Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns 45 Colt "Magnum" Shotshells for Snakes & Rats

Thanks, Sam. I have been known to use LSWC's a lot, too.

Onliest problem is that when faced with a large snake (or even worse, a large tarantula) my aim gets a bit wobbly... the #12 shot helps make up fer that...

Snakes and rats were about the only place that the Judge ever made sense to me.

I have never used the 444 casing but i do load no 12 in 45colt.
for the mouth to keep the shot in place, sharpen the end of a casing and punch out a wad from a piece of styrofoam and then use an electric glue gun to hold it in place over the shot.
Or, if you cast you can reverse a 44 gas check, and then electric glue gun in place.
the powder load of unique is about the same as i use too.

Thought I'd write an update on this thread... since I posted the OP back in '12, I've had occasion to blast a couple of rattlesnakes with the #12 shells, and they kill 'em just fine at a safe distance of 3-4 yards. I also cleaned up a mess of grackles at my buddy's ranch with #8 shotshells as they roosted in the pecan trees. There were more grackles than I had shells, sadly, but I made some more and made couple more trips out there and thereafter the damage to his garden was considerably less.

I don't have enough 44 Magnum shells on hand, though, and since I'll be carrying a S&W Model 69 soon, I am preparing to reload some for that caliber. As it happens, bcolorado recently scored some 445 Mag cases and is willing to share. I'll be loading up some 44 Mag shotshells in these when they arrive, and will post pics again.

Lots of interesting feedback from 24HCF members on this thread on the various ways they've solved their revolver shotshell needs. There's always more'n one way to skin a cat!

Nice to update the thread. I also have a .45 Colt now, too.

Wonder how much shot I can get in a .45-90...

I still have some 445 brass left if anyone wants some so they can build shotshells while following DocRocket's thread.

Id like a handful to try this! Ill Pm you Nice write up Doc! wish the printer worked !

I would be interested in buying some if you have some available. I'll pm you.

another interesting trick is to make .45acp shotshells out of .308 brass.

Doc

Thanks for taking the time to give us some edjewmacation on shotshells. I've been a vocal opponent of the .22lr shot shells with the exception that they are murder on butterflies and grasshoppers. Snakes no .....grasshoppers yes. I seem to have the ability to attract snakes from wherever I go and the best medicine I've found to date has been a double barreled 20g. with 1 oz of 7.5s.

I think you have motivated me to build some of those snake rounds and thanks for the info.

P.S. I know what you mean about the Uberti pistols. I had two of the early ones and both were a POS. I replaced them with 3 Vaquero stainless with 2 in 45Colt and 1 in .44Mag. They are all great shooters and treasures. Keep looking for yours they are worth it.

A fresh update on this thread seems to be in order. At the 2019 Campfire Hog Hunt down here in Texas, a number of fellers wanted to do some T&E on these here 45 Colt shotshells, so I brought a box of 'em out with me and we shot up some pattern targets, and one unsuspecting navel orange. The results were impressive to the assembled throng.

As it happens, bcolorado sent me some 445 Supermag cases a few years back and I just found them this morning while cleaning out some half-empty boxes of reloading stuff in my garage. This, and the recent acquisition of a couple of new .44 caliber revolvers, spurred me to break out the shotshell makings, and this afternoon I intend to whip up a batch of .44 Shotshells. I'll post some pics tonight or tomorrow if able. I still haven't figured out the new photo posting instructions since Rick updated the site security. Guess this is my opportunity to get with the program.

Waiting to see how those 445 Supermag workout as I now have some revolvers to shoot them with...

Since I now own a S&W 357PD in .41mag, I acquired some .414 Supermag brass from Starline, and will see if I can attain similar results for that cartridge.

Are there no issues clambering the 414 case in the 41 cylinder?

I might order some for my Ti Tracker.

Idaho, in general you're going to have problems getting long cases to chamber for ANY longer-than-standard case. You have to size down the top 1/4 to 1/3 of the case so it will fit into the throat of the chambers. So for my .45 Colt shells, I use a .44 sizing die to squeeze them down to fit. For the .445 Supermag shotshells I made yesterday for use in my 44's, I used a .40/10mm sizing die to squeeze them down. This might also work for the .414 Supermag cases as well.

Tag for reference, Thanks Doc!

Thanks Doc,

That is as I suspected. But I really was not sure how the chamber is configured at the leading edge of the cartridge in a revolver. I really have never seen a chamber cast for a revolver cartridge, nor a chamber reamer.

Based on my trials with the 327 last weekend, I bet I can get a decent charge of shot in the 41 mag case.

Especially as I do not have the 10 mm dies to work with and would have to scrounge up the 414 brass. Or is that just sour grapes?

Next weekend's project, 25 rounds with a round ball on top, and 25 with a gas check on top for the 41!

James,

Brian took a video of me blowing an unopened orange Fanta to bits at the hog hunt with your gun. I just don't know how to get it from an iPhone message to Imgur to here.

I saw that video on Brian's phone, Ed. It would be great if you could get it posted here. Could you post it on You Tube or some such thing?