#4 Buck Results?

Status
Not open for further replies.
J

JCooperfan1911

member
Joined
Oct 8, 2020
Messages
2,709
Has anyone here ever used 12 gauge #4 buckshot 2 3/4” 27 pellet loads for hunting varmints to medium sized game and if so, what are your thoughts and results?

God bless,

Dale
 
I've used a very similar load on coyotes, and it was effective at 50 yards or so. My go-to load, which I prefer, is buffered lead BB. Seems to just dump them a little firmer with the higher pattern density. As far as I know, such a load is strictly a handloading proposition. Some friends have used Hevi-shot "dead coyote" and they claim it is devastating on the varmints.
 
Oh yeah number 4 buck is pretty brutal on small and medium critters.
It's like shooting a wall of lead at them.
Yeah number 4 buck is hard to find and BB is impossible unless I load them.
If you want a steady supply of number 4 buck, best bet is to load it.
 
I believe the old standby 2.75" lead BB loads have been effectively discontinued, even if still listed in the catalogs. I bought a few boxes of Federal Premium about 10 years ago and that was the last I saw any on the shelves. The market forces of varmint control and esoteric two-legged defense don't counteract the prohibition on waterfowl use.
 
I and some friends used everything from birdshot to 00 Buck on a pack of feral dogs, and #4 Buck was included in the mix. Naturally, the birdshot was only immediately lethal to the dogs at about 10 yards or less We were sitting on top of a hunting shack (old trailer), and they had been harassing us. We went up on the roof with our shotguns after setting some bait (mostly garbage with a pound of hambuger in it) and waited. About 10 PM, they came in, about 20 of them, everything from terriers to Labs. The bigger stuff, 00, 1 Buck, 4 Buck, T, F, BBB, etc., down to about #4 shot dispatched the dogs well with head or chest hits out as far as we could see them. (Only two of the 5 of us were good shots on moving targets) The birdshot would make them yelp and back off for a bit, but they'd start back in. We whittled them down to about 5 dogs before they scattered and ran. I still remember shooting a beautiful black Lab, wish I didn't have to, but they were not afraid of people.
 
If by medium game you mean deer then yes #4 is quite lethal at 25 yards and less. I have never used it on anything else.

My preferred buckshot load for deer is #1 though. It gives the best compromise between pellet size and count in a 2 3/4” hull.
 
I was talking about real lead bb not the boring steel ones.
When I load them I use lead BB from ballisticproducts dot com and they're not cheap.
 
It seems #3 is the typical size for 20 gauge. Not a LOT of difference in pellet size between 3 and 4, and more power from a 12 gauge. Does this seem reasonable? Seriously asking.
 
I was always given to understand #2 Shot was "buckshot" . Sorry, just never heard of "#4 Buckshot", before.
 
Over the years, I've used #4 Buck in my 16 gauges to good effect on deer. Usually, the range was under 50 yards during drives. I'm not sure how many are in a 16 gauge hull, but there seems to be plenty. Also used it on 'yotes, feral dogs, and pigs enough to know that it's a killer out to about 50 yards; any further and it looses it's thump. For varmints, I have (very few) 12 gauge 2 3/4" shells loaded with lead bbs; 1 1/8th oz if memory serves. They were made by a company called Melior, and I've not been able to find them again but would gladly buy a case if I could find them. They do a number on smaller varmints like possums, coons, and foxes. Also adequate on feral dogs if you're close enough. I have also used lead #2's on the same critters. 1 1/2oz of those in a 12 gauge do a number on whatever they hit out to about 50 yards; pretty heavy charge though if you're not expecting it and likely not for use in older guns. I have about 1/2 a box of those left; they were goose loads from back in "the day".

Mac
 
I used to load up steel air rifle bb's in 2 3/4 in shells Iirc 72 -76 fit in the shell. If you reload you could find some 31 or 36 cal round ball for muzzle loaders and load them.
 
Hornady makes a “Varmint Express” #4 Buck load which use their version of Flitecontrol, called Versatite…it shoots very well indeed.
As for #4 Buck being “unpopular and hard to find”…before the current ammopocalypse, #4 Buck was easy to get. 00 and #4 Buck were all I could find. It was #1 Buck I had a hard time finding.
 
The 00 I’ve found has been the un-buffered soft lead. Shot ok for practice, not sure I’d trust it for social use.
 
It’s what I keep for home defense. Wouldn’t have a problem using for deer. 20 yards or less. Neighbor shot feral dogs with #4 buck. Worked like a charm.
 
I’ve used #4 buck on an assortment of game.
Once used it on the drivers side window of a ‘69 Buick Electra of a fleeing convict that rammed a roadblock of patrol cars. The #4B didn’t penetrate the window, but it took the ER doctor 3hrs to pick all the glass from his face and hand. (He shouldn’t have pointed that .38S&W handejector at me...).
I used #1 or 00-buck after that...
Rio brand ammunition loads a #1 Buck load in 20ga. I’ve been loading.31” round ball 10-pellet load in a 20ga. VERY effective on deer to 40yds. I also have a Lee mold for #4. It’s good for 30yds but lacks penetration of the #1 (.31”rb). 20ga holds 22 pellets. 2-3/4” shell.
 
GooseGestapo said:
I’ve used #4 buck on an assortment of game.
Once used it on the drivers side window of a ‘69 Buick Electra of a fleeing convict that rammed a roadblock of patrol cars. The #4B didn’t penetrate the window, but it took the ER doctor 3hrs to pick all the glass from his face and hand. (He shouldn’t have pointed that .38S&W handejector at me...).
I used #1 or 00-buck after that...
Rio brand ammunition loads a #1 Buck load in 20ga. I’ve been loading.31” round ball 10-pellet load in a 20ga. VERY effective on deer to 40yds. I also have a Lee mold for #4. It’s good for 30yds but lacks penetration of the #1 (.31”rb). 20ga holds 22 pellets. 2-3/4” shell.
Click to expand...
I’m also a fan of #1 Buck myself... I use it in 16 and 12 gauges for HD duties. :thumbup:

Stay safe.
 
Bird shot will still kill up close. There's plenty if pictures on the Internet and once you see them, you can't unseen them.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

K
  • Locked
shotgun/choke/buckshot ???
Replies
5
Views
1K
sm
S
The_Next_Generation
  • Locked
Buckshot tested @ 50 yards (video)
Replies
10
Views
2K
bullseyebob47
bullseyebob47
theboyscout
  • Locked
hunting with buck shot?
Replies
13
Views
3K
Sav .250
S
D
  • Locked
Best shotgun load for coyotes?
Replies
13
Views
13K
Greybeard
G
NWcityguy2
  • Locked
Rio Royal Buck (00/#1/#4) compared to Federal Tactical 00 Buckshot
Replies
23
Views
4K
Seedy Character
S
Back
Top