Brown Bess buckshot loads

[skwerleater]

Anyone shooting their Bess with buckshot?
I tried number 4 buck and got a good close range pattern of shot. I loaded 24 pieces of buck and newspaper wadding above and below it and shot at 25 yds. Heres the target. All 24 are on paper with 23 hits on the silhouette. Its only one pattern cause then I starter shooting ball. I am just I nterested in what all your results have been.

 

[ArmorerRoy]

I use 9 hand cast 30 cal ball over 100 grains of powder which is basically 00 buckshot in my bess. 50 yards or less is very effective. I use a paper wrapped cartridge for loading.

 

[Collie]

I've fired 9 .31" round balls out of my .69 M1816 with 80 grains 2fg and it's worked well. Make sure you only load what is safe in your gun though

 

[skwerleater]

Wow- 40 yds is impressive!!! I will try some larger shot too!

 

[skwerleater]

50 yds

 

[Britsmoothy]

40 count #4buck works well in my 10g.

 

[skwerleater]

Hi Britsmoothy,
I was thinking of use of buck on K9s. There are several coyotes lurking around my camp. How far is that big 10 of yours effective with the no4 buck?

 

[Britsmoothy]

Hi Britsmoothy,
I was thinking of use of buck on K9s. There are several coyotes lurking around my camp. How far is that big 10 of yours effective with the no4 buck?

It was near 50yds. To be honest near to dark to shoot. I may of been off aim as it stood broadside. It did get away but Jess tailed it and found it . By the time I got there it was dead.
Forty yards would be better .

 

[Rifleman1776]

I'm a proponent of more moderate loads in something like a BB. When I had mine my loads were in the 50-70 gr. range. Not much that would stand up to that with buck.

 

[Britsmoothy]

To be honest large shot does better.
#3.2&1 work much better on our fox.
Nothing beats pattern.
I shot a fox with my Bess with near 2oz of mixed course shot and it was lights out at about 35 yds plus.

 

[WALT53]

40 count #4buck works well in my 10g.
View attachment 231207

Nathan haven’t heard from you in a while thought maybe you got locked up.lol

 

[skwerleater]

Britsmoothy, I was using an 80 grn. Load of 2f in the Bess. What load are you running on your 10?

 

[Britsmoothy]

Britsmoothy, I was using an 80 grn. Load of 2f in the Bess. What load are you running on your 10?

You won't like it!

Around 90gn of powder with 'fine' written on the bottle, mike's out close to 4f. Possibly 3narf f!

 

[Britsmoothy]

Nathan haven’t heard from you in a while thought maybe you got locked up.lol

Been burning nitro more lately Walt.
Saving my powder and shot for game hunting this fall.

 

[skwerleater]

Ok, thank you

 

[Whiteoak15]

I am impressed with that pattern! I will do some experimenting. A great photo; thanks for posting.

 

[skwerleater]

I was surprised myself!!! I didn’t expect it to be that good. I want to try it at 30 & 40 yds to see if it’s still a killing pattern for coyotes