[trol79]

Hi, I want to ask you about your patterning-experiences with buckshot. with which load did you have your widest and tightest pattern? i will do my own pattern when I have my own shotgun, i'm interested in tendencies.

[arizona98tj]

Here are a couple of write-ups I've put on my site regarding buckshot patterns in my shotgun. YMMV more than likely.


http://www.stu-offroad.com/firearms/patterntest/buck1-1.htm

http://www.stu-offroad.com/firearms/patterntest/buck1-2.htm

[Jorg]

Here's some I did a couple of years ago. Never did get back to doing it: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=284837

[Fred Fuller]

Understanding that all shotgun barrels are pretty much a law unto themselves, generally we find that:

1) the widest patterns usually come with loads featuring soft lead pellets and little or no protection for said pellets as the load is fired and travels through the bore. That means poor wad columns, no shot collars, and no buffering between the pellets. Think Rio Royal, S&B, etc. While chokes may have some effect on these loads' patterns, it's more likely a matter of luck than anything else.

2) moderately sized patterns come from loads with some features that deliver more, round pellets on target. Shot collars, better wads, buffering, hard lead alloy pellets and/or plated pellets, etc. The basic offerings from 'name' ammunition companies fall into this grouping, and it's possible to tighten the patterns of some of them considerably with judicious choke selection.

3) the tightest patterns are apt to come from loads that offer the most 'premium' features- hard lead alloy pellets that are plated, buffering between the pellets, protective shot cups, and highly functional wad columns. Think Federal Premium or LE loads, or Hornady TAP, which feature the FliteControl wad. These loads may pattern best out of CYL or ImpCyl chokes, and too-tight chokes might actually open them up wider.

fwiw,

lpl

[huntsman]

this is what I get with my #4 buck reloads, both are at 25 yards and both are about 6" spread.

[GarandGuy]

You all probably already know this, but it's kind of a funny story:

I found out a while back that buckshot with a rifled barrel doesn't work!

I was using an 870 for an HD/farm/truck gun loaded with Federal LE buck. I "thought" this was a good thing until I totally missed a raccoon at about 30 FEET (not yards). Not a single pellet hit him. Being a trapshooter, I went to the pattern board and learned that rifled barrels and buck don't mix!

I traded my rifled barrel for a smooth, and it really made a difference.

Sure glad I never had to use that setup for HD!

(...but the raccoon wasn't very happy after I switched to a 1911!)

On the serious side, I did do a LOT of patterning after this incident, and found out the good quality LE loads do have a much tighter pattern. Even after 25 yards it is very effective. I also found that it is a waste of money to use 3" - 2 3/4 works almost exactly the same, and the cheap stuff gets a lot of "flyers".