OO Buckshot thru Lee die for 308 Winchester?

[clearwater]

Have some 00 buckshot and don't reload shotgun.

How about running it thru my Lee sizing die (.309) and shooting from my 308 with 3 grains of Bullseye?

[John McCorkle]

I've heard of it working...never tried it myself....but actually plan to. The load has to be light light light as there is such little surface area to bite into and would easily skip rifling depending on which twist rate you have.

May be good for very short range but I read guys saying it skips to the target at 50 yrds...

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[Texas by God]

Going from .330" to .309" will give them the shape of capsules but I'm sure that they will work at close range. Use LLA to lube them. Ive used .310" round balls for decades and they shoot well enough to hunt squirrels with.

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[John McCorkle]

Going from .330" to .309" will give them the shape of capsules but I'm sure that they will work at close range. Use LLA to lube them. Ive used .310" round balls for decades and they shoot well enough to hunt squirrels with.

Sent from my SM-A716U using TapatalkWhat is your load on the .310? I got a .311 in a buy of several molds and I'm excited to get it down the tube....may use them for trainers for my kids on a 300 blk bolt gun

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[cwtebay]

Following, interesting project.

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[45-70 Chevroner]

I don't know about 308, but I have loaded them in 30-30, with out sizing them. Just flair the case mouth and seat. I lube them with Lee 'LL lube. Loaded with the 3grs of Bullseye mentioned. Shoots great out to 25 yards, for small game rabbit size, maybe even Turkey. The 30-30 has a slower twist rate then the 308. Not as loud as a 22 LR.

[dverna]

Doing stuff like this may have made sense before but think it through.

Primers sell for $100+/1000. So you have 10 cents in the primer. With 3 gr of BE you are looking at another 1.5 cents for powder. The buckshot is worth $5/lb...so another 4 cents. Let's call it 15+ cents a shot. And it takes about an hour load 50 rounds.

If you want a "training" round for the kids and they shoot 500 rounds a month that would cost you $75 and 10 hrs of reloading. Over 6 months of training you will have invested $450 and 60 hours at the reloading bench. A good springer air gun will cost $300 and it uses pellets that cost $40/1000. So for the same 3000 shots the cost is $120...for a total cost of $420 and 60 hours of time saved.

If your kids are not strong enough to cock a springer, here is a nice CO2 rifle for $200:

https://www.pyramydair.com/s/m/Beeman_AR2078A_CO2_Target_Rifle/4067

It gets 30 shots per 12 gm powerlet ($25/40) so adding the cost of pellets, the cost to shoot is $30/500....$180 for 3000 shots

Buying your kid(s) their own rifle is a really nice bonus as well.

And that $200-300 air gun will be twice as accurate as a 00 buck slug at 25 yards. One last comment...IMO an accurate gun is very important to train a new shooter. Guns that shoot poorly make it difficult for a shooter to progress. If you, "the expert" are shooting 3" groups at 25 yards, the kid shooting 4" groups thinks he is doing well. If you are shooting 1" groups, his 4" groups will force him push him to learn.

[Michael J. Spangler]

In light of current pricing I do agree with the statement above.

Though the OP did did not ask about price, or state he was low on primers or anything so I'll try to stuck to an answer for the question asked.

I know the OP has product and wants to use it or at least know if he can use it.
Yes it can be done. spray a little lube on them and they will size down nice. Once that's done I tumble lube mine.

I haven't fired them in .308 but I do regularly enough in a 30-30. Same idea. Just make sure they exit the bore each time. A single round ball doesn't have much weight, but the way you're using a .330" and sizing down should leave you with more bearing surface which will help get a better neck tension vs a straight round ball.

Let us know how you make out

[Maven]

clear...., To answer your question, and not economies derived from purchasing and using an air rifle, yes it is certainly feasible to do as you suggest. Btw, I've done this with a .375" roundball for my .357Mag. and .38Spl., reducing them to .359" and .358", respectively. Accuracy @ 25 yd., with minimum loads of Bullseye or Clays was quite good.

[dannyd]

We are thinking outside the box: love it :)

[Texas by God]

These loads can be assembled with large pistol primers as well. Or decapped live primers from pulled down ammo. 3 grains of Bullseye is perfect but a little of any other similar fast burning powder can work.
Nothing against air guns, but plinking with a real hunting rifle is very cool for kids of all ages.


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[John McCorkle]

Agreed on current pricing but I saw this coming and stocked up for projects like this in mind.. shouldn't have to buy primers for a long long time so economics of today don't effect the price I paid over the past few years

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[Texas by God]

So, you got me thinking about it. I gutted a 00B Seller & Bellot(sp) 12 gauge shell and ran the buckshot through the sizer. Obviously I was wrong about the capsule shape....
The S&B buckshot was a little cobby so they have a little finning around the "base".
Swaged buckshot would probably look better.
Nevertheless, I've tumble lubed them and they will be loaded over 3 grs of Bullseye in 30-40 Krag ( it's easy to use as a single shot)
And we will see what happens.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210203/dc0c825f816a6af55924805b26ecaedb.jpg

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[GregLaROCHE]

I would say, to be sure and tumble lube them, or at least get some kind of lube on them. Afterwards, you don’t have to decrease the powder charge, but can start carefully increasing it if you want, because the boolit is really light.

[John McCorkle]

So, you got me thinking about it. I gutted a 00B Seller & Bellot(sp) 12 gauge shell and ran the buckshot through the sizer. Obviously I was wrong about the capsule shape....
The S&B buckshot was a little cobby so they have a little finning around the "base".
Swaged buckshot would probably look better.
Nevertheless, I've tumble lubed them and they will be loaded over 3 grs of Bullseye in 30-40 Krag ( it's easy to use as a single shot)
And we will see what happens.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210203/dc0c825f816a6af55924805b26ecaedb.jpg

Sent from my SM-A716U using TapatalkThat looks like it's going to be alot of fun!!

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[Goofy]

Fiddled with a similar project a short time ago with .311” round balls in a .30 caliber rifle, case based in a .357 mag. Velocity ranged from 900-1440 FPS with 4 different loads, groups were in the 1” range for 5 shots each. Ball was seated and a small bit of SPG lube placed on the ball/case mouth junction.

Did a similar thing 20 years back with a .44 mag rifle. .430” balls were sized to .420” and paper patched. Velocity ran from 1200-1800 fps before it went south. Groups were in the 2” range at 50 yds.

[cwtebay]

So, you got me thinking about it. I gutted a 00B Seller & Bellot(sp) 12 gauge shell and ran the buckshot through the sizer. Obviously I was wrong about the capsule shape....
The S&B buckshot was a little cobby so they have a little finning around the "base".
Swaged buckshot would probably look better.
Nevertheless, I've tumble lubed them and they will be loaded over 3 grs of Bullseye in 30-40 Krag ( it's easy to use as a single shot)
And we will see what happens.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210203/dc0c825f816a6af55924805b26ecaedb.jpg

Sent from my SM-A716U using TapatalkI would enjoy hearing from this experience.

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[44Blam]

Maybe you should reload shotgun -- have you tried buying 00 buck rounds?

[rbuck351]

A few of them with you when hunting would be great for popping a grouse for dinner instead of blowing it to a pile of feathers. 15 cents is cheap to have a grouse gun and a deer rifle in one unit. I have used them in my Tok just to see if they would work and they do. It's thinking like this that has produced many of things we have today.

[blackthorn]

Quote----"A few of them with you when hunting would be great for popping a grouse for dinner instead of blowing it to a pile of feathers."

Choot em in the head!!!

[WRideout]

I have loaded .310 RBs in my 7.62 Nagant with a 22 case full of Red Dot. They work fine, and are pretty accurate. Virtually no recoil.

Wayne

[Goofy]

https://i.imgur.com/Sftn5LR.jpg

https://www.brownells.com/reloading/muzzleloading-components/bullets/round-ball-muzzleloading-bullets-prod55240.aspx

[44magLeo]

Years ago loads like this were called gallery loads. Lots of people loaded these to shoot thier rifles in the basement.
Very low noise and power these could safely be shot indoors with not much of a back stop.
The neihbors never hear them.
Leo

[Texas by God]

So, I used unsized brass, used the smallest Lee powder dipper(2.8 grs) of Bullseye. I carefully placed the little bullets in the necks by hand and secured them with a light crimp with the FCD. The cattle were grazing on the range so I shot a cardboard box on the ground at 15 paces( squirrel range) in a safe direction towards the forest. I'm pleased with this 9 shot group- especially since the point of impact is close to zero with no sight adjustment.
I've never killed a squirrel/rabbit/turtle/racoon with a Krag; but I believe that I can.
I did not wear ear protection and the report was similar to .22 LR Stingers. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210204/a428b8ea666b3e3bfb657a53d98f4d09.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210204/99823f82e398b004d34c83730e15a3da.jpg

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[John McCorkle]

So, I used unsized brass, used the smallest Lee powder dipper(2.8 grs) of Bullseye. I carefully placed the little bullets in the necks by hand and secured them with a light crimp with the FCD. The cattle were grazing on the range so I shot a cardboard box on the ground at 15 paces( squirrel range) in a safe direction towards the forest. I'm pleased with this 9 shot group- especially since the point of impact is close to zero with no sight adjustment.
I've never killed a squirrel/rabbit/turtle/racoon with a Krag; but I believe that I can.
I did not wear ear protection and the report was similar to .22 LR Stingers. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210204/a428b8ea666b3e3bfb657a53d98f4d09.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210204/99823f82e398b004d34c83730e15a3da.jpg

Sent from my SM-A716U using TapatalkVery niiiice that's awesome

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[onelight]

Looks and sounds like fun to me :)

[cwtebay]

So, I used unsized brass, used the smallest Lee powder dipper(2.8 grs) of Bullseye. I carefully placed the little bullets in the necks by hand and secured them with a light crimp with the FCD. The cattle were grazing on the range so I shot a cardboard box on the ground at 15 paces( squirrel range) in a safe direction towards the forest. I'm pleased with this 9 shot group- especially since the point of impact is close to zero with no sight adjustment.
I've never killed a squirrel/rabbit/turtle/racoon with a Krag; but I believe that I can.
I did not wear ear protection and the report was similar to .22 LR Stingers. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210204/a428b8ea666b3e3bfb657a53d98f4d09.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210204/99823f82e398b004d34c83730e15a3da.jpg

Sent from my SM-A716U using TapatalkI like it! Were you able to get them to cycle through the Krag magazine?

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[Michael J. Spangler]

Now I need to revisit this in 30-30 for some fun.

[Texas by God]

I did not think that they would cycle through the magazine so I didn't even try it. When I use round ball loads in my 94 Winchester I also load them single shot( first as a 30-30; now a 38-55). The first time I tried round ball loads was from an old Speer manual that had loads for .433" rb in .44 Magnum. It was so cool to gather tree rats and cotton tail rabbits with my SBH Ruger without destroying them. Next was .451" rb in .45 AR for my 1917 S&W. I was hooked.
Some folks say that a round ball from a 38-55 or 44 is too big for small game- but what size were the old muzzle loader "squirrel rifles"?


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[DonHowe]

Doing stuff like this may have made sense before but think it through.

Primers sell for $100+/1000. So you have 10 cents in the primer. With 3 gr of BE you are looking at another 1.5 cents for powder. The buckshot is worth $5/lb...so another 4 cents. Let's call it 15+ cents a shot. And it takes about an hour load 50 rounds.

If you want a "training" round for the kids and they shoot 500 rounds a month that would cost you $75 and 10 hrs of reloading. Over 6 months of training you will have invested $450 and 60 hours at the reloading bench. A good springer air gun will cost $300 and it uses pellets that cost $40/1000. So for the same 3000 shots the cost is $120...for a total cost of $420 and 60 hours of time saved.

If your kids are not strong enough to cock a springer, here is a nice CO2 rifle for $200:

https://www.pyramydair.com/s/m/Beeman_AR2078A_CO2_Target_Rifle/4067

It gets 30 shots per 12 gm powerlet ($25/40) so adding the cost of pellets, the cost to shoot is $30/500....$180 for 3000 shots

Buying your kid(s) their own rifle is a really nice bonus as well.

And that $200-300 air gun will be twice as accurate as a 00 buck slug at 25 yards. One last comment...IMO an accurate gun is very important to train a new shooter. Guns that shoot poorly make it difficult for a shooter to progress. If you, "the expert" are shooting 3" groups at 25 yards, the kid shooting 4" groups thinks he is doing well. If you are shooting 1" groups, his 4" groups will force him push him to learn.

This is the dumbest thing I have ever read on a shooting related website! Except for the miniscule number of member/readers who frequent these sites who are subsistence hunters we can almost NEVER justify the cost of shooting. If a person chooses to limit his/her activity in this manner,, do whatever trips your trigger WITH YOUR OWN MONEY but leave others to do the same.
All the justification the OP needs for doing this is that he wants to try it and it is his money. The payback is the satisfaction derived from doing it.

[john.k]

Ive done this ,even took a pocket of buck shot on a school cadet camp once,for use with blanks,didnt end well.....Anyhoo ,enough of that,if you try to magazine feed ,the open necks of the cases will be damaged ,and jam anyway.

[dverna]

This is the dumbest thing I have ever read on a shooting related website! Except for the miniscule number of member/readers who frequent these sites who are subsistence hunters we can almost NEVER justify the cost of shooting. If a person chooses to limit his/her activity in this manner,, do whatever trips your trigger WITH YOUR OWN MONEY but leave others to do the same.
All the justification the OP needs for doing this is that he wants to try it and it is his money. The payback is the satisfaction derived from doing it.

You are correct about one thing....we can almost never justify the cost of shooting. But we can make it more affordable and effective. For those who do not shoot very much, costs are less important...as well as the time invested to produce a round.

And in your emotional reply you ignored the rationale was to train kids. If you can afford $.15 a shot ammunition to train kids, you are blessed. Most people are not as fortunate as you.

[robg]

half the fun of reloading is experimenting .handy to have some light loads for your hunting rifle when after deer and some small game pops up

[Ernest]

I have done this a lot in 30-30. in fact it is my favorite load in the 30-30. I just tumble lube .311 or .312 round balls drop them in to the mouth of a fired case that has been reprimed and charged . I thumb them in enough to make them stick the I push them against the side of the bench table to seat them solidly in the case. works like a charm. pressure is so low you can use the case several times before you need to resize. .

[MarkP]

I have shot round balls in my 350 Rem Mags. Rolled them in LARs 45 - 45 - 10 XLOX, dried, and thumb loaded into cases. They shot surprisingly well. Fun to try something different, I read about this years ago in the Dixie Guns Works Catalog. Also shot RB's in my 458 Win Mag with so so accuracy and sized #4 buck in my 22 Hornet.

[MT Gianni]

Done this and it is accurate at 25 yards. Coat the balls with LLA or run it around the cartridge neck after seating.

[Thumbcocker]

Shot a lot of size 0 buck in .30-30 and a .30-40 #3. Rolled in liquid alox, unsized case, lp primers, and 3 grains of red dot. Seated half way they would cycle through a Marlin and group well at 25 yards. Mrs.Thumbcocker could go through a quart zip lock bag in short order grinning the whole time lots of fun. Never tried them on critters but they were deadly on soda cans.