Short load for black bear

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dog697769

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Okay everyone new question, 12 gauge antique muzzleloader with triple zero shot what should the powder load be for black bear at about 30 to 40 yards.

Thanks
 
How many pellets? Will they nest properly?
The powder charge would not be any different than with small shot for the same weight of projectiles. You are using 200 year old barrels. Playing with magnum level loads would be foolish. If you want to play that game, get one of the modern muzzleloading shotguns.
30 - 40 yards against a bear? Really? Pattern it carefully, but I suspect the 15 yard suggest is far more realistic.
 
tiriaq said:
How many pellets? Will they nest properly?
The powder charge would not be any different than with small shot for the same weight of projectiles. You are using 200 year old barrels. Playing with magnum level loads would be foolish. If you want to play that game, get one of the modern muzzleloading shotguns.
30 - 40 yards against a bear? Really? Pattern it carefully, but I suspect the 15 yard suggest is far more realistic.
Click to expand...
The triple O are .35 cal and a 20 gauge holds 9 or so and pattern at 15 yds was about 24" vertical and 18" horizontal- not sure why not even spread
but that is what I've experienced. Bear spray is a good suggestion IMHO.
 
The "balanced" loading for any M/L shotgun is EQUAL VOLUME of shot and powder, whether Pyrodex or real black powder. That should give you about 1200fps. A typical 12 ga load for an oldie would be 1/14 oz MAX. You might want to test both the pattern and penetration with your bear load: you might find that 30 - 40 yards is very optimistic for killing a bear. There was an old rhyme about loading shotguns that said adding more powder opens the pattern and slightly reducing the charge can lead to slightly tighter patterns. If your old gun is cylinder in both barrels then your effective range will be more like 15 - 25 yards based on my experience.
 
I don't think the equal volume formula would work with buckshot. They aren't nested densely like small shot.
Count out the number of pellets, weigh them and then decide on the amount of powder appropriate for that weight of shot.
OOO buck pellets weigh about 70gr, .16oz, so 1 1/4 oz load would be 8 pellets.
Multiple hits in the lethal zone are necessary. Determine the range that maintains adequate pattern density.
 
wr.sainsbury said:
I would suggest more like 15 yds- you will have too wide a pattern at 30 or more to do anything more than make it mad!
Click to expand...
Well that would depend on the gun, I chatted with a guy who regularly uses a cylinder bore greener for turkeys. You never know until you shoot and play with the velocity to determine what the range is.

I would limit to 30 yards though just because of pellet energy and penetration, if the pattern is reliable and tight enough, which can only be proven by shooting the gun.
 
tiriaq said:
How many pellets? Will they nest properly?
The powder charge would not be any different than with small shot for the same weight of projectiles. You are using 200 year old barrels. Playing with magnum level loads would be foolish. If you want to play that game, get one of the modern muzzleloading shotguns.
30 - 40 yards against a bear? Really? Pattern it carefully, but I suspect the 15 yard suggest is far more realistic.
Click to expand...
Avoid any patterns good at 35 yards with 90 grains of powder and eight triple zero Buckshot pellets
 
Evanguy said:
Between 60-75 GR of blackpowder. Ideally FFg but FFFg can work, just reduce the charge. If the pattern doesn't blow out try some more powder. Shoot for 1200fps
Click to expand...
Thanks I haven't been checking how fast it goes and maybe I'll have to get one of those machines but my pattern is pretty good with 90 grains and eight pellets of triple zero Buckshot at 35 yards
 
tiriaq said:
How many pellets? Will they nest properly?
The powder charge would not be any different than with small shot for the same weight of projectiles. You are using 200 year old barrels. Playing with magnum level loads would be foolish. If you want to play that game, get one of the modern muzzleloading shotguns.
30 - 40 yards against a bear? Really? Pattern it carefully, but I suspect the 15 yard suggest is far more realistic.
Click to expand...
Getting a pretty good pattern at 35 yards 90 grains black double F powder five out of eight triple odd Buckshot hit within a four to six inch square
 
wr.sainsbury said:
The triple O are .35 cal and a 20 gauge holds 9 or so and pattern at 15 yds was about 24" vertical and 18" horizontal- not sure why not even spread
but that is what I've experienced. Bear spray is a good suggestion IMHO.
Click to expand...
90 grains black powder 8 Triple odd buckshot five of them hit within a 6-in square
 
Ol' Flinter said:
The "balanced" loading for any M/L shotgun is EQUAL VOLUME of shot and powder, whether Pyrodex or real black powder. That should give you about 1200fps. A typical 12 ga load for an oldie would be 1/14 oz MAX. You might want to test both the pattern and penetration with your bear load: you might find that 30 - 40 yards is very optimistic for killing a bear. There was an old rhyme about loading shotguns that said adding more powder opens the pattern and slightly reducing the charge can lead to slightly tighter patterns. If your old gun is cylinder in both barrels then your effective range will be more like 15 - 25 yards based on my experience.
Click to expand...
Thanks, at 35 yards 90 grains powder 8 Triple odd Buckshot pellets five of them hit within a 6-in square
 
Fox said:
Well that would depend on the gun, I chatted with a guy who regularly uses a cylinder bore greener for turkeys. You never know until you shoot and play with the velocity to determine what the range is.

I would limit to 30 yards though just because of pellet energy and penetration, if the pattern is reliable and tight enough, which can only be proven by shooting the gun.
Click to expand...
Perfect that sounds great I have a good pattern at 90 grains powder 8 bucks shot triple odd pellet four to five of them hit within a 6-in square at 35 yards
 
4/8 or 5/8 pellets in a 6" square at 35 yards is absolutely outstanding.
What is your load? That is, what wadding are you using with your 90gr/8 pellet load?
 
tiriaq said:
4/8 or 5/8 pellets in a 6" square at 35 yards is absolutely outstanding.
What is your load? That is, what wadding are you using with your 90gr/8 pellet load?
Click to expand...
90 grains black powder volume and eight triple odd Buckshot with a waxed Cork and overshot patch
 
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