Making 9mm shot shells

40MM · April 15, 2006, 02:39 AM

So i got this brilliant idea of making my own 9mm shot shells. But before i go ahead i thought i would get some suggestions from you guys.I plan to take a shell, load a primer in it, put some 4.5mm lead shot, say 6 at a time, maybe add a "cup" of sorts first,tape the end closed, then fire.

1. Will i need a "cup"?
2. How much pressure will the primer alone generate?
3. Should i put some powder in? 1 gr?
4. Am i a real idiot for even thinking about this?

ribbonstone · April 15, 2006, 07:57 AM

Aren't going to get enough shot in the case to be real effective at all.

Yes, will need some powder...but the more space for powder, the less for shot and the 9mm case doesn't have a whole lot of space.

One you get a small powder charge (something like 2gr. of fast powder...Bullseye-ish), a couple of thin card board wads (about the thickness of primer tray boxes is the thinnest that will work..and need 2 of them) will have so little room in the case for shot that the effective range is about an arm's length.

Leftoverdj · April 15, 2006, 09:10 AM

Use the Speer .38 shot cups. You'll have to single load.

griz · April 16, 2006, 04:04 PM

Speer sells loaded shotshell rounds that have a shot capsule shaped like a bullet. That lets them get a fair amount of shot in there and the round is suppose to feed OK. They use very small shot. I don't know what 4.5 mm shot would translate to but my guess is it is much bigger than the fine bird shot that CCI uses.

ClarkEMyers · April 16, 2006, 05:01 PM

Make your shotshells full length with a headspacing step by using rifle brass. Treat as brass shotgun shells with an overpowder wad and an overshot wad. The wads can be cut from gasket material using sharpened cartridge cases or gasket punches.

People have used empty capsules from a pharmacy or vet supply for a shot capsule. This can be made to feed - but making it feed may not be so important as getting a useful pattern.

Speer Shotcups is also a good way to go.

April 15, 2006, 02:39 AM	#1
40MM Member Join Date: April 15, 2006 Posts: 69	Making 9mm shot shells So i got this brilliant idea of making my own 9mm shot shells. But before i go ahead i thought i would get some suggestions from you guys.I plan to take a shell, load a primer in it, put some 4.5mm lead shot, say 6 at a time, maybe add a "cup" of sorts first,tape the end closed, then fire. 1. Will i need a "cup"? 2. How much pressure will the primer alone generate? 3. Should i put some powder in? 1 gr? 4. Am i a real idiot for even thinking about this?

April 16, 2006, 05:01 PM	#5
ClarkEMyers Senior Member Join Date: November 13, 2004 Location: PacWest Posts: 455	Use cut down rifle brass .221/.222/.223 for extra capacity Make your shotshells full length with a headspacing step by using rifle brass. Treat as brass shotgun shells with an overpowder wad and an overshot wad. The wads can be cut from gasket material using sharpened cartridge cases or gasket punches. People have used empty capsules from a pharmacy or vet supply for a shot capsule. This can be made to feed - but making it feed may not be so important as getting a useful pattern. Speer Shotcups is also a good way to go.

April 15, 2006, 07:57 AM	#2
ribbonstone Senior Member Join Date: January 29, 2006 Posts: 179	Aren't going to get enough shot in the case to be real effective at all. Yes, will need some powder...but the more space for powder, the less for shot and the 9mm case doesn't have a whole lot of space. One you get a small powder charge (something like 2gr. of fast powder...Bullseye-ish), a couple of thin card board wads (about the thickness of primer tray boxes is the thinnest that will work..and need 2 of them) will have so little room in the case for shot that the effective range is about an arm's length.

April 15, 2006, 09:10 AM	#3
Leftoverdj Senior Member Join Date: October 15, 2004 Posts: 934	Use the Speer .38 shot cups. You'll have to single load.

April 16, 2006, 04:04 PM	#4
griz Senior Member Join Date: July 31, 2000 Location: Middle Peninsula, VA Posts: 1,588	Speer sells loaded shotshell rounds that have a shot capsule shaped like a bullet. That lets them get a fair amount of shot in there and the round is suppose to feed OK. They use very small shot. I don't know what 4.5 mm shot would translate to but my guess is it is much bigger than the fine bird shot that CCI uses.