Shot count Speer capsules

[jmorris]

Playing around recently and had some results that seemed better than I remembered so I dug out some of my old shot loads that used #9 shot.


Speer .38 capsules hold:
100.9 gn #9 shot /.8 gn per pellet = 126 pellets
106.9 gn #12 shot/.2 gn per pellet = 535 pellets


Speer .45 capsules hold:
154.4 gn #9 shot = 193 pellets
166.7 gn #12 shot = 834 pellets


I guess I never sat down and did the math when I switched over to #12 shot, makes a fairly substantial difference.





So despite my .380 ACP shot loads only having 61.6 grains of #12 shot in them they patterned better than my old 38spl #9 loads because while the payload is less there are 182 more pellets being sent down range (308 vs 126).

[Dale53]

I swapped over to #12 shot for my pistol shot loads after patterning them. Frankly, there is no comparison. In the field, #12 will shred a snakes head far beyond the danger zone. Try it, you'll like it!

Dale53

[bstone5]

Number 10 shot is what I use, this is what I had and works. Have shot a rattle snake at the gate at night, hard time seeing the anamial but after 3 shots he was done. Shot where I thought he was but it turned out he was about 3 feet away once I got the flash light turned on. Shot over him twice thought he was not too close at first my mistake.

I weigh the shot and try to get close to the recommended weight.

[Mk42gunner]

Before I started loading my own shotshells for handguns, I killed a few snakes with CCI .38 Special shotshells and whatever huge shot (7½ or 9???) they load in them. I was not impressed. The .22 load with #12 shot does better.

If a poisonous snake is close enough to worry about, it is close enough for #12 shot to do the trick.

Frankly, I don't see the need for trying to kill small game with shot loads from a handgun, so I use the smaller shot.

Robert

[labradigger1]

#12 is what I use in 38 and 44. Makes for some fun shooting in the chicken coop for rats in the corn.

[376Steyr]

#9 shot looks pretty tiny sitting in the palm of your hand, but loads like bowling balls when you start filling up those Speer shot capsules. You probably won't find #12 at your local store, but these guys have it: http://www.ballisticproducts.com/Chi...uctinfo/02612/

[wonderwolf]

I got my #12 from BPI....good place to do business with. I've purchased lots of components from them over the years and have been very happy with them.

[sniper]

I remember hunting rats with Winchester "rat shot" rounds in our single shot .22s and flashlights. My friend's father owned a nursery, and the buildings were mostly open sheds, and the rats were plentiful. One night, we were in the main shed, and saw a rat on top of one of the large red metal first aid boxes on the wall. He shot low, and a large divot appeared in the side of the cabinet, and the rat disappeared!
When asked what happened, I imagine he said I had shot the cabinet, because rat shooting invitations stopped rather suddenly!

That's my story, and I'm sticking to it!

[Dan Cash]

If a poisonous snake is close enough to worry about, it is close enough for a standard bullet to do the trick. There might be some advantage to a 400 grain Kieth bullet though, if the snake is big enough.

[Dale53]

I have shot a number of snakes with both solid bullets and shot capsules. When you are in the mountains, a solid bullet will sometimes richochet from hard ground. Sometimes they come back at you and that is NOT a good thing. Fine shot (#12) will give no problems in that scenario and does the job on the biggest rattler. Kentucky has some LARGE buzz tails. I have seen some that are so big I will NOT describe as I would be called a liar. #12 does the job when it HAS to be done.

I don't go around killing any snake I see. But when I NEED to it's nice to know I can and do when necessary.

FWIW
Dale53

[skeettx]

And sometimes I use gas check and shot in combo
Mike

[sniper]

If a poisonous snake is close enough to worry about, it is close enough for a standard bullet to do the trick. There might be some advantage to a 400 grain Kieth bullet though, if the snake is big enough.

That'd have to be one BIIIIG snake!