357 MAG SHOTSHELLS

[oneshot 66]

I have been loading 357 SHOTSHELLS with some success and have learned doing it. I tried paper wads on both ends, the top with melted wax and a crimp, but they wouldn't hold when firing. I tried to use 38 cal. gas checks, but couldn't get the to seat straight, so I turned a fixture that replaces the insert in a LEE expander die (photo). Steps I use below.

SIZE AND DEPRIME
CHAMPHER INSIDE MOUTH-use a 22 degree
CLEAN POCKETS
PRIME-LOAD POWDER
CUT BEER BOX WADS-cut with a 357 sharpened case
PUSH IN WADS TIGHT
FILL WITH 9 SHOT TO THE TOP
PLACE THE GAS CHECK AND SEAT
SLIGHT CRIMP
These don't move with 4.8 of W-231.

 

[jds holler]

Those aren't exactly gonna be mallard medicine, but I'm guessing maybe a rat at ten feet.
They look as good and probably better than most of the alternatives I've seen. jd

 

[JSH]

Depending on how the chamber is cut, I have used 357 max brass to increase pay load.

 

[oneshot 66]

I don't have MAX brass, but I have been looking.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

I have been loading 357 SHOTSHELLS with some success and have learned doing it. I tried paper wads on both ends, the top with melted wax and a crimp, but they wouldn't hold when firing. I tried to use 38 cal. gas checks, but couldn't get the to seat straight, so I turned a fixture that replaces the insert in a LEE expander die (photo). Steps I use below.

SIZE AND DEPRIME
CHAMPHER INSIDE MOUTH-use a 22 degree
CLEAN POCKETS
PRIME-LOAD POWDER
CUT BEER BOX WADS-cut with a 357 sharpened case
PUSH IN WADS TIGHT
FILL WITH 9 SHOT TO THE TOP
PLACE THE GAS CHECK AND SEAT
SLIGHT CRIMP
These don't move with 4.8 of W-231.View attachment 1510721

Does the gas check just push in by hand?

 

[SeabeeKen]

Those aren't exactly gonna be mallard medicine, but I'm guessing maybe a rat at ten feet.
They look as good and probably better than most of the alternatives I've seen. jd

I use a similar setup in my 454 and 45C for snakes and they work great. The gas check will tear them up at close range

 

[oneshot 66]

Does the gas check just push in by hand?

The fixture I turned on the lathe goes inside the expander die, you have to use a press to seat it.

 

[powderbrake]

Why not use a Speer Shotshell capsule?
Link to capsules

I have found that higher velocities and longer barrels tend to spray the pellets out in a wider pattern.
I use the 38 capsules in a S&W 2" chief's special whenever I am in snake territory.

 

[oneshot 66]

Why not use a Speer Shotshell capsule?
Link to capsules

I have found that higher velocities and longer barrels tend to spray the pellets out in a wider pattern.
I use the 38 capsules in a S&W 2" chief's special whenever I am in snake territory.

I had everything, but the gas checks, needed and I have time on my hands. I used a 3" S&W model 60 J-frame. The pattern on these with 9 shot is excellent at 20 feet.

 

[JSH]

Charlie Petty did a good write up on shot loads. Speed is not better for patterns.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

The fixture I turned on the lathe goes inside the expander die, you have to use a press to seat it.

That’s a good idea. Just basically a straight rod turned to the diameter of the inside of the check?

 

[oneshot 66]

Charlie Petty did a good write up on shot loads. Speed is not better for patterns.

Yes it is.

 

[oneshot 66]

That’s a good idea. Just basically a straight rod turned to the diameter of the inside of the check?

The diameter has to be slightly smaller than the inside or the check will stick to it.

 

[Fuj]

What revolver will you shoot with ?? Back in the 80's I had a Ruger
Blackhawk that came with a spare 9mm cylinder. I reamed those
chambers to fit 30/30 brass then trimmed the brass to cylinder
length. Used Red Dot with #9 shot.

 

[oneshot 66]

What revolver will you shoot with ?? Back in the 80's I had a Ruger
Blackhawk that came with a spare 9mm cylinder. I reamed those
chambers to fit 30/30 brass then trimmed the brass to cylinder
length. Used Red Dot with #9 shot.

S&W J frame model 60 3" barrel

 

[JSH]

Yes it is.

Showing our age, a lot of folks probably don’t recognize the name. Lol.

 

[bobm]

I went down the .357 shot shell road in the early seventies. My scattergun was a 6" Smith 19. I made this punch and die for cutting wads from just about any soft material up to .063 thick. Cardboard, thin brass shim, plastics. The tool steel parts are hardened and I put a 5 degree face angle on the punch for easy shearing.

The punch snaps into the ram shell holder slot. In this example I am using the 1/16" thick polypropylene plastic from a Speer bullet box lid. The stream of discs comes out the top as the strip is fed in.

My shot shell interest passed after a while. The tool was one of my first of hundreds of "G" jobs in my career as a machinist.

 

[oneshot 66]

I went down the .357 shot shell road in the early seventies. My scattergun was a 6" Smith 19. I made this punch and die for cutting wads from just about any soft material up to .063 thick. Cardboard, thin brass shim, plastics. The tool steel parts are hardened and I put a 5 degree face angle on the punch for easy shearing.

The punch snaps into the ram shell holder slot. In this example I am using the 1/16" thick polypropylene plastic from a Speer bullet box lid. The stream of discs comes out the top as the strip is fed in.

That shot shell fad passed after a while. The tool was one of my first of hundreds of "G" jobs in my career as a machinist.

That's great craftmanship!

 

[rockhound78]

Oneshot66--Think I might have some max brass sitting around I could send you, let me look today. Its what I use for shot loads in my Rossi 3" barreled gun. I usually load "ancini de pepe" pasta in mine as sometimes I shoot at the critters when they are in gravel and don't want a rebound/ricochet with the shot. The pasta will disintegrate hitting the gravel, but it does a number on the critters. 5-6' is usually as far as I shoot.

 

[oneshot 66]

Thanks