Using shot in a revolver

[gnappi]

Geodude said it right, "arms length" I've shot "at" snakes from 5 to 6 feet with .44 mag in a revolver and TC contender (both blue capsules and TC capsules) with a choke and never killed a one.

OTOH, The .44 240 grainers did just fine

 

[Bwana John]

At arms length my 45 acp from .308 loads are devastating.

But at 20 ft there are quail sized holes in the pattern. Or all the pellets go into a 4 square inch hole. Or its a great pattern 3 feet to the left of where I'm aiming. The gas check overshot wad seems cause the donut pattern, but I think it helps with 1911 operation.

The fact they function semi auto through a M1911 (with a 14 lb recoil spring) was the big thing for me, and... at arms length to about 5 feet they are devastating!

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Geodude said it right, "arms length" I've shot "at" snakes from 5 to 6 feet with .44 mag in a revolver and TC contender (both blue capsules and TC capsules) with a choke and never killed a one.

OTOH, The .44 240 grainers did just fine

I used to have a .410/.45 barrel for my Contender but I never used it so it went in last year's purge. Frankly it didn't work that great anyway and my .44 shot loads are fine for the occasional BAS or poisonous snake.

Just curious but, has anyone tried using one of the Judge things for snakes and such? I know they're kind of big and awkward but, they are made for .410 supposedly. They shouldn't fire a cloud pattern or one-hole-wonder, in theory.

 

[v8stang289]

I've used both speer shotshells and wads/gas checks. The shotshells seem to hold better patterns to me but both get the job done inside of 8-10 feet or so.
Unique is my go to in these applications, and I usually use #8 or #9 shot.
Sage's outdoors sells kits with shot, fiber wads and/or gas checks for a variety of calibers. I loaded some shotshells in 44mag cases with their stuff a few months ago.

https://www.sagesoutdoors.com/reloading-components/

 

[Blue68f100]

The Speer capsules will give you a spread of about 1"/ft. So most anything you will use these on should be close range, < 10' better at 5'

 

[Random 8]

My favorite summer pass time is riding the mower strapped with my. 357 loaded with speer shot capsules and #8 shot. Field mice, voles and the occasional striped gopher are the quarry. Rounds are deadly on said critters to 10 feet or so as they flee the riding mower. For the 50 or so I fire per year, I just eat the cost of the Speer shot capsules. Even in good times the availability of them is sketchy. I imagine they are unobtainable now. Might have to get creative. For longer ranges, a 1/2 oz 12ga load with Red Dot and lots of filler is more effective on winged pests.