Lee Buckshot 00 Tactical Load

[Ozarkrick]

I purchased the Lee 18 cavity buckshot mold in 00 buck and I am very pleased with the results. I use a 40/60 mix of pure lead and wheel weights to get a fairly hard cast buckshot that will not deform like pure lead. Pellets are water quenched, sorted for defects (10%) then I tumble them for 2 hours in a rock tumbler and they come out shiney and round (just like Hornady's, but harder like plated shot). I was looking for a low cost three gun load and after much experimentation this is the best load (from Lyman's 5th edition)

Remington STS Hull
Winchester 209
25.0 grains Universal Clays
SP 12 wad (Green Remington brand)
(1) 28 ga .30" card under pellots
(8) 00 Buck pellots, stack two accross, 4 levels
(1) 20 ga . 30 card over pellots, 8 point folded crimp

This load is 2 grains under max (because I swaped Win for Rem primer and I am looking for quick recovery, softer recoil). The Rem SP12 wad is slit only half way down and gives tighter patterns over full slit wads. At 25 yards this 1 oz load consistantly gives 10" patterns from a 22" barrel, lite-modified choke, with low recoil, velocity should be at or below 1300 fps. More to follow.

 

[snuffy]

Rick, I bought that mold for S&Grins or for 2 and 4 legged varmints.

I haven't played with mine much yet, the one time I tried it, I didn't have it hot enough. The pellets were badly wrinkled, poorly filled out.

A friend offered to take me along to a 3 gun match, I will work up a load so I can at least come with my own ammo. I already have 2, the rifle and pistol, but no shotty.

 

[Ozarkrick]

Yes - you will need to keep your lead temperature hot, and keep your mold hot. If you take a rest more than 60 seconds, things go south. Clean your mold good before starting, and spray with liquid carbon or Frankford mold release. Everytime you fill the mold, you get enough for two shells. The pellets come out of the mold conected in sets of three. When cold, I use plyers to lightly hold the cluster of three balls with one hand and twist with the other hand to seperate. For the value, its hard to beat this mold - production rate is quite high (12-14 pounds per hour).