Larger than average shot

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Roo

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Simple idea, simple questions for a 12ga load. So before I troubleshoot in the shed, I want to troubleshoot the theory itself.

I want to load either a 2 3/4 or 3 inch shell with a shot size larger than .38. I was thinking the easiest thing to do would be to find a .44 diameter mold and cast my own lead shot. I'm open to suggestions smaller than .44, though. I'd run the .44s over something like 30-32gr of Hogden HS-6, looking to shoot out of a stoeger with a 20 inch barrel, IC choke, using all the generic federal components I can in reloading.

I suppose my pessimistic self is anticipating problems stacking the .44s and perhaps regretting the loss of capacity. The intended purpose (or better yet, 'hope') of the exercise, apart from the relief of simple curiosity, was to increase performance on game (particularly pigs). I'm well aware of the much larger tri ball (.600!) loads but was looking for something that gives me more than three holes. I'd much appreciate any thoughts forumites might have, including any experience and suggestions.
 
Here is a very interesting thread over at shotgunworld.com about the development of the tri-ball load. http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=72353

They do discuss comparisons with the smaller (large) buck loads.

Some other sites show stacking diagrams for up to 000 Buck, but I've read multiple places that anything larger won't stack correctly in a 12 ga. shell -- until, of course, you've got one directly on top of the next as in the Tri-Ball load.

0000 is about .38 cal, so if that isn't going to layer properly, nothing between that and tri-ball will either. I think you'll end up with an unevely layered shell mostly full of empty space.
 
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I think you'll end up with an unevely layered shell mostly full of empty space.
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This is the reason that 00 became 'the standard' and that there are no offerings over 000 - the physical stacking of the shot in the wad simply doesn't work well over a certain size until you get close to the ID of the wad itself.
 
Yeah that was my fear, not stacking correctly. I suppose had that not been the limiting factor then somebody would have thought of it and done it a long time ago. Perhaps a 10ga would allow the larger size (seems to figure with something like a .45 increase in bore size, right?) but I have neither the time or expense to find one in my country, particularly not when the 12ga already does everything.
 
Greener recommended selecting buckshot size by pushing a wad into the choke and trying different sizes until you found one that stacked evenly. That would give the closest pattern.

Looks like the tri-ball is an extension of the old practice of double shotting one's Hawken.
 
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