Making shot shells out of brass vs. Speer shot shell capsules.

[The Kaiser]

Can't find any Speer shot shell capsules for my 44 Mag. or 357 Mag. Has anyone tried to make their own by using their own brass? The loaded ones that I do find, aren't cheap!

[Changeling]

Do a search, you should come up with the info you want.

[altheating]

Two thin foam wads, one over the powder and one over the shot. Put a bit of a crimp on the case. We just discussed this last week under carpenter bee loads. http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?239464-Carpenter-Bee-Load

[Tatume]

Seat a gas check facing up on top of your powder charge. Fill the case with shot. Seat a gas check facing down on top of the shot. Crimp.

[Zymurgy50]

Seat a gas check facing up on top of your powder charge. Fill the case with shot. Seat a gas check facing down on top of the shot. Crimp.

This works best with 38spl wadcutter cases.........

[Mk42gunner]

Search for a thread titled "Revolver shotloads that work," by gearnasher. It has a lot of good info on making shotloads that contain a lot more shot than the two gas check method.

I would put in a link, but my computer is acting up and I am not sure how to fix it without rebooting.

Robert

[badbob454]

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?77286-Revolver-shot-loads-that-WORK!

[Jeffrey]

I made some .357 using the gas check method. Something I learned: run the gas checks through a push through sizing die before trying to insert them into the case. Charge was approximately 3gr fast shotgun powder under about 100gr #9 shot. Worked well on carpenter bees.

[runfiverun]

bees succumb to walnut cleaning media at about 700 fps too.

[35wailin]

Seat a gas check facing up on top of your powder charge. Fill the case with shot. Seat a gas check facing down on top of the shot. Crimp.

that's exactly what I did for .38 spl and .44 mag. I dont recall the exact load details, but the basics are there. They worked very well for their intended purpose, shooting rats at 10-20 feet.

[labradigger1]

44 mag, lp primer, 4.7 grains bullseye, gas check cup up over powder and compressed. #12 shot to 1/8" from the top, gas check cup up again over the shot, crimp.

Prime and charge the case.
I rotate the turret on a turret press between stations and place the gas check cup up on top of the case. Run the ram up to the turret plate and this starts the check into the case. Then lower ram and push it down on top of powder with a bolt and compress with the ram. No need to expand or bell the case, the gas check will fit. After filling with shot repeat same process for the over shot check. Compress check to 1/16" below the end of the case and crimp.

These standard length cases hold more shot than the Speer capsules and imho out perform them.

Capsules are stupid expensive and not easily found. These cartridges only cost 2 gas checks, 4.7 gn of bullseye and a 3¢ primer. That's a whole lot cheaper than Speer capsules.

Suck eggs Speer.

[John Allen]

I do the gas check deal it works great.

[trapper9260]

I just use cracker box cardboard and put 2 of that over the powder and then put the shot I want and then another card over it and just roll crimp it and then dip in wax 2X. I use a gasket hole cutter to cut all my cards.I even use the set to cut them for shotgun also.

[triggerhappy243]

labradigger1, what does the shot payload weigh?

[labradigger1]

labradigger1, what does the shot payload weigh?

I don't remember off hand. It seems like it was about 100 grains more than the capsules.
Here is a pic of a loaded round

[Newtire]

Yellow jackets usually come around whenever I run any small electric motor, brass polisher, case trimmer etc. Brake Kleen knocks them out of the air. Like shooting clays.

[54bore]

bees succumb to walnut cleaning media at about 700 fps too.

I'd think so! LOL