A question about buckshot

I actually have a few of those win. #4buck 31/2 loads and by the way ouch...lol
I havent shot anything with them yet but had them at the range and at 50yds the # of shot on target is way more then enough to do the trick and wouldnt think twice about pushing it a bit farther
 
I use #4 buck on called coyotes all the time.
I run winchester superx buck in the 2-3/4 27 pellet,3 inch 40 pellet and 3.5 inch 54 pellet load as well as federal a federal 3 inch.
I have found that the 2-3/4 and 3 inch loads shoot great through a .665 constriction turkey choke.
The 54 pellet 3.5 inch shell seems to favor a more open .680 constriction turkey choke.
Shotguns are very finiky creatures however so what works in my guns may not work worth crap in another gun.
It is really worth the effort to spend some time on the patterning boards with a few different chokes and a few different loads to see what your gun likes in regards to pattern density and point of impact.
Once you find a good choke and load combo that can load a coyote up with #4 buck out to 50 yards its deadly on them.
50 yards is my self imposed limits as far as clean ethical shotgun kills are concerned and even still prefer to be inside 40 if possible.
The storys about shotguns throwing effective killing patterns to 70 and 80 yards and beyond are just that,storys that reek of BS.
I much sooner prefer #4 buck to 00 buck simply for pattern density,00 buck leaves to many big holes in the pattern for a yote to escape through.
Also i dont want a hope and pray one pellet maybe when it comes to pulling the trigger on a called yote,i want to know for sure that i am going to load him up with a bunch of pellets,called yotes inside shotgun range dont come easy,the last thing i want is to be carrying a shotgun that only has a chance of a kill when i pull the trigger.
#1 buck sounds interesting,it would seem that it would give you the best of both worlds with decent pellet count for density and heavier pellets for better anchoring capabilities.
I cannot find any #1 buck anywhere but i may have to order a few boxes and go back to the patterning board for some more testing.Testing shotguns is very interesting and eye opening.This could turn out to be a great load.
Writing this reminds me again that i really need to get into reloading shotshells.
 
No argument here.

IMO 4 buck is too small for coyote...#4 buck would bring the shot size down to .24" and about 40 pellets for 3". Too much of a drop IMO. It will definitely drop a coyote, I just like knowing that a single pellet from a 00 buck load has the oompf to slow a 'yote down enough for the dogs to catch up...No1 buck will be my load of choice next winter ... unless it really doesn't work like I think it will.

In Nova Scotia, #4 Buck is the law.

It's about DNR favouring the conservation of the packs over an effective and humane harvest, I guess.

:confused: Who makes these rules?
 
Apparently LeBarons carries 3" Winchester No1 buck. It's in the catalog anyways but whether or not they actually have it is a different story.

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bump, anyone know of a source for 3 1/2" #4 buckshot besides Lebarons? I called them, yup they had 3 boxes left @ $10.72 but wanted to charge $35 for shipping to the maritimes :jerkit:
 
I use 00 buck for jack rabbits in southwest ontario I use a varity of scatter guns but have done most with a baikal ij58 sxs f/m 28 3/8" barrels. I've taken jacks at 80 yards sitting 65-70 running. The full choke is .690 n I keep 5 pellets in a 12" circle to 45 yards the mod .715 puts 5 in at 35 yards I use buffalo bore 2 3/4" they kick less hit hard running deer at 70 yards have no chance. The last jack I killed with these shells was about 50 yards running quatered away 1 in the head 2 in the hind leg 1 in the chest all penetrated thru completely. He summersaulted bout 5 times. 00buck at close range is devastating just hit a watermelon n ull c what I mean for penetration tests I use 3/8"ply wood to simulate ribs and a melon to act as lung on the otherside even at 60-70 yards the melon don't make it
 
Brybenn, I used to use the same model Russian shotgun & buckshot loads on jackrabbits in Southern Saskatchewan. I would have to say my opinion is mirror image of yours.
Especially on super dry prarie days, the buckshot pattern was very easy to observe at any distance on the grasslands.
 
Unforuneately I loaned mine out once & it was returned with a broken butt-stock.
Eventually sold it for the remaining good parts.
Yes, the jackrabbits could get very big. But we prefered to hunt snowshoe hares & these were better for eating. More often the 222 was used for jacks, (haspenpeffer recipe!) but it was fun using buckshot through the Russian shotgun.
Got to admit, it had the best reach of any shotgun I have owned.
 
I have used buckshot for goose hunting back when it was legal. I was young, foolish, and nobody told me the patterns were bad! I used 2-3/4" 12 ga. loads and full choke.
I killed my first Greater Canada with a single pellet of SSG ( 00 buck) at about 60 yds. Killed a few more far ones with #4 buck, which i mostly used when sneaking up on geese that were feeding in hilly fields.
I now know the range was too far for ethical hunting, but I killed some geese a long ways away, some were 70-80 yds at least. But all were single or two pellet hits. A #4 buck pellet can penetrate a goose lengthwise butt to wishbone at 70 yds.
Judging by the effect on 12-14 lb geese, I would not hesitate to use buckshot on coyotes to 50 yds if the pattern was Ok. I have killed 2 coyotes cleanly at 20-30 yds with #6 birdshot and modified choke from a 16 ga. while bird hunting.
 
Many years ago in Ontario, there were groundhogs everywhere, and when we hunted them 1 of us would use a 12 ga. for close shots and the other a 6mm or some such. #4 buckshot was the best compromise for a thick enough pattern and good knockdown, without a wounded groundhog going down his hole to suffer. I don't think we ever tried them at over about 30 yds with our 3" full choked guns with handloads.
 
Unforuneately I loaned mine out once & it was returned with a broken butt-stock.
Eventually sold it for the remaining good parts.
Yes, the jackrabbits could get very big. But we prefered to hunt snowshoe hares & these were better for eating. More often the 222 was used for jacks, (haspenpeffer recipe!) but it was fun using buckshot through the Russian shotgun.
Got to admit, it had the best reach of any shotgun I have owned.



The guys I shoot skeet with all laugh and call it the recycled lotta but when that full choke hits em its just a dust cloud then I laugh n ask when there expensive berettas n brownings will do that lol
 
I use #4 buck on called coyotes all the time.
I run winchester superx buck in the 2-3/4 27 pellet,3 inch 40 pellet and 3.5 inch 54 pellet load as well as federal a federal 3 inch.
I have found that the 2-3/4 and 3 inch loads shoot great through a .665 constriction turkey choke.
The 54 pellet 3.5 inch shell seems to favor a more open .680 constriction turkey choke.
Shotguns are very finiky creatures however so what works in my guns may not work worth crap in another gun.
It is really worth the effort to spend some time on the patterning boards with a few different chokes and a few different loads to see what your gun likes in regards to pattern density and point of impact.
Once you find a good choke and load combo that can load a coyote up with #4 buck out to 50 yards its deadly on them.
50 yards is my self imposed limits as far as clean ethical shotgun kills are concerned and even still prefer to be inside 40 if possible.
The storys about shotguns throwing effective killing patterns to 70 and 80 yards and beyond are just that,storys that reek of BS.
I much sooner prefer #4 buck to 00 buck simply for pattern density,00 buck leaves to many big holes in the pattern for a yote to escape through.
Also i dont want a hope and pray one pellet maybe when it comes to pulling the trigger on a called yote,i want to know for sure that i am going to load him up with a bunch of pellets,called yotes inside shotgun range dont come easy,the last thing i want is to be carrying a shotgun that only has a chance of a kill when i pull the trigger.
#1 buck sounds interesting,it would seem that it would give you the best of both worlds with decent pellet count for density and heavier pellets for better anchoring capabilities.
I cannot find any #1 buck anywhere but i may have to order a few boxes and go back to the patterning board for some more testing.Testing shotguns is very interesting and eye opening.This could turn out to be a great load.
Writing this reminds me again that i really need to get into reloading shotshells.

I agree with your evaluation of #4 buck on called coyotes.
 
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