44 Magnum Shot Shells

"I've loaded shot capsules with #71/2 shot and fired them in my S&W model 29 w 8 3/8 barrel and found this setup does not work at all. Any snake over 5 feet away would walk off unharmed as the shot capsule spins off the shot too quickly dispersing it to the corners of the universe.

Purchase of the capsules was a waste of money. Don't try capsules!"

Totally opposite experience here. Using #9 shot and a light charge of RedDot or AA#2 in a 4" 44 SP, I've killed several coiled snakes and numerous possums @5-10'. If you push the shotcups too fast and/or use a long barrel, the results are poor.
 
Purchase of the capsules was a waste of money. Don't try capsules!
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As I said above I use them as well and they work for me but I have never loaded shot in the larger than #9 and I use #12 in them now. The larger in diameter the shot, the fewer you can put in the same space and the more likely you will have holes in your pattern.

The 45 LC shot loads I make for my fishing derringer, using the speed capsules hold around 788 #12 shot and will kill a snake just as dead as anything else.
 
jmorris, I believe you could improve on your pattern if you move the target to the right.:)

F. Guffey
 
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Wouldn't make it any tighter and even fewer hits in the 0.
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I started with left then changed it to right.

I've loaded shot capsules with #71/2 shot and fired them in my S&W model 29 w 8 3/8 barrel and found this setup does not work at all. Any snake over 5 feet away would walk off unharmed as the shot capsule spins off the shot too quickly dispersing it to the corners of the universe.
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Reloaders in my small community have worked on putting pellets on task, they insist on using the perfect shot or going back to using the hoe. Then there is making capsules.

F. Guffey
 
There are other alternatives to the hoe as well. This is my "mowing" pistol.

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I never tried any of the reloading for shot shells, but did use them in my .44 revolver. They beat up an apple pretty well. I have seen many single shot smooth bore .22's over the years that were manufactured just for .22 rat shot. Would it be worth it to use a smooth bore barrel and put something together for brass shell reloading?
 
G-P: Don't know for sure.......But smooth-bore pistols MIGHT be a NO-NO w/BATFE. Might be best to check with someone who knows for sure. It may be considered a [short-barreled shot gun] given the mentality of some.

WILL.
 
The Contenders that fired both solids and shot had a choke that had straight "rifling" in it to stop rotation before the shot left the barrel. One removes the choke before shooting bullets.
 
44 Shot Loads in a Henry Big Boy

Left to me by my Father, I have a Colt Frontier 44 Spl and about 30 hand made shot shells / cases. Years ago he told me that he had used 30-40 Craig cases and wads he cut out himself. He said that the cases held the same shot load as a 410. Now, since I was not smart enough to pay attention, I can't seem to duplicate his process!
I fired a couple in my Henry Big Boy and was surprised at the density and pattern at about 30 ft. It totally blew apart a bottle of water. I managed to reload 1 shell only to find it wouldn't chamber in the Henry. I've checked the diameter and length and just can't figure out why it won't chamber.
I was also considering trying the 44 Mag cases to make shot shells, but am concerned about the case being long enough to avoid fouling the chamber.
Any thoughts?
 
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