Buckshot loads - Range Report!

[deafsg1]

Okay, I'm delivering as promised! This was out at the range yesterday. I shot my NEF Pardner Pump (HD shotgun), and it was about 65 degrees in the beginning and had dropped down to about 50 or so by the time I did the triple-aught shots. The range is 25 YARDS, as we were at a public range.

My friend told me some unusual things (?) with the triple-aught samples. It was louder with a "crunchy" report, and he said that after the buckshot went through the target, he could see them flying and slamming into the berm. He couldn't see them before reaching the target. And there was a "tracer effect" in which he could see a orange-whitish "something" zipping along with the buckshot slamming into the berm.

Load data for first photo:

Win AA hull
Winchester W209 primer
Hodgdon Universal powder ~ 24.6 grains
WAA12F114 wad
#00 Buckshot - 9 each
Overshot card - none


Load data for second photo:

Win AA hull
Winchester W209 primer
Hodgdon Universal powder ~ 24.6 grains
WAA12F114 wad
#00 Buckshot - 9 each
Overshot card - yes


Load data for third photo:

Win AA hull
Winchester W209 primer
Hodgdon Universal powder ~ 24.6 grains
WAA12F114 wad
#000 Buckshot - 6 each
Overshot card - yes

 

[G33InMyPocket]

Nice groupings for home rolled.

 

[buckbrush]

what choke is your barrel? Your patterns are way smaller than my reloads in a cylinder barrel.

 

[sm]

deafsg1,

Great review with great photos.

Try something, remembering to stay within specs of payload.
Take a wee bit of Grits ( your are in TX, southern folks know about grits) or Malto-Meal, Cream of Wheat...for a buffering agent.

Just like Grex (tm) buffer is used in factory shells, these "grains" also work as buffering agents in shotshells.

I like load recipe 1, then 2 best.

Try the "grits" buffer, and then repeat with a tad less powder - stay within the 5% window of safety rule.

Just thinking buffer will tighten pattern and going down to more near 24.0 might tighten a bit more as well...

Again, follow all safe reloading practices.

 

[scout26]

1 and 2 are definitely the best. I like to get 3-5 patterns of the same load to get an average spread and then replicate the one best load.

 

[deafsg1]

The barrel has a cylinder choke.

I had asked Hodgdon about the filling for the loads, and they said it was not being used in these particular loads. You have to adjust powder downward just a bit to even out the pressures. Problem is, the next bushing down is way under 24.0 grains. But it might be something to consider if I decide to order another bushing I'm currently using and modify it to throw a slightly smaller charge. But I hear what you're saying about improving patterns this way.

The pictures I posted were the best of each load groups I made. Because time and weather was a factor, I would only do one shot on each target, take pictures of each with my camera looking through a spotting scope, and then let my friend blast away with the Remington STS light load shells (why not?) until a cease-fire was called, change out the targets, and start over for the next group of shells. After I got home, I looked at the pictures and picked the best shot of each load type.

Fairly soon, after I have made an order for some STS hulls, I will repeat the process for those hulls. The only thing that will be different will be the powder, being HS-6 instead of Universal, weighed out at 30 grains or so. Because of the Winchester primer being hotter than the CCI primer it calls for, I have to take the bottom range of the powder data. Not to worry, as it was checked through the Hodgdon technician on the phone.

 

[rogn]

Ive heard that using only 8 buck will give better patterns than the 9 pellet loads. The odd man out apparently will disrupt the pattern. Grex or other buffers are also available through Ballistic Products, they used to carry abt 3 different kinds. Id suppose a buffered 8 pellet load might give as good as it gets. With lead pellets the further you stay below max velocity, the better the patterns get.

 

[deafsg1]

Well, you have to know what the cross fit is for each layer. In a 9-pellet load, layers are made in threes. I.E., you put in 3 pellets on the bottom, tamp them level, put in another three, offset in the gaps, tamp again, and so on for the third layer. There's really no "odd one out" sitting on top of the whole thing, setting back into the load badly once it leaves the barrel. I'm sure they found that out early in researching loads. I'd have to study the stacking order of these 8-pellet loads. My guess is, they use a wad with a much shorter gas seal/compression unit, so that you have room to stack 8 pellets in there, by putting two on the bottom, two crossways, two again, and so on. With these wads, there's only room for three layers of #00 or #000. Not using a stacking order can really affect your patterns.

 

[Wittenmeyer]

Update! The distance of the shotgun range is 15 yards, not 25 yards. My mistake! Coming up tonight or tomorrow is Buckshot Loads - 2nd Range Report! I have some things to get done first, but I have pictures, and I'm not sure what to make of the results... Stay tuned!