0 buck shot diameter?? Loading balls in rifles

[Float Pilot]

I was playing around today with some #1 buck which is 28.5 caliber, by crimping them into the mouth of a 30-06 case and firing them with 18 grains of Trail Boss.

2,400 fps but not very accurate since the balls are under-sized... 00 buck is a little too big, so does anyone have any 0 buck they could measure with their calipers ?

 

[Certaindeaf]

I think ought buck is like .36.

 

[Float Pilot]

The double 0 (00) I measured today was 32.5 caliber. It is supposed to be .33

The #1 buck is supposed to be .30 caliber but it really measured 28.5

The #4 buck measured .22.5 caliber.

Triple 0 (000) buck is supposed to be 36 caliber, but I did not measure any today.

Apparently the companies are making it smaller than advertised...

 

[joneb]

The double 0 (00) I measured today was 32.5 caliber. It is supposed to be .33

+ 1
same as a 2x4, it ain't 2x4.

Triple 0 (000) buck is supposed to be 36 caliber, but I did not measure any today.

It will likely measure .35"

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I have a shotgun reloading manual and they list:
000 Buckshot = .36
00 Buckshot = .33
0 Buckshot = .32
#1 Buckshot = .30
#2 Buckshot = .27
#3 Buckshot = .25
#4 buckshot = .24

 

[evan price]

0 buck is .320". I load it in 32s&w for gallery loads.

 

[joneb]

I thought of loading some 000 in 38spl just for fun, after taking down a round and measuring the shot it miced .353 ish " instead of .360"
It wasn't my fault

 

[Salmoneye]

Hornady makes .310" and .311" balls...

As for 'buck-shot', you are looking for #1-1/2:

http://www.ballisticproducts.com/Lead-Buckshot/products/65/

ADDING:

And back the heck off that charge...Even with the correct size you will be 'stripping' the rifling with that small bearing surface...

Now go clean out all that lead you just gunked up your barrel with... lol

 

[Certaindeaf]

Doh, for some reason I confused 0 with 000.

 

[mgmorden]

I wonder if you could take a pellet slightly larger than you needed (like a "Single ought") and use a bullet sizer to size it down to .309"? Seems like that would create a slightly oblong "pill".

Never tried it, and I'm not even positive that the resized portion would be distinct enough to keep straight while seating, but its an idea.

 

[clone]

http://www.shotgunworld.com/shot_sizes.jpg

 

[joneb]

http://www.shotgunworld.com/shot_sizes.jpg

Nice chart clone, but the issue is the actual pellet diameters do not match the charts.

 

[blarby]

I have some .311 balls on hand if you'd like.

Lee makes the mould. mine was $26

Hey look, its in stock and cheap @ midway !

They make FANTASTIC buckshot. A fellow thr member in alaska is using them/these as a plinker just like you are.

I have tried them in .308 win using 8 grains of unique. it was cute.

 

[sniper58]

I have loaded some #4 buckshot in my .243 for "pest loads"
The buckshot measures .240" - .249" in diameter. Not perfectly round.
I use neck-sized, slightly flared brass, WLR primers, and 3 grains of Bullseye.
When I press the balls in, I use my calipers, and find the orientation that gives me the widest measurement, then press the ball in with my thumb. The balls are tumble-lubed in Lee Liquid Alox before loading.

I'm getting 3/4" groups at 20 meters. I'm going to chronograph the load today. I'm hoping for 900 - 1000 fps

 

[rogn]

Sounds like you need a patched round ball. Some 0.015 ticking ought to do it. And cut back on the powder. Round balls function much better under 1500fps. What kind of lube are you using? The gentleman w/ the 0.311 rb mold has the right idea, you can finger load the balls into unsized cases and smear some bullet lube over the mouth of the case. And reducing the charge to give a reasonable velocity, should give a good gallery, short range, small game, pest load.
The most practical approach has been to use moderately soft cast bullets(minimal cost), lubed w/liguid alox, unsized and driven under 1500fps. This is in a 7mmWSM, a300 WSM and a R375. groups run at 1 1/2" down to 1/2 of that at 100. Noise recoil and cost are low for all three. the cast bullets can avoid many pitfalls present when dealing with the round ball low power loads, such as a squib and stuck ball. Or the ball falling into the case.

 

[sniper58]

Chronographed my #4 buckshot/.243 loads this morning.

I shot for group at 20 yds (which is the distance the pests in my yard show up). I put 5 rounds over the chrony. Average velocity was 1338 fps. Still too fast and a bit too loud. I'll back off 1/2 grain and see how that works.
The good news is that they shoot really well! The first shot (probably to foul the bore) was 3" below point-of-aim. The next 3 shots went through the same hole. Last shot was about 1/4" left of the previous 3. The group was about 1.5" below point-of-aim.

No lead visible in the bore of the rifle. A bit of unburned powder though.

 

[blarby]

Deleted / confused.