Anyone load buffered shotshellls?

J

jeager106

Moderator
I load some buffered lead s.g. loads, only for long range performance.
Certainly not grouse, squirrel, rabbit loads, more for pheasants flushing
out there.
I make buckshot loads that pattern scary well out to 60 yards with a mod. choke in an 870 X.
I buy Hornady 5 lb boxes of 00, #1, #2, #3, & #4, buck as well as
some nickel #2 lead & b-b lead.
All buffered.
Takes a while to make by hand but I only load maybe 25 of each to
keep on hand as one don't shoot much of this stuff for anything but
yotes, fox, & such.
Also might be useful for defense but that kind of use is almost reserved
for short range & std. 9 pel 00 buck is o.k. enough for that.
Wally has some 25 rnd boxes of 9 pel 00 buck for $11.98/box, a good price these days.
 
I used to load them before lead was banned for waterfowl. It was one of the things that helped me get better really long range loads. You have to really work at it to beat the old copper plated Winchester XX loads.
 
Yep

I load buffered 12 gage in 2 3/4, 3 and 2 1/2.

I cast 000 buck and I buffer with dirty walnut tumbling media. I also make layer loads using 000 and #8 or BBs

I also load 2 3/4 with clipped copper wire, smashed used primers, smashed 22 hulls and even rocksalt.
 
It's hard to beat any premium shotshell load with handloads, ergo whey I only load a few for super performance, i.e. buckshot, some #2 ,nickle #3,
shot (not buck).

"I cast 000 buck and I buffer with dirty walnut tumbling media. I also make layer loads using 000 and #8 or BBs

I also load 2 3/4 with clipped copper wire, smashed used primers, smashed 22 hulls and even rocksalt."

Bad idea friend. Using anything other than commerically available
buffer could lead to trouble & absolutely won't "buffer" the shot at all.
Buffer must be small enough to get between shot pellets to be effective.
Why anyone would go to the trouble of cutting up copper wire is beyond me.
Or smashing .22 hulls. What is gained by that? Enlighten me please.
Rocksalt is proven ineffective past "close" range.
Why rocksalt. To preserve game shot so far away to prevent spoilage till you get to it?:D
 
As a side note to the factory buffered shotshell.
I've disected several "buffered" loads from Rem. & Win. to find that
the buffer material in the shot load is very scimpy at best and totally ineffective.
Not nearly enough buffer material to buffer the shot.
The factory buffered loads don't contain enough material to
buffer anything.
Making hand loaded buffered shot can gain about a 10% increase in the
number of bird shot pellets that stay inside the pattern.
Buffered buckshot, if done correctly, can show an increase of greater than
10% on the pattern board.
I loaded some #4 buck, #b-b, #2, $ #3 lead shot loads effective to 60 yards on coyote sized critters.
The Win. double X loads using plated shot are effective. Most like due to
plated (harder) shot.
 
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