buckshot in a smoothbore.

[nuttbush]

I have read threads of shooting patched roundballs, and 4,5,and 6 size shot in smoothbores, but have never read anything about buckshot. If I were hunting deer with a smoothbore I would definetly use a patched roundball, but was just wondering what is the largest shot you could shoot out of a 10 to 20 guage smoothbore. May want to try it at the range just for fun. Many thanks.

 

[Rebel]

I have tried #4 buck in my .20 ga. I wasn't impressed withit. I tried it both with a ball(buck&ball) and by itself. Wouldn't even think of using it past 20 yds. Not in my gun anyway. Your results may vary.

 

[Java Man]

Had a freind tell me how he shoots buckshot out of his smoothie with decent patterns.

Wad over the powder. Then a strip of patching, load the buckshot into the patch one at a time on top of each other. Would probably need an over shot card too. I have not tried it, because I have no real reason to.

Mine will either have birdshot for samll game or a single patched rb for deer.

 

[roundball]

I have read threads of shooting patched roundballs, and 4,5,and 6 size shot in smoothbores, but have never read anything about buckshot. If I were hunting deer with a smoothbore I would definetly use a patched roundball, but was just wondering what is the largest shot you could shoot out of a 10 to 20 guage smoothbore. May want to try it at the range just for fun. Many thanks.

Experimented at the range one day with a .62cal Flint smoothbore using .440's, then .490's in paper shot cups, limiting the # of balls to keep their total weight within the normal weight range.

The .440s were so small that they stagger stacked at extreme offset angles from each other and when they left the muzzle, apparently took spread directions basede on being stacked with those offsets...typical group at 30yds was 18" and randomly scattered, unusable.

However, trying three .490s, their larger size made them basically stack relatively straight on top of each other and they grouped beautifully...3-4" at 30yds, 4-5" groups at 40yds.

I used 80grns Goex 2F, 2 Oxyoke wonderwads, paper shot cup, 3-.490's, and a circle fly OS card.

The target was stapled to the side of a huge power company wooden "cable reel" and the .490's went through 2" inch hardwood on both sides of the reel...4" total wood.

Didn't try it at 50yds but based on the track through 30 and 40yds, the group would probably be no more than 6-7" at 50yds...a nice group for a deer's heart/lung area if you wanted to try that.

 

[Russianblood]

RB, it sounds like simple double balling but in a smoothbore. I loaded 2 balls in my 28 bore and out of a 24" barrel, they hit about 2"-3" apart at 25yds.

 

[Ridge]

I've shot #3's and #4's out of mine......somewhere around 19 pellets each. It patterned alright out to about 20 yards. They did tend to shoot low though.

 

[faw3]

Like roundball I was just playing around with diff buck one day 2,3,4, and one of them layered 4 at a time 16 in my 20 and shot great out to 25 or so yds ,it was all I tryed it was just playing around so it can be done but with which and how far I wouldnt know. Fred :hatsoff:

 

[roundball]

Like roundball I was just playing around with diff buck one day 2,3,4, and one of them layered 4 at a time 16 in my 20 and shot great out to 25 or so yds ,it was all I tryed it was just playing around so it can be done but with which and how far I wouldnt know. Fred :hatsoff:

Ya know, I'm deer hunting this year with my new .62cal Flint smoothbore barrel, and if the deer gods smile so I get a buck or three early in the season, I might try that "three .490s in a paper shot cup load" I tested at the range that day myself...just for some hands on...:hmm:

 

[Itegorm]

I really like buckshot out of a my smoothbores. My usual is 20-24 #4 buck over about 65-75grains of powder and wadded over powder and overshot with leaves or grass (both guns that like that loading are 20 bore). I get okay patterns out to about 20 yards. I wouldn't hesitate to use such a load on deer or even bear out of my guns (I know many don't agree with using buckshot on most game) within the 20 yard mark. Usually the buckshot load finds itself pressed into service for those multigame days when I am doing a bit of a walk about and may encounter anything from a deer to a coyote to tree rats (I tend to hunt to eat rather than just sport).
Now that being said I don't typically use that load for deer hunting, I prefer a single patched ball for deer but I have also had great luck using buck and ball for deer. One of the areas I hunt is next to one of the thickest swamps I have ever seen (really tough tracking) so I wanted something with a bit more punch than just a round ball. I found that using a .590 ball with 8 buck shot on top was just the ticket. My shots are within 20-25 yards most of the time as the area is rather thick. I haven't had a single deer go more than 15 yards from where it was shot when using Buck and ball. For me it works great, but before one decides to hunt with it you need to try it out in your gun and see how it goes. If you need more info on how it is loaded (wadding and such) drop me a PM.

 

[Snowshoe]

I shot 3 .440 RB out of my 20 GA. I cut a spent rocket engine for a bore spacers with a wad between each ball. I had a 6 inch. group at 35 yards. Not sure what it was good for but it was fun.
Shoe