Buckshot vs normal size shot

[AbHobbyist]

Hello all!!

I am an avid reloader, and reload both shotgun and metalic.

I am going to get in to some more tactical type shooting and have reloaded some 12 gauge 8 pellet - 00 buck with buffer and would like to reload some different sizes of buckshot for testing purposes.

My question is:

Is #4 buckshot the same size a #4 shot??

I have herd some very good things about #4 buckshot and wanted to do some testing, but am curious about shot size.

Regards and all the best

R

 

[AbHobbyist]

Sorry all, I should have done some research before asking, and feel kind of dumb now.

The following Quote is taken from w w w.answers.com/topic/shotgun and is posted for simply information purposes

.....shot is termed either birdshot or buckshot depending on the shot size.

Informally, birdshot pellets have a diameter smaller than 0.20 inches (5 mm) and buckshot are larger than that. Pellet size is indicated by a number, for bird shot this ranges from the smallest 12 (0.05 in) to 2 (0.15 in) and then BB (0.18 in).

For buckshot the numbers usually start at 4 (0.24 in) and go down to 1, 0, 00, 000, and finally 0000 (.38 in). A different informal distinction is that "bird shot" pellets are small enough that they can be measured into the cartridge by weight, and just poured in, whereas "buckshot" pellets are so large that they won't all fit unless they're stacked inside the cartridge one by one in a certain particular geometric arrangement.

The diameter in hundredths of inches of bird shot sizes from #9 to #1 can be obtained by subtracting the shot size from 17. Thus, #4 bird shot is 17 - 4 = 13 = 0.13 inches (3.3 mm) in diameter.

Different terminology is used outside the United States. In England and Australia, for example, 00 buckshot cartridges are commonly referred to as "S.G." (small game) cartridges.

So the answer to my question is:
Yes there is a difference in size.

#4 bird shot = 0.13" diameter

#4 buckshot = 0.24" diameter

Regards and all the best

R

 

[Claybuster]

#4 shot .129"

#4 buck .250"

http://www.shotgunworld.com/ammo_s082000.html

 

[AbHobbyist]

Thx a lot clay buster, appreciate your time

Regards

R