ShotShells for hand guns

[Pa.Bill]

Years ago we tried the handgun shotshells out on our hunting land (Upstate NY) and though it was fun, interest was lost in a short amount of time.

Now living in the 'Back Woods' of Pa. it would seem they could come in handy.
( snakes and stuff )

I have a S&W 19/.357 that I know they work well in but how about semi-auto's? ( 9mm, .45 ) Anyone have opinions on shotshells?

~THANK YOU~

Bill------------------------------->

[TAB]

They will not cycle the gun. Other wise they are the same.

[Brian Williams]

I carry a walking stick and 158 gr LSWC in all my charge holes, the stick to move the snake away from my path.

[tekarra]

I don't use shotshells in my semiautos, but use use them in a S&W 65 when walking in the bush. One day I will load my own shot shells in 357 - when I find time.

[BlindJustice]

CCI/Speer Shotshells. in .38 Spcl (.357 Mag.) utilize a clear plastic cap
where the bullet nose is exposed in the cartridge case.
They also use #9 shot. I don't know what the count of shot is nor the weight of the charge but this design works in revolvers.

.45 ACP "Viper" offered by Reeds Ammunition & Research - Oklahoma CIty
OK, ( google it ) is a shot shell designed for Semi-AUtos. It has a brass
cap that slopes forward to have a profile like a JHP but it has five slots to make it look like sharkes teeth if you will. Loads offered are"

150 gr. #12 Chilled shot
150 gr. #7 1/2 ( 110 Count) of
Nickel wash Shot said to lessen rifling damage.

Unfortunately I had the Viper sitting around for a while and forgot it was
Semi-Auto only, and loaded up a full moon clip for my 625 - I tried it at
the range - because of the force necessary to get the cap
vlown off the case backed up and the firing pin froze on the
primer, End of range day with the 625 I gave it to my Gunny
and he freed up the cylinder Lesson learned. It was a #7 1/2

However it did blow a 1"+ jagged hole in the paper target at about
4 feet. with hardly any shot fliers in the pattern at that range. I look
forward to trying it out in my 1911 at 4 foot intervals to pattern it.

[Gator]

I carry a walking stick and 158 gr LSWC in all my charge holes, the stick to move the snake away from my path.

Thank you!

[M2 Carbine]

ShotShells for hand guns

I've used hand loaded shot shells in my 2 inch S&W J Frame since 1967. I've shot quite a few Rattlesnakes and Copperheads around the place. Only once did one shot fail to drop the snake's head.

Every summer the first two rounds in the 38, that's kept by the back door, is #8 shot.

[DPris]

You can't make a blanket statement that shotshells will not cycle a semi-auto.
Some pistols will cycle them all day long, others not at all.
My S&W 4516 and a Ruger P94 would empty a full mag of .45 ACP & 9mm Speer shotshells. Glock 17 destroys the shot cup & won't feed a second round. Colt Government Model would not eject .45 ACP Speer loads, caught the alluminum empties in the ejection port.
And so on.
Test them in your own gun, they may or may not work. :)
Don't count on them in a .22 semi-auto, but you might find one that works.
Denis

[hopelessjoe]

Some pistols will cycle them all day long, others not at all.

All of the shot shells for semi-autos I have tried in any gun have worked just fine.

If they do not work for you then I suggest that you get a weaker recoil spring for your ''woods'' gun.

I find that the .45acp shot shells work well in my double stack Para officers model without any changes to the gun.

I also prefer to carry .357 shot shells in my Taurus m605 revolver.

The .22lr shotshells are really iffy in semi-autos and you are taking your chances in revolvers since the shot size is very risky when you consider the space between the forcing cone and the cylinder. The words ''lock up'' come to mind.

[chris in va]

I won't shoot a snake unless it's poisonous. Last year I was driving back from the range and saw this rather large specimen on the side of the road. Backed up, turned out to be an Eastern Diamondback. And a Boy Scout camp was right around the corner.

By the time I got my 410 out, it was gone.

[dogrunner]

Some time back Remington was marketing a very effective .45 auto shotshell. Came in 20 round boxes and I truly wish I'd bought several at the time I tried 'em. Works like a charm in my 645 with a very reasonable pattern to nearly ten yards. Shells are fully crimped brass w/a total OAL the same as standard ball, I have yet to experience a FTF or fire. I'd add that the recoil impulse impresses me as identical to standard hardball.

Product # was/is R45AP5....data states shells contain 650 # 12's.

[Leadhead]

X3 on the stick and some good boots.....

[Grizfire]

The CCI shot shell ammo cycles my Springfield Loaded just fine. Of course, everything cycles just fine in my Loaded.

I took a grouse with that stuff last fall...mmmm good eats.

[kd7nqb]

CCI shotshells are so/so in my M&P sometimes it cycles just fine other times not so much.