45 colt shotshell loads

[Guns&engines]

I've been using the cci 22 shotshells for voles, chipmunks, and snakes around my rural property, but they can be hard to find when needed and not exactly cheap. I decided to try rolling my own for my 45 colt revolver and could use some feedback on my results.

First, the cci 22, which I've been completely satisfied with:

 

[Guns&engines]

Now, my loads. First, with just a cardboard over powder disk, 215gr of #10 shot, another cardboard disk, sealed with hot glue.

 

[Guns&engines]

And cardboard disk, cardboard wad, 165gr of #10 shot, cardboard disk, sealed with hot glue.

 

[Guns&engines]

The results are not exactly what I expected. It seems the version without a wad has a more dense pattern, but as expected is much dirtier. The version with the cardboard wad has a slightly larger pattern, but better dispersion.

I'm leaning toward the version with the cardboard wad even though it is a little more work to put together.

Thoughts?

 

[Magyars]

I'm surprised the pattern is so even I've always read that it would create a donut pattern. Either way...within 10 ft, your GTG.
Ever try buck and ball in the 45 C?

 

[Wolfhound]

I think shot shell capsules are sold for the .45 Colt so you can load your own shotshell loads. I have a box somewhere. Made by CCI perhaps? The home made wads seem like a good idea.

Could you post a picture of your own shotshells with the wads?

 

[tomcat13]

Very Intersting.
What's the Brl Length on your 45?
Any Leading in the Bore?

 

[Guns&engines]

The version with no wad is definitely leaving some very minor leading. It also doesn't pattern as even or consistently as seen by the clipped edge on the 5ft example. It also did this once at 5ft as well:


This is a visual of how that one is put together:

 

[Guns&engines]

The version with a wad is put together like this:

 

[Guns&engines]

I'm shooting it through this 4.75 barrel Uberti Cattleman that is well worn:

The wads come out looking like this after shooting:

I'm very impressed with the results, but cutting those strips to just the right width and length is tedious. If I go with that version, I'm going to have to work up some sort of cutting template. I honestly can't believe those cci 22s patterned so bad, they've been completely effective for me, just hard to find and cost about 50 cents each. My homemade 45 colt rounds work out to around 22 cents each not counting the brass cost since it's reusable. The speer shot capsules for making these are about 40 cents each, if you can even find them.

 

[t-squared]

I didn't do any checking of IDs or ODs, but would modified .410 wads work at all ??

.410 wads

You're getting pretty impressive patterns with what you have now....