Reloading 20 gauge, wad difference for buck and birdshot?

257hunter

257hunter

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A desire to make my 20 gauge more useful, coupled with the price of factory loaded stuff has lead me to look into loading my own.
I’m primarily looking at slugs, which seem fairly straightforward, plan to buy new hulls and a roll crimp tool to start, using BP dgs slug.
I would however also like to put together some buckshot, and that leads to me main question here. Is it possible to get a wad or other combination of components that will work for both buckshot and birdshot? I may not load anything smaller right away but if I can buy components that work for both off the bat I would like to.
I have dabbled in shotgun loading before but not a whole lot so I’m not sure if that’s reasonable or not?
 
Wads are the least costly component in loading there are crossover wads but why pigeon hole yourself i would be more concerned about powder compatabilty than wads. Have fun and be careful mistakes in handloading can be costly to you and your wallet. Be careful with the BP data some of it can be iffy IMHO :cautious:
 
Buy a couple reloading manuals and cross reference what you’d like to shoot for smaller shot against what the buckshot loads show for wads, I thinking you’ll find a cross over wad.

Without you indicating the smaller shot size and intended purpose, vs what you’d like to use for buckshot, there’s no way anyone can say use this wad or that wad.
 
I have not reloaded much for shotgun - so maybe I am too "scared" of making mistake - reading from multiple sources - shotgun pressure is way TOO LOW for home guy to get signs of impending failure - in effect you turn your shotgun into the testing device when you try an un-tested combination - about every reference is fairly clear to NOT use load information that has not been pressure tested - many powder companies and others have the proper gear to do a pressure test, but I do not know any home hand loader who owns that stuff - I do not know what can be substituted or not - so everything - hull, wad, primer, powder is exactly as given in the recipe - I understand it is the WEIGHT of the payload that matters, not the shot size - so same recipe for #9 shot as for #2 shot - your post is first that I read that there is specific wad for Buckshot sizes.

I found there are literally thousands of pressure tested component combinations that are published, and I do not know of any source that lists combinations that are "over pressure" - so if you have not found your combination, either you have not found it yet, or there is a reason why it is not found.
 
Yes the plethora of combinations available is what I’m trying to navigate. I’m definitely not looking to do any wildcatting with these loads. I don’t know that there are actually buckshot specific wads but it seems like there are different styles available for different shot types. I’ve read of loads just using a gas seal or a shot cup with the petals removed for loading 00.
As for shot sizes I have a supply of #4 buck so I would want to use that, smaller shot would just be for the odd grouse for lunch so I’d go for a 7 or 8. I normally use factory target loads for that.
I’ve got a fair selection of suitable powders from my pistol loading so no issues switching that as needed.
I’ll definitely consult some manuals and see what I can cross reference.
 
You never mention what hulls you intended to use as well.

Do yourself a favour and get some shotshell reloading manuals and hit the books…..
 
Again - not from my experience, but from what I read - stuff is not necessarily interchangeable - some might be, but I do not often read that - hulls are not; wads are not; primers are not; powder is not. I see in published pressure tested recipes where pressure went UP when one component swapped - while velocity went DOWN, pressure went UP (or DOWN) when a different brand of primer used than listed in the "recipe", etc. Doesn't matter if the stuff that you got was free or low cost - what pressure does it make? What is the pressure limit for that gauge?
 
Potashminer said:
I have not reloaded much for shotgun - so maybe I am too "scared" of making mistake - reading from multiple sources - shotgun pressure is way TOO LOW for home guy to get signs of impending failure - in effect you turn your shotgun into the testing device when you try an un-tested combination - about every reference is fairly clear to NOT use load information that has not been pressure tested - many powder companies and others have the proper gear to do a pressure test, but I do not know any home hand loader who owns that stuff - I do not know what can be substituted or not - so everything - hull, wad, primer, powder is exactly as given in the recipe - I understand it is the WEIGHT of the payload that matters, not the shot size - so same recipe for #9 shot as for #2 shot - your post is first that I read that there is specific wad for Buckshot sizes.

I found there are literally thousands of pressure tested component combinations that are published, and I do not know of any source that lists combinations that are "over pressure" - so if you have not found your combination, either you have not found it yet, or there is a reason why it is not found.
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That is why with shotgun reloading you stick with the published data, period, no changes, exactly as it says.
 
Jeez, I recently spoke to a fellow who told me he just loaded any old kind of hull with whatever wads and blasted away. He's the kind of guy you can't convince he's skirting disaster. Thankfully, he has sold off all his reloading stuff for shotguns.
 
Generally you can play around with different wad combinations as long as it’s the same style of wad
For example in 12 gauge with the absence of the fluffy flake powders like red and green dot most have to use a dense powder like tight group which is available
In order to make a 1oz load you have to use the clay buster 7/8oz gray wad instead of the normal 1 oz pink wad in order to have the correct stack height
You can interchange the wads safely because they are built the same except the shot cup is less on the gray wad as opposed to the pink one
You can use birdshot load data for buckshot as well if you keep the payload weights the same or close
As far as wads and hull compatibility goes you need to use a tapered wad with a tapered hull and a straight walled wad with a straight walled hull
Shotgun primers are not all the same either, using a fed 209A in a load that calls for a win 209 will increase pressures as the fed primer is a magnum primer
 
kjohn said:
Jeez, I recently spoke to a fellow who told me he just loaded any old kind of hull with whatever wads and blasted away. He's the kind of guy you can't convince he's skirting disaster. Thankfully, he has sold off all his reloading stuff for shotguns.
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Ball bearings in place of steel shot because it is cheaper ;), saw that before.

Also, using small lead shot as buffer in OO buck loads, ya, scary.
 
Deathrawt offers some sound advice. Shotshell reloading doesn't offer a lot of leeway, in component choice. As others have already mentioned stick to published load data...at all times!.
Generally speaking, when shot payload is similar, lead shot data interchanges readily with buckshot.
I recommend using a proper shot buffer material, when loading buckshot. Causes less ball deformation and better pattern performance. Be sure to include the weight of the buffer material(in grains) as part of your overall payload.
Just as with slug reloading, I've found straight-walled hulls like Federal, Cheddite, etc. load very easily and perform well with buckshot. You can use tapered hulls also, if that's what you have available..ie: Winchester, Remington.
If also loading slugs, you will find that wads for straight-walled hulls accept the slugs far easier than tapered. The base of the slug seats firmly into the bottom of the wad cup. With tapered wads, often a thin cork or stiff felt wad will need to be inserted into the bottom of the wad, in order to allow the slug to seat without using a lot of seating pressure. Which may cause some problems with case bulges.. Be aware that this might alter stack height a little too, depending on the wad/powder choice, etc. Some crimp adjustment may become necessary.
A good online source for load data: Hodgdon Reloading Data Center. A good resource. For more detailed, load specific data, the Lyman Shotshell Reloading Manual (Just about any version) is an excellent resource.
Hope this helps

Al
 
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In my experience, you will rarely find data allowing you to directly cross reference loads between buckshot and birdshot. For an equivalent weight of birdshot, buckshot takes up more column height and requires a shorter wad due to the lower packing density.

In the few case I've read about (supported by actual pressure testing), birdshot always generates higher pressures. Under the acceleration of firing, the loose shot pellets set back in the shotcup and "obturate" increasing drag between the wad and barrel walls.

Large buckshot pellets (ie. 00 buck in 12ga) usually generate lower pressures since the pellet stacking prevents the shot column from obturating as much. Smaller buckshot pellets (ie #4 buck in 12ga) tend to behave more like birdshot since the higher packing density allowing the shot column to obturate in the shotcup.

Adding buffer always increases pressure since it increases packing density, instead of the buckshot pellets deforming themselves under firing, the buffer cushions this impact but transfers the load laterally increasing obturation and subsequent wad drag.
 
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