Help needed reloading 00 buckshot

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adam325i

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Hello all,

I am going to reload some 2 3/4" 12 gauge 00 buckshot.

I have
- Hornady 00 buckshot .330
- Remington Gun club once fired

Looking at the load data from Hogdon website, I can get everything minus the primers which calls for CCI 209M but I am only have available right now is Federal 209A, Am i safely able to use federal instead?

Here's the load data, I will be doing the lighter top one as this is my first time reloading buckshot. Also will be using Claybuster wadds CB1114-12 which is the equivalent.
8735001457_a46bc5d287_c.jpg


Hope you guys can shed some light. Thank you in advanced!
 
Primer substitutions aren't recommended when loading shotshells, especially substituting a hotter primer like the Federal 209A.

The load Hodgdon lists will work in theory but actually will cause the casing to bulge pretty badly; sometimes, they won't even chamber.
You'll need buckshot pellets .32" or smaller diameter if you want them to stack nicely in the shotcup.

Also, the claybusters equivalent for the WAA12F114 is a clone of the 2nd version of the winchester wad.
The original WAA12F114 had a much shorter cushion section and allows for a better crimp; downrange manufacturing makes a copy.
 
For what you have listed I would start with 8pellets at 26grs of hs-6. 8 pellets will load easier when you load 2 at a time. If you want to use buffer, cream of wheat works great. It added about 30gr of weight on average
 
Yah the hornady buckshot as well as buck cast from my lee 00 buckshot mold is oversize, and will bulge a shell if a plastic wad is used in 3 layers of 3 buckshot. It was difficult to chamber in my double barrel

I just stack 2x4 pellets in a WAA12 wad and get a good crimp

I have read data in 3 books and when all other components are the same, I have noticed that win 209 and cci 209 primers can be interchanged and show tested pressure reading to be very close. I have interchanged them without issue.

My last session I reloaded with:
Rem gun club hull
Clays 15.5 gr
Cci 209
WAA12 wad
8 00 buck stacked 2x4

Patterned well at 40 yards but probably not suitable for hunting
 
Being in hamilton, go over by the ancaster fairgrounds, there is a place called hummasons, they have cheddite primers that work close with winchester primers, $35 a 1000, always have a ton of it in stock, best to call them first, they also supply powder and lead, Id use thosem and with then id work my way up from 30 grains of powder. There is plenty of room for the 11500psi reccommended max psi.CCi209M is fairly hot, and id use them as comparable with the cheddites.
 
Thanks everyone for the replies. I think a better question to ask now, What should I use since I'm confused now. Id like to buy my supplies from Hummasons or Lawry's.

I have:
- Hornady 00 buckshot .330
- Remington Gun club once fired
- Federal Top gun Target load once fired

What primer,powder and wads should I use for 8 or 9 pellets of buckshot? With reference to where you got it from?

Can I use 8 pellets and call it 1 oz load and work with that?

I am sorry but this is my first time reloading and I don't want it to be my last. Thanks.
 
I do 9 pellets. put 3 in the cup, then push them down with a dowel (or something similar), add the next layer.. and so on. I use 29grs of HS-6
I have a cheap hornady press, it works good to resize the brass and crimp.

load I use from Hodgdon site:
9 #00 buckshot
win 209 primer
WAA12F114 Hull
HS-6 30gr
1250 fps

Dont crimp too hard , just enough to get it closed.
 
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I believe the Hornady buckshot and Lee mould aren't oversized at all. It's the majority of other buckshot that is undersized. True 00 buckshot is supposed to be .330" but several factory shells I have cut apart measure .315" to .320".

Pedal thickness is also a big contributor to bulges and shells not chambering. I don't remember the model of wad but I had both a Claybuster clone and the original Winchester ones. The Claybuster had thinner pedals and could stack layers of 3 but the Winchester wads had thicker pedals and about 1 in 10 shells wouldn't chamber without hammering on the pump from the back.

For 9 and 12 pellet loads of buckshot (triple stacked) I use 1/2" fibre wads with no shot cups instead of plastic wads with pedals. I can't remember where I found the load data for it though.
 
shotshell reloading handbook 5th edition by Lyman was $23. tonnes of info in there. maybe try and find one. Chapter 11 is all about loading buckshot and slugs
From the lyman manual:

12ga 2 3/4

HS-6 31.5gr
fed 209A primer
*then under wad column, it says:
one B.P. BPGS
one 12ga 1/2" fiber under pellets
one 12ga 1/4" fiber under pellets
Use 9 pellets of 00buck

hope this helps
 
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If you're really insistent on fitting all 9 pellets nicely in the case, cut the petals off the wad and use the data as specified.
Patterning does open up some but you'll be able to get all 9 pellets in.

A good way to tighten up the pattern is to take a small strip(1.5x3") of thick plastic(vapour barrier, etc) and use it as a shot wrap.
 
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