44mag Shotshells

[Ghogs Nightmare]

Anyone ever roll their own? Going to hunt in TX next month
and figured would be something handy to have while
traveling the area.
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Ordered the speer capsules an probably going to use some "salvaged 8 or 7 1/2 shot". (Cutting open cheap target loads I rarely shoot as opposed to buying a bag of shot I'll never use.)
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Any an all tips/tricks AND load data is welcome. Especially if someone wants to scan me a copy of that page in their new speer manual.

 

[noahmercy]

Re: 44mag Shotshells

I actually don't use the capsules. I use two gas checks (used on the bases of some cast bullets...Hornady makes the ones I use). I drop my powder into a sized and primed case, then seat one gas check with the lip facing up in the case. I fill almost to the top with #12 shot (#9 is the biggest I would use) then seat another gas check onto the shot with the lip down. Add a mild crimp and I have excellent cheap shotshells. And because there is no capsule engaging the rifling and imparting spin, my patterns are quite tight and will anchor a big snake out to at least 20 feet. (Shot a six foot rattler in the head/neck at that distance and he didn't even twitch, which is unusual for a snake.)

If you want to use the Speer capsules in 44 Magnum brass, the manual recommends:

231 - 7.3 gr.
700-X - 5.7 gr.
Bullseye - 6.0 gr.
Unique - 6.8 gr.
(These all give around 1100 fps, which isn't too terribly much slower than a standard shotgun load.)

Seat to 1.600" and crimp moderately in a separate step from seating.
Sometimes a lighter charge will improve patterning.

Have fun, pard!

 

[former naval person]

Re: 44mag Shotshells

I agree with the Number 9. I tried the factory with the fine shot but won't anchor a feral male cat. #9's equal DRT.

 

[Prairie Wolf]

Re: 44mag Shotshells

I have an old Handloading for Handgunners at home by Maj. Nonte.

What Noah suggests above is mentioned, but with a twist. He says use a 30-40 krag case cut down to the length of the cylinder. This allows a case to be used longer than a .44 mag case, but shorter than the cylinder.

You cut the case to length, anneal if needed. You may have to turn part of the rims off for some guns. You can size the end of the case with a .41 mag die, and the bottom of the case with a .44 mag die. A crimp can be applied with a .41 mag seater, or with a rig he described.

The load was 6.5 grs of Unique, with a wad seated firmly on top, fill the case with shot, and crimp a card on top.

Supposedly can be fired about 3 times before it needs resized.

Anyway, this is probably too much of a pain for anyone to actually do, but I thought some might find it of interest. You can have a lot of fun with revolvers and think outside the box.

I think I will try something similar with .44 mag cases. I have searched online and someone said to use a paper wad on top with a little elmer's glue. I think I might try that.