Need Information on Hunting with Buckshot

[squirrel_hunter6]

 
My friend's dad just joined a hunting club in West Central Alabama and said he would take my friend and I with him a couple of times. From what I understand the club only uses dogs to hunt deer with. A couple of people have told me that this is the most enjoyable way to hunt deer.  
 
Now, getting to my question, only buckshot is allowed for hunting. I was wondering what size is recommended and could somebody give me the diameter of the pellet for different sizes like #4, 1, 0, 00, and 000? What kind of pattern are you looking for? I was thinking of something like trying to keep 5 or 6 pellets on 8.5"x11" paper at 40 yards. Should I try shooting different brands to see which patterns the best or does it matter? What is the maximum effective distance?  By the way I have a 12ga Remington 870 Express Magnum.
 
Thanks for your Suggestions.  :mrgreen:  
 
Note: I will put this message in the Hunting in Alabama Forum as well.

[brian 50cal]

I grew up in Texas and used buckshot for deer and also used dogs.  I used a Rem. 1100 with a mod. chook.   My gun threw the #2 buck and 00 buck the best.  At 40 yds.  I could put ~13-16 pellets in a target the size of a dryer.  Most of the deer we got were shot trying to sneek out of the area.  It was not the one the dogs were running.  Hope you enjoy the time running dogs.  Since Texas banned the use of dogs on deer I started to hunt squirrles with dogs and now run coon with my hound.

[PA-Joe]

You have two variables: Buck Shot Size and Choke Size. Get several boxes of #1 and OO and try both a full and mod choke. The other key with buckshot is to keep your shots under 40 yards.

[Oldtimer]

I ran a series of tests out of three 12 gauge shotguns, a Marlin 500, a Winchester 1400, and an Antonio Zoli O/U, using all available sizes of buckshot, in both 2 3/4 and 3 inch shells.  My criterion was to try to get 140 grains of lead in a nine inch paper plate.  The plate approximates the size of the vital area of a grown deer.  140 grains is a figure that is considered the minimum to drop a deer.  It is two 000 buck pellets, three 00 buck, or seven 4 buck.  I tried chokes from cylinder to full, and was not able to meet the standard consistently at 30 yards with any combination.  I really hoped that the 000 loads would produce, as only 2 pellets were needed to meet the standard, but none of the guns and choke combinations I used met the test.
I also tried 16 and 20 gauge loads in one gun each, and they were no better.  I did kill a deer with the 16 gauge the next year.  I shot twice and the deer had two pellets through the lungs when recovered. The range was twenty-five yards.
I have hunted with the 12 gauges guns since, and load 000 buck.  If I were to take a shot, it would have to be no more than twenty-five yards, and I would like to be closer than that.

[varmit_master]

I have a Rem SP 10ga i have a custom buckshot choke and use Federal #1 10ga buckshot out of it. I killed a deer @ 45 yards with the buckshot . It look like a mack truck hit it. And some of the pellets went thru the deer. VM

[squirrel_hunter6]

Thanks for the reply guys. I bought a good assortment of ammo to try. I got everything from #1 to 00 in both premium and standard stuff. I will hopefully have a chance to make it to the range sometime next week.

I have a Rem SP 10ga i have a custom buckshot choke

Can you tell me more about your choke :?:

[varmit_master]

Hi i sent you a email VM

[Gregory]

 
 
 I was wondering what size is recommended and could somebody give me the diameter of the pellet for different sizes like #4, 1, 0, 00, and 000?   :mrgreen:    
 
Note: I will put this message in the Hunting in Alabama Forum as well.

 
Buckshot pellets are numbered from the smallest No. 4 (.24 inches) to the largest at 000 (.36 inches). The categories between No. 4 Buckshot and 000 Buckshot include No. 3 Buckshot (.25), No. 2 Buckshot at (.27 inches). No. 1 Buckshot (.30 inches), No. 0 (.32); 00 Buckshot (.33 inches) and 000 Buckshot (.36 inches).
http://w3.agsfoundation.com/safety/p_shotguns.html#ammo
 
 
I carry some #3 buckshot loads with me while small game hunting for use on coyotes.  I remember as a kid buckshot only was legal for deer in NJ and it had to be at least 00.   (This was back in the 70's).

[Mack in N.C.]

i read this in my deer hunting encylopedia......always aim buckshot at the base of the deers neck.....not the lungs or heart.....heart or lung shot some of the pellets get into the gut are.....base of neck shot and some of the pellets get the heart and lungs and the other side of the pattern gets the neck and head.......me and my freinds kill ratio has gone way up since aiming at the base of the neck.......wouldnt shoot over 40 yds though............mack