Mike_in_OC
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Question for reloaders. Does it cost the same per round to load Buckshot vs Birdshot ? Just wondering why buckshot is so much more retail than birdshot.
Reloading buckshot
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m0ntels
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Buckshot is more per pound, and you are still using the same weight of buck as you would shot for the same loading. Using 9 pieces of 00 Buck is just about equal to 1-1/8oz of smaller shot.
As to why buck is more expensive, from the sound of the following, it seems making buckshot is much more of a process like making bullets/round balls and they use a harder (ie. more expensive) alloy to make it.
Randy
As to why buck is more expensive, from the sound of the following, it seems making buckshot is much more of a process like making bullets/round balls and they use a harder (ie. more expensive) alloy to make it.
Randy
snuffy
Member
a couple of reasons
1. There just isn't as much buckshot shells made anymore, it's a specialty load. Set-up in the factories cost money. If they can set-up for millions of the same load, it saves money. Setting up for a run of buckshot would be a much smaller quanity, besides the shells require more wads to be inserted and usually a buffer. Takes more time to load them.
2. Buckshot is more difficult to make, birdshot is made by dropping from a shot tower into cold water. Buckshot has to be swaged in a machine. Some of it then gets plated.
Buying buckshot for handloading is also expensive.
http://www.ballisticproducts.com/
These people will have the buckshot as well as load data. Buckshot has to be "stacked". It can't be loaded by weight, but has to be loaded by count and stacked a certain way. Bare buckshot won't pattern as well as plated,(either copper or nickel), and buffering will also help.
1. There just isn't as much buckshot shells made anymore, it's a specialty load. Set-up in the factories cost money. If they can set-up for millions of the same load, it saves money. Setting up for a run of buckshot would be a much smaller quanity, besides the shells require more wads to be inserted and usually a buffer. Takes more time to load them.
2. Buckshot is more difficult to make, birdshot is made by dropping from a shot tower into cold water. Buckshot has to be swaged in a machine. Some of it then gets plated.
Buying buckshot for handloading is also expensive.
http://www.ballisticproducts.com/
These people will have the buckshot as well as load data. Buckshot has to be "stacked". It can't be loaded by weight, but has to be loaded by count and stacked a certain way. Bare buckshot won't pattern as well as plated,(either copper or nickel), and buffering will also help.
GooseGestapo
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It actually cost me LESS to load buckshot than birdshot.
But then, I make my own buckshot.
For 00B, I use a Lee single cavity .330 roundball mould. I can cast about 300 per hour. An hour worth, lasts me a couple of years.
I use a .310 RB 2-cavity mould to make a roughly 0-1/2. It is larger than a #1 (.300 nominal) and smaller than a true "0"-buck (.320).
I have found the best use for the smaller (.310") is to load them 2x2x2x2x2, for a 10-pellet load in a 2-3/4" 20ga. load.
I use 16.2gr of Hod.LongShot, over a Remington RP-20 wad with the petals cut off even with the cushion. I use Jim Dandy Grits as a buffer.
It is easier to load than it sounds.
Patterns to nearly 100% at 40yds.
My Huglu SxS double with Modified choke will put 10 pellets into a paper dinner plate at 25yds. I have killed one doe, and two pigs with this load.
Cost of pellets, perhaps fifty cents a pound.
MUCH HARDER AND ROUNDER THAN PURCHASED BUCKSHOT !!!
For 12ga I use a similar load utilizing a Win AA- Red wad and 12 pellets over 32.0gr of HS-6.
Have never seen the need or desire to develop a 3" load as these perform perfectly.
(UTILIZE DATA AT YOUR OWN RISK. SAFE IN MY GUNS, UNDER KNOW CONDITIONS.)
But then, I make my own buckshot.
For 00B, I use a Lee single cavity .330 roundball mould. I can cast about 300 per hour. An hour worth, lasts me a couple of years.
I use a .310 RB 2-cavity mould to make a roughly 0-1/2. It is larger than a #1 (.300 nominal) and smaller than a true "0"-buck (.320).
I have found the best use for the smaller (.310") is to load them 2x2x2x2x2, for a 10-pellet load in a 2-3/4" 20ga. load.
I use 16.2gr of Hod.LongShot, over a Remington RP-20 wad with the petals cut off even with the cushion. I use Jim Dandy Grits as a buffer.
It is easier to load than it sounds.
Patterns to nearly 100% at 40yds.
My Huglu SxS double with Modified choke will put 10 pellets into a paper dinner plate at 25yds. I have killed one doe, and two pigs with this load.
Cost of pellets, perhaps fifty cents a pound.
MUCH HARDER AND ROUNDER THAN PURCHASED BUCKSHOT !!!
For 12ga I use a similar load utilizing a Win AA- Red wad and 12 pellets over 32.0gr of HS-6.
Have never seen the need or desire to develop a 3" load as these perform perfectly.
(UTILIZE DATA AT YOUR OWN RISK. SAFE IN MY GUNS, UNDER KNOW CONDITIONS.)
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