steve urquell
05-03-2024, 03:57 PM
I have been shooting wasps with handloaded rice shot loads since early spring. Thread here: https://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?467897-Wasp-Rice-Shot-Loads-38-45LC
I started out with .45LC loads in my American Derringer Co. .45/.410 but large primers are expensive. I started playing around with .38 so I could use small primers but a huge .357 revolver is no fun for powder puff shot loads.
I started looking at cheap .38 derringers but remembered seeing chamber adapters on ebay. Found a guy on there (the shooter's box) who makes them in singles or sets and ordered a pair of .45 to 9mm adapters for $24. He sells them in 6 and 7 piece sets as well. They are smoothbore and the bore is .358", I didn't care because I was going to use them for shot anyway but decided to see what they would do in my derringer with boolits. Chaszel also makes some that are rifled but much more expensive.
326222
326223
I shot several groups from 10ft offhand using both top and bottom barrels. I did not try to isolate either barrel. The derringer's trigger pull is a measured 15lbs and sights are a tiny groove and blade. Boolits are (L->R) 115gr Acme/Hitek RN, MP molds 130gr HP, Lee 158RF. All sized .356"
326224
6 shots of 115gr RN:
326225
6 shots 130gr MP:
326226
I had an idea that the .358" smoothbore might like a longer boolit--definitely could use a .358" boolit so I loaded Lee 158RFs which are 160gr.
Shot 2 shots then 2 more and the target didn't look different. I didn't know if I was missing the target completely or had shot into the other 2 holes.
326227
So I aimed at another target and fired 2 more
326228
Backed up and shot several shots at an 8" gong(probably 25ft) and hit every one. I tried the 6" gong from the same distance and missed both shots but my trigger finger was getting pretty sore from the tiny squared edged trigger and heavy pull. The lighter loaded loads brass fell out of the adapters. Heavier loaded ones needed slight pressure to push out and I used a WD-40 plastic squirter nozzle.
I had no high expectations on these things being smoothbore and .358" bore shooting .356" boolits and am pleasantly surprised at how well they did. I'd bet with a HBWC or .358" boolit these may do even better.
I started out with .45LC loads in my American Derringer Co. .45/.410 but large primers are expensive. I started playing around with .38 so I could use small primers but a huge .357 revolver is no fun for powder puff shot loads.
I started looking at cheap .38 derringers but remembered seeing chamber adapters on ebay. Found a guy on there (the shooter's box) who makes them in singles or sets and ordered a pair of .45 to 9mm adapters for $24. He sells them in 6 and 7 piece sets as well. They are smoothbore and the bore is .358", I didn't care because I was going to use them for shot anyway but decided to see what they would do in my derringer with boolits. Chaszel also makes some that are rifled but much more expensive.
326222
326223
I shot several groups from 10ft offhand using both top and bottom barrels. I did not try to isolate either barrel. The derringer's trigger pull is a measured 15lbs and sights are a tiny groove and blade. Boolits are (L->R) 115gr Acme/Hitek RN, MP molds 130gr HP, Lee 158RF. All sized .356"
326224
6 shots of 115gr RN:
326225
6 shots 130gr MP:
326226
I had an idea that the .358" smoothbore might like a longer boolit--definitely could use a .358" boolit so I loaded Lee 158RFs which are 160gr.
Shot 2 shots then 2 more and the target didn't look different. I didn't know if I was missing the target completely or had shot into the other 2 holes.
326227
So I aimed at another target and fired 2 more
326228
Backed up and shot several shots at an 8" gong(probably 25ft) and hit every one. I tried the 6" gong from the same distance and missed both shots but my trigger finger was getting pretty sore from the tiny squared edged trigger and heavy pull. The lighter loaded loads brass fell out of the adapters. Heavier loaded ones needed slight pressure to push out and I used a WD-40 plastic squirter nozzle.
I had no high expectations on these things being smoothbore and .358" bore shooting .356" boolits and am pleasantly surprised at how well they did. I'd bet with a HBWC or .358" boolit these may do even better.