Easy .41 magnum shotshells

I use wads cut from a shotshell or .22 rimfire box. I made the wad punch cutter from a cut off and sharply chamfered 8x57mm steel case. They are .413" or so.
I prime and flare unsized .41 brass. I use a .5cc Lee scoop of Bullseye, then push an over powder wad down snug with an inverted fired .38 Special case. I use the .38 case full of #12 shot, pour it in then seat the over shot wad like before. Crimp, then seal with LLA or whatever. I like LLA.
They pattern well from my Blackhawk at 15 feet as shown on the painted barrel lid; even better at 10 feet.
They will shred a copperhead pretty well.
#12 shot is the best; I steal it from my almost gone box of Rio 12 gauge 2-3/4 #12s - ( talk about SMOKE a clay bird)!
The original brass crimped .22 shot loads are still useful( but unobtainable at present) and I like the plastic Speer capsules for our .38 Specials, but these .41s are better and cheap. They work perfectly for me, Your mileage may vary.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...17e0b9615c.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...e761a71fee.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...d5a7ab9081.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...7c867fe983.jpg

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Can't argue with those results!

I've been meaning to experiment with this, using some Alum GC samples I got years ago (that didn't work on my boolit bases). But card wads sure look like the way to go, judging my your excellent results.

I have made wads for .44 Mag from that type of card board for other kinds of specialty loads but the thought occurred to me:

Why not use the side out of antifreeze jugs or quart oil bottles for wad cutting?

Very good patterns there Texas By God!

Kudos!

Three44s

Milk cartons and plastic milk jugs also make good wad material for this purpose.

Hope this helps.

Fred

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ReloaderFred

Milk cartons and plastic milk jugs also make good wad material for this purpose.

Hope this helps.

Fred

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+10!

Three44s

Innovation at it's best. Everything about this creation now has me stirring to give this a try. Mr. Noshouldser, beware!

What to do with the shotless leftover shot shells?
Why fill them with used primers, crimp and put a bit of candle wax on them.
I would not hunt with them, but they would scoot a unwanted varmint or misbehaving bull along nicely I figure. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...35e14c3491.jpg

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wow thomas... nice Job....

but I must admit I am a bit surprised how much time you spent playing with all this when there are chores to do round the ranch?????

:redneck:

Here you go, #12 shot by the bag!

https://www.ballisticproducts.com/Ch...uctinfo/02612/

Three44s

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Markopolo

wow thomas... nice Job....

but I must admit I am a bit surprised how much time you spent playing with all this when there are chores to do round the ranch?????

:redneck:

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Hauling hay today- Thank God for round bales.
Thanks for the link, 3-44s!
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Texas,

Excellent post! I have never seen #12 shot for sale so I use #6 or #7.5 shot in my .38 Special,.357, .41, .44 and .45 snake loads. I use gas checks with the cup UP over the powder and another GC, cup down, atop the shot and roll crimp.

Be well.

Adam

What is LLA?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Buzz Krumhunger

What is LLA?

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It's Lee Liquid Alox(tumble lube). Sorry about the acronym. I have three millennials[emoji16].

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This thread has inspired me to try shotshells. I jumped in and bought the bag of #12 shot. I had never seen any before. Boy! they are tiny. I'm going to work with .44 Mag. I only have one, a Ruger Bisley that I hardly ever shoot. Since it is not that much bigger than the .41, I plan to start with the same load as TBG. I figure I can't get in trouble that way.

I'm going to keep following for any additional pointers.

Do these lead your barrel up much? I was thinking about some in 45 colt in my 4 inch redhawk.................Curdog

I haven’t noticed any leading so far.

You may want to try the .410 plastic wads for a shotsleeve in those .41 Mag. cases.
With that no.12 shot it will give you a better pattern.

I found the fat little field mouse that's been eating bird seed and range cubes. It was trapped in the galvanized( with lid) barrel I keep dog food in.
I grabbed the .41 and carried the can out back and gave mouse a running chance- he shouldn't have stopped running ......

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A nice simple solution for pests. Years ago I made 41 shot shells out of 30-30 brass, had to trim the case rim a bit, cut it to cylinder length and fire formed it a bit and loaded it with #8 shot for grouse when I went elk hunting.

The .30-30 brass trick works well for the .41 Magnum shot loads. I've been doing it for years that way, and .30-30 brass is plentiful, too.

Hope this helps.

Fred

That sounds like a good use of old 30-30 brass. Can you give more details?

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I trim the .30-30 brass to be just short of the end of the cylinder, then run it through a .41 Magnum sizer die. The rims need to have a few thousandths taken off, especially for recessed cylinders. I used to do it with my drill press and a file, but I've got a small lathe now and if I need to make some, I'll just do it on the lathe.

I fire formed the brass with a few grains of fast burning powder and some cornmeal, and then just load them like any other handgun shot shell. I don't remember what the powder charge was when I made them a long time ago, and it was before I started keeping good notes.

Hope this helps.

Fred

Thanks, Fred. I noticed a bit of clearance at the base of a 30-30 case chambered in the .41 cylinder. Does the case swell out ahead of the web after fire forming? I'm sure that it's no big deal at the low pressures involved but I'm curious.
Not legally shootable, but my nephew reported a 4 foot velvet tail on the road last night- so it is a bit snakey this year.....
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The rather thin .30-30 brass fire forms to pretty much seal the chamber, and like you noted, we're dealing with some rather low pressures with these loads. I haven't had to load any in a number of years, since moving to the Oregon Coast from snake country. The only snake we have here is a small garter snake. Rattlers are over in Central Oregon, on the high desert and in the mountains.

I gotta try this ! Awesome post Tex !

I like your methods. I have made shotshells for a variety of handguns, 38, 41, & 45 Colt for sure. I haven’t even looked for the Speer capsules in a long time. I bought enough #11 shot to last a lifetime. I use a small charge of fast powder, usually Titegroup.

I normally have just put some fingernail polish on top to hold the shot in place. I did try some 410 wads, I cut them thinner, then put on top of powder so as to not mix with shot, 41 cal.

Tag for later to do when I get back home.

CD

Thanks for posting this, definitely loading up some of these. To date I’ve always used shot capsules in my 44’s and 38’s. But I like this better. And since I’ve been wanting some for my 41’s, I think these will be perfect.

I bought some .41 brass on S&S months ago and just broke it out. 50 rounds of which I discovered that 31 of them appear to have been run through a 10mm sizing die! I tried to see if I could make them work with bullets- but Noooo.
Lemonade from lemons; these are designated shot load brass until I see if they fireform back to .41 mag dimensions.
The one I loaded had an ok pattern at ten feet as seen on the dryer in my scrap trailer.
The highlight is about a one foot circle.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...0d3b50b2ac.jpg

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I had not thought of making shot shells for my 41 but with 30/30 brass usable for cases I think I will build a few. With a full cylinder length cases, I should be able to get a fair amount of #9 shot in the case.

rbuck351
If you will read down the post list to #18, "460 cases for 45 Colt shot loads" you will read about the issues others have run into with that procedure. I finally stopped working on the 460 cases for full length shot loads. Not wanting to deflate your project, on the contrary. I would encourage you to venture into your project. You may find a solution that I could use to continue my 460 full length shot cartridges. The biggest and worst issue, was firing the full length cartridge, and getting "setback" bad enough to not be able to pull the hammer back easily enough for follow-up shots. Please dont let me discourage you. If you start your project, please post us updates on how you are doing.
Regards

I had forgot about the head space issues in revolvers. I just did a bit of messing with a 30/30 case and although I haven't got the velocity up yet, I haven't had an issue with the cyl not turning easily yet.

Then there is always the 414 Superag Brass.

Apparently, ReloaderFred didn't/doesn't have any issues with the 30-30 case setback, compared to my 460 cases for my 45 Colt shot loads. I'm wondering if his
30-30 cases are thick enough, and the pressures low enough, that his cases are not fully fire forming where the transition from the chamber to the throat to cause any set back issue. Hopefully, ReloaderFred will comment as bout this.

I patterned the "10mm mouth" loads on a feed sack at ten feet. Still usable but not as good as the true .41s. #12 shot and #9 shot L to R. Roughly one foot circles.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...980ed04964.jpg

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I have wanted to make .41 shot loads for a while, thanks for the inspiration

I made a few cases from 30/30 brass full cyl length which sorta worked at very low pressure but velocity was so low that penetration suffered badly. I gave up on the 30/30 brass as it's easier to just use 41 mag brass although the 30/30 worked just as well.
I use #9 shot and can get 3/8 oz in either the 41 or the 30/30 case which gives decent pattern at 10yds or so. Not tight enough for snakes but good enough for grouse and such.

"Texas by God," thanks for this thread! I just found a nice used Blackhawk in .41 with the 6 1/2-inch barrel and will attempt to source some #12 shot. This small stuff is so superior to the 8, 8 1/2 and 9 shot that you have to see it to believe it. I've shot rattlesnakes with the commercial CCI loads in .38/.357 and .44 Special/.44 Magnum and I got a writhing mess of fouled-up buzztail that took more shots to put down. But a little CCI snake load out of a .22 pistol? It's like flicking off the light switch -- instant result with scarcely a quiver. These ought to come in handy now that I live in "the rattlesnake capital of Texas." (That's the Chamber of Commerce's version anyway.:wink:)
By the way, those sure are handsome stag grips you put on your sixgun.

Thanks for the kind words, Albert. #12 is the Buisiness, for sure!

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