[wilsoncqb1911]

I'm looking at using them out of a J Frame .38. I took them to the range and tried them at 7 and 15 yards and wasn't too impressed. Real tiny holes and not much of a pattern. Maybe they're only good to a couple of feet? Or maybe I'm just not that good of a shot with my J Frame --- VERY possible.

 

[erich]

No, you're fine - there's just not much shot in there and it spreads out very quickly. Chrono them, if you want a real laugh. You'd be very lucky to kill a dangerous snake farther away than your ankle with one. Seven yards is WAY beyond the kill zone with these . . . seven feet is probably beyond the kill zone with these.

Don't even think that these are personal protection rounds!

 

[wilsoncqb1911]

Thanks. I was interested in these only for critter control, but since I have to get right up next to the thing to shoot it it doesn't seem to do me any good. Bummer.

Maybe this is an excuse for me to get a Taurus Judge and load it up with .410. I'm quite certain I can find some .410 that would be good enough to snakes and small critters.

 

[Guest]

hummm, me thinks if you leave the snakes alone they'll leave you alone, as well as take care of your small critter problems.

 

[twoguns]

Howdy folks,

Well I reckon this one is another example of Fords and Chevys. I have been using both factory and personally loaded Speer shotshells in various calibers for 30 some odd years now, with total success. Normally I have used it to shoot poisonous snakes that want to play, but I have also used the .38/.357 load to kill a very irritated possum. He had been caught in a trap set in a homeowner's attic. The slant of the roof where the possum was made hitting it effectively with a nightstick impossible, and it was in the process of biting through its leg to get loose.

I was checking the Speer reloading manual for some info requested in a pm I had received, and noted the following guideline on shot spread. With loads filled with either 7.5, 8 or 9 shot (which is what Speer suggests for loading their capsules) they state to expect a spread of about 1" for every foot of distance. So at 10' you should expect about a 10" shot spread.

Most factory rounds are loaded with no. 9 shot, and I have used mostly 7.5 shot in mine with some no 9 shot. But I have used both with total success, and have not had to be standing on the snake I was killing. I normally shoot at least twice, and shots fired from about 3 to 5 yards have probably been my norm.

Like I noted, some folks like these, some do not. Count me in the group that appreciates these rounds.

twoguns

 

[wilsoncqb1911]

Thank you twoguns. Your real world experience beats my range testing. I tried them on paper only and wasn't impressed, but if they do the job like you say they do, then I'm happy. That's what I bought them for.

 

[flutedchamber]

Like twoguns I load my own Speer shotshells and within their limit they are very good. I use 7 1/2 shot and have had great success with
three 000 buckshot.

 

[demented]

flutedchamber, will 000 fit in a 38/357 capsule? I may be wrong as my memory isn't what it once was but I seem to recall number 1 buckshot being the largest that will fit. As for these shotloads in general, I never head outside without 1/2 dozen in my pocket. I have no intention of arguing property ownership with a copperhead, these allow me to easily take care of mister "no shoulders" at distances well past biting range.

 

[blue68f100]

I have used the Speers shot shells in my 357. Twoguns is correct on the spreed being 1"/ft. I load mine with #6 shot. Ideal for the copper heads that want to be too friendly. My experience is in order to be effective, you must be under 10', closer better. And if it a hard skinned critter they are only good in getting them wound up. Make sure you have some heavy lead in at least one of the cylinders in case you run into a mad possium.