38 Shotshells - Interesting Project

[gnihcraes]

So about the only thing on the shelf at Sportsmans a few weekends ago, Speer 38/357 shotshell capsules.

I've wanted to put some together, just hadn't done it until now.

It took a bit to figure out what pellet sizes would be me to the 109 grain weight.

2 #6 shot
3 #7.5 shot
Rest filled with #8 shot
4.5 grains W231

I killed a handful of old shotgun shells to accomplish a box of 38's. Not worth it really, but to have smaller shotshells if the need arises might be ok.

I'll see about a pattern test and post it up this weekend.

[denverco]

I've seen these by CCI. Thought they'd be good for snakes and rats. The caps are made to break on the rifling right?

[MarkCO]

Cool. I have some for my .357 mag too, was a fun project. I make my own .41 Magnum shotshells too...really cool thing about the .41s is being able to use .410 components. I use #9 shot in mine.

[spleify]

I would be interested in checking out the process sometime.

[spqrzilla]

I shot a rattlesnake years ago with a .38 Special shell loaded up with #9 shot in those capsules.

The snake and I were unimpressed. The shovel I then used made more of an impression on the snake.

[gnihcraes]

I've seen these by CCI. Thought they'd be good for snakes and rats. The caps are made to break on the rifling right?

sorry for the late reply,

Correct, they are pretty hard plastic, and kinda crunch if you don't line them up in the seating die correctly.

[gnihcraes]

I shot a rattlesnake years ago with a .38 Special shell loaded up with #9 shot in those capsules.

The snake and I were unimpressed. The shovel I then used made more of an impression on the snake.

I couldn't find any #9 shot in all my shells, so I had to come up with the #6, #7.5 and #8 combination. Maybe it would work better? Dunno.

[gnihcraes]

I would be interested in checking out the process sometime.

Was slow going, loading up all the little shells with shot, weighing, putting on the plug/caps and then throwing powder/seating them. Couple of hours over two nights. 3-4 hours total i'd say for this one box of 50. Some of that time was also cutting apart the shotgun shells without chopping off a finger tip. Spilled some shot now and then all over the place.

[Colorado Osprey]

If you have #9 shot they take about 10-20 min to load 50 rounds. You just dunk the capsule in the shot and put the cap on.... then load like a traditional cartridge.
In the 90's I made a couple of hundred in 38 special. I had found the boxes of capsules at Longs Drug store back when they sold such things on clearance for $1/box of 50 capsules.

Have you tried the plastic bullets from CCI for target pactice? Uses no powder, just a primer and shoots re-usable plastic bullets. 3-400ft/sec designed for 25' range.

[gnihcraes]

If you have #9 shot they take about 10-20 min to load 50 rounds. You just dunk the capsule in the shot and put the cap on.... then load like a traditional cartridge.
In the 90's I made a couple of hundred in 38 special. I had found the boxes of capsules at Longs Drug store back when they sold such things on clearance for $1/box of 50 capsules.

Have you tried the plastic bullets from CCI for target pactice? Uses no powder, just a primer and shoots re-usable plastic bullets. 3-400ft/sec designed for 25' range.

Plastic bullets might be my next project. It will depend on supplies of other items.