.45LC to 9mm Chamber Adapters

[steve urquell]

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.

[lar45]

Looks like too much fun :)

[JimB..]

When will you be patterning with rice loads?

[steve urquell]

Looks like too much fun :)
It was. My only complaint was my trigger fi nger getting sore lol.

When will you be patterning with rice loads?
Yesterday from 2ft which is about the distance where I shoot wasps with rice.
326260

[gwpercle]

It was. My only complaint was my trigger fi nger getting sore lol.

Yesterday from 2ft which is about the distance where I shoot wasps with rice.
326260

:goodpost:
LIKE LIKE LIKE !!!
Gary

[steve urquell]

:goodpost:
LIKE LIKE LIKE !!!
Gary

Thanks. Rice is like chucking throwing stars willy-nilly at high velocity. Tears the wasps up. Here's a vid of one meeting the rice load.
https://youtube.com/shorts/Jtt6SlpTrQw?feature=shared

[Captain Wheelgun]

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.

Link to the guy doing the chamber adapters please?

[steve urquell]

Link to the guy doing the chamber adapters please?

https://www.ebay.com/str/theshootersbox

I perfected my shot loads today using gelatin capsules. Detailed info in my wasp rice loads thread.
326532

Blowing up a can with 9mm #7.5 shot
https://youtube.com/shorts/G1QhYi-qOHc?feature=shared

[Barry54]

I’m still debating 454 brass in 45/410 chambers and then small primers could be used too.

Thought about notching the rims or something to distinguish it as my ammo. I don’t own a 454 so I’ll not be loading any of them up to full power.

[steve urquell]

I’m still debating 454 brass in 45/410 chambers and then small primers could be used too.

Thought about notching the rims or something to distinguish it as my ammo. I don’t own a 454 so I’ll not be loading any of them up to full power.

I'm too cheap to buy brass for this but .454 would be nice if it uses small primers.

[Electrod47]

Save

[Baltimoreed]

A couple badminton rackets from the habitat store is a lot cheaper than lg or sm pistol primers in today’s world. Many years ago when I was doing muzzleloading I hunted those carpenter bees but I used a ml single shot pistol and a dab of black. Don’t remember what I used for shot.

[steve urquell]

After shooting the longer .356" boolits fairly accurately out of the .358" bore adapters I wanted to try larger diameter wadcutters. I tried some .360" and .357" today. Loaded to 625fps with 2.4gr of TiteWad.

.360"
https://i.imgur.com/D7iTtQX.jpg

.357"
https://i.imgur.com/BVtw0UX.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/tb3R2QU.jpg

Sadly they all keyholed. :cry:
Looks like the 358/158-RF is the best boolit for these smoothbore adapters.
https://i.imgur.com/2vUw3u3.jpg

[Barry54]

I wonder if a hollow base wadcutter would do better? It would be more nose heavy sort of like a foster slug.

[steve urquell]

I wonder if a hollow base wadcutter would do better? It would be more nose heavy sort of like a foster slug.

I may drill the base of one or 2 of these and see if it helps stabilize it

[scattershot]

The simplist solution would be to het a few small,primer .45ACP cases.

[steve urquell]

The simplist solution would be to het a few small,primer .45ACP cases.

In .45LC chambers?

[Electrod47]

Yeah, On the strength of your post I bought the 9MM adapters for my own gelatin loads. I'm always up for something unique and fairly inexpensive. I think they were only 20 bucks. I tried some of my cast loads at 10 paces....yeah they keyhole. But at Derringer ranges might be good for a little extra impact...still developing my cream of wheat loads..

[steve urquell]

Yeah, On the strength of your post I bought the 9MM adapters for my own gelatin loads. I'm always up for something unique and fairly inexpensive. I think they were only 20 bucks. I tried some of my cast loads at 10 paces....yeah they keyhole. But at Derringer ranges might be good for a little extra impact...still developing my cream of wheat loads..

Glad you like em. I'm OK with them only for shot. The boolit loads are just to play around with. Weird how mine like the Lee 358/158RF. No keyholes.

[scattershot]

In .45LC chambers?

Sorry, I thought you were talking about .45ACP. My bad.

[steve urquell]

Sorry, I thought you were talking about .45ACP. My bad.

No worries. I wish he had made .45LC to .38spl adapters for the increased case capacity but it is what it is