#2 lead and T lead shot

I have never seen lead T shot. Biggest lead I remember before you get into buckshot was BB.

A while back I actually tried some handloads using size F lead shot in 12 gauge. They penetrated surprising well in my informal gel tests.

I have some factory 12 gauge lead bb loads that work a treat on larger varmints. Ounce and an eighth if I remember right. Good penetration out to about 50 yards out of the old 1897. Coons and possums need only one center mass shot and are stopped in their tracks. Yotes need a solid hit in the head/neck unless fairly close. They still do the job though, and the old 97 holds a good pattern out to about 60 yards. Anything further is rifle work.

I also recently found some 16 gauge AAA shot (same as T) at a lgs that does well on the larger stuff. Doesn't pattern as well out of my old full choke guns as smaller shot, but it does well enough at 30 yards to make a coin drt. I only managed one yote with them though, and it required the second barrel at +/- 40 yards. Not as much oomph as I'd like, but they're ok.

Personally, I like #2 lead for the bigger stuff, as it seems to work much better. More velocity I guess. You might find the same is true for you.

Mac

Thought I knew a bit about shotgun loadings but shot sizes listed as letters (except for BB) aren't something I'm familiar with. Can someone enlighten me - or send me to a chart that shows diameters, etc. I'm pretty familiar with shot sizes for small game although I haven't hunted in years, and I real familiar with buckshot sizings and loads - but the letter sizes have me scratching my head.

BBB, T and F were popularized when steel shot was mandated for waterfowl; Tungsten and Bismuth weren't available yet, and the only way to increase lethality was to go to 3' (and eventually 3 1/2") Magnums and bigger shot sizes. I still have several boxes of 3" BBB, T and F left over form when I quit hunting ducks and geese.

Lead "T" buckshot runs 37 pellets to the ounce or just under 12 grains per pellet.

I recall reading that lead T buckshot was a popular size for hunting Brocket Deer in Central and South America before WWII.

Looks like F and T are quite close to #4 buck

Image from Shotgunworld