May 16, 2026, 10:32 PM
MikeinNCHomemade 44 magnum shotshells
So I have been loading regular 44mag brass with 5gr red dot, card, shot,card or epoxy.
But while lying awake last night I thought I could use a rifle cartridge cut down to mimic the length of a OAL 44mag.
Looked in my “The Handloaders Manual of Cartridge Conversions” and found you can make 44 mag from 30-40KRag. Well I don’t have any Krag, but I do have 303british. And you can make Krag from that.
So I ran a 303 thru a 44 mag sizer, then cut it down to the length of my S&W Model 69 cylinder.
I imagine it will shrink a little when I put 10grains of Red Dot in it and expand the case.
I should probably anneal it first….so it doesn’t split
If I’ve done my thinking I will have a case that’s the size of the inside of the revolver chamber and I can then use, powder, card, shot(lots more) epoxy. And it’ll have a lot more pellets.
The thought behind this was, one of the neighbors flattened a rattler in the road yesterday.
We’re moving to a new home in a month and it’s even “wilder” then this neighborhood-with only 29 lots on a single road and open field behind us. I’m expecting more danger noodles
May 16, 2026, 11:01 PM
CopeIf interested in any portion, I have a Dillon 4 stage progressive reloading setup I purchased to load subsonic 44Mag rounds to spit though a Ruger 44/77 from John's Guns. Only thing you hear is a heavy bullet hit a dirt backstop. I do not mess with this stuff these days, and would like to make someone a good deal on either the reloading equipment or the suppressed 77/44.
May 17, 2026, 08:20 AM
sourdough44I have made the shot shells for many handgun rounds, 38, 357, 41, 45 Colt & maybe the 44 mag. I have used the longer cases in a few, trimmed down 414 brass for the 41 mag, trimmed 357 for 38s.
I don’t look for the Speer capsules anymore, just use fingernail polish to hold the pellets. I do check Speer data for powder charges, more isn’t usually better.
I bought a bunch of #11 pellets years ago, load those.
May 17, 2026, 03:44 PM
MikeinNCHere’s the 303 cut down and annealed, then alongside a loaded round
Can’t fireform it today (I’m in the city)
May 22, 2026, 04:26 PM
MikeinNCFire formed it and then loaded it up w/6 grains red dot, card, shot, epoxy. Works great
May 30, 2026, 11:37 AM
LS1 GTOWhat would uou use it for, snakes?