Good stuff...For what it's worth, when I was about 15 I did a science fair project with ballistic gel (TONS of it!) and various types of buckshot. I found #1 buck to have the greatest total wound volume based on number of pellets and depth of penetration.
The Winchester 2-3/4" 16 pellet #1 buck load is what I use for deer hunting. I've tried just about every combination available and it tops them all in pattern density and penetration.
That said, the house gun is loaded with the Remington 8 pellet 00 low recoil loads. Patterns like the one Rancho posted are the norm, and follow up shots are quicker. I also have a source where I can get them in bulk, cheap.
