.357 mag shotshells - The Firearms Forum

Thomas_1 · 10-18-2008, 02:28 PM

I was wondering if anyone used shotshells in thier .357 magnum? I heard a lot of bad thing about the .22 shotshells. But using them in the .357 larger shell would that improve the distance? This would be only for squirrels. Usually I just hunt with the 16ga or 12ga shotgun, but thought this would be fun the try out.

pawn · 10-18-2008, 03:45 PM

I've got a few packs of 357 mag shotshells on hand to deal with the occasional wayward critter in the yard (couldn't risk using a slug due to close proximity of neighbors)

We had a rat in our garage a couple of months back. The little rascal got up in the dry wall and even chewed through the wire for the garage door (cost me $30 to get it fixed). Anyhow, I bought some sticky traps to put in front of the hole in the wall. He got stuck and I popped 'em with a few rounds of 22lr Federal Game Shock Birdshot.....did the trick without further damage to the garage

Terry_P · 10-18-2008, 07:09 PM

I loaded them in 38 cases and tested them out of various revolvers and surprisingly to me my SP101 in 357 with a 2 1/4" bbl had the best pattern. I loaded them for snake loads while hog hunting in Texas. I used Speer shotshell capsules with #9 lead shot over 5.5 gr of Unique.

Thomas_1 · 10-18-2008, 07:19 PM

A friend of mine gave me 2 shotshells today. I'm going to try them out tomorrow and see how they do.

CampingJosh · 10-18-2008, 09:50 PM

I've used the CCI shotshells in a .38 derringer (the CCIs are labeled ".357/.38 Special shotshells"). They do OK on snakes out to about 5 yards (all the further I tried), but the pattern was very inconsistent.

Terry_P · 10-19-2008, 05:09 PM

Thats about it. I patterned mine at 7 yards and the SP had the most even pattern. I then shot a few at cans on the ground to see how they worked and even fron the hip and like I said previously the SP surprised me. I figured I wanted to know how they acted before I went stumbling around snake country.

Oneida Steve · 10-19-2008, 06:38 PM

I've used quite a few handloaded .38 shotshells (Speer components) over the years. I agree with Terry. I've found they pattern best from short-barrel revolvers. At ten feet they are deadly for rat-sized pests.

artabr · 10-19-2008, 11:14 PM

This months (Dec.) issue of Guns Magazine has a good article by John Taffin on handloading handgun shot shells.

Art

10-18-2008, 02:28 PM	#1
Thomas_1 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Fenton, Missouri Posts: 271	.357 mag shotshells I was wondering if anyone used shotshells in thier .357 magnum? I heard a lot of bad thing about the .22 shotshells. But using them in the .357 larger shell would that improve the distance? This would be only for squirrels. Usually I just hunt with the 16ga or 12ga shotgun, but thought this would be fun the try out. -->

10-18-2008, 03:45 PM	#2
pawn Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Crossville, TN Posts: 1,469	Re: .357 mag shotshells I've got a few packs of 357 mag shotshells on hand to deal with the occasional wayward critter in the yard (couldn't risk using a slug due to close proximity of neighbors) We had a rat in our garage a couple of months back. The little rascal got up in the dry wall and even chewed through the wire for the garage door (cost me $30 to get it fixed). Anyhow, I bought some sticky traps to put in front of the hole in the wall. He got stuck and I popped 'em with a few rounds of 22lr Federal Game Shock Birdshot.....did the trick without further damage to the garage __________________ Take care when you get information. The truth is generally seen, rarely heard. -Balthasar Gracian

10-18-2008, 07:09 PM	#3
Terry_P Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: NH Posts: 2,513	Re: .357 mag shotshells I loaded them in 38 cases and tested them out of various revolvers and surprisingly to me my SP101 in 357 with a 2 1/4" bbl had the best pattern. I loaded them for snake loads while hog hunting in Texas. I used Speer shotshell capsules with #9 lead shot over 5.5 gr of Unique. __________________ NRA and NAHC Life "Both oligarch and tyrant mistrust the people, and therefore deprive them of their arms." -Aristotle

10-18-2008, 07:19 PM	#4
Thomas_1 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Fenton, Missouri Posts: 271	Re: .357 mag shotshells A friend of mine gave me 2 shotshells today. I'm going to try them out tomorrow and see how they do. Attached Images

10-18-2008, 09:50 PM	#5
CampingJosh TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Indiana Contributor Posts: 4,789	Re: .357 mag shotshells I've used the CCI shotshells in a .38 derringer (the CCIs are labeled ".357/.38 Special shotshells"). They do OK on snakes out to about 5 yards (all the further I tried), but the pattern was very inconsistent. __________________ Nothing posted on TheFirearmsForum.com constitutes legal, accounting, gunsmithing, or other professional advice. Readers are encouraged to consult with qualified professionals for real advice. Your life is lived at your own risk. Don't blame me for the dumb things you do.

10-19-2008, 05:09 PM	#6
Terry_P Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: NH Posts: 2,513	Re: .357 mag shotshells Thats about it. I patterned mine at 7 yards and the SP had the most even pattern. I then shot a few at cans on the ground to see how they worked and even fron the hip and like I said previously the SP surprised me. I figured I wanted to know how they acted before I went stumbling around snake country. __________________ NRA and NAHC Life "Both oligarch and tyrant mistrust the people, and therefore deprive them of their arms." -Aristotle

10-19-2008, 06:38 PM	#7
Oneida Steve Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 1,028	Re: .357 mag shotshells I've used quite a few handloaded .38 shotshells (Speer components) over the years. I agree with Terry. I've found they pattern best from short-barrel revolvers. At ten feet they are deadly for rat-sized pests.

10-19-2008, 11:14 PM	#8
artabr Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: New Iberia, Louisiana Contributor Posts: 7,859	Re: .357 mag shotshells This months (Dec.) issue of Guns Magazine has a good article by John Taffin on handloading handgun shot shells. Art __________________ God and the soldier we like adore, In times of trouble, not before. When troubles ended and all things righted, God is forgotten and the soldier is slighted. Francis Quarles 1592 - 1644 __________________ When asked for my race, I answer CauCajun. Hope is not a plan, and not all change is good. The resistance is here; the resistance is now. RESIST! These hands are neither cold nor are they dead!!