BUCK SHOT

[SHOOTALL]

I have noticed over the years that those hunters ( some )not restricted to hunting with buck shot seem give the impression that buck shot is a bad thing . Now i hunt with a rifle in most areas but in some areas am restricted to buck shot  . Now i won't try to compare the two ( rifle / shotgun ) as they are different as night and day . That said i don't feel that buck shot is all that bad . When slugs were the old foster type , i always used buck shot . Around here some fine buck shot guns are produced and a 45-50 yard shot is a good range for them , 000 buck works fine at that range !
how do others feel about buck ?

[greg916]

on certain hunts we are required to use buckshot. i had an ithaca mod 37 that would usually keep 6 - 7  000 pellets in a pie tin at 40 yards. pellets would usually completely penetrate a deer, or stop under the hide on the off side.  my favorite was #1 buck. it was quite effective in the swamps 0f eastern NC.

[crustaceous]

The guy at box o' truth has done several "experiments" regarding buck shot penetration
http://www.theboxotruth.com/

[rockbilly]

Buckshot is good!  Matter of fact, I have a 12 gage under the bed loaded with eight rounds of 00 Buck in order to provide a welcome bang for any unexpected guest in the middle of the night.  At my age I don't see at all without my glasses, and don't see well in the dark, but the 00 Buck provides me with that sense of security to deal with an intruder, even in the dark.

[Sourdough]

I carry #4 Buckshot or larger, in my 12ga for bear protection.  When a Grizzly is charging you, it's a lot easier to fill his face with buckshot than try and hit vitals with a slug.  Take out it's nose and eyes, and it can't find you.  Plus you stand a good chance of getting one or two shot into the brain.

[ZEVON]

  SHOOTALL,sir,would you tell us more about the buck shot guns that you mentioned please?

[Swampman]

In the early 1980s I conducted my own tests using a Remington 870.  I tried every choke/barrel they offered, and every brand and size of buckshot I could find.

None of the combinations I tried, would put more than 2 pellets on a pie plate at 40 yards.

About that same time the American Rifleman ran an article on buckshot with exactly the same results I had.  Like myself they found a mod. choke and the smallest legal buckshot produced the best results.

IMO it is inhumane to use buckshot on animals.  For self defense inside 10 yards, it might be ok.

I'd rather have #4 bird shot for that.

[SHOOTALL]

ZEVON, One gun i have started out a 30 inch full choke Remington 870 . IT was a pain to hunt with in tight cover . I met a gunsmith while shooting IMHSA that said he could fix me up . he cut the bbl to 23 3/4 inches ( worked out with the rib support ) . he miked the bbl and installed a long choke tube , the tubes are long but flush . he has  notes as to what tube works best with each inside bbl dimension . to get a pattern that a ball cap will cover at 40 yards it takes a XX full in my gun . It also requires Federal 000 copper plated buck . He would take a tube and alter it to match the bbl. this gunsmith now makes his own tubes . It is not a buy a tube and get a tight pattern , sometimes the tube is altered , sometimes the forcing cone is lengthen and a few other goodies he keeps to himself . I live in Va. and turkey shoots are big time so barrel work is big time . There are several smiths that can do this work some tube a bbl some sleeve it .
on the other end there are guns around here that will put 100 plus #9 shot in a 5 X5 card at 28 yards , and some that will do better ! Keep in mind the barrels cost more than a gun sometimes .
I backed off to a full and sometimes x-full choke for my gun so i could have a useful pattern !
That gunsmith has most likely saved more deer lives than PETA could dream of doing ! Try hitting a running deer at 40 yards with a ball cap !

[ZEVON]

 SHOOTALL,thankyou sir.Buckshot is legal here in NJ though not as popular as slugs,the guys that use it swear buy it given its limitations.Swampman,sir, everyone has the right to their opinions but a lot of people have good results with it.If you don't do things right a slug or bullet can be inhumane also.

[SHOOTALL]

zevon , if you are in NJ , Ashland Va ain't all that far !
Ashland firearms service did my bbl

[SHOOTALL]

with regard to buck vs. slug . I use both but in the tight woods we hunt buck can get thru. some of the briar's and other growth we hunt in . I have never felt at a disadvantage with buck .

[ZEVON]

SHOOTALL,thanks again sir.I've never tried buckshot but would like to try it.The shots I'm used to taking are in heavy woods,yes there are woods in NJ,and its seldom to get shots over 50 yds.Do you use 2 3/4" or 3" buck?Do you hunt with dogs in VA?I have a Remington 20" rifled sight barrel with Rem-Choke that I think might work well.

[MSP Ret]

good thread guys, please keep it up. This is very interesting since my home state is shotgun only and many of the places I normally hunt in Maine you cannot see over 40-50 yards at the max, the average is probably closer to 20-30 yards. This is also very interesting for close in coyote hunting....<><....

[Swampman]

"Swampman,sir, everyone has the right to their opinions but a lot of people have good results with it.If you don't do things right a slug or bullet can be inhumane also."

Buckshot are very popular here.  Sadly, you find them in nearly every deer you kill.

[ZEVON]

  I'm not posting here to debate the use of buckshot,as I've said I have never used it but I've spoken to and seen enough to convince me it can and does work and is about as humane as any thing else given its limitations.A lot of guys that use it don't pattern it and know where it shoots,the same can be said for other projectiles.Theres plenty of maimed deer walking or limping around with slugs and bullets in them.I appreciate you not wanting an animal to suffer,I don't either,nor does any responsible person,I think buckshot has a place and should not be put down as it sometimes is.
 

[SHOOTALL]

I use 3 inch shell most of the time . BUT ! my  Win. SX-2 has a tube from Ashland firearms that is good with 3 1/2 inch Winchester 00 buck . I still don't care for the kick ! so i hunt with the 870 alot still . If you check the 2 3/4 shells are on average 100 fps faster than like 3 inch shells .
the rifled bbl may or may not throw buck shot well browning says theirs will others say no !
And yes we hunt with dogs , love hound music !