Another BuckShot Question

[necchi]

I’m new to loading shot shell, but not reloading. Got a Lee Load-All from a member here and I’d like to load Single Aught (0) Buckshot and cannot find load data. Lot’s of stuff for 00 and #4 but nuthin for 0,, and  I’ll be darned if I’m gonna  go buy 2 books for the limited amount I’m going to load.

I’ve read a ton and understand I need to stay with load data as supplied concerning Hull, Wad and Powder Charge, AND I know I must properly hand insert the buckshot for fit, 12 should fit in 2 ¾” 12ga hulls.
 
Now here’s the question;
Alliant (just as example) has really good on-line data but it only lists lead shot by weight 1oz, 1 1/8oz 1 ¼ oz, and so on,,, for the select components’.
Can I simply weigh the 12 pcs of 0 buckshot and use that weight for the required/recommended load?

[tigger]

Loading something similar, myself.  Casting .311" roundballs and using it as O- or 1+ buckshot in a wa12 wad loaded in Remington Gunclubs.  Weight is less than 1ounce, and drop powder like it was a 1 ounce load.   Kinda like a reduced recoil load.   I water drop the shot, so its pretty hard, and the load I use patterns better than the unbuffered and soft OO buck loads.  I'm sure that a true O buck at .320" should do as well.  BTW, I'm stacking 3 layers of 3 with the buckshot I'm using.

[necchi]

TY, I found some data today in the Lyman book,,they where loading 10 pcs of 0 buck!!?
I found that odd.
I'm going to get the Lee Double cavity .319 mold
I'm still looking for lot's of info though guy's anything helps. I like to gather as much as I can esp with these shot shells

[necchi]

Well this has been read 73 times and darn little response,
Why?
Is Buckshot somekind of taboo topic? Is it that dangerous?
I mean If I'm about to attempt something that shouldn't be done I'd like to know that too,, 

[PowPow]

Well this has been read 73 times and darn little response,
Why?
Is Buckshot somekind of taboo topic? Is it that dangerous?

I'm probably 6 of those times read.

I asked about mixing bird and buck, and only got "don't do it" responses; not really any "here's why not" replies.
I think folks must load shotshell for volume/cost and follow recipes without variance, and those who try to make something that is not commercially available are few and far between. Might have to go to shotgun only site to get an answer.

[Ranger99]

they're probably folks like me who only
have books for metallic cartridge reloading.


i have several dozen data manuals, and none
have shotshell data.
i guess that's so they can gig you for
a 35.00 book.


as i'm typing this in, i had paused to look
at two powder data brochures i just got
saturday, one from ramshot,one from accurate
powder -no shotshell data in either one.


i think i have the right reason.


sorry, i don't load any shotshells other than
.410, i load those by hand with 2400.


if had data, i would gladly share, you would think
someone here would have data to share with you

[necchi]

Well, I gave up and bought the book.
I guess having the Lyman Shotshell Reloading Handbook is the best way to go about it anyways,,

[Ranger99]

i would have figured there was
someone who reloaded shotshells
reading your post with a s.s. loading
guide who would help

[Doublebass73]

If my math is correct then 12 single 0 buckshot pellets should come out to approx. 1.32 oz. Check my math but in that case you'd want to round up to the next highest load data given i.e. 1 3/8 oz. loads. Your buckshot might have a slightly different weight than this chart so use your actual weight, this chart is just a guide.

[Ken Rummer]

I have been looking for good buckshot loads with the components I have on hand.  The Lyman load with 10 #0 pellets is one that I will try.  I would like to find some recipes for Federal hulls with the paper base wad because I have a lot of them.  I was about to go with recipes using the same weight buckshot as listed for Federal loads for smaller shot.  I think it may be ok if there is no choke in the barrel. I don't think buckshot will flow through any choke the same as #9 shot would, so I don't plan to do it with anything other than a cylinder bore, if I do it at all. 
I ordered a book from Ballistic Products titled "The Coyote Manual (Buckshot)" for $8.95.  I am hoping to find some good loads there.

[tigger]

Necchi,

What wad and hull is going to work for the 10 and 12 pellet O Buck?     Have been using 1 & 2 cavity molds to make my sphericals, and need to get a Sharpshooter 20 cav to up production.  Have loaded up to 16 .311 ball in a 3"hull, using BlueDot, but the pattern was  the same density, but larger than the 9 pellet 2&3/4"loads.

[Ken Rummer]

Necchi
FWIW  I loaded up the Lyman load with only 37.5 gr Blue dot and 10 #0 pellets.  The tenth pellet sets in the center of the lower row of three and when crimped the tenth pellet is centered and slightly protruding from the crimp.  I think this may tend to push the crimp open in my pump magazine and, in addition,  I wonder if it may have a spreader effect when fired. 
Then I loaded  some with a .070 thick Ballistic products nitro card under 9 #0 pellets.  It fit and the crimp was closed and tight.  This looks like a keeper unless I uncover some reason why removing one pellet and adding a card creates a pressure situation.
 

[Jason F]

I leave the 10th pellet out to.  Makes a nice crimp that way.

[Catfish]

Check the web pages of the powder manufactures. Most of them will let you down load their manuals, and they have data for buckshot.

[necchi]

Well I've found 3 ways to get 10 single 0 buck in the wad and crimp properly.
3 will nest, then 1 then nest 3 and  nest 3
or
3-3-1-3
or beleive it or not,
nest 3, nest 3 then 2 an 2 on top,, ya gotta kinda wiggle the 2 then 2 so they rest as 2 and 2 but they will settle on each other.
I've got a few loaded of each of the three methods and will pattern them soon,, I'll post results.

[Couger]

 
Data for loading buckshot?  And why only single-ought? 
 
And not #1Buck?  (it works great in a 12 gauge!)
 
 
 
 
Regardless ..... Surprised noone mentioned Ballistic Products.
 
The sell loaded ammo
data / load recipes
wads
and even MANY sizes of buckshot!

[necchi]

For data I picked up the Lyman Shotshell Reloading Handbook, the data is very specific as to Hull, Wad, Powder and Shot/Buck/Slug weight. Ya don't get to just mix-n-match,,  nor is there any "load development" like CF Rifle, you pick your components and load as specified.
#1 would be a choice too, I wanted either 0 or #1 as the two have the best penetration of buckshot tested by the Pro's (Military)
But I'm cheap and cast my own, short of spending $70 buying gang molds the best bet was a Lee double mold for .319 ball.
 
Anyway's todays test was dismal, used a ImpCyl choke and at 25 yrds it was impossible to keep the group inside 16". The observation was the 3-3-1-3 showed best with 14 of the 20 (two shot's) in the circle and the 3-3-2-2 the worst, the cups with that load where absolutely destroyed and only ten of twenty in.
 
I'll try again tomorrow with the full choke and look for improvement, also going to try just the 9 ball instead of 10

[necchi]

p.s. Why would anyone mention Ballistic Products in this thread? No one's mentioned buying anything
 
P.p.s. They are here in Minn, easy shipping for me,,great company EVERYTHING you need for shotshell loading,,

[rickyp]

Ballistic Products  They also list a lot of reloading data on the webpage

[Couger]

p.s. Why would anyone mention Ballistic Products in this thread?

 
Ballistic Products knows and will forget more information than all folks on this thread combined, when it comes to making buckshot loads.
 
Unless the 4th, 5th, 6th or current Lyman shotshell manual makes up for the lack of data or info/explaination in their 2nd and third editions, that "buckshot" data is also woefully lacking.*
 
* Same is true about the current [5th] edition of the "Reloading for Shotgunners" manual too.