NOW I CAN CARRY MY CUSTOM 480 RUGER BISLEY IN THE SOUTH TEXAS BRUSH.

I was actually thinking the 4570 brass that Hornady uses for their flextip bullet that?s shorter than normal 4570 brass might be a good starting point. Cut it to cylinder length and swage the end to fit the throat. If you want to try some let me know, I?ve got a couple boxes of that brass that was given to me, and I can?t use it with my levergun since the dies are setup for SAAMI spec brass.

Trapr

TRAPR: I LOADED UP 16 480 RUGER SHOTSHELLS TODAY, SHUD BE ENUFF FOR A WHILE, BUT MORE SHOT IS APPEALING. WHAT DIES WOULD YOU USE TO SWAGE DOWN AND CRIMP? AND WOULD GETTING IN THE OVER POWDER WAD/DISC THRU THE SMALLER SWAGED END BE A PROBLEM?

Rey, I use leather for the over powder wad so it squeezes thru the smaller hole in the mouth. I push it thru with a pencil or similar object and tamp it down on the powder. I then use either card stock or thicker leather for the over shot wad, I made a small steel insert that fits into my die mouth and has a 5/8? in diameter hole in it with a domed top that curves the case mouth and crimps the overshot wad in place, then a drop of Elmer?s adds a bit of piece of mind to the crimp/wad.
To swage the end of the cases it depends on what cartridge Im Starting with, my 500?s are staged using my bullet seat die for 45 colt, there is a large chamfer on the bottom of the die and it works really well. For my 45 colt shot, a 40sw seat die does the same job, just lubricate the case and push it a half inch or so.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/uSxnmNwfp9dytWPC8

https://photos.app.goo.gl/bpRb4BWyA77dELDN8

Here is the steel insert with the domed hole, it?s an old chunk of barrel and works for all my shot loads, 9mm to 500.

The case on the far right is a 303brit. cut to fit a SW69, it?ll look like the one next to it once it get fired in the chamber. The 500Max case holds over an ounce of mixed 12 and 8 shot, it works well on running blues, it?s devastating on snakes.

Trapr

TRAPR: WOW, LOOKS LIKE YOU GOT IT FIGURED OUT. WHAT KIND OF LEATHER YOU USING? I MAY TRY THIS BUT USING 475L BRASS TO GIVE ME SOME XTRA SHOT IN THE 480 RUGER CYLINDER.

It?s scrap, maybe 1/16? thick for overpowder and 1/8? thick for overshot.

I started making full length for 45acp back when I was carrying it for crawling around S. Texas looking for pigs, and it just became fun and I stuck with it.

If youve got some 475L brass that has small splits in the mouth, it should work fine for shot in a 480, instead of mutilating perfectly good brass.

Trapr

I've killed rattlers in WA out my inlaws place with my Blackhawk in 45 Colt.
I load the Speer shot capsules with #8 or #9 shot.

I always carry the snake loads when at the range on their place, especially when the grass gets tall in mid-late summer. The snakes love to lay in the shade not too far from the creek when the temps go up. A couple loads of shot always puts them in their place:)

My 460 S&W shotshells: Full length 444 Marlin Magnum brass (must be slightly bottlenecked to chamber), standard powfder charge for a 2 1/2 in. 410, 2 1/2 in. 410 shot cup, 1/2 oz. #8 shot, 44 caliber gas check inverted over shot, slight crimp applied, then sealed with hot glue ( will reconsider another method of sealing). memtb

Memtb460, coincidentally you 460 brass works well for 45 colt full length shotshells. It?s what I use when making mine. You might try doing away with your 410 wad if you have issues with inconsistent patterning. I found adding a wad causes donut patterns due to the wad grabbing the rifling.

Trapr

Bigbrowndog, Thanks for the tip. I really didn?t see the donut, but.....the groups open up quickly. I was blaming the rifling, but was satisfied for my usage. What is your effective range.....where the pattern is still dense enough for a reliable kill? memtb

My shotshells for my 500 maximum, 500 Linebaugh will reliably break a clay bird at 15 yds,

At snake distances 6 ft, and less there is good saturation on a 8.5x11 sheet of paper. Beyond 6 ft the stuff that?s 44mag/45LC still does the same out to 10ft, the smaller 38/357, 9mm, and 10mm stuff weakens beyond 6ft.

Trapr

Shooting carpenter bees with 22 shot shells in a single six is great fun! For snakes I want a solid.

Bigbrowndog, I guess that I may have to try some ?without? the shot cup.....my patterns are not nearly that good at 15 yards! memtb

The 500Max has 400 - 450grs of shot, that does help.

Trapr

Bigbrowndog, I?m running a full 1/2 oz......doesn?t seem to be helping me any!