Wonder if a 44 capsule would work better in a 45 because you wouldn't have as much touching the rifleing or if that would just cause blow by problems. . . . . hrmm

GoodOlBoy

Rocky, I think you're exactly right as to why the short barrel works better. And the 44 Bulldog is a great little shot thrower.
GOB, I'd guess a 44 capsule would not work out too well in a 45 pistol, and I dunno how you'd crimp a .429 capsule in a 45 case with a mouth opening around .452......
Besides, the 45 capsule oughta hold more shot, and the more shot you can stuff into a pistol shot load, the better.
A 44 shot load gives a much denser pattern than a 38 shot load, and 45 oughta be better yet.

Figured as much, but I was just wonderin. BTW I picked up that handloader mag at lunch (Couldn't wait ya know how it goes) and that is a purty darned good article.

Now to order some components, etc.

GoodOlBoy

If you can find one, a steel-cased 45 ACP makes a great wad cutter to make those over-shot wads. Drill out the primer flash hole so you can poke a nail in and shove out the cut wads, sharpen the mouth of the case and you're done. Just set it on a sheet of thin cardboard (tablet backing or wax milk carton is ideal) and tap with a rubber mallet. Do three or four, then shove them out with the nail.

I use three wads over the powder, then the shot and a single wad in my non-capsule shot loads. Then run a ring of hot glue to seal. But that was before those capsules were available.

BTW, I've also used regular .410 shotshells cut to cylinder length for 45 Colt shotshells. Works great in Uberti guns, but they won't chamber in a Ruger due to the rim diameter.

If ya want the perfect material for those wads, you already have it- it's those cardboard sleeves that primers come in:D
I use them in 45 ACP shot loads that I make- works great, and I always have some saved primer sleeves around.

Well I did the cheatin thing and ordered a batch of the casuples made by CCI/Speer.

We shall see how it goes!

GoodOlBoy

GOB and all.

One final tip besides the load light and use small shot in a short barrel:

After you apply a medium crimp to the capsule (too much will break it!), apply a drop of super glue to the capsule at the case neck. That's the best way to keep the thing seated under recoil, and it seems to have no adverse effects. Might even improve the pattern, unless I'm just examining them with wishful lenses in my glasses!

Rocky what about nail polish? I have heard that some use it to seal primers, was wondering if it would work for that as well.

Just curious

GoodOlBoy

It'd probably work fine - and you might glue your fingers to the cartridge less often, too! ;)

Interesting.....
I've never used anything other than the crimp to keep the shot capsules in place, and have had no trouble with breakage or the capsules creeping. Maybe I been lucky.
GOB, before I used anything (other than Rocky's proven super glue) as a sealant, I'd test it on one capsule to make sure it didn't react with the plastic in the capsule.

45 Shot
 

Mike Ventorino just had an extrensive article in one of my gun rags on this. He got the very best results with 12 shot (yes, 12). He then used Unique, about 5 grains, and 2 gas checks. One was loaded over the powder with the base up, into which went the shot nearly to the top of the case. No buller needed. The top gas check was loaded base down and crimped. He used a caliber or two smaller throat belling die to seat the gas checks. The results were apparently awsome on snakes and target potatoes (litterly blew them apart) at 10 feet or so. The charge of smaller shot really rattled the snakes nervous systems, much more effectively than larger shot.
The hard part apparently is getting the size 12 shot.
My 45/.410 Contender does the trick using 7.5 or 9 shot 410 shells, with a lot longer range.
But if I ever find the 12 shot, my Black Hawk will be put to the test.

Ballistic Products has #10, 11 and 12 shot (out of #12 right now) in ten-pound bags for $20.

Maybe some of you guys would go in on a bag and split it up, huh? Shipping would be the main pain.

Rocky
 

Thanks for the tip Rocky. Too bad Utah is so far away from Minnesota. I'm thinking about "biting the bullet" so to speak on shipping. Loading 'em sounds like too much fun to miss out on.

Correction
 

The article I cited above is in the April 05 issue of Handloader magazine. It calls for (9) grains of Unique, not as I stated from recall.

Yup I have read that one, good article.

GoodOlBoy