Shotshells for 357 magnum

[sniper]

This is an interesting forum! I just had a conversation with a Speer Tech, and he said Absoflamin'lutely NOT! for Speer shotshell capsules loaded into 357 Maggie brass, which is all I have at present. They have no data worked up for 357 Magnum brass. Lawyerproofing?

My oldest shot capsules are of ~ 1980 vintage...they are red and yellow, but I remember, way back then, loading them into 357 Mag brass with the recommended load of 5.5 gr. Unique, and shooting them with no problems.

Realizing there is more case capacity in the 357, which the Speer guy said would increase the air space in the cartridge, possibly causing a KABOOM. my thinking, based on my past experience is this:

I can seat the shot capsules to 1.590 inches, which is the recommended max C.O.L. in the loading manuals I have, which would leave no more air space than a 158 gr. SWC seated in the same case. In fact, I think the shot capsule may compress the 5.5 gr. Unique. Perhaps experimenting with smaller charges of Unique...4.5-5.0 gr. might be edging into the "red zone"?

What do you fellows think, or know, that you would share?

Have you loaded the Speer shot capsules in 357 brass? What loads of Unique have you used, and what experience? I have Trailboss, but
I have heard it doesn't like to be compressed, which is what the Speer capsule would do to it. A load of Bullseye might do, but, I haven't really liked Bullseye when I used it. Am I about to make a mistake, here?
Thanx!

[rancher1913]

I have loaded them in 357 mag brass, just copied the load and oal from the 38 special brass so the only change was a little less plastic showing.

[Combat Diver]

Did the same here.


CD

[brassrat]

I recently loaded my first .38 shotshells and the Speer load for Unique seemed to be, more than compressed, and cracked my first shot capsule upon seating. I am puzzled and quickly moved to 231 with no more problems

[jmorris]

Realizing there is more case capacity in the 357, which the Speer guy said would increase the air space in the cartridge, possibly causing a KABOOM.

I load most in 38 spl brass so they work in both my 357 and 38 revolvers but do have some in 357 cases with the same load data with the additional volume, due to different OAL's

In any case you don't need to be Albert Einstein to realize you can seat the capsule to the same overall length in a 357 case and/or 38 spl case and the internal volume remaining will be the same.

He is just reading from a card and not using his head.

Send him this photo and ask him if they will shoot any different.

[6bg6ga]

Where do you purchase the capsules? Suggested load using 231?

[BK7saum]

I have found that if you try to increase velocity beyond a certain point, the patterns open up or are blown out in the middle. Lighter loads tend to give better patterns.

6bg6ga, I see that they are backordered at MidwayUSA. I have several boxes of the shot capsules in 357 and in 44, I believe. If you can't find any, drop me a pm.

[Combat Diver]

As stated I've used the shotcapsules in both .38/357 cases. Using #9 shot out of my 10" Contender Hotshot bbl. with choke installed (stops spin from rifling) I can keep shot to 6" at 15 yds. Good enough for squirrels in the backyard.

using the .357 case



CD

[jmorris]

Where do you purchase the capsules? Suggested load using 231?

These are in stock as of this posting.

https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/shopping_cart.php

https://www.huntingtons.com/store/pr...roductid=17170

http://www.kittlesoutdoor.com/produc...s-145593-1.htm

Load data is included with them.

If they are sold out by the time you get there, there are a bunch of others listed here.

https://www.slickguns.com/search/apa...rms_wikiarms=0

[sniper]

Cabelas special ordered my new ones.

[trapper9260]

I have found that if you try to increase velocity beyond a certain point, the patterns open up or are blown out in the middle. Lighter loads tend to give better patterns.

6bg6ga, I see that they are backordered at MidwayUSA. I have several boxes of the shot capsules in 357 and in 44, I believe. If you can't find any, drop me a pm.

I have load them hot in 38spl and I am able to take out rock dove with them with out any problems,I use 7 1/2 shot. But you need to shoot them in a 357.Because the OAL will not be able to fit in a 38spl.