Shot Buffer?

[thauge]

For starters, I'm a newbie when it comes to shot shell loading. I know many commercial brands of buckshot use shot-buffer in them and supposedly it is to help prevent the shot from deforming. Dose buffer effect patterning also?

[LUBEDUDE]

Yes, it helps even out the pattern and prevent bunching.

Someone will probably chime in with some fancy technical name.

[mtgrs737]

Yes shot buffer does help your loads pattern tighter due to cushioning of the shot during launching. Shot at the bottom of the shotcup gets the worst of it due the shot on top pushing down on them. Round pellets fly truer to point of aim than pellets that are not round, have flats or dimples on the surface. Buffering can also help by protecting the pellets as they are pushed thru the forcing cone just ahead of the chamber and the choke at the end of the barrel. Long range shooters like turkey shoots, Annie Oakley's, Back Porch shooters often use hard shot which is often plated shot and shot buffers to help them hold their patterns tighter so they can hit and break long range clays. Shot buffers can raise chamber pressures so make sure you use load data that is developed using shot buffer. Some say buffering the shot will make your gun shoot one choke tighter patterns, but I have not tested this as I don't load buffered shot at this time.

[sargenv]

I read an article once that pretty much disproved plated shot as not doing what it was supposed to do. Something about the shot core being soft and that once plated, it deformed as readily as regular soft shot. The solution to less deformation was target grade shot that was higher in antimony so as to keep it's shape once fired, compressed, and out the barrel through the choke.

One thing we pay a bit more for in target loads is the guarantee that the shot is of a higher quality and will be more consistent shot to shot pattern wise. This is one reason I suggest to some of our better multi-gun shooters is to use the cheap wally world stuff for practice, but when traveling to larger matches, to pay the extra $1-$3 a box for the better target stuff since it will be more consistent.

[Spawn-Inc]

for my buckshot shells using 8x 00 buck pellets stacked in 2 i use cream of wheat for buffer. about 45 grains seems to fill it out nicely, and help get a much better crimp.

[LUBEDUDE]

One thing we pay a bit more for in target loads is the guarantee that the shot is of a higher quality and will be more consistent shot to shot pattern wise. This is one reason I suggest to some of our better multi-gun shooters is to use the cheap wally world stuff for practice, but when traveling to larger matches, to pay the extra $1-$3 a box for the better target stuff since it will be more consistent.

Even better, reload for practice and cut your shotshell ammo costs in half. Plus, customize it to your own specs.

[DIRT Farmer]

A long time ago befor lead shot ruined water foul hunting I loaded buffered lead shot in my tens. 2 1/4 oz and a Lee dipper, I don't know which one of buffer. I loaded #6 for the club mad annies, # 2s for ducks and BBs for geese. In the tight choaked Spanish double it made a real differance, less but noticable in the Ithica mag 10. Target grade plated shot and BPI grex for max effect per my patterning tests.