44 Longshot ?

[Dude_Etc]

30+ years ago I picked up 1/2 box of handloaded rounds labeled 44 longshot. Was told they weren't snake loads, they were for taking birds.
Never needed them, never tried them as I am aware my 29-3 S&W isn't as robust as a super blackhawk or tc contender.
Just tried chambering them tonight, for grins and found they were too long to rotate into battery with the barrel. Made me wonder if these things were crafted for single shots or rifles.
OAL on "my" handloaded 250 gn swc .44 mag is 1.7".
The hotshot measures 1.78", and seems to have been crafted from a .303 british case(only 1 had a headstamp marking legible).
I can run these through my case trimmer to spec., but I'm a bit leery at this point.
Any info would be appreciated.

http://u.cubeupload.com/Dude_Etc/44longshotcased.jpg

http://u.cubeupload.com/Dude_Etc/44longshot250grnswcc.jpg

http://u.cubeupload.com/Dude_Etc/44longshot303headsta.jpg

[sofbak]

30 yr old, "unknown", DIY ammo?

Disassemble
Deactivate
Discard

[Dude_Etc]

Are you always the voice of reason? Thanks.

[sofbak]

^^^Usually when my body and firearms might be at risk.

You could save the brass *not the primers) and trim it to fit your S&W and load your own shot I guess.

But testing unknown old ammo is a risk too far.

YMMV.

[ar15barrels]

30+ years ago I picked up 1/2 box of handloaded rounds labeled 44 longshot. Was told they weren't snake loads, they were for taking birds.
Never needed them, never tried them as I am aware my 29-3 S&W isn't as robust as a super blackhawk or tc contender.
Just tried chambering them tonight, for grins and found they were too long to rotate into battery with the barrel. Made me wonder if these things were crafted for single shots or rifles.
OAL on "my" handloaded 250 gn swc .44 mag is 1.7".
The hotshot measures 1.78", and seems to have been crafted from a .303 british case(only 1 had a headstamp marking legible).
I can run these through my case trimmer to spec., but I'm a bit leery at this point.
Any info would be appreciated.

The "long" was added to the box top after the person figured out that he made them too long...

[Dude_Etc]

Could had been a safety feature - thou shall not load these into a sixgun...
Chamber pressures might be fine for a Marlin or Contender, anything else not so much.
I'll take the good advice and scrap em, but I think I'll weigh powder charge and shot just to see...(and maybe save the brass)

Thanks guys

[TKM]

As always the castboolit guys have been there, done that.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?263388-Anyone-ever-converted-303-British-to-44-Remington-Magnum

[Dude_Etc]

TKM apparently rules. These are actually a "thing". Still kinda sketchy, but a thing none the less.
Thanks much for the info, bookmarked the site too.

[sofbak]

/thrd...rube

[3006]

Look like it bird shot regardless out of a rilfed barrel it not going to. pattern well. You couldn't put enough shot in a 44 mag to build much pressure in my opinion.
Pull one apart post a picture.

[ar15barrels]

Shot loads are usually very low pressure to ensure the capsule does not get so destroyed as it goes down the barrel.
Also, there just isn't enough restriction to raise pressures as high as a lead or jacketed bullet.
These are usually loaded to, well, shotgun pressures...

[Dude_Etc]

I just took 1 apart and found 185gn of shot, most averaging about 2mm, and 10 that went 2.5-3mm contained by a plastic wad.
The powder charge was 8.7gn highly compressed and pretty much solidified after all the years- loosening the grains from the case for weighing was irksome.

http://u.cubeupload.com/Dude_Etc/44Longshotcomponents.jpg

It doesn't impress, seems an old timey snake load. Ah well, not like I was expecting flechettes or chain shot anyway.
Thanks guys for the help and good advice.

[pacmule]

I recall reading an article a long time ago where someone reformed rifle brass to make full length 44 mag shot shells. They were loaded using a .410 wad and roll crimped over a cardboard disc to keep the shot in. Sounds very similar to what you have. Probably made for Ruger SBH, they have longer cylinders.

[elk hunter]

If they are to long for a revolver then they could have been loaded for a Contender pistol.

[pacmule]