Cap and ball revolver firing bird shot

[Bad Karma]

I guess I didn't think about how the shot will stay in one place before firing and not spill out.
Seems like a wad on top of it would not help.

It seems to work in twice barreled shooting guns... I’m sure there’s a way.

but it will muck up an expensive barrel.

I hear that. Still, I’ve been curious about a dragoon treated thusly... I’m 75 this year and may never live to undertake the project but if I lived in a country populated with lots of poisonous snakes I’d probably have done it long ago.

“Don’t kid yourself, we’re put on this earth to screw around,” Kurt Vonnegut

 

[wb78963]

The felt wad used in testing was very tight fit and the lube is sticky.
There was no problem with anything coming loose.
BUT if I was going to carry the revolver loaded like this the wad would be glued in place with a fast drying glue or fingernail polish.
I am going to try the gas check idea tomorrow. That should be a very tightly held top wad.
More to follow as I am retired and have a range right outside my back door.
Stay Safe
Bunk

 

[wb78963]

Can shot be used in a revolver and the answer is why not?
The revolver used in this test is a .44 caliber Pietta Marshal 5 ½” barrel.

Testing different volumes of GOEX FFFg powder and equal volumes of # 7 ½ shot the one that gave the best results was a 1.0 cc dipper of powder,(aproximately 15 grain volume) a very thin wad to keep the powder from getting into the shot column the same dipper of shot and a 1/8” lubricated felt wad. That wad was used to secure the load but a thin paper wad and some heavy grease or bullet lube should suffice.

If this would be carried using Duco cement should be used to glue a top wad in place.

At 15 to 20 feet this load drove the shot through both sides of a soft drink can. The pattern seemed to be pretty even. The aiming point was the can center and it was well riddled.
This is what worked for me if you have a better/different idea let's hear it.

After trying seven or eight different combinations this one seemed to be the best balanced but the amount of fouling was phenomenal. It took six soaking wet patches to mostly clear the residue.

If you don’t have a set of Lee dippers, a .40 S&W empty case will be very close to the 1 cc.

It is doubtful that a .36 chamber would have enough volume to be successful, but other than cleaning, there should be no danger.

This was done with real Black Gunpowder I cannot speak for using any of the substitutes.

Respectfully submitted

Bunk

The gas check over shot wad worked very well. I used a .40 S&W case for a measure otherwise loaded as above but with .45 gas check skirt up rather than a lube wad over the column. It looked like a Wonder wad would fit over the powder with that powder and shot quantities.
Seating the gas check in a loading press was easy. Trying to seat the check with a punch did not work as well, but seemed to shoot just as hard. The Marshal has a loading lever but it is small and is more for show that go but in a full size revolver should seat the gas check square and tight.
At 10+ yards the shot was completely passing through both sides of the can.
It should turn a Green Mojave to a unique slightly ventilated hat band Mojave.
Respectfully submitted
Bunk

 

[M. De Land]

but it will muck up an expensive barrel.

It will likely lead up the bore some if shot is not encapsulated with some form of tubing. The encapsulation will not only help dampening the effects of rifling rotation but it keeps more of the shot from being deformed which also helps the pattern. Interestingly when using Speer shot capsules in a 44 cartridge the four inch gun shot much tigher patterns then did the 7.5 inch barrel gun. That could have been rifling pitch difference but it was very evident.

 

[wb78963]

It will likely lead up the bore some if shot is not encapsulated with some form of tubing. The encapsulation will not only help dampening the effects of rifling rotation but it keeps more of the shot from being deformed which also helps the pattern. Interestingly when using Speer shot capsules in a 44 cartridge the four inch gun shot much tigher patterns then did the 7.5 inch barrel gun. That could have been rifling pitch difference but it was very evident.

My comment about mucking up the barrel was about boring it. out smooth. I did not see any leading in my barrel, but were less than 10 rounds fired and I doubt there will be any more.
This exercise was simply a proof of concept operation. We do not have rattle snakes in this part of Central Texas, only a few copperheads and very occasionally a coral snake, They are all small, not aggressive and easily controlled with my boot and pocket knife.
But it was fun shooting the can with shot.
Stay safe
WB

 

[mkpatrick]

The felt wad used in testing was very tight fit and the lube is sticky.
There was no problem with anything coming loose.
BUT if I was going to carry the revolver loaded like this the wad would be glued in place with a fast drying glue or fingernail polish.
I am going to try the gas check idea tomorrow. That should be a very tightly held top wad.
More to follow as I am retired and have a range right outside my back door.
Stay Safe
Bunk

A range right outside the back door. Now that is living!

OK so here is a question, please don't laugh...
What is a gas check?
I have a Colt Navy in 44 and it is small enough for me to tote around in a holster on the property.
Everyday in Spring/Summer and Fall I go out looking for snakes. The rattlesnakes have been very thick this year. The Gopher snakes are not, so I'm bringing them back to the property to help with the mice. I have chickens. They free range.
They are smart enough to stay away from snakes but our new puppy isn't. Normally rattlers aren't this bad.
I always have a rifle on hand because coyotes are an issue.
But now I'll be carrying my Navy for the snakes.
I sure appreciate all the advice.

 

[desi23]

A range right outside the back door. Now that is living!

OK so here is a question, please don't laugh...
What is a gas check?
I have a Colt Navy in 44 and it is small enough for me to tote around in a holster on the property.
Everyday in Spring/Summer and Fall I go out looking for snakes. The rattlesnakes have been very thick this year. The Gopher snakes are not, so I'm bringing them back to the property to help with the mice. I have chickens. They free range.
They are smart enough to stay away from snakes but our new puppy isn't. Normally rattlers aren't this bad.
I always have a rifle on hand because coyotes are an issue.
But now I'll be carrying my Navy for the snakes.
I sure appreciate all the advice.

A gas check is used for reloading certain cast bullets in modern (unmentionable) firearms. It is a small brass cup that fits on the heel of the bulllet to prevent gas cutting and leading. It does offer a possibility for use as a retaining wad for your shot use in a cap and ball revolver

 

[wb78963]

A range right outside the back door. Now that is living!

OK so here is a question, please don't laugh...
What is a gas check?
I have a Colt Navy in 44 and it is small enough for me to tote around in a holster on the property.
Everyday in Spring/Summer and Fall I go out looking for snakes. The rattlesnakes have been very thick this year. The Gopher snakes are not, so I'm bringing them back to the property to help with the mice. I have chickens. They free range.
They are smart enough to stay away from snakes but our new puppy isn't. Normally rattlers aren't this bad.
I always have a rifle on hand because coyotes are an issue.
But now I'll be carrying my Navy for the snakes.
I sure appreciate all the advice.

Not a bad question mpatrick because a gas check is a copper disk with the edges turned up to form a shallow cup used to protect the base of a bullet from the heat produced by burning smokessomwhatless powders.
A gas check really has no function in C&B shooting. I would suggest to use fingernail polish or a Duco type glue to secure the top wad unless you are going to do a lot of shooting because Hornady makes them I think 500 in a box.
Good for you gopher snakes are a mobile mouse trap I had one living in my shop and had no mouse or rat problems. Big friendly 4" long Texas Rat Snake.
Bunk

 

[Eutycus]

My comment about mucking up the barrel was about boring it. out smooth. I did not see any leading in my barrel, but were less than 10 rounds fired and I doubt there will be any more.
This exercise was simply a proof of concept operation. We do not have rattle snakes in this part of Central Texas, only a few copperheads and very occasionally a coral snake, They are all small, not aggressive and easily controlled with my boot and pocket knife.
But it was fun shooting the can with shot.
Stay safe
WB

You got me curious, what part of Central Texas don't have rattlers?

 

[Rick Son]

View attachment 81299

 

[Rick Son]

View attachment 81299

 

[Rick Son]

i have one with a conversion cylinder 45 snake shot.

 

[TCMonts]

I havn't tried it with a cap and ball gun but ran a lot of them through modern .357 and .44. I would recomend the #9 shot as you get a little more patern density and you're not giving up any penetration at the range you will be shooting. Making an accuret shot in a high stress situation aint easy for some of us so the shot loads are a big help. Maybe try a 2 ball load.

 

[wb78963]

You got me curious, what part of Central Texas don't have rattlers?

off thread a bit but Fayette County. I have lived here since 1961 and have killed many many copperheads a few coral snakes and a pair of lost cottonmouth water moccasins caught wandering through my front yard a long way from the Colorado river.
ON THREAD.

I used #7.5 shot because that was what I had open and I did not want to open a bag of #9 if I have any, for a teaspoon of shot. No doubt #9 shot would give a denser pattern and at short range and hit just as hard.
As I said it was a proof of concept thing, and it is doubtful if it will be repeated.
By the way the gun has Slixshot cones and CCI #11 caps worked moderately well. I was not about to use any of my scarce Remmy #10's or11's with this sort of fooling around.
Bunk

 

[mkpatrick]

I would suggest to use fingernail polish or a Duco type glue to secure the top wad unless you are going to do a lot of shooting because Hornady makes them I think 500 in a box.
Good for you gopher snakes are a mobile mouse trap I had one living in my shop and had no mouse or rat problems. Big friendly 4" long Texas Rat Snake.
Bunk

So if I have this right in my head.....
The powder, a wad, then the #9 shot, then over that another wad with some glue or fingernail polish to keep the wad from allowing the shot to spill out when the pistol is holstered?
I assume all that to get loaded and packed down with the rammer before adding the glue or nail polish?

 

[deerstalkert]

or you can make a cigarette paper packet of shot over the wad. wax it or crisco it and forget the glue.

 

[Eutycus]

I still like the idea but this gun would be riding in a holster pointing downward. Then a teaspoon of shot would be putting weight on the outer wad. Then the jarring motion of walking would shake things up even more. Seems like it would take alot of glue or fingernail polish.

 

[deerstalkert]

in the Texas heat i would use a over packet sealer that wouldn't melt. i just don't like the idea of glue or fingernail polish. your milage may vary.
the packet's i have used were stiff enough the friction held them in place even while riding my quad. at least long enough to bust a grouse.

 

[Eutycus]

in the Texas heat i would use a over packet sealer that wouldn't melt. i just don't like the idea of glue or fingernail polish. your milage may vary.
the packet's i have used were stiff enough the friction held them in place even while riding my quad. at least long enough to bust a grouse.

What would you recommend as an "over packet sealer that won't melt?"

 

[deerstalkert]

Knew you were going to ask me that!
going to make this old brain to think? raw bees wax has a pretty high melting heat.. heated to a goo and applied like grease it firms up just fine with no shrinkage. been a few years ( maybe 15-20) since i played with this. saw the puck of bees wax yesterday sitting next to the bag of # 7.5 shot is the only reason i remembered.
i even remember melting the wax and pouring it through the shot to bind them together. cant remember the results of that.
it's raining and i may melt if i shoot my Mortimer today, so maybe i will play with this concept again. Have been neglecting the Walker and the 51 anyway.