Shot Loads for Rifles?

Anyone experimenting with Shot loads for rifles?

I tried a few in .45 Colt and .44-40. The slow twist .44-40 was OK to 25 ft., the faster twist .45 was ineffective at 25 ft. AT 15 feet the .45 rifle pattern was about like a revolver pattern. See photos below with results:

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We used the old brass .22 version on barn rats when we were young. Within ten feet they worked. I'll try some Speer capsules tomorrow & report.(20" Rossi .357)

I tested .357 mag shot loads last year in several guns with various barrel lengths. The results were the rifle length barrel was the worst performer with my assembled loads. I had sort of high hopes for the rifle performing better than the 2", 4", 5", 6" and 10" handguns but at the short range you would expect to use the loads at it was abysmal. The pattern opened up so much that shot bounced off the wood target supports....good reinforcement in wearing eye protection there!

My loads were gas check type loads using #12 shot with a charge of bullseye. I'm not sure if a petal type wad would have helped or not.

I did years ago for the 45-70. I could kill chukars at 15 yards, it depended on the size of the shot how much of a pattern you could hold. Pretty easy to do, I shot them in a Marlin lever gun. Single shot only.

I shot one round of 2½" .410 through a Marlin 1895. At about ten yards just shooting at the ground, it had a very obvious donut shaped pattern.

As mentioned, .22's work at very close range.

Robert

You have to keep the velocity down to use them in a rifle. I have loaded some in 30-30 brass using McDonald's soda straws for the shot cup. The shot cup was about 1 3/8 long and with the #10 shot sealed in at both ends with a hot iron. The resulting shot cup is recessed somewhat into the case. Worked ok at 10 feet maximum in a Contender rifle barrel.

I have done it with my 444 marlin good for grouse to about 20 25 feet .

Reloads with the Speer capsules #8 shot .38 spl killed a paper plate at 15' out of the Rossi rifle. Single shot only. #12 shot is best for shot loads IMO.
Best, Thomas.

As a kid I did some in 45/70 for Trapdoors. Killed a pigeon or two but patterns were poor at best.

I load shot in 45-70s for use in my TDs, mostly my carbine. Good for ground sluicing quail, pigeons, doves and grouse to about 20 yards......it is a "foraging" load not to be confused with "sporting"......

Larry Gibson

Mr Peabody: How the heck did you get within 15yrds. of a chukar? lol Gp

Many moons ago I use to hunt canyons in the NW of Nevada, rock chucks, sage hens and chukars didn't see to many people back then.

Mr Peabody; That explains it. I farmed out in Kings River Nevada back in the 70s. Pretty sparsely populated. The ranch bordered BLM on the south end. Wish I had a shooting spot like that today. Gp

The greater the muzzle velocity the greater the dispersion.

I once fired 1 1/8 oz #6 shot through a rifled twelve gauge at 40 yards. Target was a 3 ft x 3 ft sheet of paper. Not one pellet hit. I tried twice more with same results. Firing slugs though a smoothbore is more productive than firing shot through a rifled bore.

I have not found a long barrel helps w patterns. I remember firing some buck shot out of my mossberg w rifled barrel, did not understand why it was hitting everything but what I was aiming at. I use the 22Lr shot shells in my sons little cricket rifle, its a bit of a challenge to hit a wood boring bee, you cant aim directly at at it, but slightly to one side due to the donut.

Snub nose pistols are best
Although a rifle is fun to experiment with.
45/70 or 444 marlin
Just have to keep low pressures
Tougher in a long barrel, but it can be done