I often encounter ruffies when wallking in the woods during deer season and though I have been fortunate to take a few with a 45 caliber head shot, I have missed more than a few as well. I got to thinking about a way that I could make a quick change to a shotshell to up my chances and came up with this idea just to see if I could get a decent pattern from the 6" revolver.

I started with some 356 Win brass because I had it, but 460 brass would have been better. After expanding and trimming to about 1/16" shorter than the cylinder length I ran the cases through a 44 mag sizer until they would chamber in the 45 Colt cylinder throats. I dropped in 12 grains of True Blue (similar to HS-6) and then placed a 1/8" cork wad over the powder. I filled the case with some #7-1/2's (about 1/2 ounce) and seated a 44 mag gas check over the shot. The case on the right in the above picture is what they look like after being fired.

The above target was shot at 5 paces distance.

Then at 7 paces.

And then at 9 paces, where the pattern starts to open up a bit, but not too bad. The black target spot is about 1" diameter. I'd like to try some #6's, but all I had on hand was what I use for trap shooting. I also shot a 1/2" thick piece of plywood @ 7 paces to check penetration and a few pellets did pass through.

There just may be some potential here.

Rod, I`ed love to see where you take this.... Always interested in the old articles on shot revolvers. Remember one guy loaded the shot in a thin plastic container to reduce the effect of the rifling. Good luck and keep me posted.....

Way cool, Rod. I have always been interested in this. Sounds like you have "done your homework," and it is paying off.

Are you custom cutting the cork wads? And if so, from what, a wine cork? Or maybe you can buy 1/8" cork sheets and then use a case to cut 'em?

Yes, this has my interest!

I went to the Ben Franklin, five and dime, store here in town and they had some "coaster kits" for making those pads that you set your sweaty drinking glasses on. They came with a half dozen 4" diameter pieces of 1/8" thick cork and I used a sharpened cartridge case to cut the wads.

That is rather ingenious! Hope you slay some birds for the pot.

That's pretty neat.

VERY CLEVER!

This is awesome Rod. I'm anxious to see how this turns out. I like the wad idea to minimize the rifling. I've got some 460 brass I'll be glad to send ya for this. I bought a TON of it when I had my 460 made, and I'm still loading the first 100 cases. I starting to wonder if it is even possible to blow out these Starline cases, or maybe they are indestructible now!

Well thanks for the offer, Paul. I have a friend here who tossed me a few pieces when he found out what I was doing, but not sure about brass life as they do get worked a bit with the 44 mag sizer so I may just take you up on that. If anyone has a few pounds of #6's, or even #4's, they might be willing to part with so I could test them I'd be happy to reimburse. I have a few boxes of factory pheasant loads so I may just have to sacrifice a few shells for the cause.

I checked my shot supply, and all I have is #7.5, and #9 for trap loads / light field loads. I know the local gun store has some goofy stuff sometimes, so I'll check down there for ya this afternoon on my way out to fly Anaya.

I've never seen much other than #8 and #7/2 at the stores I visit. Guess they figure the only people handloading shot are clay shooters.

Yeah come to think of it, I don't think I've seen anything larger than #7 when I go buy shot. But then again, I use a lot of reclaimed shot so it is about half the cost. I'll check with some of my shooting buddies and see if they have anything as well.

Gotta be some somewhere!!

Here in Kentucky, this would be great for snakes in the warmer months!

I made up some shotshells for my 480R about the same way. I used a 50 Cal over powder felt wad, and then the Gas Check on top of the shot. I installed my gas check base down and then crimped the case. I did manage to come up with a small jar of I belive #12 shot from one of our serious Trap & Skeet shooters. I have no idea what he was loading with #12 shot for. It works well on poison snakes.

Bob R

this is pretty awesome. Thanks for sharing