00 Buckshot, Hodgdon Recipe, Buffer

[XGibsonX]

Hi all:

Posted sometime back about getting into reloading rifle/handgun cartridges. Got good advice here.

I recently added a Lee Load All II (12 ga.) with primer feed and a BPI Roll Crimper to my bench and want to give it a go.

I got the following recipe from the "Hodgdon Reloading Data Center - Shotshell" website:

Shell: 2 3/4" FEDERAL STEEL SHOT SHELLS .090" BASE WAD

Lead Buckshot 12 9-#00 LEAD BUCKSHOT HS-6 Fed. 209A Fed. 12S3 40 8,000 PSI 1450 ft/s

Two things:

1) Using the above components I should be able to send 9 pellets of 00 Buck downrange at 1450 fps?

2) Would adding a buffer, e.g., http://www.ballisticproducts.com/BP-Mix-47-Buffer-jar_500cc/productinfo/MIX47/ compromise the recipe?

Thanks and pardon the simplistic nature of the questions.

 

[rg1]

Adding buffer to a shotshell or buckshot load will greatly increase pressure. Lyman's Shotshell manual warns that you should always when loading buckshot to use data exactly as listed in data tables and use the exact type of buffer listed. They say that adding buffer it greatly alters the fluid dynamics of the shot charge and increases pressure and the powder charge MUST be reduced. Also as stated you have to use the exact type of buffer and you also have to weigh and use the exact weight of buffer material. Some loads I've compared that use buffer material shows highest pressures and less velocity than unbuffered loads. These higher pressures with buffer sometimes use as much as 3 1/2 grains less powder than non-buffered loads. I'd not use buffer unless you can find published data for the exact combination of components you're using.

 

[XGibsonX]

Thank you VERY much.

Makes sense.

 

[rfwobbly]

I highly recommend the Lyman shotshell reloading book.

 

[gamestalker]

I think some very important facts have been established here. Back in the old days there were fewer components to apply, so loading for shotshell was pretty straight forward and simplsitic. But now days with all the different hull, wads, powders, and primers, recipe's have become very specific and pressure sensitive to any alterations or substitutions. Even seemingly small alterations can be catastrophic.

My Son is one of those who will use any wad, any hull, any powder and primer combination when dove and quail season rolls around. I've been after him for years to stop loading with such disregard for published data, or eventually something bad is going to happen. He finally blew a hull to pieces loaded with his famous Longshot powder charge. I actually like Longshot powder for some real fast quail loads, but only if the right components are used. But I doubt he'll change his approach unless he breaks one of his 870's any time soon!