flat top: Would you care to share details on 44 metal shot shells? I use the Speer shot capsules. How much improvement do you get with the shot in the metal case? Do you need special dies? Thanks for the info.

Bob, I am not flattop, but I hope I can offer some help. I have used the capsules in both my 38 special and 357, but don't any longer. I use a spent shell as a "cookie cutter" and punch wads out of empty styrofoam boxes like McDonalds big breakfast containers. I measure out shot to the same weight as a lead load, insert the same amount of powder as a lead load, put the powder in the case, put in a "wad", put in the pellets, put in another wad and lightly seal the top wad with epoxy or super glue and finish with a light crimp. I don't know whether the crimp is necessary or not, but I always have done it that way.

I have found my home made snake shot rounds to be equal or better than the shot shells.

I also do this with my 41 mag since they don't make capsules for it.

Hope it helps.

back in the day:

we used to cut 444 Marlin cases off to cylinder length. I loaded the powder charge and seated a gas check, cup up over it, poured the shot in, and seated a second gas check cup down on that. Put a slight taper crimp on and test. You get more shot in that way, and occasionally one of the cups would make a pretty nifty looking entrance wound. The full cylinder length case holds more shot.


Rich

I have been talking with Bob by email, and sharing ideas. I also use the 444 Marlin case for my Redhawk cylinder lenght shot loads, but, the 444 case needs to be turned to the diameter of a 44 mag case (they are not the same), and a die has to be made up to size the throat portion of the case....otherwise, it will not fit in a 44 mag chamber. This method will hold about 1/2 oz of shot depending on shot size, and the powder charge should drive the shot at 1200 fps for optimum pattern density. Since I have fireformed these shotshells and fired them a number of times, there has never been a need for resizing. These are "killer" shot loads for the Redhawk....about the best that can be had.

Idaho Sharpshooter;
Ya beat me to the gas check tip. In larger calibers, I cut the bottom off of 410 shot cups.
For the 500 Maximum, I may turn some cups.
I believe that God put me on this earth to shoot Canada Geese on the wing ONCE.
Just once............its a nothing personal, its just business.

I played around with this idea, only for a Taurus Judge. I bought some CBC solid brass 410 shells, ran em through a 44 mag seating die far enough for them to chamber, measured out 3/4 oz of #6 shot, 9.5 gr of universal, and I have reloadable shot shells for the judge. They shot pretty well, killed several starlings this past summer. The same load works well in my Savage 22/410 combo as well, not neck sized of course, but I dont think the velocity is as high as a fact round. Im going to try some H110 this winter, see what I can come up with.

257x50,

take a look at the Hornady 50 caliber gas checks. You realize, you caused me to have to walk nearly sixty feet just now to mike a couple.
.506" and it's 37-degrees out there.

Rich
you're welcome!

Idaho sharpshooter;

I use a gas check from one caliber down, since it is not a shot shell cylinder. Check a 475. A 348 blown out to fit the full chamber holds several BBs................. :-)