Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Are there any buckshot users, by necessity or choice?

Grew up in SE Texas hunting w dogs/shotguns. While I never got a shot when I packed a shotgun ( 20ga/#3 buck; later an 1148 12ga 00/#1Buck) the deer that were shot/lost by other hunters was the result of shooting too far. Few even patterned their guns. I later, on a whim, all I used it for was small game, bought a Stevens single shot 12ga Magnum with Full choke that shot 3" #4 Buck into rabbit sized patterns...at 90 steps! Kid you not. My dad killed many squirrels (it did same with #6 shot) but that "knife edged" comb would blacken your eye! It hurt soo bad! I was glad when they outlawed dogs and the "group hunts" stopped. I have many fond memories but I have some bad ones too...it was a different time.

I like 000 buckshot in 12 guage

I hunt in VA and most people use 3" 00. I also like #1 buckshot and have used #4 as well. If my stand is in a thick place where I can only get close shots, I will use the #1 or #4. A more open stand and I use the 00. I had a Benelli SBEII with a buck kicker choke and it actually shot too tight for my liking. It shot a pattern about the size of a pie plate at 50 yards which made it tough to hit deer that were really moving up close. Each gun is a little different so you will need to experiment with different chokes and buckshot to find what you like. I prefer a good even pattern about the size of a large pizza box at 40 yards.

Federal premium copper-plated 00…

Grew up hunting a bow or shotgun only county, slugs not allowed. Always used Federal 3 1/2in 00. I believe they had 18 pellets in them. My dad and I had a pair of Mossberg 835s.

When I was 9, dad gave me an old single 20ga. Had a doe and yearling feeding on some crab apples. I pulled the trigger on the doe and both fell over. Must have been quite the spread. Pretty neat for you first kill though.

I've got a couple of boxes of old Remington Premier 3" nickel plated buffered 00 buckshot. It patterns best of any buckshot load I've fired.



That sure doesn't happen very often, LOL. Great story.