Today, I decided to make shot shells for my revolvers. We have recently had a chicken hatch a clutch of guineas, her second clutch, and we found many gone in the morning. There are holes into the coop and we suspected rats. We moved the momma and her remaining keets into a more secure space. We have 6 separate coops and I need to be able to dispatch a critter without shaking the whole place. Thus a shotgun is out. I have some 22 shot shells, but the payload doesn't get it done, as I found out with our first victim.
So I got out the 38 Lee loader and sized/primed a dozen cases. I used two grains of bullseye, then an over powder wad I punched out of some heavy card stock. Filled the case with #7-1/2 bird shot from some dove loads I have, put an over shot wad over the shot, and crimped. Took a couple outside to pattern from about 15 feet. About all the pellets in a basketball size group. They penetrated the double wall corrugated Target, but not the single wall corrugated behind it. Will post how they do when we get our next volunteer. Hopefully tonight.
Anyone have any better ideas on on how to make them? I thought about using my 38/357 molds and filling with shot and then filling molds with bees wax to make a frangible projectile. Maybe hot melt glue. Open to ideas or suggestions.
So I got out the 38 Lee loader and sized/primed a dozen cases. I used two grains of bullseye, then an over powder wad I punched out of some heavy card stock. Filled the case with #7-1/2 bird shot from some dove loads I have, put an over shot wad over the shot, and crimped. Took a couple outside to pattern from about 15 feet. About all the pellets in a basketball size group. They penetrated the double wall corrugated Target, but not the single wall corrugated behind it. Will post how they do when we get our next volunteer. Hopefully tonight.
Anyone have any better ideas on on how to make them? I thought about using my 38/357 molds and filling with shot and then filling molds with bees wax to make a frangible projectile. Maybe hot melt glue. Open to ideas or suggestions.