Handgun shotshell tests (Actual)---

[Prince55]

A couple of days ago at the shooting range, a guy comes up to me as he was
leaving and said--- Here, you want this to shoot at ?
It was a section of drop ceiling panel with some targets attached.
When I picked it up I thought- here's some material to make shotshell wads
out of for handguns ( .41 Magnum).
I've been concerned about the absence of a .41 Magnum shotshells and
capsules for shot.
I took an empty .41 Magnum shell and with a small triangle shaped file cut
some grooves or teeth across the mouth of the case. Then I took the
case and started cutting out plugs or wads to load with.
I have an old bag of #5 chilled lead shot, but decided that was too large
in size of shot for the small amt. you can get in a handgun brass case.
I took two .38 Special Factory shotshells of #9 shot and cut them open to
use for testing.
The first one had 126 pellets in it for 83gr. weight. The second one had
142 pellets for 94gr. weight.
I tried to get as small amt. of powder as I could to be able to get more
shot pellets in the .41 case. I used 5.2gr. of SR 4756 powder.
I put one of the cut drop ceiling plugs that was about 1/8 inch thick over
the powder and then 203 pellets for 127.1 grain weight and capped it off
with another 1/8 inch plug and lightly glued it and then a medium crimp.
At exactly 15 ft. measured with a yardstick, I fired at a cardboard box
about 24 inches wide backed with a piece of damp plywood that has been
outside for about 3 years.
The box lurched back and when I checked it the pattern was perfect, about
12-14 inches in the center where I had aimed with my Ruger Blackhawk
6 1/2 inch barrel.
When I moved the box I heard shot pellets rolling around inside. About
1/2 of the shot pellets had barely made it through the cardboard and the
others were sticking on the damp plywood board with a very few buried
flush. I thought how disgusting, except for the perfect tight pattern that
a mouse couldn't have made it through.
Then I went and got a recently purchased Ruger Security 6 - 4 inch bbl.
and fired one of the CCI Factory .38 shotshells at the exact same distance
and got almost identical results with the pellets penetrating maybe a 32nd or
16th deeper and not as tight of a pattern.
I think what I need is a powder that makes some Quick Energy, but with
a small charge to be able to get more shot pellets in the .41 case.
I'm thinking about Bullseye or Unique---Any Suggestions are Very Welcome.
Also it appears that the #9 shot is about useless unless you're within
10ft. or less. A snake is very thin skinned and probably could be cut to
pieces if it were about 6-8ft away with the #9 shot.
My Thanks to BILLCA, CROWBEANER, & SCORCH in the suggestions made in
the other posting about .41 Magnum Shotshells before I made these tests.

Thanks for any more suggestions to try.

[GP100man]

Prince55
i use the same method for 357&44 ,cut wads from cereal boxes 2.5grs of clays,packed down tite then shot top card glued in with carpenters waterproof glue.
i`ve found clays to yeild better groups than anything i`ve tried,my theory is it`s pressure curve (with the shotshell) is on the way down at barrel exit .
for swamp bummin i sometimes put a round ball on top but always have the 1st round up a shotshell just for mr. noleggs
at first i thought that the cereal box would be to thin but it`s proven good so far, the shot itself helps support it to with stand the push of the powder.wanted to add :the 2.5grs. of clays is for the 357 loading.

GP100man

[Don2]

`Well...if you can get your hands on some gas checks for your caliber, you can use them to make shotshells for your pistol.

I use 38spl. & 357mag brass to make shotshells. I use them in my GP100 and 357mag rifle also.

I do not suggest you make these without a recipe, I understand you won't have one, I had several reloader friends and I worked up loads for these shotshells. But it works good when done right.!!!!

I put a gas check cup down over powder, Made a special seater plug for my rcbs seat die from a 1/4-28 long bolt with head ground down to fit inside case to seat the gas check on top of the powder. Then put your shot in and put another gas check cup down and put a light to moderate crimp on the case.
This works very well for the 38/357 and is VERY much cheaper than the Speer capsules..!!!!!!!!!!!

I hate to mention this method because there is no data out there for it and you MUST work up the loads.!!!
If you try this...BE VERY CAREFUL. Start low and work up looking for signs for high presure.!!
I had no problems at all with this load.

This is just an idea to point you in another direction you may have not thought of.


Don2