Expanding Your Handgun Hunting Possibilities

When hunting big game, there always arises the possibility to take small game. Some are opposed to firing a shot in the field, while others like myself.....have no issues with taking a shot, depending upon circumstances!

Many of us that have the opportunity to hunt in the mountains, are aware of the pleasure of sitting down to a plate of Pine Grouse or freshly caught Brookies! Others may want to take a squirrel or rabbit while hunting big game.

I put together some shot shell cartridges for my .460 S&W. They duplicate a 2 1/2? 410 shot shell load, though truthfully, do not maintain a pattern quite as well as if fired from a shotgun! A close range they can be pretty effective. For some of you head-shooting a grouse may be a, walk in the park, for us mere mortals....a shot shell is beneficial!

I use my suppressed Ruger MKIII for similar purposes. Have killed hundreds of groundhogs & other varmints while crop damage deer hunting, squirrel hunting (with the Ruger).
Haven't seen a grouse in over 5 years in WV, but took several in the past with the Ruger.

I always take a .22 revolver when deer hunting, have had many deer hunts that turn into squirrel hunts.

I always take my Crosman 1377 to archery camp. Comes in handy for pest rodents and testing stuff during downtimes.

I guess that I was referring to the big game handgun hunters, using the 460 S&W cartridge. If you are hunting with only a handgun....this gives you small game capabilities, using a shot shell/cartridge. For those carrying two (2) firearms, or shooting small game while in camp....I guess this does not really apply! memtb

Great idea. I have a 460V S&W and this would add even more versatility to the platform. Although 45 Colt shotshells are available already but not up to the shot count yours demonstrates.

There are a few additional steps involved in making them....but, it?s not like you?re likely to be shooting a bunch of them. You can see that I had to slightly bottleneck the cases to clear the cylinder throat. I used a 2 1/2? 410 shot cup, thinking that it would help the pattern, as well as keeping the shot off of the rifling. If you just used paper discs, or similar....you may get a little more shot in the case. I thought the possible benefits of the plastic shot cup outweighed the benefits of a few more shot.

I ran the case just a very short distance into a 44 magnum resizing die, to give the slight bottleneck. The bottleneck gave a little resistance to the insertion of the shot cup, but not much. I weighed my shot, until I achieved the 1/2 ounce, then cut a rifle brass down, forming a dipper that held the 1/2 ounce of shot. I used a 44 cal gas check, inverted over the shot, then put a slight crimp on the case to secure the gas check. I then put hot glue over the end, to seal/waterproof. The hot glue application was the most difficult part of the entire process. I haven?t tried silicon caulk yet....that may be a cleaner, easier means of sealing the case end!

If you try some, and have good results using a different method than mine.....let me know. I?m always open to suggestions! Good Luck if you try it! memtb

your the first I`ve heard of to make a 460 shot shell

Nice option. Especially as i gives you a snake option if needed. I've read of a similar approach to create shotshells for the .454 Casull. They used .460 S&W cases as the base for it, the extra length of the 460 case allowed it to be sized down to fit in the Casull cylinder throats. What case did you use to form yours?

I used .444 Marlin Mag. brass - full length. The rim is slightly smaller in diameter than the .460, but hasn?t presented any issues thus far. memtb

This is my Recipe for 480 Ruger Shot Shells.
Prime the case.
Add approximately 6.0 grains of American Select, Unique, 20/28, etc.
1 each 50 Cal Muzzle Loader Over Powder Felt Wad. Seat with 3/8 Dowel Rod (Felt Wad is app .0130 thick)
Add approximately 150 grains of shot (7.5, 8, or 9) Fill till you only have enough room to seat the Gas Check.
Install Gas Check Cup Down
Add Roll Crimp.

Out of my Alaskan this is a Super Snake Load. At 5 feet it will put down a uniform pattern in about a 6" Circle. The Gas Check and Wadd will blow a hole in the center of the pattern.
I worked with several different combinations of wads, and this worked the best. It will kill a snake out to approximately 10 feet.

Bob R