Buckshot Load info needed!!!!!!!!!!!

W

WiseOldYote

New member
I have seen very few published load data for loading buckshot for a 12ga. Here is my question.

Is it necessary to have a buffer between the powder and wad as opposed to just having a wad and no buffer, and will it be a safe load for them close dogs?

Components I have: 12ga. 2 3/4 shells
#4 buckshot
HS-6 powder
209A primer
RXP 12 Remington wads

I have read that if you sub the weight of regular bird shot for the weight in buckshot you will be fine. But I need a little more convincing of that theory. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
 
What type of hulls are you plan on using? Case capacity and load data varies from one manufacture to another on shotshells and even varies for one manufacturers hull by the type basewads, e.g. fiber or colored plastic base wad.

BoomSplat
 
WARNING adding buffer to the reload will increase the pressure 1000 to 2000 psi. The buffer should go inside the shotcup on top of the shot or buckshot. Then tap on the side of the hull to get the buffer to drop down between the pellets. Use a thin overshot card wad and or some wax paper to help the crimp and keep the buffer in the shell. You do not have to use buffer. I have never had a problem loading "T" lead or lead 4 buckshot by using regular lead shot loading data. Use a scale to make sure the buckshot does not weigh more than what the data calls for.
 
Normally, the buffer is mixed in with the shot, not placed between the powder and wad. And, yes, usually a buffered lead load will pattern better than a non buffered load. This is due to the shot in the buffered load being deformed less.

HOWEVER, do not add buffer to a load not designed for it. Adding buffer can increase pressures by 2000 psi. If you want to load buffered lead loads, I would check with Ballistic Products or get Tom Rosters manual for load data and for suitable wads and cases.

Ballistic Products data uses their own proprietary wads. If you want to use conventional lead shot wads, but are willing to make some modifications, get Tom Rosters manual on buffered lead shot loads from Precision Reloading.
 
I plan on using Remington STS hulls. But I have winchester, Kent, and lots more.
Thanks guys for the information. I really appreciate it. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
You will find that certain hulls tend to give better patterns. Don't plan on a load using a particular hull, if you want best performance. STS hulls are good target hulls, but generally they don't have the capacity needed for heavy charges of slow burning powders and large quantities of buckshot and they tend to generate higher pressures than some other hulls. High pressures usually are not good for the best patterning lead loads.

Use the hulls and wads recommended in the loading manuals. In my loading of lead loads in my 10ga., I found Federal hulls produced the best patterns and the highest velocities. Why that is, I can only speculate. But, that's why I use Federal hulls even though Remington hulls are more readily available.
 
CDR, I really like the Federal Gold Medal target hulls for reloading my 2-3/4" heavey loads. I load quite a bit of T lead buckshot and came up with a easy way to count the pellets to get the weight right or very close. Two T buckshot pellets will fit in a primer hole in the plastic primer holder that the primers come in. There are 4 T buckshot pellets per 1/8 oz so 24 open holes in the primer tray will hold 48 pellets and that should be 1-1/2 oz. I went with 46 pellets yesterday when I loaded four boxes of 1-1/2 oz of T buckshot. I would rather be a little light on the shot weight than a little heavey. When I scoop the primer tray into the T buckshot each primer hole holds two pellets and all the rest of the pellets roll right off when I tilt the primer tray just a little. I hope this picture turned out good enough so you can see how it works. There are two pellets in each hole.
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s28/derbyacresbob/Buckshot002.jpg
 
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