Homemade 00 buckshot from Federal Target Loads

[dbrown]

I have a couple of boxes of federal target loads laying around of the house. I was wondering if i could take the bird shot out in put 00 buckshot in it and work perfectly? By the way the ammo i have is 1 1/8 oz. 7 1/2 shot field and target loads.

I know this isn't ideal but i would like some cheap 00 buckshot

 

[klyph]

I've made slugs from birdshot loads, I don't see why not.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I would not do it because shotshell recipes are very exact. You can not change any of the components safely and switching the Birdshot to Buckshot without knowing if the Wad and powder charge is correct is a very bad idea.

Look around online and I'm sure you can find Buckshot almost as cheap as Birdshot.
Ammo-To-Go has 25 rounds of Federal 00 Buckshot on sale for only $16.95. 10 rounds of Fiocchi is only $5.95, that's not a bad price at all...

 

[Salmoneye]

Sellier and Bellot is less than $12/25 at 'Cheaper than Dirt'

 

[longhill]

Yes, I do it all the time. Just don't put more weight in than you took out of the shotshell. The Lee Load-All works great for crimping the shell casing.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Sellier and Bellot is less than $12/25 at 'Cheaper than Dirt'

I refuse to send any of my money to Cheaper Than Dirt because they chose to price gouge during the Clinton ban years. I will not forgive or forget those who don't treat their customers right, all the time. I would rather spend a few dollars more with Ammo-To-Go than send one red cent to Cheaper Than Dirt!!!

Thanks for the heads up though. It will be helpful to those who aren't angry with them.

 

[Salmoneye]

No worries...

I've never bought anything from them, so I was unaware of their history...

Last S&B 00 Buck I bought came from a catalog deal from Cabelas probably 20 years ago...

 

[USSR]

I have a couple of boxes of federal target loads laying around of the house. I was wondering if i could take the bird shot out in put 00 buckshot in it and work perfectly? By the way the ammo i have is 1 1/8 oz. 7 1/2 shot field and target loads.

Please don't do it. There are several reasons for this. First, 00 buckshot is typically layered in with 3 balls to a layer. They will be too big to fit that way in your birdshot wads. Secondly, buckshot and slugs use a slower burnrate powder than your target loads use. Pressure could end up being very high. Shotshell loads are VERY specific, much more so than metallic cartridge loads. Just MHO.

Don

 

[MachIVshooter]

They'll be pretty slow in a low brass target load, and without buffer the pellets will probably beat the hell out of each other going down the barrel, but as long as your load of 00 pellets doesn't exceed the weight of the shot load the cartridge was manufactured with, it should be safe.

 

[918v]

I agree. Buckshot takes up more room but weighs less, therefore replacing birdshot with buckshot will always be safe.

What will get you in trouble is the game warden who cuts open your shell to see whas in it.

 

[blarby]

Perfectly ?

That depends on your definition.

I'm currently experimenting with a lot of weird loadings.... What I can tell you is that as long as the weight is similar, and it crimps right, you should feel safe in using it.

You can view my progress here :

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=663589

All weird substitutions using a birdshot charge and wad, and non-birdshot loadings. Despite all of the apocalyptic himming and hawing, I have had no issues.

Feel free to grab a charge table, and look at some of the offerings therein to reassure yourself. They are measured in load weight and charge weight...and make zero reference to load type. For this reason, most charge tables tend to err on the lighter side of what is possible... but I;m sure you will find the DRAM equivalent charge listed on your shell on the chart, and can reload it accordingly.

 

[Uniquedot]

Yes there are no dangers in doing this unless you put a heavier charge of buckshot in the case or if your buckshot weighs considerably less than the 1 1/8 oz charge of birdshot which you will have taken from the shell. Too much weight = high pressure and too much reduction in weight will stick a wad in the bore. Remember that if you take 1 1/8 oz of birdshot from the shell and replace it with 1 1/8 oz of buckshot the pressure will already be lower with the buckshot than it was with the birdshot, but not much lower. This has something to do with the air space between the larger pellets which are also actually more fluid than fine shot which sets back upon itself. There is some good info (not a whole lot) on buckshot in the 5th edition of reloading for shotgunners which you would find useful.