I’m not sure. I mainly loved the formula because I can measure shot cups and calculate the diameter that should fit before buying a mold. If the pellets cause pickle bumps bad enough, there will be feeding/reliably issues.
If the pellets are in a shot cup, it’s purpose is to protect the payload, right?
It’s been a long time since I took geometry but I think the flats would be fairly evenly spaced. Two flats where each pellet contacts the other and one flat where the choke would mash. So close to a triangle pattern of flat spots.
Is this slight deformation going to be more or less than the layers stacked on top of each other and accelerating to the speed of sound in a split second?
I suppose marking dye of different colors could be used for side contact points vs top and bottom contact points. Then capture fired shot and compare.
All that is assuming the payload hasn’t shifted in the previous 14-24 inches when it reaches the choke.
Maybe this is why more open chokes have been known to pattern better with buckshot?
Consider:
"Indeed, a choke friendly, easy to assemble load!
Two pellet layers, combined with PSB buffer, provide a very fluid transit through forcing cone and choke constrictions."
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Regarding the load discussed earlier:
To this pellet stack (2 x .310" = .620"), add twice the thickness of the wad petals for the suggested choke constriction that will consolidate rather than "mash" the buckshot pellets.
The same is true if you have calculated the diameter of your three per layer pellet stack and then add twice the thickness of the wad petals.
As with all things smoothbore, confirm with your pattern board.
Last edited by RMc; 05-10-2024 at 01:25 PM.
Million dollar question
For lead buckshot at normal useful buckshot range, is 0.005” to 0.010” of “mash” on the pellets detrimental to patterns?
Personally, I haven’t done enough testing to know. Seems like a pellet would deform almost that much dropping it on the floor.
Is it worthwhile to give up the larger mass and kinetic energy to avoid a potential 0.010” flat spot?
How would you capture buckshot traveling supersonic to look for deformation of the pellets, without damaging them in the trap?
Fitting pellet diameter to the choke or the choke to the pellet diameter, with two pellets per layer, is a simple matter as noted earlier. Just remember to add the wad petal thickness x two, if a shot cup or wrap is used.
For traditional three pellet layers, finding the relationship between between pellet diameter and choke constriction requires a little more more effort.
The following can help simplify the process:
d= The diameter of the buckshot in inches.
D= The diameter of the choke in inches.
d = D times.464016288 or D = d divided by.464016288
Again, remember to add the wad petal thickness x two, if a shot cup or wrap is used.
Last edited by RMc; 05-12-2024 at 12:40 PM.
You may find this site to be helpfull:
https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/s...le-d_1849.html
Picked up a Lee #0 buckshot mold. Tried it out today and was struggling with the lower cavities filling out. I had mystery metal in the pot. A dozen or so wheel weights found in parking lots and some window came. Half the pot was something with a little Linotype and jacketed bullet cores. A real Heinz 57 mix. Out of frustration I ended up putting a pound of solder in so it’s at least 19:1 with tin. Got the temperature up around 825 and things started coming together. Managed to cast about 1/2 the pot and the flow started slowing down. Fiddled with it but unplugged it and will deal with that issue later. I’ve got new 0 buckshot to go load!!
Started with some brush wads and 1-3/8 ounce data. I should probably have used a Teflon wrap but was in a hurry and being frugal too. The pellets fit loosely in stacks of threes. 12 pellet load fit on an unfolded 12 pack box at 30 yards with a reasonable distribution in the pattern. The next two loads I tried the BPI BP1253 wads. These only held ten pellets in stacks of twos. The recipe didn’t call for buffer and the crimps were balloon knot ugly. Lastly I tried the MG42 wads (with data from Tom Roster’s manual) and precision Reloading’s spherical buffer.
The BP1253 load grouped 10 in a basketball size at 30 yards. Woah! All of a sudden buckshot patterns got tight! So now on to the MG42 load with buffer. This pattern would fit on a football at 30 yards! Wow!!! I didn’t even sort the shot. I just didn’t use any with tails. So I went back to the house and loaded up a few more. Decided to try the Full size steel at 40 yards. Sweet! A useful pattern at 40. So so I backed up ten long paces behind the bench and sent the last round. It seems far deliberately shooting a shotgun at fifty yards. It rang the steel with authority too.
I did the math and have about sixteen cents of tin in each load, but wow! They shoot so tight it’s worth it 100%!
40 yard pattern.
50 yard pattern on top of the 40 yard pattern.
Barry54 would you show load data for the mg42 load. I have the wads and need the load data
The recipe called for 29 grains of longshot powder. I started with a MEC 26 bushing which the chart says 27.7 grains. I planned to increase but it patterns so well I’m not changing anything.
It is a 1-1/8 ounce recipe and ten pellets of Size 0 buckshot cast from the flavor of the day alloy was 480 grains.
Filled level with PSB and a tyvek overshot disc to retain the buffer. Federal or any straight wall hull. Cheddite 209 or Winchester 209. I used Cheddite because they are easier to get.
It might work in brass hulls. Probably a little snug in plastic. Might dimple the hull. Could cause hard chambering. #1 would fit better but I haven’t checked how well it fits.
BP | Bronze Point | IMR | Improved Military Rifle | PTD | Pointed |
BR | Bench Rest | M | Magnum | RN | Round Nose |
BT | Boat Tail | PL | Power-Lokt | SP | Soft Point |
C | Compressed Charge | PR | Primer | SPCL | Soft Point "Core-Lokt" |
HP | Hollow Point | PSPCL | Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" | C.O.L. | Cartridge Overall Length |
PSP | Pointed Soft Point | Spz | Spitzer Point | SBT | Spitzer Boat Tail |
LRN | Lead Round Nose | LWC | Lead Wad Cutter | LSWC | Lead Semi Wad Cutter |
GC | Gas Check |