Buckhot size for Deer/Hogs?

Depends on how far you're shooting... I shoot #4 for hogs, but I'm usually shooting 5 - 10 yard shots at most. At that range, #4 Buck will drop them like a rock.
 
I killed a hog with a 3" 12 gauge two ounce turkey load of Hevi Shot Hevi-13 #6's. Stumbled into a group while turkey hunting, made a side brain shot at 10 yards. The load from my Benelli and Indian Creek choke at that range is pretty much a slug, it was instantly effective and dropped that hog immediately. While close counts I wouldn't rely on that load for a general purpose deer/hog killer. Just in case I need to shoot over 10 yards or so...
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With that said, No. Four Buck would be considerably more effective than the turkey load no doubt. Personally I would look really hard at #1 Buck, it has a whole lot of good going on.
 
I try to keep shots 50 yards or less. Most of the time far side ribs will be broken, rarely will I get any that exits.
 
I've never shot a deer with No. Four Buck but have shot a bunch of coyotes with it. I've had a few experiences that have made me question its penetration ability on bigger stuff. Interestingly enough the FBI used No. Four Buck as their issue shotgun load back in the early 80's. Eventually the move went back to bigger buckshot. Currently a lot of attention is being focused on #1 Buck. #1 Buck has been "re-discovered" in LE circles, in large part because hunters here and abroad have made good use of its unique combination of size, mass and pellet count. I ran across an article written by Peter Hathaway Capstick extolling the virtues of #1 Buck way back in the 70's. It was used extensively in South America for Jaguars and in Africa for Leopards. There are lots of good options in today's market.
 
Thanks for the help,I will try the #1 buck and see how they pattern vs 00 buck, all shots will be inside 40yrds. will save the #4 buck for coyotes.
 
In Virginia, buckshot is the preferred method of taking deer that are run by hounds. I use a kicks buck kicker choke in Xfull and 3" 00 buck with great success. I have never shot a pig but a buddy of mine shot a 265 bear with that same load this season. Dropped it.
 
GC, my Dad was a firm believer in #1 buck. He made some some shots on a couple of deer that if they had not been witnessed I would have told him he was full of crap. A few years ago federal came out with it in 3 1/2" loads and for some reason stopped making it. I'd love to find some of that.
 
For some reason #1 Buck is hard to find. I guess most folks have heard of 00 Buck and that becomes their "go to" load just because. If a guy is really looking at numbers the #1 Buck is wicked tough stuff. Federal released a #1 Buck load with the Flite Control wad for LE purposes a couple years ago and it shot fantastic for me. I grabbed onto about 50 rounds of the stuff after testing it in my Benelli Tactical Model shotgun. I'm not sure if they still have that load on the market now. They should really pursue a hunting version, it's really good stuff.
 
#4 always patterned the best for me in all my shotguns. Not just because of the fact that it had more BB's. It was a more uniform pattern. Try different loads and chokes . I tried 00,#1 and #4. All were shot at a 30" circle at 30 yds. 00 was terrible. Only 2 pellets inside the 30" circle. #1 wasn't much better. When I shot the #4, I was amazed at the difference.
 
You never know really how shot is going to react to constriction until you try it. I'm using Improved Modified for my #1 Buck and 00 Buck loads.
 
I like 0 or 00 for coyotes. I hate "buck" shot for deer, too much time spent tracking (and often losing) deer shot by others with it at reasonable ranges.
 
If I had to use buckshot for deer I'd go with 3" OO.Probably for hogs to.The only #1 buck load I tried was Win's which my gun patterned poorly with.
 
I've shot a lot of deer and hogs with buckshot and found 00 buck and modified choke to work best. Nearly all animals have been DRT or within sight.
 


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