Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => Guns and Ammo => Topic started by: bearhunter59 on June 25, 2009, 02:54:30 PM

Title: anyone used the shotshells in a handgun??
Post by: bearhunter59 on June 25, 2009, 02:54:30 PM: Anybody used these shotshells(?) for the .22 or .44 mag? I think that's what they are called. The little shotgun shell looking ammo for handguns. I've been thinking about getting some for the .22 specifically, but wondered what damage it might do to the barrels. I'd like to use it in the .44 mag, but the way I read the regs, it's not legal to use for hunting anything. I think if it was legal, it might be fun to use for turkey hunting.
Title: Re: anyone used the shotshells in a handgun??
Post by: BigGoonTuna on June 25, 2009, 03:45:18 PM: unless you have a smoothbore handgun, i really doubt they'd be effective for anything other than snakes at close range. even then, the barrel is so short that it wouldn't be practical to hunt anything with.
Title: Re: anyone used the shotshells in a handgun??
Post by: Gutpile on June 25, 2009, 06:31:26 PM: Quote
I'd like to use it in the .44 mag, but the way I read the regs, it's not legal to use for hunting anything.

Your reading them wrong. Depends on what you want to hunt with it. I would assume you're talking grouse with the shotshells. They do work for that at 15 feet or so but I cant imagine them being good for much else. I've shot a lot of grouse with my .44 loaded with the shot shells.
Title: Re: anyone used the shotshells in a handgun??
Post by: Jburke on June 27, 2009, 04:31:48 PM: Yeah, the range with the shotshells is minimal at best. Kind of a fun thing to have occasionally, but expensive. I've used them in .45 and don't think I'd buy them again. I also have a friend who has used them in .22 and said the same thing about the range.
Title: Re: anyone used the shotshells in a handgun??
Post by: yorketransport on June 28, 2009, 09:35:40 AM: I've used them in a few different guns. They're fun to play with, but not much good past 20ft in my experience.
Title: Re: anyone used the shotshells in a handgun??
Post by: Huntbear on June 28, 2009, 11:39:54 PM: I have had pretty much the same experiences as above. I carry two rounds of the stuff in my 44 mag if I am in snake country, other than that, pretty much a waste of time.
Title: Re: anyone used the shotshells in a handgun??
Post by: bearpaw on June 29, 2009, 12:13:36 AM: I have seen a few grouse killed at 10-15 feet with 44 and 38, but they are best for snakes. The 22 is less effective that the 44 and 38 rounds.
Title: Re: anyone used the shotshells in a handgun??
Post by: Straight Shooter on June 29, 2009, 10:23:43 AM: Quote from: bearhunter59 on June 25, 2009, 02:54:30 PM
Anybody used these shotshells(?) for the .22 or .44 mag? I think that's what they are called. The little shotgun shell looking ammo for handguns. I've been thinking about getting some for the .22 specifically, but wondered what damage it might do to the barrels. I'd like to use it in the .44 mag, but the way I read the regs, it's not legal to use for hunting anything. I think if it was legal, it might be fun to use for turkey hunting.

Unless you're in a pinch, they're only good for close-range snake/rat/mouse control. You may piss a turkey off by shooting it with that round... if it were legal.
Title: Re: anyone used the shotshells in a handgun??
Post by: MountainWalk on June 29, 2009, 11:21:19 AM: Ive seen grouse killed with rat shot out of a 45acp. They fed just fine, and extracted just as well. As for the snake part, just leave em alone.
Title: Re: anyone used the shotshells in a handgun??
Post by: h2ofowlr on July 07, 2009, 10:40:58 PM: They pretty much suck. You have a large spread at 10 feet and they are typically like a #12 shot. They are good for close range. I shot a mouse under my sink with a .22 shot shell. That worked well. Good for close range. Otherwise start with .410 and turkeys can be tough birds if you don't shoot them right.
Title: Re: anyone used the shotshells in a handgun??
Post by: ICEMAN on July 08, 2009, 07:35:32 AM: Quote from: h2ofowlr on July 07, 2009, 10:40:58 PM
... I shot a mouse under my sink with a .22 shot shell. That worked well.

:yike:
Title: Re: anyone used the shotshells in a handgun??
Post by: CP on July 08, 2009, 11:22:30 AM: I used to shoot quail with .44 shot shells out of my T/C contender. It had a screw in choke to shred the plastic shell cover and it was effective out to 25 yards if I did my part. Back then shooting .410 shells out of a handgun was illegal but now that has changed and a .45 shooting a .410 shell is way better. The .44 shot shells are expensive and weak in comparison.

As for .22 shotshells (aka rat-shot), they are worthless for anything other than a mouse under the sink. I shot a squirrel with one a about 10 feet once, good shot, right behind the shoulder but it just jumped straight up and then ran off.
Title: Re: anyone used the shotshells in a handgun??
Post by: alanger on July 08, 2009, 11:35:00 AM: I have cycled bird shot thru my .357 for grouse when we are out cuttin wood.
Title: Re: anyone used the shotshells in a handgun??
Post by: MountainWalk on July 08, 2009, 01:16:20 PM: Now, out of a 22lr, the cci ones are worthless. But the metal cased winchesters are way better.