Can someone please provide a link to the information on making a shot load for the .444? I know Ive seen it before but can't seem to find it. Thanks in advance! :)

Here is an old post by our host Marshall Stanton on that.

Denis,

I've been shooting the Triple-Four for a long time now, and too, I've used 2.5" .410 shotshells in it almost as long! My MicroGroove barrelled model feeds, fires and ejects Remington 2.5" .410 shells perfectly, closing the lever the last 1/8" is a little snug, where the lands contact the front of the crimp. However, they feed and fire nicely, and eject without a hitch. Note too, that I said REMINGTON shells. They have a very nicely rounded front edge of the hull where it is crimped, and it will chamber just snugly in the rifle, whereas Winchester and Federal .410's have a crimp such that they won't chamber at all due to interference from the crimp/hull leading edge of the shells.

Now, all this being said, the slow 1:38 twist of the MicroGroove guns doesn't tend to cause problems with the patter until you get to about 25 yards, then holes appear in the center just as Jack had predicted. But, out to 50 feet or so, these loads are a sure dinner when shooting at grouse and rabbits. I use #7 1/2 shot excusively for this purpose.

In the Ballard rifled 444P "Outfitter" model, I've found that the same .410 shells wouldn't chamber at all, and I ran a .432" throating reamer into the chamber, and lengthened the throat an extra 0.100" of an inch to make accomodation for the 2.5" .410 shotshells. However, while chambering is flawless now, with not even a hint of stiff lever closing, the pattern is only useful to about 35 feet before the center of the pattern is devoid of shot! The quicker twist of the Ballard cut barrels really raises hob with usable shot patterns much more quickly than the older MicroGroove barrels with the slower 1:38 twist.

Now, for those not comfortable shooting ammo other than that headstamped correctly for their firearm, you can try loading some shot-shells in regular .444 brass. This we have done with great success over the years, and have friends with the Ballard cut rifling that didn't desire throating the gun for .410 shells, so we loaded up shot-shells in .444 brass.

Here's the process and the recipe: Size case, prime and expand case mouth as per usual procedure. Charge with 14.0g H110 or W296 powder, then insert one Winchester AA410 one-piece shotcup into the case (a very nice fit by the way, and the shot cup totally prevents shot contacting the rifling in the bore), then pour in 1/2 oz of #7 1/2 shot, topped off by an overshot wad, then use a roll crimp to hold the overshot wad in place. (a .44 caliber gas check may also be used over the shot column, but tends to distort patterns)

The overshot wad is made by using either a .44 mag or .444 Marlin case as a punch to cut the wad. Deprime a case, and use a 5/16" drill bit to drill out the primer pocket, then place the mouth of the case down, on the material to be cut for a wad, and strike with a non-marring hammer to cut wads. Cut four or five in sequence, then insert a piece of wooden dowel or stiff wire through the hole where the primer pocket has been drilled out to remove cut wads from the brass case.

For overshot wads in this application (and for .44 mag and .45 colt shotshells) I've found nothing better than plastic automotive antifreeze containers! The plastic seems to be just the correct thickness and stiffness, and the predominantly flat sides to these containers yield a high number of overshot wads! Too, the plastic is waterproof as well.

In finishing off your homemade .444 shotshells, use some fingernail polish (any color) to seal the area where the brass roll-crimp comes over the plastic over-shot wad.

This should help you garner some grouse with your levergun

Let us know how you make out!

God Bless,

Here is an old post by our host Marshall Stanton on that.



Thanks for digging up that post.

Have used 2 1/2" .410's, but like Marshal have found that not all will fit and work, both becasue of the crimp type AND becasue some rims just seem to not quite fit the rifle bolt face.

OLD roll crimped paper-cased .410's almost always go in, but may find that when the crimp unrolls, a section of it goes on dwon the barrel with the shot charge. Either tha paper had become britle or the unrolled crimp was pinched into the lead and carried away by the passing shot (the paper shells didn't use plastic one piece wads, so the fiber wad got a good running start at the end of the case).

You could also use the plastic shotshell capsules they market for 44mag shotshells couldn't you?

You could also use the plastic shotshell capsules they market for 44mag shotshells couldn't you?


Yes, you can reload those capsules into .444 cases. Limits the shot charge weight, but at least you'd have round with the right OAL.

Feeding from the magazine isn't likely...those flat wad-cutter plastic capsules aren't likely to feed smoothly; evntually you'll break one in trying to get it to feed and dump a load of shot into the action.

Thanks! That's exactly what I was looking for! :D

This is interesting, but would shooting shot through a rifle wear away at the rifleing? I suppose lead shot would be softer and not as hard on it as steel shot would be. Not sure. What have been other's experiences doing this?