I've been reading a lot about using gas checks or waxed cardboard or egg-crate material to make home made snake loads.

It seems like the big .480 Ruger case would make a really great snake load, especially in an Alaskan.... does anyone have any advice or suggestions before I start experimenting?

Can I buy .475 gas checks in small quantities? - I sure don't need 1000 for $30....

Can I buy a .475 punch for wads or will I have to make it?

How much Unique should I start with - I have read that 6.5 gr is good for a .44 Mag.

Where can I buy lead shot in small bags (say 5 or 10 pounds) and what would be a good shot size for this big cartridge?

Thanks for any and all help - this is brand new territory for me.

John Davies
Spokane WA

I would say this is new territory for you and probably everyone else.

First, I'd dig around and find an old shotgun shell loaded with 6 to 8 shot. This should give you enough lead shot to determine what the maximum weight of shot you'll be dealing with (how much the case will hold). You may want to contact Cast Performance and see if they would part with a small quantity of gaschecks for your project. Otherwise, if you have the ability to make punches, you may want to consider making one that is capable of cutting gaschecks from aluminum cans. Paco Kelly developed the "Freecheck" or something like that back in the 90's if I remember correctly.

I would cut my wads with a case that has been sharpened on the mouth and just use a paperclip or something like it to push them out.

Hope this helps and let us know how your project progresses.

Thanks for the comments.

First I bought some cheap shot shells of various sizes, and gutted five of each to obtain the shot. That was fun - my teenaged son was interested to see inside them. I only lost 40 or 50 pellets in the process - the floor is kinda slick now....

I did some measuring and found that a once fired, primed .480 Ruger case will hold 6.5 gr of Unique, two paper bottom wads, 185 gr of 7.5, 8, or 9 shot, and three paper top wads. I loaded up 5 rounds of each size shot, crimped each case, marked the size on the last wad, and sealed the end with clear glue.

I'll test for function and pattern, and if this works out, I'll try to scrounge some gas checks. I might be able to squeeze in 5 more grains of shot using gas checks (the cases hold right at 200 grains of shot with powder and lower wads, but no top wads).... I think that is a good amount of shot for a revolver.

A typical .410 shot shell is 1/2 oz, or 440 gr. The CCI .44 shot shells hold 140 gr of number 9 shot, and the CCI .38 shot shells hold 109 gr of number 9. So it looks like the .480 will be a _substantial_ jump in performance.

I don't trust the paper/ glue method to withstand the heavy recoil from my other loads, and I had to scrap my punch (a sharpened case) after 30 or so wads since it collapsed from all the hammering.... so I think gas checks will be the $30 answer to both problems.

I will post some range results when I get a chance.

John Davies
Spokane WA

Excellent, John. I am looking forward to hearing about your results. Please keep us posted.

I tried it a few years ago, gaschecks over # 7 1/2 shot. I was unable to get a single hole on a target at 20 feet :O I gave up shortly thereafter.

If you wanted to go about it seriously I'd get 45-70 brass, turn down the rims, trim to cylinder length of 1.8", then neck down the forward section of the case to .475". You'd have alot more room for shot load. You'd be on your own working up loads.

quote:

Originally posted by Paul H:
I tried it a few years ago, gaschecks over # 7 1/2 shot. I was unable to get a single hole on a target at 20 feet :O I gave up shortly thereafter.

If you wanted to go about it seriously I'd get 45-70 brass, turn down the rims, trim to cylinder length of 1.8", then neck down the forward section of the case to .475". You'd have alot more room for shot load. You'd be on your own working up loads.

I wouldn't even attempt a shot at 20 feet - I'm thinking of 5 to 10 feet max.

If I had a lathe, the 45-70 route would be a very cool project.

John Davies
Spokane WA

C E Harris in Am Rifleman Apr?1976 had an article on 410 shotcups to reload 45ACP shells made fron 06 cases.RCBS made the dies.might be a start.dont know if 410 shot cups will obturate .475 but they do .452 &give good patterns@15 ft.

This is my case trimmer



Also capable of a whole bunch more.

I'm sure that gas checks and #9 would do the trick, I just never got back to those experiments. We don't have any snakes (excluding our politiceans) and I wanted something I could use against ptarmigan, so at least a 20' range.