Buckshot at Distance

[243winxb]

For tight patterns-

Buckshot needs to stay round on firing. Plated shot with plastic buffer is needed. Reduced velocity helps also.

To much choke may be as bad as to little. Mod works with hard, buffered shot.

https://www.ballisticproducts.com/

 

[jsn]

Can't remember where I saw this the other day. It's another option for short cylinder bore barrels.

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Everything we offer, from full tactical shotgun builds to our shotgun accessories, are made and inspected knowing that these may be used to protect life.

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[akajun]

Our department issues 870 police guns and I still have mine. Cylinder bore, rifle sights , etc
Qualification starts at 50 yds and with the federal low recoil 8 pellet buckshot loads they issued I could keep all pellets in a p1 shillouette out to 75 yds I found.
With my own personal shotguns with scre in chokes, cylinder bore gave the best patterns , the more choke you add, the bigger the pattern I found.

 

[Cecil S.]

Years ago I spent quite a bit patterning every type of buckshot (00 and #1) I could get out of every choke type (screw ins'). I found that if I wanted anything that resembled a pattern - #1 buck beat 00 every time. The approx. .030" smaller pellet of #1 put more pellets in the zone and #1 gets more total weight of pellets in the shell. Best of my memory this was at 30 yards. YMMV

Good info. I purchased #0 buckshot to start. But would also like to find #4 or 5 buckshot to play with. Did you use different powders changed things?

 

[Cecil S.]

Just picked up a nearly "new in box" Browning BPS from the early '80s with a 3" chamber. Two barrels, ... 22" and 28". 22" seems perfect for home defense.

While I can reload 12 gauge, I haven't for 30 years because it got so cheap to just buy factory. (Not the case any more).

Now I want to work up some 3" loads.

Did "Lee" ever make their "handloader" product for 3" 12 gauge, or must I find a Mec or Pacific for 3".

Anyone reload 3" out there with some guidance?

MEC Sizemaster for the money is what I ordered.

 

[Cecil S.]

When I was recuperating from back surgery, I bought a press and did some research. I think it was Lyman that had a bunch of good info. One thing that sticks is they said that high brass shells were not needed for buckshot loads. The part I read said that changing the shot column from a published load could cause pressure spikes.

Yes , I read that about the "low brass" hulls. But I am soooooo old school I ordered 500 "high brass" 3" hulls. If theres no diff I will shot what I want hahahaha

 

[Cecil S.]

Can't remember where I saw this the other day. It's another option for short cylinder bore barrels.

Vang Comp Systems © | World Leader in Tactical Shotgun Parts & Service

Everything we offer, from full tactical shotgun builds to our shotgun accessories, are made and inspected knowing that these may be used to protect life.

vangcomp.com

Good stuff. Thanks

 

[Cecil S.]

Our department issues 870 police guns and I still have mine. Cylinder bore, rifle sights , etc
Qualification starts at 50 yds and with the federal low recoil 8 pellet buckshot loads they issued I could keep all pellets in a p1 shillouette out to 75 yds I found.
With my own personal shotguns with scre in chokes, cylinder bore gave the best patterns , the more choke you add, the bigger the pattern I found.

Thanks Good stuff. 75yds is reaching out there for a shotgun.

 

[Cecil S.]

What does AT DISTANCE mean to you ? In younger years we used to fox hunt with 00 and switched to #4 buck (better patterning) even then a 100 yard shot was pushing it.

Not being a smart azz here but distance is to be determined with buckshot. We all know slug is the end all in this area. But at what distance is buckshot not a good defensive round? Just asking the Pros out there.

 

[wasskeet]

Good info. I purchased #0 buckshot to start. But would also like to find #4 or 5 buckshot to play with. Did you use different powders changed things?

I used all new shells, Federal, Winchester, Remington and I think Eley? Only compared 00 vs. #1. As previously mentioned by 243winxb - the copper-plated seemed to improve pattern also. The best I tried being Federal premium copper-plated #1.
I've loaded tens of thousands of skeet loads, but never hand-loaded any buckshot.

 

[Cecil S.]

For tight patterns-

Buckshot needs to stay round on firing. Plated shot with plastic buffer is needed. Reduced velocity helps also.

To much choke may be as bad as to little. Mod works with hard, buffered shot.

https://www.ballisticproducts.com/

Yes I read that and ordered #0 nickel plated shot and buffer. I have set up a 31/2 Turkey gun so choke tube is a process.

 

[wasskeet]

As someone said before me, "Killing deer at 100 yds. with buckshot must mean a saint was shooting at a deer with a mighty sinful past." YMMV

 

[Homerange]

But at what distance is buckshot not a good defensive round?

Do the sums.
54.6875gr = 1/8 oz = 00 buckshot weight
Lets say fired @ 1300fps
However 00 buck BC is bad.

Still, I wouldn't wanna be on the end of it at 100yds.

 

[KMart]

Yes , I read that about the "low brass" hulls. But I am soooooo old school I ordered 500 "high brass" 3" hulls. If theres no diff I will shot what I want hahahaha

Reloading the high brass can deal you some misery. Depending on the loader, it may not size the brass enough to give smooth operation in an auto or pump. You correct that with a MEC collet sizer and size the high brass stuff separately.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

000B with a high velocity load, buffered, will probably be your best long distance self defense load. Use an empty 209 primer tray to ct pellets. Tape off the extra pockets.

 

[Trevor60]

Both Federal and Hornady use specialized wads for their tight patterning 00 buck shot loads.

Federal flitecontrol
Hornady critical defense
The wads are not commercial available to reloaders.
8 pellet has shown to be tighter pattern than 9. they stack different and the 9 stack has shown to throw the 9th pellet outside of the pattern.

Chokes Buckshot have shown less is more cylinder over full; large pellets squeezing down deform and change patterns size

Not sure your intentions 00 buck out to 100 yards; 00 buck is .33" a 9mm rd is .354" with a press of the trigger you will be sending 8 - 9 projectiles which you will be legally accountable.

Cheers
Trevor

 

[CaptJim]

Years ago I spent quite a bit patterning every type of buckshot (00 and #1) I could get out of every choke type (screw ins'). I found that if I wanted anything that resembled a pattern - #1 buck beat 00 every time. The approx. .030" smaller pellet of #1 put more pellets in the zone and #1 gets more total weight of pellets in the shell. Best of my memory this was at 30 yards. YMMV

This. my recollection also.. #1 buck is the all around best load I could find.

 

[jds holler]

Put me down in the column for #4 buck. And the best I've used is the Federal copper plated, buffered, 3" magnum, "Premium". Big medicine for coyotes. We've dumped them at 60+ yards a few times, and I don't thing anything else would do better. As far as deer, well -- I couldn't tell ya.

I will guarantee you that all the humans I've never shot with those shells wouldn't have liked it. jd

 

[ebb]

There is a company in the Florida panhandle that makes long range shotgun ammo. One of the California guys posted about them some time back and I looked them up. They make some different long range loads. One I liked was 3 pieces of shot that sounded like they were 12 gage diameter. I wish I could remember the name of the place. Maybe some good ideas about different loads. It was the ELR dude I think. You could always use the leader wire method of long range buckshot?

 

[CharlieNC]

Not being a smart azz here but distance is to be determined with buckshot. We all know slug is the end all in this area. But at what distance is buckshot not a good defensive round? Just asking the Pros out there.

Defense at distance with a shotgun, Im not sure what circumstance you envision? As mentioned, within a household normal bird to turkey loads are deadly and not as dangerous for unwanted flyers through walls. Shooting someone outside at distance will surely present legal scrutiny.