Do I need to put graphite on buckshot?

[briang]

Do I need to put graphite on home cast buckshot like you do with shot? Would that white motor mica stuff work?

[schutzen]

Do you need to? I'm not sure, but I do. Every modern factory load of buckshot I have broken down was graphite coated, but I have seen some out of the 1940's that were not coated ( the shot was oxidized and stuck together-loads had been damp/wet). The stuck together shot tumbled, broke apart, cleaned up and loaded. It shot as well as any other loads.

[klcarroll]

If you are shooting your buck "naked" (...no shotcup or shot wrapper), ANY sort of lubricant will reduce barrel leading.

I used to spend more than a couple of minutes with the bronze brush and Hoppes #9 after a range session with buckshot loads: .....After I started tumbling my 00Buck with a little bit of graphite, the "cleanup time" was reduced considerably.

Kent