000 buckshot for .36 cal

I just read that some of you guys use 000 buckshot in your .36 cal front loaders. What is the actual diameter of 000 buck? What size patch do you use? :hmm:

HH 60

Just Googled it and this is what came up on all sorts of sizes:

Size Type Weight Diameter
#TriBall(12 Ga.) Buck 20.41 g (315 gr.) 15.24 mm (0.60")
#0000 Buck 5.51 g (85 gr.) 9.40 mm (0.380")
#000 Buck 4.54 g (70 gr.) 9.14 mm (0.360")
#00 Buck 3.49 g (53.8 gr.) 8.38 mm (0.330")
#0 Buck 3.18 g (49 gr.) 8.13 mm (0.320")
#1 Buck 2.62 g (40.5 gr.) 7.62 mm (0.300")
#2 Buck 1.91 g (29.4 gr.) 6.86 mm (0.270")
#3 Buck 1.52 g (23.4 gr.) 6.35 mm (0.250")
#4 Buck 1.34 g (20.7 gr.) 6.09 mm (0.240")
#FF Buck 1.18 g (18.2 gr.) 5.84 mm (0.230")
#F (TTT) Buck 1.05 g (16.2 gr.) 5.59 mm (0.220")
#TT Buck 0.98 g (15.1 gr.) 5.33 mm (0.210")
#T Buck 0.89 g (13.7 gr.) 5.08 mm (0.200")
#BBB 0.66 g (10.2 gr.) 4.82 mm (0.190")
#BB 0.57 g (8.8 gr.) 4.57 mm (0.180")
#B 0.48 g (7.4 gr.) 4.32 mm (0.170")
2 3.76 mm (0.148")
4 3.28 mm (0.129")
5 3.05 mm (0.120")
6 2.77 mm (0.109")
7.5 2.39 mm (0.094")
8 2.26 mm (0.089")
8.5 2.16 mm (0.085")
9 2.01 mm (0.079")
12 1.3 mm (0.05")

As far as patch, you'll have to see what works... Hope this helps.

Thanks for the info. Most ball diameters are .005 to .010 under bore size. but the 000 buck seems to be size for size for that caliber. I would think that would be a bit of a tight press with the patch included. It just seems to be a bit unorthodox.

HH 60

TOTW catalog says 000 shot is .350 that be ok with a patch 0 shot is .310
im no exspert just what i dug up

For bird shot, use the " rule of 17"{, ie. subtract the size Shot from the number 17, and you get its diameter in hundredths of an inch.}

#1 shot[not shown on your chart] is .16"
#2 shot = .15"
#3 shot = .14"
#4 shot = .13"
#5 shot = .12"
#6 shot = .11"
#7 shot = .10"
#7 1/2 shot = .095"
#8 Shot = .09"
#9 shot = .08"
#12 shot = .05"

For a frame of reference, most notebook paper measures .002 to .003".

You don't SEE "B" Shot for sale much, here. The rest of the sizes on your chart are correct, altho some 000 buckshot will be .350", instead of .360". You also don't see #2 buck and rarely see #3 buck shot sold in the USA these days. 0 buck is also a "Special Order" item for the most part.

Good post. Paul :thumbsup:

The Hornady 000 buck I have here is .350

A buddy just ordered 5lbs of 000 Hornady for my blunderbuss .

It works just fine in my .36 rifle .350" dia .
Gary

Rock--what bore is your blunderbuss? and can you post pics and description of it?

I've seen two different scales or charts.

000 buck = .360 and .3503
0 buck = .320 and .310.

The 0 Buck I have for son's (now grandson's) .32 is .310.

TC

Hornady is swaged .350. I have a cap and a flinter in .36. Excellent in both. Cheap shooting!

I have a bunch of Hornady 000 at .350 I'll be trying tomorrow morning along with some softer hand cast .350's.

I have Hornady 000 and Hornady swaged .350 balls. They both load and shoot exactly the same. I'm not so sure the 000 is harder than pure lead balls.

I maybe wrong but was told the 000 was slightly harder lead. :idunno: I have both, will try them both at the range tomorrow.

000 buck is slightly harder than pure lead, but why would one think expansion is necesary for tree rats or bushy tails?

My Hornady 000 measures .350.

flintlock62 said:

000 buck is slightly harder than pure lead, but why would one think expansion is necesary for tree rats or bushy tails?

My Hornady 000 measures .350.

Click to expand...

I'm not worried about that at all. All I'm worried about is accuracy and I'll find out tomorrow how my rifle likes them.

Roy said:

The Hornady 000 buck I have here is .350

Click to expand...

That makes more sense. The actual diameter is about .010 under bore size and would give clearance for the patch. Now I know why some shooters like to use 000 buck, or a size of shot that will work in their gun.

Thanks :wink:

HH 60

000 buck is slightly harder than pure lead, but why would one think expansion is necesary for tree rats or bushy tails?

Click to expand...

I would be more concerned with shooting charachteristics. The softer the better, you know.

As regards this 000 being slightley harder, I have never seen any documentation to that effect. While smaller shot is generally harder, not sure why they would make the 000 harder. Costs more to harden it.

I mixed my hornady .350 ml balls into the same box as the 000. They were so much the same that it seemed like a good idea. :redface:

Swampy, if you have both, how about putting them up against each other in a vice and squeezing them down to see which one gets the flattest. That would be the softer one.

marmotslayer said:

000 buck is slightly harder than pure lead, but why would one think expansion is necesary for tree rats or bushy tails?

Click to expand...

I would be more concerned with shooting charachteristics. The softer the better, you know.

As regards this 000 being slightley harder, I have never seen any documentation to that effect. While smaller shot is generally harder, not sure why they would make the 000 harder. Costs more to harden it.

I mixed my hornady .350 ml balls into the same box as the 000. They were so much the same that it seemed like a good idea. :redface:

Swampy, if you have both, how about putting them up against each other in a vice and squeezing them down to see which one gets the flattest. That would be the softer one.

Click to expand...

Actually I only have about 20 hornadays and 20 RC molded for me to try in my gun just to see if that was what I was going to use. I just haven't been able to get to the range until now do to health issues. So I hate to ruin any that I do have atm. Now, as for hardness I can see them using a different lead with alloys, if that is the case, remember they didn't make 000 buck with the thought of it being used for muzzleloaders, they make it for shotgun loads. On the other hand, it would not surprise me at all if it was pure lead. :idunno: But a quick talk to Hornaday would clear this all up I'm sure.

I plan on shooting targets with using 5 of each tomorrow and see if there is a difference.

I just got back from taking my little gal out for her first dance. I decided to start off with 35gr of 3F and just have some fun at 25 yards. The first 5 shots from a bench were with Hornady 000 and .016 bear greased patch. I swabbed with a damp then a dry patch between shots and it was so humid, made sure the pan and flint were wiped every shot. I was a little concerned at the ease of loading and may do better with a tighter patch, which I'll try next time. But the 000 shot into just over a 2" group at the top of the paper about 4 or 5" above where I was aiming.

I was surprised my next 5 shots were RC's molded balls with a sprue and they shot the same 4 or 5" high except all went into a tighter group. :idunno: Just under an inch and a half.

There was a member there and he says to me, "I am impressed, I didn't know those Flintlocks shot so fast, I expected a delay but damn there sure ain't no delay. Sounds like it goes right off..." :grin:

My Rich Pierce flint sparked everytime. :thumbsup:

So I then decided to use 5 more of RC's balls and shot a target off hand I'll be sending Jethro shortly.

Really nothing scientific here, I think both balls may benifit from a tighter, probably pillow ticking at .018 patch. I guess I'll try that before filing the rear site down but I did like the ease in loading for something thats just surposed to be a fun gun anyway, and fun was definately how to describe today. :thumbsup:

Quite a diff in grp size, but then again it's a small sample. Would be nice to compare 20 shot groups! Easy for me to say! :redface: