non-buffered 00 buck loads

[Geneseo1911]

I'm looking to make some 00 buck shells for practice and HD use without spending a bunch of money. I got some cheap buck from another forum member, and have a bunch of Federal Gold Medal hulls, other than that I'm wide open component wise.

I hate to buy another book just to get one load, so I'm hoping someone here has a pet load that they will share.

Is there a wad thin enough to stack 00 in layers of three? I've noticed the "00 buck" factory loads I've dis-assembled have slightly undersized pellets, somewhere between 1 & 0. If not, is a felt or cork wad the answer? I'm assuming I'll need an overshot card if I want to star crimp without using buffer, correct? Any takers?

 

[ReloaderFred]

Loading buckshot is very load sensitive. The Lyman Shotshell Loading Manual has the recipes, and I've loaded 00 buck, #4 buck and #1 buck loads from it. They work fine, but again, they are very specific.

If you don't use buffer, then you won't need an overshot wad with a star crimp. The loads I used called for common wads.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[243winxb]

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=421095 Rcmodel has a good link to load data. When i use buffer agent loading #5 shot, no card is needed with a star crimp if you have your press set correctly. If you want any kind of pattern, your going to have to use a buffer. But a buffer may increase pressure. I know the pattern vari from testing factory ammo with and without a buffer agent.

 

[Geneseo1911]

Well, the entire point of asking here is that I didn't want to buy another loading manual just to get data for one load.

The online data Hogdon and Alliant post are not specific to buckshot loads. I've already looked up a 1.25 oz lead load and tried substituting the buckshot, but it won't fit in the shotcup specified (shot stacks too tall). I suspected this would be the case when trying to substitute buck into birdshot loads. The manuals I have list a handful of buck loads, but not for the Gold Medal hulls. The only online data I could find is from IMR, and all the loads they list call for buffer.

I just can't see spending the money and time to deal with buffer when my longest shooting lane is about 20 ft. I want all the spread I can get. If I need to shoot something farther away, I figure that's why God & Mr. Stoner gave us the AR-15.

 

[243winxb]

Hogdon has data for buckshot loads, but not using your case. There is 4 loads alone using Win AA hulls. Plus others. http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp

 

[243winxb]

IMR data

Case -12 ga. Federal 2 3/4" Plastic "Hi Power" Field, Duck & Pheasant & game load shells. Primer-Federal 209. Powder- Hi Skor 700X. 18.5 gr. Federal Wad 12S4. 8-OO Buckshot. 1250 fps. 8100 LUP. No buffer agent. Make no changes, use exact components listed.

 

[243winxb]

Is there a wad thin enough to stack 00 in layers of three

my guess, NO

is a felt or cork wad the answer

Cards and wad are one, Plastic shot cups are another.

I'm assuming I'll need an overshot card if I want to star crimp without using buffer, correct?

If the recipe calls for card or wads, they need to be used. Buffer does not require a card over the buckshot just because you use a buffer. YOU NEED TO FIND A RECIPE AND FOLLOW IT EXACTLY FOR THE LOAD YOU WANT. Hodgdon has free data, but not the case you have. Good luck.

 

[IROCZ]

Could anyone point me to an 8 pellet load using a Win AA?

 

[ReloaderFred]

The Lyman Shot Shell Manual has all kinds of loads for all the common hulls. Most 00 buck loads call for 9 pellets, since they layer perfectly with 3 00 buck per layer. I just loaded 100 rounds of 00 buck in AA hulls, using Winchester red wads. You just have to make sure the buckshot is layered properly before crimping.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[jr45]

I use the 1/2" fiber wads in Winchester AA hulls with 9 00 buck over 29.7 grains of Herco. I do no use buffers and still get pretty good results fired from my Mossberg 835 and 500 w/mod chokes.

 

[FNAUTO5]

A while back, I wanted to load some buckshot with components on hand. I had been using Win AA silver/red for 1 ounce trap loads, with Win WAA12SL wads and 20-20.5 grains Unique.

I ended up with 7 pellets 00 Hornady in the AA hull, no buffer. Not compact but not loose. They functioned just fine out of my Auto 5. Again, I was using these for blasting things down at the river. Light, fun, painless loads. Some would call these mouse loads, but who cares. They went bang, tore stuff up, and didn't break my shoulder. They seemed to pattern about 1-2 feet at 25 yards or so. Next time I load these up I will try some type of shot buffer.

I wasn't after perfection, just some close range can/stick/dirt destroyers. They worked just fine, out of my shotgun of course!

 

[AgentAdam]

Federal Field & Target

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