A way to keep buckshot in really tight patterns...

[moecomputer]

What does everyone think of this idea: Get a buckshot shell loaded with 6 pellets, and take a pair of pellets and connect them together with a wire about 12 inches long and do that for all 6 pellets so it makes 3 connected pairs. When fired, three pairs of buckshot will come out and can be able to reach far distances with accuracy due to the limit of spread.

 

[average_shooter]

I believe there is or are specialty ammunition maker(s) that make the stuff for like $20 for three shells. I just can't think at the moment of a particular brand name, but they can be found.

 

[TrapperReady]

For really, really tight patterns, how about using one really big projectile? I guarantee it would work better, is readily available, and isn't needlessly silly.

Unless you're taking down the rigging of a sailing vesseln (in which case a 12ga would be quite anemic), I see little utility in connecting projectiles with cables or chain.

 

[Smith357]

If you are going to take the shell apart or load your own I would just use a parifin wax to keep all the shot in one group, or better yet just use a slug.

 

[qbpc]

How far are you planning to shoot?
I have a shotgun that a gunsmith worked to keep the pattern at the size of a paper plate @ 50 yards.

 

[alucard0822]

the military experimented with something similar to cut barbed wire and brush back in the 20s, didn't work nearly as well as explosives and tanks. The germans also tried a big version for anti aircraft use in WWII, but they dropped it in favor of developing a vortex cannon

 

[ArmedBear]

connect them together with a wire about 12 inches long

Miniature chain shot. The British did that centuries ago with cannonballs. The purpose was to slice stuff up, like rigging and sails. People who got in the way were likewise sliced up.

Another way is a tight choke and a buffer. Buffering is putting something in between the balls, e.g. smaller plastic balls.

 

[Oldnamvet]

Like "bolo" shells??

http://www.firequest.com/catalog/machogochomoreinfo.html

 

[moecomputer]

The point of buckshot with wire going between them is that the shot will keep in a tight pattern and what it does hit will be hit with pellets AND sliced up.

 

[Fred Fuller]

It's called 'strung buck' and has been played with by various folk since black powder frontstuffer days.

But this is the 21st Century, no need to mess about with antique and arcane shotgun loads. Just buy Hornady TAP or one of the Federal loads with the FliteControl wad, and you'll have patterns that are plenty tight enough at any range where buckshot is still effective. Shooting 00 buck, you don't really have to worry about 'slicing things up' IF you hit what you shoot at.

lpl/nc

 

[Chuck R.]

But this is the 21st Century, no need to mess about with antique and arcane shotgun loads. Just buy Hornady TAP or one of the Federal loads with the FliteControl wad, and you'll have patterns that are plenty tight enough at any range where buckshot is still effective. Shooting 00 buck, you don't really have to worry about 'slicing things up' IF you hit what you shoot at.

I agree, the TAP is some AWESOME OO buck.

Chuck

 

[Shifty]

get closer to target

 

[quatin]

It's called Strung Buck rounds. Buckshot tied together with short tensil wires.

 

[sm]

Aw crap! Don't y'all read ErrorNet?

You don't even need to load a shotgun, just rack it, and BGs run away with hands flailing, screaming like little girls from spiders...

:sarcasm:

 

[FIFTYGUY]

I've done this, and it works. Like a 4" diameter cookie-cutter through 1/4" plywood at 50 yards.

I first read about it in Kurt Saxon's The Weaponeer. Also recall seeing it loaded in some movie in the 80's or 90's.

But there are a number of practical problems to overcome:

1. Putting the wire through the shot. Either you'll have to drill the shot, buy some sort of pre-drilled shot (probably not lead shot in that case), or cast the shot around the wire. You can also buy "split shot" for fishing line, which is lead shot that is made with two joined halves that you simply clamp around fishing line. Not as aerodynamic, but usable.

2. Fixing the shot to stay in place along the wire. You can tie it in place (knots on either side), glue it, or rely on the clamping force alone of split shot.

3. Packing the wire into the shell. Strong wire is surprisingly stiff when you go to cram it into a shotgun shell. It ends up taking up a lot of volume, which reduces your pellet load. Weaker, but softer and more flexible wire, such as picture hanging wire, would probably be optimum.

IMHO casting the shot around flexible steel wire would work the best.