Rat shot/Snake shot reloads

[fireflyfather]

One thing to be careful of witth he speer shot capsules: If you crimp them too heavily, you can crack them. I've had rounds that cracked only enough that they were ugly. I had one though, that all but disintegrated in my die...

That said, you can load more shot in the capsules, since you have more overall length/volume to work with.

I load mine with red dot.

 

[Salmoneye]

That said, you can load more shot in the capsules, since you have more overall length/volume to work with.

I load mine with red dot.

I also use Red Dot...

In my .357 shotshells, I weigh 105gr of shot, and in my .44mag I get 150gr of shot...

The CCI factory shotshells use 100gr loads in the capsules in the .38/.357, and they put 140gr in the .44spcl/.44mag:

http://www.cci-ammunition.com/products/pestcontrol_specialty.aspx

 

[James2]

I never saw the need for "Snake Shot" in a handgun. It is easy enough to shoot a snake's head off at 6 feet with a solid bullet, if your intent is to kill a snake. If you don't have that confidence, and it is really important to kill the snake, just grab the 12 ga. In most cases, for self preservation, it is enough to just back away. Yes, occasionally someone will surprise a snake at close range and get bitten, but it is rare. If that were to happen, I doubt we would have much chance to draw and shoot it anyway in time to prevent getting hit. Around here the only dangerous snake is a rattler. Every time I have seen one, they are more intent on beating a retreat than fighting. Only if an attempt is made to get in its way or harass it, has it coiled up ready to strike.

At one time I worked at a fish farm. The garter snakes would eat our little fish. Yes, I carried a Ruger Single Six, and Yes, I killed many a snake, usually as they swam away from me on the water. Hence, I can say with confidence it is easy enough to kill a snake with a solid bullet. A rattler coiled up is a much easier target. They have a bigger head.

The real important factor in preventing snakebite is awareness. If in snake country be aware of your surroundings and where you put your feet. I guess that is good advice anywhere we go in today's crazy world? Maybe you are wanting the snake load for snakes with legs?

 

[ljnowell]

At one time I worked at a fish farm. The garter snakes would eat our little fish. Yes, I carried a Ruger Single Six, and Yes, I killed many a snake, usually as they swam away from me on the water. Hence, I can say with confidence it is easy enough to kill a snake with a solid bullet. A rattler coiled up is a much easier target. They have a bigger head.

Your example just proves even more a need for snake shot. Shooting 22lr at water surface is incredibly dangerous to anyone for about a mile in the direction of that shot, I sure wouldnt admit to doing it.

 

[rfwobbly]

I believe the Speer capsules for 38/357 were recently going for ~$14 for 50. (Prices vary widely, so check several places.) That's a lifetime supply if you're like me. When I walk my fields the first 1 or 2 are snake shot and the rest are slugs. Speer includes the load data in the box with the capsules. Load data is also in the back of your Speer manual. Most any common pistol powder seems to work. I tried 231 and Unique with great results.

 

[GP100man]

1st round has been a shotshell for nearly 20 yrs, now.

I load my own using 357max cases formed to chamber in 357 ,I get twice the shot that you would get in a capsule .

 

[dickttx]

I still have some of the Speer capsuls from years ago but was having trouble fitting them in my .357, so I just bought a box of 10 loaded CCI rounds for $3. Ran out of them last year and the new ones were $15.95.
I always keep a .357 loaded with them for the copperheads. We have a concrete porch completely around our house and the copperheads like to come out of the shrubbery all around it and lie on the porch. With the CCI capsuls you can shoot them on the porch and not mess up the porch.

 

[Certaindeaf]

1st round has been a shotshell for nearly 20 yrs, now.

I load my own using 357max cases formed to chamber in 357 ,I get twice the shot that you would get in a capsule .

That sounds interesting. Can you elaborate on particulars?

 

[flipajig]

I use a 375 soft lead round ball sized to .358 tumbled lubed with some 45-45-10
pice of cardboard cut with a 38 spc case and a cordless drill
4.3 grn of HP 38
65 grn of #8 shot
CCI small pistol primer
First size and prime a 38 spc case.
2)add 4.3 grn of HP-38 or W-231
3)with the help of a dawel add the cardboard over the top of the powder
4)add the 65 grn of # 8 shot
5)seat and crimp the 375 round ball sized and lubed at 358
You may have to play with the seating depth you want to have just the top of the ball sticking out. Basically crimp where the sized ball starts to round off
What you now have is a home made snake shot , rat shot good to about 10'

 

[GP100man]

Sure Certaindeaf .

Trimm 357max cases to .010" under spec.This measurement works for my GPs

Anneal litley (barely change the color very slightly)

Size the case to the shoulder of a 222 rem sizer die (try em in the cyl ,if they don`t push in easily trimm more & size again)

I drop 3.5grs. of something fast burning , Titegroup or Clays is what I have.

Tamp the cardboardcard down tite fill to within1/16" or so to the top (room enuff for another card)I use #9 or #10 chilled magnum (better patterns)

Install top card & run case into sizer & use the shoulder to roll a little crimp on the card (now the push in fit should drop in the cyl)seal with waterproof carpenters glue (give it 24hrs to dry or it`ll smear down the barrel)

 

[Certaindeaf]

Thanks, GP100man. Sounds like a pretty useful/crafty round.

 

[Keeperfaith]

GP100man,
That sounds cool, very ingenous and crafty. But I don't understand why you or how you anneal?

DO you use an oven, boil and what purpose does that serve?

I'm no knocking your recipe, I'm just new to reloading and your recipe seems far advanced from anything I would even think about doing (annealing)...

Also, I don't know what it means to resize the brass w/ a 222 shoulder.

Can you show a pic of the round outside the cylinder.

BTW I used my GP 100 to kill the rattle snake in my back yard... I got up close and personal, I was about one foot away when I took the shot!! Maybe that was too close but I've never used this round and I didn't know the spread...

 

[GP100man]

Keeperfaith

I anneal to prevent case springback of the case.
I anneal by spinning the case in my Lee trimmer holder in a very low flame of a propane torch, barely discoloring the brass , like a 3-4 count ,not seconds ,counts .I`m gonna try the 1/4" socket thing next so I can just tilt the drill & let the brass fall out.

I size first in a regular die then anneal then run the max case to the shoulder where normally the neck shoulder would start , utilizing the almost straight part of the 222 die. After doing the steps of loading I use the shoulder part like a roll crimp on a regular die.

Be careful of rattlers , if proded enuff they can jump better than there body length!!

Here`s a pic of a 357 mag beside a 357 max for comparison.

By the way the case in the pic was my experimental case on annealing & it is too much .