62 cal buckshot load

[Kamu]

For me to deer hunt from the ground I have to use buckshot.. due to a recent shoulder surgery using my lock on stand is not an option. Fort Jackson does have double ladder stands at different locations across the post but these are set up for rifle shooters with long shots.. my question is what's yall thoughts on a 62 cal buckshot load for deer inside of 20 yards..

 

[tenngun]

For me to deer hunt from the ground I have to use buckshot.. due to a recent shoulder surgery using my lock on stand is not an option. Fort Jackson does have double ladder stands at different locations across the post but these are set up for rifle shooters with long shots.. my question is what's yall thoughts on a 62 cal buckshot load for deer inside of 20 yards..

In short range an ounce of buck shot will turn deer French, I just wouldn’t push the range. In the ozark woods my shots are mostly under twenty five yards. At fifteen yards or so would well be in 2-3 inch pattern I would think.

 

[Britsmoothy]

Did I miss it?
Why not a single ball friend?

 

[Kamu]

Did I miss it?
Why not a single ball friend?

So I hunt an military installation.. they have double stands all around the post that's how I've been hunting elevated so I could shoot the round ball. But these stands are not in the best positions. At ground level the rule is buckshot or bow... so I found a hot feed tree and built a ground blind about 15 yards from it.

 

[George]

This was shot with 70 gr. 2F, 12 "buckshot" of .285" dimeter total weight 417 grains, just shy of one ounce, using only tow as wadding, 20 gauge flintlock, 20 yards. Target is 15" x 22".

Spence

 

[Kamu]

Thanks Spence I'll start with that.. I had some old 20 ga #3 buck shot shells that I cut the buck shot out of..

 

[Kamu]

So I also have some .350 round balls for my 36 cal rifle I could use I guess

 

[George]

I think of 00 buck when buckshot is mentioned, and that is .340".

Spence

 

[Kamu]

I think of 00 buck when buckshot is mentioned, and that is .340".

Spence

So how many .350 round balls would you use

 

[tenngun]

So how many .350 round balls would you use

.350 are about 60 grains so 7 or 8 to approx one ounce load. But they won’t fit all together. You can make a paper tube and use a packing like corn meal around the ball. Put a wad below and above.

 

[Roguedog]

I killed a deer once with my 12 gauge double using 1 oz of 2F black powder by volume, topped with 10 00 buck pellets. The range was approximately 25 yards. The gun was choked modified. The deer dropped where she stood with most of the pellets hitting the chest/vital area. Upon further inspection during the autopsy (skinning), the damage inflicted was horrific. The vital organs and chest cavity was essentially turned to mush. If memory serves me, I found 8 or 9 of the pellets, slightly deformed, lodged just under the hide on the offside shoulder. I have complete confidence in buckshot if the ranges are kept modest. When you start trying to stretch the range is where most folks get in trouble. Inside 20 yards you should be good to go. However, always a good idea to pattern your load to see what it is doing.

Jeff

 

[George]

So how many .350 round balls would you use

I believe the standard for double-aught buck shotgun shells is 9 pellets.

Kamu, the pattern I showed was part of my testing of buckshot loads just because of my interest in the historical aspect of BP shooting in the old days. It wasn't being developed for hunting, and was never tested against deer. I have no doubt it would work, but I have no personal experience using buckshot loads on deer, they are not legal in Kentucky.

Spence

 

[Eterry]

So I also have some .350 round balls for my 36 cal rifle I could use I guess

I would go with the .350 RB's over the #3 buck. .350 would be close to 000 buck; the standard commercial load for 00buck is 9 pellets of .320'ish, the magnum load (the preferred load to most), is 12 pellets. As stated, keep shots under 20 yards and you'll have backstraps to grill.

I used to compete in multigun competition and the 9 pellet wouldn't knock down our falling plates, but the 12 pellet load would. My .02

 

[Stumpkiller]

So I also have some .350 round balls for my 36 cal rifle I could use I guess

I'd be REAL careful with that. Your bore is 0.62", so you can't fit two balls next to each other. Your load would look like a spiral staircase.

That's a lot of airspace in the barrel between the front of the load and the powder. Gaps like that "might" cause a bulged barrel. I'd stick to pellets no larger than 0.300" if it was me.

I used to have a .75 cal Bess and would load nine 0.315" balls. But it wasn't a load I would choose for deer. A one ounce (plus) single ball is bad medicine for Bambi out to 50 yards.

 

[Eterry]

Stump, I know for sure the RB would reach farther, but he's hunting on a military post and has to use buck. I used to hunt the LBJ grasslands years back and they were the same then. I didn't think about the pellets not stacking...you have a point.

 

[tenngun]

I believe the standard for double-aught buck shotgun shells is 9 pellets.

Kamu, the pattern I showed was part of my testing of buckshot loads just because of my interest in the historical aspect of BP shooting in the old days. It wasn't being developed for hunting, and was never tested against deer. I have no doubt it would work, but I have no personal experience using buckshot loads on deer, they are not legal in Kentucky.

Spence

The standard double 0 buck load is 9 for a 12 gage gun. The smaller 20 uses a smaller buck. My home defense load in my modren shot gun is #4 buck. I think double 0 is .33 cal you have to use some sort of filler to shoot then in a 20 gage

 

[Kamu]

Thanks y'all for all info. I think for now I'll find someone to help me go into this hot spot and hang stand and shoot the RB. The more I research buckshot the more I realize I need some serious range time before I try it on a deer or my gun....

 

[Britsmoothy]

Very wise