Buckshot question, semi off topic?

[JoeLansing]

This looked like the best forum for this question, even though it's not about reloading.  I bought some Winchester Super-X 12ga 2.75" 00 buck and they have 12 pellets in them according to the box.  Unbuffered, plain lead.  Then I bought 8 boxes of Brenneke 12ga 2.75" 00 buck, and they only had 9 pellets per shell.  They look like a copper jacketed hard pellet, no buffering.  What's the difference?  My average shot is about 20 yards, max of 60 on deer here in Michigan.  Does the 9 pellet go a lot faster for longer range or something?  Not sure I need that.  The Brenneke's look like they have a lot more wadding/padding under the shot is about all.  They also cost half of what the Winchester 12 pellet loads did.  Thank you for any help sirs.  -  Joe

[jeager106]

Buckshot is a very powerful load and will harvest deer WITHIN IT'S PRATICLE RANGE!!!!
That ain't 60 yards.
I've shot litteraly thousands of buckshot factory loads.
I'll share my observations.
If you have a good shotgun properly set up for buckshot you can cleanly harvest deer out to 40 yards.
I used Federal Premium and Remington Premium copper plated 00 buck in 3" magnum with 15 pellets.
I could get all 15 into a 10" circle at 40 yards.
I'm sure that would harvest deer sized game.
My friend had the plain lead 00 buck 2 3/4" 9 pellet load and at 50 yards he put but 3 pellets into the 10" circle.
That's a lousy load.
Remember even 00 buck is about .33 caliber and at 50 yards it's lucky to be traveling at about 1000 fps. That's not very much gee-whiz.
Buckshot  is only effective if you deliver nearly ALL the pellets into the kill zone of a deer sized animal.
Spend time at the range at measured distances wtith your gun and load and if you can't put all the load into a 10" circle at a certain distance then limit you shots to that distance or less.

[.45 COLT]

Read this yesterday, came back this morning all primed to answer, see that jaeger has about said it all, probably better than I would have. Buckshot's effectiveness depends mainly on multiple hits. Put it on paper first, before a hunt.

[JoeLansing]

I found out for myself today that jeager106 is right on target with his answer.  My 18.5" cylinder bore Mossberg 500 is *NOT* a buckshot worthy hunting weapon.   At 25 yards with the 9 pellet Brenneke copper plated I had 5 pellets hit paper.  The Winchester 12 pellet only had 4 on paper.. :shock:   We're talking the normal 100yd size targets.  Thanks for the answers guys.  I'll let you get back on topic..  -  Joe

[jeager106]

Joe:
If you have a 12 bore with 3" chamber I'd get Federal Winchester or Remington 3" 00 buck, copper plated, buffered, Premium ammo.
Get as many five packs as you need to pattern your gun and hunt with.
5 shots at 40 yards should give you more than enough information.
A short shottie with no choke is a lousy buckshot gun beyond 40 FEET!
Most modified chokes work best wtih the largest buckshot sizes.
Full choke often makes poor patterns  with the larger 00 buck size, but there is no harm in trying the full or modified.
If you want to spend the $$$$ send your barrel out and have the forcing cone legnthened from the standard 0.5" to 2" or 2.25" an the bore polished.
I'd use a shottie with 26 or 28" barrel.
I'm sending off my cheapie 870 Express barrel to have the forcing cone work done.
Can make 10 to 20% improvement in patterns.
Just a thought.

[JoeLansing]

I'm not going to do any hunting with it using buckshot.  I did fire 3 slugs after the buckshot.  At 25 yards 2 made one hole, the other was about an inch off.  This was with just the bead sight.  I was intrigued..  I'd bought a simple Weaver rail for $8.00 the day before, and I had noticed the guy at the range office had a new Millett 3MOA red dot for $80.  I offered him $100 for the red dot, and to mount it.  Then I bought 4 boxes of Sluggers from him and proceded to punish my shoulder.  I ended up getting some 2-3" groups at 50 yards.  Slugs are for hunting, the buckshot is for it's pillow gun role.  I'm happy.  I'll go post a reloading question someplace.  I think I want a fancy Rockchucker kit from www.midwayusa.com     -  Joe