Has Anyone Attempted...

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jwrowland77

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...the .38 Special shot shell load from the Speer manual. If so, how did it work out?

My dad has a .357/.38 and I found his load in my Speer manual just looking at loads for his revolver that I'm going to reload for sooner or later. Was just kind of wondering if anyone has attempted it and what you use it for.
 
I've used them. I loaned a revolver loaded with them to a coworker and she reported they will not reliably kill a possum eating cat food on the porch.
 
I was mainly thinking o using them for snake control or popping a squirrel or two with it....why, just for the heck of it and think it would be cool. Lol
 
I loaded a bunch for my 44 mag (not mag loads) & they worked o.k. The plastic capsule will do a number on anything it hits, too. I think I used #8 or #9 shot but they recommend #12. They do not pattern well, so if you're much over 10-15 feet it will be kind of random.
 
The loads work perfectly fine.

But shooting squirrels with them is not in the cards.

Unless you have Very Tame squirrels.

The effective range is "It's you or me Snake! Go ahead! Make my day!"

rc
 
i have loaded them in 44 spl. they do what they are supposed to, but not much more.

i had some out at the lease with a buddy (didn't tell him) and said "watch this, i have been practicing" and tossed a bottle up in the air with my off hand and shot it in the air with a shot shell, you should have seen his face.
 
Have used them. They work well. Be careful when crimping as they crack easily and spill shot all over the place. They are better used in a "double-tap" situation where you deliver multiple shots on target quickly. As mentioned before, the shot pattern is not very consistent but is an effective deterrent to obnoxious reptiles.
 
I did kill a flying mallard duck with one out of a S&W .357 once long ago.

I shot the duck with my shotgun, and waded around a pond to get it.

Just as I got there, the wounded duck took off and made a bee-line for the next water, which happened to be a 5 mile long federal lake.

I did a quick-draw McGraw and dropped him with one shot at maybe 15-20 yards.

Yes, it was 10% skill and 90% luck.
But yes, it killed him deader then Jimmy Hoffa.

rc
 
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I have loaded shot shells for 38spl and 44spl, using Speer shot capsules and card board wad loads. They work best in a short barrel, the rifling scatters the pattern. These shot shells have a effective range of about 10 feet.
I have only tried #6,7.5,8 and 9 shot with #9 preforming the best.
I use Bullseye for a propellent.
 
jibjab has it. #9 shot and a fast burning powder. I use them in my 3" CA Bulldog and at close range they are devastating on snakes. I have also made my own shot shells with out the plastic shot holder. That works great too, but is a lot more work. When I was shooting more of them, it paid to make my own though.
 
The loads work perfectly fine.

But shooting squirrels with them is not in the cards.

Unless you have Very Tame squirrels.

The effective range is "It's you or me Snake! Go ahead! Make my day!"

rc
aka:
In the crawlspace under the porch looking for a water moccasin..
 
I've made some for my .45LC using the Speer shot shells and #9 shot--have yet to try one on der schnake, but it sounds as if they will do the trick. :)
 
Forget the poisonous snakes under your deck in Michigan.
It could just be a big Detroit Sewer Rat under your bed!

CCI Snake Shot does not discriminate.
And it doesn't tear up the house or kill the neighbors so you would notice.

They are perfect for small varmint control around farm buildings, machinery, and livestock.
Or anything else you don't want bullet holes in.

rc
 
I load them for 38spl with #8 shot and use unique powder. Killed a copperhead with them last year. I nearly stepped on him one evening walking out back to the building to get a tool.
 
I killed a couple quail one year, shot one of them out of the air! Mearn's quail are pretty stupid and let you walk right up to them... so I just walked right up to a covey, just as I leveled on one on the ground it took off , I just raised with it and fired. It was only like 5 yards away. Knocked it right down, my brother laughed for 5 minutes, he couldn't believe it.
100_1771_0008_008.jpg

I got a Gambel's quail on the ground later.
100_1774_0007_007.jpg
 
Years ago (30 maybe?) when I had a 38 I reloaded quite a few of the shot capsules and yes they work good for up close targets.

I went beyond bird shot and used the shot capsules with buck shot pellets. If I remember correctly only 2 pellets would fit in the capsule. They were fairly accurate out to 7 - 10 yards with the pellets impacting 4" - 6" apart and would penetrate one side of a steel drum.
 
They will go throw the wall of the house. I'm reminded everytime I walk post it.
 
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