BUCKSHOT

[Butch-M]

I have a few buckshot questions. I've been asked to participate in a research situation where it MAY be called for under certain narrow circumstances.

Is the copper coating on some buckshot heavy enough to prevent lead fouling in a rifled barrel?

What do you think the results of launching buckshot out of a rifled barrel would be?

Is one brand or load better than another?

I'm trying to determine if I could carry some buckshot shells in my pocket while working with my rifled barrel w/optics ... and just switch shells in a hurry out in the field. OR ... predetermine the need for buckshot and switch to my smoothbore barrel (or another shotgun.) If it seems like a possible option ... I'll buy a bunch and pattern it through the rifled barrel; otherwise I'll bag the idea.

[BLACK JACK]

I make no claims to be an engineer or a gunsmith, but I have been hunting and shooting for a long time. I don't see where shooting buckshot threw a rifled barrel would hurt it. I would think that the FPS would be about the same as shooting it out of a smoothbore of the same length. As far as what kind of pattern it will throw your guess is as good as mine.

Good luck!!

[69beers]

Haven't shot it through a rifled barrel myself, but heard you should duck when you fire it sprays so bad.

[Butch-M]

Yeah, I read a guy's post once when we were writing about the ills of buckshot ... LOL The guy said it spreads dreadfully out of a rifled barrel too. Scary awful. He sounded credible, like he knew what he was talking about.

As far as fouling goes, non-sabot slugs lead foul rifle barrels as the lands scrape the soft lead slug screaming by ... I was wondering if a "shot cup" around buckshot OR copper plated pellets would prevent that.

I'm 99% resigned to buckshot not working with a rifled barrel, but thought I'd ask anyway ... since I have no experience with the stuff and before I waste time testing and patterning it out of a barrel that simply isn't going to work.

[pdw4137]

Gentlemen, its called centrifugal force. Because the rifled barrel causes the wad, and the shot contained within to spin at great speed, around a linear axis. the shot, as soon as it is realeased from the wad trravel perpendiculaly away from that axis. Its kind of like what would happen if you spun the lazy susan on your grandma's dinner table too fast, the result being dreesing and cranberry sauce on all th guests.

[Butch-M]

Well, I bought 3 boxes of 3-1/2" 00 buckshot ... and some foster slugs that will work in my smoothbore barrel ... then found out the "buckshot" factor has been eliminated from the project. Now I have shells with 18 ... 33 caliber lead balls. Seems like a lot of holes to put in one deer. LOL Talk about spray & pray ... empty the gun and that's 54 projectiles filling the air.

Oh well, it will probably sit in the ammo can ... alongside the other box of buckshot that has been in there for about 30 years.

[cousin dan]

Slug guns are stupid. Thank god I live where they're not mandatory.

[Butch-M]

Yeah, I agree that slug guns are a pain. You're stuck with an inherently inaccurate platform and you agonize trying to get accuracy out of it. I wonder what the "statistics" show about hunting accidents in rifle zones vs hunting accidents in shotgun only states or zones. I'm guessing there's absolutely no safety advantage statistically by imposing shotguns on deer hunters. I'd further guess that almost all hunting accidents happen up close, not errant bullets hitting somebody a half mile away. I suspect the whole shotgun thing is far more of a public perception of safety, rather than the real thing. BUT ... "it is what it is" and we have to work with it. LOL

Perhaps the ammunition manufacturers will someday solve the problem with further improvements in slugs.

[wallhanger54]

Dang Butch, thats pretty insightful! I like the way you put that about the "perception" of safety. Git er done!

[FN_FAL]

BUTCH-M it appears you've gotten the answers you were looking for, and I'd agree. I shoot shotguns often and all I ever shoot is 00,000, buck or slugs. When I read your first post I pictured 8 33 caliber pellets just hiting north,south,east,and west of the inside of that rifled barreled. Which of course doesn't sound like something one would want to do for several reasons. As I went further down the thread I read you have 3 1/2" shells in buckshot!! Holy smoke is that a load! I'd also have to agree with you about hunting accidents happening in close quarters as opposed to 1/2 mile away. I'm definitely interested in what your 3 1/2" shells do to what ever you shoot them if you ever do. Just shoot it at some cardboard or something. Watch how fast you can incinerate whatever lays in the path of that DOA round. (Out of your smoothbore of course.) Have fun, and prepare to watch something get ripped to shreads.