How about 0 buck..

[Youngster]

Do you have a source for this? I am not saying that isn't the case, but it would seemingly violate SAAMI standards and specifications.

No source, just going by what I heard on other gun forums {maybe this one as well?} including some where they opened up some rounds and mic'ed the pellets on camera. I'll see if I can dig anything up but its been a while.

Between the appearant size and construction variations {alloying, plating etc} I think its fair to say that specs for shotgun pellets are more like guidlelines than absolute rules.

 

[Maverick223]

No source, just going by what I heard on other gun forums {maybe this one as well?} including some where they opened up some rounds and mic'ed the pellets on camera. I'll see if I can dig anything up but its been a while.

Between the appearant size and construction variations {alloying, plating etc} I think its fair to say that specs for shotgun pellets are more like guidlelines than absolute rules.

Fair enough. If you (or anyone else) comes across anything i'd be interested in reading more about it.

 

[Old Scratch]

I don't know which brand makes 21 pellet 1B, but Winchester makes a 20 pellet 1B for 2 3/4" that patterns extremely well. They label it "Double X Magnum."

 

[DenaliPark]

Any buckshot with a pellet size greater than .30 should work, IMHO. If you want to try 0 buck, pattern some first at various ranges and see how your gun likes it.

lpl

#4 buck is awesome medicine....

 

[DenaliPark]

I tested out some #4 buck but most of the pellets wouldn't penetrate 1 gallon jugs of water at 15 yards or so so that is why I wouldn't trust it as much for HD despite it's much higher pellet count.

I find this very hard to believe, I've torn autos up with #4 at 25-yards.....

 

[HoosierQ]

And please don't confuse #4 Buck with #4 Bird. Why they overlapped the numbers I don't know but #4 Bird (typical pheasant/varmint load) is a lot smaller pellets than #4 Buck.

Living in town #4 Bird is my go to round for penetration issues. I load 4 bird shot rounds (usually #4) in front of 4 00 or 0 buck rounds in my 590.

 

[Dee]

Denalipark- what it tried was Remington #4 buck, I guess I should have taken pics of these jugs I shot but I was rather underwhelmed with the penitration of the #4. Maybe it patterns a lot tighter out of the gun that you shot it out of. I have a Moss 500 with 18.5" barrel, no choke so that probably make a big difference compared to a gun with a longer barrel and tight choke.

I don't know whats going on around here I went to a few shops today; Academy, Dicks and Walmart and none of them had #1 buck or any short mag 00 or 0 B

 

[Maverick223]

I don't know which brand makes 21 pellet 1B, but Winchester makes a 20 pellet 1B for 2 3/4" that patterns extremely well. They label it "Double X Magnum."

I looked but was unable to find it (in no. 1 buck anyway)...have a link?

 

[dirtykid]

I might be mis-informed but i thought 2-3/4 00-buck had 9-pellets and 3" has 15-pellets,,,thats why i use the 3" mag 00-buck for coyotes,,it will spin them off their feet at 50-yds,,i know that for sure

 

[VA27]

You are right Old Scratch it's a 20 pellet load.

The 'short magnum' loads are gone from the lineup. The 1B standard (16 pellets) and 3" (24 pellets) are all that's left.

The standard 16 pellet load goes 1250fps

The 'short magnum' 20 pellet load went 1075fps

The 3" 24 pellet load runs at 1040fps

Looks like the other 'short magnum' loads are gone, too.

00B standard is 9 pellets @ 1325fps, while the 'SM' load was 12 pellets @ 1290fps.

4B standard is 27 pellets @ 1325fps, the 'SM' load was 34 pellets @ 1250fps.

The 3" versions show 00 15 pellets @ 1210fps, 4B 41 pellets @ 1210fps.

I guess the 3" has pretty much run off the 'SM' sales wise.

 

[Maverick223]

I guess the 3" has pretty much run off the 'SM' sales wise.

It's a shame, as the new Kel-Tec KSG will only accommodate 2-3/4in. shells in the magazine (interestingly enough it comes equipped with a 3in. chamber). Fortunately knowing KTs production rate we'll have the better part of a decade to find suitable ammo for it.

 

[speaksoftly]

I'm not sure what standards that the FBI uses to determine this, but I know a lot of deer that would disagree with this.

Haha I agree though they would only disagree if they were still able to disagree with anything. ;-)

 

[mes227]

Here's a great piece on shotgun loads for HD: http://www.firearmstactical.com/briefs10.htm

The summary from that article states:
#1 buck is the smallest diameter shot that reliably and consistently penetrates more than 12 inches of standard ordnance gelatin when fired at typical shotgun engagement distances. A standard 2¾-inch 12 gauge shotshell contains 16 pellets of #1 buck. The total combined cross sectional area of the 16 pellets is 1.13 square inches. Compared to the total combined cross sectional area of the nine pellets in a standard #00 buck shotshell (0.77 sq inches), the #1 buck shotshell has the capacity to produce over 30 percent more potentially effective wound trauma.

In all shotshell loads, #1 buckshot produces more potentially effective wound trauma than either #00 or #000 buck. In addition, #1 buck is less likely to over-penetrate and exit an attacker's body. For home defense applications a standard velocity 2¾-inch #1 buck shotshell (16 pellet payload) from Federal, Remington or Winchester is your best choice. We feel the Federal Classic 2¾-inch #1 buck load (F127) is slightly better than the same loads offered by Remington and Winchester. The Federal shotshell uses both a plastic shot cup and granulated plastic shot buffer to minimize post-ignition pellet deformation, whereas the Remington and Winchester loads do not.

Second best choice is Winchester's 2¾-inch Magnum #1 buck shotshell, which is loaded with 20 pieces of copper-plated, buffered, hardened lead #1 buckshot. For those of you who are concerned about a tight shot pattern, this shotshell will probably give you the best patterning results in #1 buck. This load may not be a good choice for those who are recoil sensitive.