12 Ga Buckshot loads

[JayBeeKay]

I have many pages now containing shotgun load data, but it's all for shooting birds... Shot sizes a lot smaller than buckshot.
I got the idea that I'd throw together some buckshot loads using 1-1/8 to 1-1/4 oz of shot, but I have been wondering if it's safe to cross reference buckshot to small game shot.

Also - If I drop the pellets into a hull using a WT 12 wad, the pellets only fit in 2 pellets per deck. Whereas with the Windjammer wads the pellets fit in 3 pellets per deck, Which means that a 1-1/8 oz load of 9 pellets fits within the wad but a 1-1/4 oz load of 10 pellets stacks higher than the petals of the wad, using the WT 12 wad.

Cutting the petals off a WT 12 wad isn't out of the question and with a 3" tall hull, I could stack 4 layers X 3 pellets for a 1-1/2 oz load.

Everywhere I read that it's a bad idea to experiment with shotgun loads, so I'm just asking.

I have some 3" Fiocchi hulls with 616 primers and some Claybuster wads - both Windjammer and WT12
I also have a lot of Hodgdon 800X powder that I'd like to use. But I have some Green Dot and Unique and Blue Dot as well.

So with that info, does anyone have any suggestions, or better yet, proven loads?

As always thanks in advance for helpful advice.

Enjoy the spring weather as well as you're able

 

[Jack Ryan]

I cut the petals off and stack 3 decks of 3 for 9 pellet total load.

An ounce is an ounce. You don't change anything jumping from #9 shot to #4's. I shoot my regular trap loads and just sub in the buck.

Tomorrow morning I'll look up my data cards to double check a few loads.

 

[JayBeeKay]

Great, Jack
Thank you very much!

I ended up discovering, after trying again, I can get 9 pellets in 3x3 decks into a Windjammer wad.
I wouldn't mind trying a 1-1/2 oz load of 12 pellets.
I have 3" Fiocchi hulls BTW

 

[12Bravo20]

DELETE

 

[748]

Don't forget about 8 pellets stacked in decks of 2. It may pattern better than 9 for you.

 

[JayBeeKay]

With 3" hulls, It leaves open a number of possibilities, as far as arrangement of pellets. Particularly if someone stacks the pellets higher than the petals of the wad.

 

[Jack Ryan]

Here is what I have written on my own note card.
9pellets 00 Buck, 3x3x3 - cut off the petals,
180 Lee Bushing & Green Dot, 1150-1200 fps.

2. Federal hulls 12 23/4, 1 1/8 target hull
Use full wad 2x2x2x2
Lee bushing # 155- Red Dot
900-1000 fps.
I'm sure that 2. Recipe is one of the first tries at this and it worked but not as good as one more pellet in there.

3. If you don't have a buck shot mold but you DO CAST BULLETS, save the sprues instead of throwing them back in. I've shot thousands of those before I bought buck shot molds. I saved them in a bucket and weigh them out, taking out the last piece that put me over an ounce or ounce and an 1/8 if I was loading for that.

I take the lead out of the hopper on my Lee Loadall and just use the charge bar to drop powder, usually the same as I would use for a trap load with that weight of lead shot.

Then I use the LLA to set the crimp and prime and every thing but the lead.

Be careful when you are crimping. It is easy to squeeze it too hard and you start seeing the lead balls make dimples on the out side of the hull. Check them often when you first start out to make sure they slide in a chamber properly.

I use up all my "junk" hulls on these that I don't want to worry over picking up when I'm out on a creek bank at night waiting to blow a beaver out of the water.

 

[Scribner]

Hodgdon & Alliant publish load data for buck, just like for birdshot. Have you tried their recipes?

 

[JayBeeKay]

I haven't seen the Hodgdon data. I'll search more thoroughly. I have a Ballistics Products book and I'm searching for other sources.

 

[George P]

Then look online at Hodgdon and Alliant

 

[12Bravo20]

Hodgdon does not list a load for Fiocchi 3" shells with buckshot. Shotshells are pretty unforgiving when you go substitute different powders from what is called for. I would try to find an actual published load and use the powder/wad/primer that is for the particular hull you want to use.

410 is a little different than reloading 12 gauge and I worked up my loads for the 410 buckshot.

 

[George P]

Hodgdon does not list a load for Fiocchi 3" shells with buckshot. Shotshells are pretty unforgiving when you go substitute different powders from what is called for. I would try to find an actual published load and use the powder/wad/primer that is for the particular hull you want to use.

410 is a little different than reloading 12 gauge and I worked up my loads for the 410 buckshot.

No, it isn't different and you should NOT be "working up loads"; you follow the recipes; this is not metallic reloading.

 

[12Bravo20]

No, it isn't different and you should NOT be "working up loads"; you follow the recipes; this is not metallic reloading.

Well there is only a very few powders for the 410 and I did follow actual reloading data. I DO know that shot shell reloading is different from metallic cartridge reloading. And yes I did contact Hodgdon so that my loads were safe.

I will refrain from further posts on reloading shot shells. Yes My 410 buckshot loads are safe to shoot and match factory loads for pressure and velocity. I did do my homework.

 

[JayBeeKay]

Unfortunately my Ballisitics Products data book went missing.
I spent a couple hours or more, yesterday, searching Hodgdon data online and didn't see anything for 800X for shotgun, even though it's supposedly a shotgun powder.
But all over the internet, it seems like guys are claiming that it's a good powder for 12 ga heavy loads... In addition to being good in pistol and rifle.
But the loads that those guys show aren't using the same components I have, So I'm not going to roll the dice.

I'd say that 1-1/2 oz qualifies as a heavy load.

Also cutting off the petals seems to be the way to go because when I load 3 pellets per deck with any wad, it it will bulge out the hull where the pellet contacts. Although they fit, I don't think an interference fit while they're in the chamber is a great idea.

Still searching - Thanks for contributing

 

[George P]

Well there is only a very few powders for the 410 and I did follow actual reloading data. I DO know that shot shell reloading is different from metallic cartridge reloading. And yes I did contact Hodgdon so that my loads were safe.

I will refrain from further posts on reloading shot shells. Yes My 410 buckshot loads are safe to shoot and match factory loads for pressure and velocity. I did do my homework.

There are a LOT of choices, especially those for heavy magnum loads using 2400, Lil Gun, and on and on

 

[12Bravo20]

There are a LOT of choices, especially those for heavy magnum loads using 2400, Lil Gun, and on and on

Like I said. I'm done and won't post about reloading shot shells. I did look and 2400 only lists load data for 2 1/2" shells with 1/2 oz load.

I did call and talk to hodgdon years ago when I first started reloading 410 buckshot loads. And yes I did work up loads because they gave me varies charges using Hodgdon H110 and I went from the minimum they suggested and the max (yes they gave me both). I won't get into a pissing contest with anyone over this. Especially when I know my reloads are safe and match factory loads.

 

[Jack Ryan]

Hodgdon & Alliant publish load data for buck, just like for birdshot. Have you tried their recipes?

It might even be where I got mine. I searched the internet and manuals and a few powder supplier catalogues. Probably had a couple dozen recipes before deciding to try out a half dozen and then those are the two I wrote down on a data card.

 

[Jack Ryan]

Unfortunately my Ballisitics Products data book went missing.
I spent a couple hours or more, yesterday, searching Hodgdon data online and didn't see anything for 800X for shotgun, even though it's supposedly a shotgun powder.
But all over the internet, it seems like guys are claiming that it's a good powder for 12 ga heavy loads... In addition to being good in pistol and rifle.
But the loads that those guys show aren't using the same components I have, So I'm not going to roll the dice.

I'd say that 1-1/2 oz qualifies as a heavy load.

Also cutting off the petals seems to be the way to go because when I load 3 pellets per deck with any wad, it it will bulge out the hull where the pellet contacts. Although they fit, I don't think an interference fit while they're in the chamber is a great idea.

Still searching - Thanks for contributing

Be sure you are checking them in the tightest choke you have.

 

[243winxb]

https://www.ballisticproducts.com/ use a buffer if tight patterns are needed.

 

[JayBeeKay]

Ballistic Products has heaps of data. The unfortunate thing is that there's nothing for any wads that aren't their own brand.
My Ballistic Products book showed up
I'll figure it out.

 

[Jack Ryan]

Ballistic Products has heaps of data. The unfortunate thing is that there's nothing for any wads that aren't their own brand.
My Ballistic Products book showed up
I'll figure it out.

Stack up your pellets in a wad you want to use. Then take it to the tightest choke gun you have and see if it slides through the choke. If it slides through easy, I called that good enough for ME. If it was tight going through, I don't like it.

I've seen FULL chokes get pushed out bigger shooting various slugs. I never tested it but I'm not going to risk it with any guns I own now just to shoot some wild guess buck shot load. 9 pellets a shot from an automatic shot gun looks pretty devastating to me and you can always put the extended magazine on one. I'd rather be holding that than a machine gun under 50 yards. Add in the possibility of TWELVE pellet loads if you really want to bad enough and that shot gun a formidable weapon in any situation.

 

[JayBeeKay]

Yep - A semi auto shotgun can put 8 oz of lead into the air in about 2 sec
I'm thinking 12 pellets. I decided to contact Ballistic products, because they have some plastic wads that are flat and some teflon wrap.
When I put pellets into the wads I have and then push them down, it causes the pellets to bulge out the hull and if I cut off the petals, there is no bulge. So that extra .040" thickness makes a difference.
Someone on another site referenced some data for 1-1/2 oz 00 buck loads using some wads that seem to be specific to that application, using 800X powder.
Ballistic Products will open on Mon, so I'll call and might order some.

Stack up your pellets in a wad you want to use. Then take it to the tightest choke gun you have and see if it slides through the choke. If it slides through easy, I called that good enough for ME. If it was tight going through, I don't like it.

I've seen FULL chokes get pushed out bigger shooting various slugs. I never tested it but I'm not going to risk it with any guns I own now just to shoot some wild guess buck shot load. 9 pellets a shot from an automatic shot gun looks pretty devastating to me and you can always put the extended magazine on one. I'd rather be holding that than a machine gun under 50 yards. Add in the possibility of TWELVE pellet loads if you really want to bad enough and that shot gun a formidable weapon in any situation.

 

[Jack Ryan]

Yep - A semi auto shotgun can put 8 oz of lead into the air in about 2 sec
I'm thinking 12 pellets. I decided to contact Ballistic products, because they have some plastic wads that are flat and some teflon wrap.
When I put pellets into the wads I have and then push them down, it causes the pellets to bulge out the hull and if I cut off the petals, there is no bulge. So that extra .040" thickness makes a difference.
Someone on another site referenced some data for 1-1/2 oz 00 buck loads using some wads that seem to be specific to that application, using 800X powder.
Ballistic Products will open on Mon, so I'll call and might order some.

I shot a lot of 'em with and with out the petals. I couldn't tell any difference in the patterns from either one but if you get one that won't go in, you know that gun is not much use right away.

Just cut 'em off. I have hundreds of those loaded up and it will be a primary source of defense if I can get to it. I want that thing to work, every time.

 

[RMc]

Here is a selection of 8 pellet 00B loads using popular target load wads and cases with BP original buffer. 800X is among the powders listed.

If you do not cast your own buckshot pellets, I would suggest using one of the following:

Ballistic Products Super Buck. These are swaged with a 3% antimony content.
https://www.ballisticproducts.com/Super-Buck-Lead-00-8-lb_jar-330/productinfo/SBK20/

Hunter Supply Buckshot. These are cast using the same alloy used in their hard cast bullet line.
https://hunters-supply.com/buck-shot-c-50.html


IMR Handloader's Guide (2003)
See page 35
http://pdf.textfiles.com/manuals/FIREARMS/imr_reloading.pdf

 

[JayBeeKay]

Thanks - I got the BP book on buchshot reloading, and a couple of other sources, as well.
Good to hear feedback on cutting off the petals.
The wads that I have the most of are optimally for 1-1/8 oz of shot which would be 9 #00 buck pellets, but I'm leaning toward 1-1-/2 oz which would be 12 pellets.
Not seeing any specific tested loads with 12 pellets and a 3" Fiocchi hull using 800x.
Still haven't tried anything yet - Buying some different components isn't out of the question if there isn't any data that cross references with a comfortable safety margin.
I'm seeing that Fiocchi and Rio hulls cross reference just about exactly when there is data that is posted on both.
26 gr of 800x under 10 #00 pellets @ 1-1/4 oz shows safe pressures