Buckshot in pistols?

[AtlatlMan]

Something I have wondered about for years is whether there is any historical evidence at all that smoothbore pistols were ever loaded with swan shot, buck and ball etc. Given my own experience with them, with less than stellar accuracy at embarrassingly close range, one would think more then one fella at some point opted to use one as a sawn off scattergun.

 

[new2bp]

Ever hear of the LeMat ? LeMat Revolver - Wikipedia

 

[TDM]

Can't say how common it was, but it was certainly done.

 

[nick_1]

I did it in the 70s..

 

[Stantheman86]

I'm pretty certain the various .69 pistols were used with Buck and Ball at some point and also the .54 American military smoothbore pistols.

I guarantee some Buck cartridges were made for these pistols. Guys back then thought outside the box just like we do.

 

[Codger Craig Wilcox]

I'm wondering what diameter shot might be used.
I am certain that one of my .44's would handle, say, a standard ball over 8 or 10 #5 or #4 shot. Can't really see 3 standard #0 or #00 buck, plus the usual pistol ball, being used.
What say the rest of you?

 

[Old-Duckman]

I saw a video where Blackie did some #8 shot (if I’m remembering correctly) as a snake load. He showed how to do it and the pattern they achieve.

 

[andy52]

I've loaded 00 in my tower pistol a time or two it works fine.

 

[PathfinderNC]

Here ya go... number 7 shot at about 18 yards

 

[Magungo1066]

My experimentation with buckshot out of my fowler has been pretty underwhelming. However, at pistol range, I would think a little buck or bird shot would certainly be pretty nasty combined with the ball. Especially if you are like 5 feet away. If anything it makes sure that red coat pauses with pain while you draw your tomahawk. I am going to mess with it next time I am at the range. I would think it ups the chance of you hitting whatever you are shooting at within pistol distance

 

[user 56333]

Something I have wondered about for years is whether there is any historical evidence at all that smoothbore pistols were ever loaded with swan shot, buck and ball etc.

Well, there were blunderbuss-type handguns around in the late 1700s and early 1800s ... I'm guessing at least some could have used shot, just like their shoulder-fired cousins.

Here's a flintlock one from circa 1780:

https://historical.ha.com/itm/handg...ted-british-blunderbuss-pistol/a/6074-52302.s

And a percussion one:

https://www.cowanauctions.com/lot/percussion-blunderbuss-pistol-by-johann-contriner-186397

 

[Codgernam]

Interesting . Have thought about it myself . Summer is coming
… maybe .

 

[TreeMan]

Ill make an uneducated guess that #6 or 7.5 shot out of a large bore smooth bore pistol would be way more effective than those goofy .410 judge revolvers.

 

[nick_1]

Certainly was SOP for anyone with a Lemat revolver.

 

[User_Dan]

My 67 cal pistol loves buckshot. Lots of fun to play around with at the range.

 

[AtlatlMan]

Found this...