Highly Reduced loads?

[Gone Ballistic]

You should go with a minimum listed load. Because the barrel on most bang sticks I've seen are very short smoothbores, I doubt that you'll get much more than a maximum penetration of 6 inches, which might be useful to use on your head, if you fall out of the boat.

 

[Ross1147]

In the past we used a hog spear then K-bar to sever the spine. It was pretty ghetto but we managed. Best so far was the one below. 10'7". After that one we prefer to kill the smaller ones. To me 6-7 footers are the best in my opinion. They taste better and the leather is easier to work with. Also doesn't take half a day to clean, skin and butcher. Venturing into using a bang stick now to try and make by the kill as humane as possible.

 

[Eric Musgrove]

We used a stun gun on the kill floor for steers, it used .22 blanks to fire a bolt into the steers head. Lights out should work on a gator.

 

[swabby56]

So, random question for you smart people out there. Doesn't have anything to do with long range hunting or precision reloading, but it's reloading non the less.
I know reloading any round way below book values can be very dangerous in a firearm, but what about a bang stick? The reasoning behind this is to reduce damage to the animal when discharged. I'd like maybe 2-3" max of penetration.
I am getting ready for gator season and for the first year I'm going to use a bang stick. I picked one up with a 45LC/410 (slug only?) power head. I have plenty of brass/bullets for the 45 LC, and I reload for it. I'm wondering if there is any danger if I load a few at like 10% normal load values if there's any danger with it? I'll make sure I make it apparent which ones they are so I don't shoot out if my pistol. I figure if there's no barrel for the bullet to get stuck in pressure always has a way to escape the second the bullet leaves the casing?
Don't want to kill or maim myself by trying, figured I'd ask first. Thanks!

Ryan

Bullet data if H4895 used for that bullet use 60percent of max charge. You can call hodgdon if you don't believe me. I have done with a 7mm-08 and a 243. Both loads were 1/2 moa at 100yards

 

[tigerrose01]

I was an alligator trapper in Florida gor 6 years. If I was going to kill it, I only used a full power .357 mag load using hollow point bullets. All you need to do is to break enough bone to allow the charge to destroy the brain. PERIOD! i onlyhad pass throughs on the smallest of alligators. Destruction of the brain is the only way to kill an alligator.

 

[johngibbs222]

Lyman's cast bullet handbook has a list of loads for the 45 Colt with start at velocities less than 600 fps, they recommend fairly hard alloy for the bullets, you can probably use pure lead which should expand on the first layer of hide to slow it right down.
For a 250 grain bullet they list 4.5 grains of green dot powder for a start at load at 505 fps, which they fired down a 7.5" barrel, they also list a start at load for a 300 grain bullet of 3.8 grains trail boss powder for a velocity of 538 fps.
I have no experience in the field, just what I've read in their book.
I've double checked that my figures match the data in the handbook, but as always, your body, your risk. I don't know what the barrel is on a bang stick but if it's anything more than 7.5" then the velocity goes up exponentially so bets would be off.

 

[308plinkerVT]

I'd personally try some hard cast bullets over Trailboss. Safest bet. Can't help with legalities aspect.

 

[del2les]

There are numerous sources for reduced load data for most every cartridge, and one I have used for a very long time is the Lyman Cast Bullet manual. Several other reloading manuals have some reduced loads, and much can be found online. Squib loads below the range of reduced loads can be made with extra precautions and testing, but for your purposes, there is no real need for a true "squib" load.

Since I am a jacketed bullet swager and caster, I have loaded 155gr bullets in 45LC's at low vels for pest control and short range target, but even at lower vels, they still are dangerous. use good sense and enjoy experimenting.

 

[warboar21]

Bullet data if H4895 used for that bullet use 60percent of max charge. You can call hodgdon if you don't believe me. I have done with a 7mm-08 and a 243. Both loads were 1/2 moa at 100yards

H4895 in a 45Colt is not something I would venture into.

 

[nksmfamjp]

So, random question for you smart people out there. Doesn't have anything to do with long range hunting or precision reloading, but it's reloading non the less.
I know reloading any round way below book values can be very dangerous in a firearm, but what about a bang stick? The reasoning behind this is to reduce damage to the animal when discharged. I'd like maybe 2-3" max of penetration.
I am getting ready for gator season and for the first year I'm going to use a bang stick. I picked one up with a 45LC/410 (slug only?) power head. I have plenty of brass/bullets for the 45 LC, and I reload for it. I'm wondering if there is any danger if I load a few at like 10% normal load values if there's any danger with it? I'll make sure I make it apparent which ones they are so I don't shoot out if my pistol. I figure if there's no barrel for the bullet to get stuck in pressure always has a way to escape the second the bullet leaves the casing?
Don't want to kill or maim myself by trying, figured I'd ask first. Thanks!

Ryan

Quickload seems like it can provide some solutions. What is your barrel length? What pressure are you looking for? Like 7000 psi or more a 600 fps velocity target? Below 600fps, I worry it won't leave the barrel.

 

[del2les]

One thing I forgot, you can use the Speer 45LC data using the .454" BP pistol ball loads for some real nice low vel and recoil along with reduced penetration. I've used these for pests and small game in both a Blackhawk and 1894 Marlin, and after seating and crimping the ball below its midsection into the case, I apply a thin amount of tumble lube inside the case mouth and ball. This helps to reduce leading in a rifled barrel. I use the .433" balls in my 44 Sp and 44 mag cases with similar reduced loads.

 

[Indian7953]

One thing I forgot, you can use the Speer 45LC data using the .454" BP pistol ball loads for some real nice low vel and recoil along with reduced penetration. I've used these for pests and small game in both a Blackhawk and 1894 Marlin, and after seating and crimping the ball below its midsection into the case, I apply a thin amount of tumble lube inside the case mouth and ball. This helps to reduce leading in a rifled barrel. I use the .433" balls in my 44 Sp and 44 mag cases with similar reduced loads.

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Don't ever load a pistol cartridge below minimum charge weights. I have seen a pistol totally blown up with too light of a load. The flash from the primer across the full length of the powder causes it to burn too fast, making the pressure way way too high. You can get some very mild loads using a cast bullet reduced load.

 

[del2les]

Don't ever load a pistol cartridge below minimum charge weights. I have seen a pistol totally blown up with too light of a load. The flash from the primer across the full length of the powder causes it to burn too fast, making the pressure way way too high. You can get some very mild loads using a cast bullet reduced load.

Did you read Speers data I posted?

As for your assumptions, of the 10's to 100's of thousands of reduced loads I, my old gun club members and so many others have loaded with proper powders, we have never experienced such an event. A handgun blowing up from a reduced load is more than likely from a projectile becoming unknowingly stuck in the barrel and a second round fired causing the overpressure event.

As for the flash of the primer causing a "properly used" handgun propellant to burn too fast, I have never seen nor studied anything that ever supported this. I think you are possibly confusing slow burning powders for heavy loads vs faster ones in reduced loads?

 

[warboar21]

Only handgun powder i've ever heard of being dangerous to underload is H110/W296. Most other powders i've never heard anything.