Been working on hand loading buckshot and I have 2 loads I'm settled on for now. I'm loading for a 3.5" Benelli SBE 2. This gun does great with Factory Rem 3.5" 00 (factory 00 actually measures .32, so 0), but costs about $2.50 a shell. This gun with this load, through an extended extra full choke (.685) shoots 13" patterns all day @ 40 yards. The tru-lock extra full measures the same as the factory benelli full choke. The factory shell clocks at right around 1100 FPS, and I have killed a bunch of deer with this load.
The first load, through the same gun and choke, is putting 14 000 (Hornady 000 is .35 and 63 grains each) into 12- 14" patterns @ 40 yards. I also shot this load @ 60 and it put them all into 22" with 6 of the 14 into 6". This load clocks @ 1175-1195 FPS.
The second load is 16 true 00 (hornady .33 cal, 54 grains). Through the same gun and choke it is also throwing 12-14" patterns @40. Also @ just under 1200 fps.
I am loading these loads for about $1.28 each. That is with me buying the buckshot. and putting it in new primed hulls. I plan to start casting, and the cost will go way down then, as the shot is costing just under a dollar per shell.
