I was reminded of an idea recently that I had wanted to try for years. I like the idea of having some shot loads for a revolver, and have made them for .38/357's and .45 Colt (using cut down .444 Marlin cases). I read years ago in an old Nonte book about cutting down .30-06 cases down to use in a 1917 revolver. I picked up a Brazilian 1937 awhile back and so i decided to try it out this morning. I took some military .308 cases and cut them down to a little over 1.50" with my cheapie chop saw.
Then, I put them in my Forrester case trimmer and get them back to 1.50" even.
I removed the primer crimp and reprimed them. Then I changed dies to my .44 Special sizing die. I barely screwed it in and ran the case up into it. OD of the case came out at .450" so just about perfect to fit the .452 throats of my Smith. I screwed the die in further and further until the cases would seat all the way in the chamber.
Next, I poured some 7 1/2 shot in the case until I had what I guessed to be enough room for powder and wads. I weighed the shot and it came out to just under 200 gr. I figured 5.0 gr of Red Dot under a 230 gr slug is safe, so the same amount under 200gr of shot would be safe, I punched out some wads from cardboard and cardstock. Dumped the powder in the case and used a .357 case to seat the cardboard wad.
Filled the case near to the brim with shot, them thumbed a cardstock wad over the shot. Then I put a .40 S&W seat/crimp die in the press and used it to crimp the case mouth over the overshot wad. Something like .41 mag de may have worked better, but it was the best I could come up with...
I loaded up 18 rounds, figuring I'd put some in full moon clips and a couple of half moon clips, then I can have the easy option of half shot/half slugs, or all shot. I'm looking forward to trying them out!
Then, I put them in my Forrester case trimmer and get them back to 1.50" even.
I removed the primer crimp and reprimed them. Then I changed dies to my .44 Special sizing die. I barely screwed it in and ran the case up into it. OD of the case came out at .450" so just about perfect to fit the .452 throats of my Smith. I screwed the die in further and further until the cases would seat all the way in the chamber.
Next, I poured some 7 1/2 shot in the case until I had what I guessed to be enough room for powder and wads. I weighed the shot and it came out to just under 200 gr. I figured 5.0 gr of Red Dot under a 230 gr slug is safe, so the same amount under 200gr of shot would be safe, I punched out some wads from cardboard and cardstock. Dumped the powder in the case and used a .357 case to seat the cardboard wad.
Filled the case near to the brim with shot, them thumbed a cardstock wad over the shot. Then I put a .40 S&W seat/crimp die in the press and used it to crimp the case mouth over the overshot wad. Something like .41 mag de may have worked better, but it was the best I could come up with...
I loaded up 18 rounds, figuring I'd put some in full moon clips and a couple of half moon clips, then I can have the easy option of half shot/half slugs, or all shot. I'm looking forward to trying them out!
