3" #4 buck loading advice

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GcG166

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I’m looking for some advice on building a 3" 12‑gauge load for coyote hunting using#4 buckshot. I’m hoping for around 35–40 pellets.

I currently have Unique and Longshot powders. I know Unique isn’t suitable for this application, but I thought Longshot might work since it’s a slow burning powder. The issue is that I can’t find any published buckshot data that uses Longshot in a 3" hull. My manual lists Longshot for several lead‑shot loads with payload weights both below, around, and above the weight of the buckshot load I’m trying to build, so I assumed it would be suitable. What changes between loading the same wight of burdshot vs buckshot? Id think it would work pretty much the same (I know it doesn't before people start) im curious why it'd have to use different data

If Longshot truly isn’t a good option, I’m open to buying a different powder but id rather use what i have of i can

I also have a bunch of Winchester WAA12 wads. I thought they might work, but I’m not sure if they’re appropriate for a 3" buckshot load i think i need somethingmuch longer after loading some shot into one, so any guidance there would be appreciated as well. I’m new to shotgun reloading and want to make sure I’m doing things safely and correctly and theres very little 3 inch #4 buck data.
 
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GcG166 said:
I’m looking for some advice on building a 3" 12‑gauge load for coyote hunting using#4 buckshot. I’m hoping for around 35–40 pellets.

I currently have Unique and Longshot powders. I know Unique isn’t suitable for this application, but I thought Longshot might work since it’s a slow burning powder. The issue is that I can’t find any published buckshot data that uses Longshot in a 3" hull. My manual lists Longshot for several lead‑shot loads with payload weights both below, around, and above the weight of the buckshot load I’m trying to build, so I assumed it would be suitable. What changes between loading the same wight of burdshot vs buckshot? Id think it would work pretty much the same (I know it doesn't before people start) im curious why it'd have to use different data

If Longshot truly isn’t a good option, I’m open to buying a different powder but id rather use what i have of i can

I also have a bunch of Winchester WAA12 wads. I thought they might work, but I’m not sure if they’re appropriate for a 3" buckshot load, so any guidance there would be appreciated as well. I’m new to shotgun reloading and want to make sure I’m doing things safely and correctly and theres very little 3 inch #4 buck data.
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There is plenty of data out there for what you are looking for it just takes time to find it . You will need a better wad for a payload that size , maybe tps wads or csd wads , you can also use a gas’s seal and Mylar with buffer .
28-29 grains lonshot can load up to 2 0z
 
Plenty of data available. But like said by jcpal smaller shot like f(AAA) or t works better or lead BB. I tend to use LEAD BB shot in 2 3/4 inch loads just for pattern density but I generally don’t reload it I buy it mainly old IVI/Cil imperial loads Challanger Apprently loads it I have never seen a box.

As with all shotshell loading follow the data as it is it’s not like metallic loading no real visual signs over over pressure.
 
jcpal said:
You would be better off with a bit smaller pellets for coyotes like f or T
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I never realized how.many more pellets are in a load of f shot vs #4 buck for such a small size difference. Might look into getting some.but then I'd need to buy the shot. #4 i can cast myself easily and I've used it hunting in the past and liked it.
 
antiqueguy said:
Plenty of data available. But like said by jcpal smaller shot like f(AAA) or t works better or lead BB. I tend to use LEAD BB shot in 2 3/4 inch loads just for pattern density but I generally don’t reload it I buy it mainly old IVI/Cil imperial loads Challanger Apprently loads it I have never seen a box.

As with all shotshell loading follow the data as it is it’s not like metallic loading no real visual signs over over pressure.
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I was really hoping to load something to hunt with. Something about hunting with ammo I load lol but where do you buy what you use? I havent seen larger shot sizes in lead
 
GcG166 said:
I was really hoping to load something to hunt with. Something about hunting with ammo I load lol but where do you buy what you use? I havent seen larger shot sizes in lead
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Budget shooter supply
Bilizior
X reload
They all sell shotgun reloading supplies
Also Marty’s molds. For molds he makes every size pellet mold. 1/2/3/4/0/00/000/0000/tt/f/bb and many more but they are expensive and shipped from the us
 
jcpal said:
There is plenty of data out there for what you are looking for it just takes time to find it . You will need a better wad for a payload that size , maybe tps wads or csd wads , you can also use a gas’s seal and Mylar with buffer .
28-29 grains lonshot can load up to 2 0z
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Was just looking over my data and 28-29 of longshot with 2 oz of lead is pushing max pressure I would start around 25 grains. 2oz of #4 buck is around 41 pellets
 
jcpal said:
Budget shooter supply
Bilizior
X reload
They all sell shotgun reloading supplies
Also Marty’s molds. For molds he makes every size pellet mold. 1/2/3/4/0/00/000/0000/tt/f/bb and many more but they are expensive and shipped from the us
Click to expand...
Just looking at Bilozir now and they have a lot more options than what I've found other places. Will be making an order. Thanks!
 
For a 2-3/4 inch shell I’ve used 27 or 28 grains of longshot
If you have blue dot it is a good powder too
The clay buster waa12r red wad is the wad to use as it allows for more payload capacity
Remington made some wads that were great for heavy buckshot loads but they are hard to find as they don’t make them anymore
Bubba Roundtree and the shotgun scientists have u tube vids on making buckshot shells, you could watch a few and get some ideas, I don’t think their loads are published data though so keep that in mind
Also hogdon has buckshot load data on their website and I believe Alliant does too
A good 000 buck load I make is
Rem sts/nitro27 hull
Ched or win 209 primer
27 or 28 grains long shot
Cb 1138-12 wad (waa12r)
8 pellets 000 buck stacked in 2s
Bit of buffer and overshot card on top
Fold crimp
With my semi auto 12gauge turkish shotgun and a mod choke it patterns around 4-5 inches at 40 yards
 
Deathrawt said:
For a 2-3/4 inch shell I’ve used 27 or 28 grains of longshot
If you have blue dot it is a good powder too
The clay buster waa12r red wad is the wad to use as it allows for more payload capacity
Remington made some wads that were great for heavy buckshot loads but they are hard to find as they don’t make them anymore
Bubba Roundtree and the shotgun scientists have u tube vids on making buckshot shells, you could watch a few and get some ideas, I don’t think their loads are published data though so keep that in mind
Also hogdon has buckshot load data on their website and I believe Alliant does too
A good 000 buck load I make is
Rem sts/nitro27 hull
Ched or win 209 primer
27 or 28 grains long shot
Cb 1138-12 wad (waa12r)
8 pellets 000 buck stacked in 2s
Bit of buffer and overshot card on top
Fold crimp
With my semi auto 12gauge turkish shotgun and a mod choke it patterns around 4-5 inches at 40 yards
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Velocity/pressure? Swapping around primers isn’t good especially if you are near the top end of pressure for 2 3/4 and 3 inch 12ga that’s a max of 11,500psi. I know cheddite primers are slightly hotter then Winchester but primers also act very different with different powders some may cause extreme pressure with a certain powder while not so much with others.

One should only use published data especially since we don’t have anyone we can send shells off to to test like they do state side.
 
Consider playing with buffers, flour, corn meal, granulated polyethylene etc. etc…
Reduce powder charge, remove a few pellets from the payload and see your patterns tighten up at distance dramatically. Many commercial buckshot loads punk out at 30 yards but Federal Premium copper plated buffered loads deliver killing patterns at 60 yards out of a good barrel/choke combination. Federals should be your benchmark to achieve and exceed using buffer, larger pellets and not trying to push them much over 1250 ft/sec.
 
Mr Bill said:
Consider playing with buffers, flour, corn meal, granulated polyethylene etc. etc…
Reduce powder charge, remove a few pellets from the payload and see your patterns tighten up at distance dramatically. Many commercial buckshot loads punk out at 30 yards but Federal Premium copper plated buffered loads deliver killing patterns at 60 yards out of a good barrel/choke combination. Federals should be your benchmark to achieve and exceed using buffer, larger pellets and not trying to push them much over 1250 ft/sec.
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Federal uses their flight control wad and that’s the ticket to long range patterns. If using one of the shot cup only style wads you can kinda recreate the flight control wad by cutting wings into it instead of slitting it.
 
Most typical style wads open up shortly after leaving the muzzle depending on what you are looking for it can be a plus.

With shotgunning theirs a lot of theory’s out there.
Shot column length vs bore diameter this one is kinda proven.longer shot columns will produce worse patterns for given bore diameter as the shot string is longer and the back of the string tends to blow through the front half of the string.

Wads blowing through patterns another kinda proven theory. if the wad was more then x number of pellets it will tend to blow through the shot column this was more of a problem back when using card wads then it is now.

I’m putting the wad theory to the test with my black powder loads in 2 ways first one is using oiled sawdust for a cushion wad and the second is a proven thing in Muzzleloaders the skycheif load.
 
antiqueguy said:
Velocity/pressure? Swapping around primers isn’t good especially if you are near the top end of pressure for 2 3/4 and 3 inch 12ga that’s a max of 11,500psi. I know cheddite primers are slightly hotter then Winchester but primers also act very different with different powders some may cause extreme pressure with a certain powder while not so much with others.

One should only use published data especially since we don’t have anyone we can send shells off to to test like they do state side.
Click to expand...
Ched primers are a bit hotter then the win 209
If you research a lot of shotgun reloading the concensus seems to be that you can interchange the two
You can not swap with a magnum primer such as the fed 209A though
I got the load data from a manual I just can’t remember which one?
I did use the Rem hull instead of the Win AA hull that was specified though
I found them to work better in my press and the felt recoil was indifferent between the two and they loaded exactly the same with the same components
Felt recoil on factory 000 buck loads is a lot more then these reloads too so I have no doubt they are safe
Ive shot lots of them through cheap Turk guns plus my mossburg with no ill effects
Going by published data isn’t always fool proof either
Ballistic Products had a lot of data out there that was found to be over pressured and unsafe
I like to compare data from different sources and usually they are close to each other. If you come across data that has a way higher powder charge then you think it should have or from other published data for a similar load then take caution
 
Deathrawt said:
Ched primers are a bit hotter then the win 209
If you research a lot of shotgun reloading the concensus seems to be that you can interchange the two
You can not swap with a magnum primer such as the fed 209A though
I got the load data from a manual I just can’t remember which one?
I did use the Rem hull instead of the Win AA hull that was specified though
I found them to work better in my press and the felt recoil was indifferent between the two and they loaded exactly the same with the same components
Felt recoil on factory 000 buck loads is a lot more then these reloads too so I have no doubt they are safe
Ive shot lots of them through cheap Turk guns plus my mossburg with no ill effects
Going by published data isn’t always fool proof either
Ballistic Products had a lot of data out there that was found to be over pressured and unsafe
I like to compare data from different sources and usually they are close to each other. If you come across data that has a way higher powder charge then you think it should have or from other published data for a similar load then take caution
Click to expand...
Recoil is not a good indication of pressure. Recoil is mainly how fast the payload is going for x about of weight.
Shotgun shells will not show flattened primers or have a hard to extract issue generally for signs of over pressure like metallic cartridge does. the pressure even when over pressure are way too low to do such things.

For us here in Canada we can’t send shells off for testing best bet stick to the data.

As for hulls not working ect that would depend on the press. but a mec as well as others are fully adjustable for crimp ect and basically needs to be adjusted between different brands of hills for “good” crimps lee it’s all done by feel.
 
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