.45 Colt

[mescalero1]

Anybody got a good reciepe for snake shot loads in .45 colt cases?

[Don McDowell]

No more of those snake loads than a fella uses, it's a lot simpler and easier to just buy the CCI factory loads.

I use shot capsuls in the 44 and the 45, and after all the hassle of getting the 44 shot capsuls to work well, just use the factory loads. They are affective, I clobbered a skunk in the hen house with the 45 colt. Killed him dead right there 1 shot.

[TedH]

If you cast, it's easy to use some gas checks. About 6 gr. of Unique, a gas check, fill with shot, 'nother gas check on top and light roll crimp. Works good and a 45 colt will hold approx 7/16 ounce of #9 shot when loaded that way.

[O.S.O.K.]

If you cast, it's easy to use some gas checks. About 6 gr. of Unique, a gas check, fill with shot, 'nother gas check on top and light roll crimp. Works good and a 45 colt will hold approx 7/16 ounce of #9 shot when loaded that way.

+1

Shoot a paper target and you'll get the shot disperal along with two 45 cal holes made by the two gas checks.

Stick with light charges of pistol powder - they work better than heavier charges.

This is a very good load to have if you are woods bumming and want a snake shot load or two in your 45 and the rest of the cylinders stoked with hog medicine.

[Andrew]

If I can ever force myself to buy a bag of shot I will try some of them loads. The just sound like fun to me, who cares about practicality?

[JustaJeepGuy]

I've mentioned it before, but there is a good article in the "Handguns 2001" (the Krause annual) by one Kirk Paradise about making shot loads. He says that the "gas check/shot/gas check" type load doesn't pattern very well. The article describes the use of .444 Marlin cases cut down for the .45 Colt, with .410 ga. wads to hold the shot. It's going to be hard (on the wallet) to cut down those cases, though...

[Don McDowell]

Those holes in the pattern are a pain in the ......
tried cutting down 410 shotgun shells, not cheap and alot of bother.

Unless a person has the #9 or smaller shot hanging around , its just alot simpler, easier, and quicker to get the CCI factory loads and go.

[Travis Morgan]

If I can ever force myself to buy a bag of shot I will try some of them loads. The just sound like fun to me, who cares about practicality?

Just cut open a coupla shotgun shells; they'll yield enough shot for most folks' lifetime supply of shot loads. My "Chickenhouse" load uses a 1/4" Copper pipe cap for a shot cup, then whatever shot you use, tamped down as far as she'll go, so the gas check on top is a tight fit, then the gas check is crimped on.

I call 'em "chickenhouse" loads because, growing up, I never knew what I might find in a hen's box; could be a snake, a coon, possum, skunk, or hippie. I woulda felt a helluva lot better, had I had a sixshooter with these loads! The pipe cap has enough mass to ruin a coon, and there's enough shot to scatter a snake pretty good. It almost makes me wanna hunt snakes!

[AJMD429]

It's going to be hard (on the wallet) to cut down those cases, though...

NOW I have a use for those silly "Leverevolution" cases - 1/8" shorter than NORMAL ones, so I guess I'll have to 'sacrifice' them for shot loads.

I don't like to shoot snakes (the few venomous ones around here I either avoid or if too close to the house, capture and relocate back in the woods), but I DO like to shoot mice, rats, possums-in-the-hen-house, and so on...

[J Miller]

It's going to be hard (on the wallet) to cut down those cases, though...

NOW I have a use for those silly "Leverevolution" cases - 1/8" shorter than NORMAL ones, so I guess I'll have to 'sacrifice' them for shot loads.

I don't like to shoot snakes (the few venomous ones around here I either avoid or if too close to the house, capture and relocate back in the woods), but I DO like to shoot mice, rats, possums-in-the-hen-house, and so on...

AJMD,

Are you going to join us up north for the IN get together? If so I just might have 19 more of the "short" Hornady cases we mite trade for?

Joe

[adirondakjack]

For something really fun in .44 special, .44 mag or .45 Colt, Load ya a stiff charge of Unique, a milk carton wad snugged down on the powder, fill the rest of the case with random snippets of reclaimed fired bullets cut into pieces with a good pair of wire cutters (nothing more than bore diameter in length, and not to exceed maybe 10 grains each) to the top of the case, another milk carton wad, and a healthy roll crimp.

Out of a 3 inch revolver, the resultant load with 7 grains U in .44 special was death on the plywood target backer at 5 yards, and made for a decimating pattern that would just about cover a pie plate. In .45 or .44 mag I'd use 8 grains Unique. I'm thinkin it'd be more effective than pepper shot loads on big snakes or rat-sized critters.

[the telegraphist]

Whats wrong with a 410 or 12 gauge, both will do the job. If you need a shotty use one.

[Travis Morgan]

Are you gonna carry a shotgun or a handgun around while doing yard work? What he's talking about is something a lot of us carry when we're in snaky country. It's a major PITA to carry a shotgun and get any work done.

[JerryB]

I have loaded shotshells for my Colt SAA .45 for about 30 years using gas checks. They make a good snake load for me. As far as .38 and .44 I load them with the CCI capsules.