just wondering why 00 buckshot is so much more popular than 000.
- Thread starter cajun47
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Strafer Gott
New member
I find myself calling my S&W 4006 my " forty aught six".
The nine pellet 00 loads are lower recoil than the eight pellet 000 loads. While one pellet might not seem like a big difference, you have to consider the weight of the pellets. A single 00 Buck pellet weighs approximately 53.8gr while a single 000 Buck pellet weighs approximately 70gr, so the total weight of a nine pellet 00 load would be about 484.2gr while the total weight of an eight pellet 000 load would be about 560gr. If we look at velocities, we find that Federal's Power-Shok nine pellet 00 load and eight pellet 000 load have the same advertised velocity of 1325fps. Because the heavier weight of the 000 loading will give use higher energy and momentum, it will also have more recoil assuming both are fired in the same shotgun.
Bear in mind that the whole point of nine pellet 00 loadings is reduced recoil. If recoil is not a concern, Federal also makes a Power-Shok 12 pellet 00 loading with an advertised velocity of 1290fps, but that loading has more energy and more recoil than either the nine pellet 00 or the eight pellet 000 loads do because of it even greater combined pellet weight of 645.6gr.
Bear in mind that the whole point of nine pellet 00 loadings is reduced recoil. If recoil is not a concern, Federal also makes a Power-Shok 12 pellet 00 loading with an advertised velocity of 1290fps, but that loading has more energy and more recoil than either the nine pellet 00 or the eight pellet 000 loads do because of it even greater combined pellet weight of 645.6gr.
Creek Henry
New member
It actually might have something to do with that Steve McQueen movie where he asks for Double-ought buck. Seriously, I can't remember anyone in any movie saying triple-ought!
I recall reading something long, long, ago to the effect that the 9-pellet 00 loading went through a choke better than the 8-pellet 000 loading. Shotshell manufacturers make what sells, and what sells is 00 buck loadings. This might be part of a tragic circle, as they don't make many 000 loadings, so they don't sell much of that. Because it doesn't sell, they don't make many.
I patterned both the federal 00 and 000 2 3/4 hunting type (non tactical) shells through my cylinder bore gun. At a close range (15ft) target there was a noticeable difference in the size of the pattern. The 00 blew a single hole about three inches with two individual pellets outside but still within a three inch circle. The 000 made 8 distinct and noticeably larger holes within a five inch circle. I also tried some Remington 3" magnum 00. At the same distance 15 pellets hit an area the size of a paper plate. (10"?). So the question is how do you define a "better" pattern? At 30 yards that Remington 3" is all over the place. Nonetheless it's what I keep in my short barrel by the bed.