Snake Shot Capsules Data needed

[ATAShooter]

I just bout some shot capsules for my 44 mag and 38 spl. I wasn't fortunate enough to get a recipe sheet with it. Do any of you have some? Powder on hand is Red Dot, Bullseye, Herco. also will need OAL for both calibers. Thanks

 

[critter]

I have loaded them, but I hesitate to give you my data. Here is what I would do. Take a shot capsule, fill it with the shot you intend to use and weigh it. Look in a reputable data manual and use the LOW charge weights for the 'bullet' weight. BTW, I used Bullseye for this application.

Start LOW and work up. The low loads may be found to simply shoot the full shot capsule like a 'slug' and you may have to up the powder charge a little. KEEP IT ON THE LOW END OF THE DATA BOOK LOADS THOUGH.

Good luck, have fun but BE SAFE.

 

[joneb]

Speer makes the capsuls some where they have the data. I loaded some years ago with 7 1/2 shot for a .44 spl. snub, the wieght of the shot and capsul was around 150 grns I'm GUESSING I started with 5.0grns of Bullseye
I was a little weary of running plastic through the barrel and did little testing, to fast could cause a melt down to slow and

 

[Ditchtiger]

My records said I used 11grs. bullseye in my Anaconda, pushed shot cap down by hand then crimp ligthly. This was load data included with capsules. You should call Speer for fresh info

 

[Ol` Joe]

Speer tech service.
1-800-627-3640

 

[BluesBear]

If you really are using it for snake protection use the smallest shot you can find. Even if that means special ordering a bag of #12.
#9 barely has enough pattern density at 10-15 feet to kill a snake with one shot. #12 does but is relatively spent at 40 feet.


With a Speer Shotcap I use 8.0 Unique.
It's not a max load but it works very well in barrels from 2" ro 6".
Too much velocity and you blow out the center of the pattern.

 

[sako_75]

For the 38's I have always used 5.5 grs of unique in a 38 special case and #9 shot

 

[EddieCoyle]

Has anyone seen shot capsules in .50 cal? I'd like to make up some shotshells for my S&W 500.

 

[Steve C]

Speer has data for their shot capsules in their loading manual at the end of the bullet data. Page 594 in #13.

FWIW the maximum load listed by Speer for Unique is 6.8 grs in the .44 mag and 5.5 grs for the .38 spl. There's no advantage to "hot loading" a shot shell as blowing your patterns is the result. Even with Speers relatively sedate loads the muzzle velocity of the shot is the same as you get from a tyupical shotgun game or trap load, between 1,000 to 1,100 fps.

Bullseye charge is 4.5grs for the .38 spl and 6.0grs for the .44 mag.

 

[BluesBear]

I got my Unique .44 Special load from the very in depth Mike Venturino article in the April 2005 issue of Handloader (pg82).

Before that I was using a Bullseye load George Nonte gave me years ago. But the Unique load gives me a MUCH better pattern with shotcaps. Recoil was mild even in my 2" Taurus.

 

[Steve 48]

I have been using gas checks for my snake shot. Re-size it,put a primer in it, put your powder in the shell casing, then put a gas check between the powder and the shot. Don't pack it tight,put your shot in, then put a gas check on the top of the shot and crimp it. It makes a good snake killer. Steve 48

 

[shooting on a shoestring]

I loaded some .38 spls 5.0 gr Unique, speer capsules, #8 bird shot (smallest I had on hand). Shot them out of 2" Mod 60, 4" Mod 10 & 6" Mod 19. Huge 4 foot or so patterns at 10 feet. I'm not sure a snake would catch more than a couple of BBs at most at ten feet. I've killed several snakes with .22s and shotguns, but I've never tried the snake shot on a real snake. Has anyone done it?

 

[BluesBear]

I've never been able to get enough #9 shot into a Speed shotcap to kill a snake at 6'-8' with just one shot. Too many big gaps in the pattern. Did it with two shots once, two others required three. That's why I changed to #12 shot.

The CCI .22 WMR will however usually do the job with one shot.

 

[Rico567]

I've never loaded a huge number of the Speer shot capsules, but the ones I have (in .38/.357) used are very effective. The data from the Speer manual (given in other posts in this thread) is what I have used, and I advise sticking closely to it. Given how these loads are employed, there is no reason to load hotter. I found some #12 shot somewhere, and that's what I have loaded them with.