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Author Topic: .310" Buckshot - For Todays Smoothbore Handloader  (Read 11956 times)

RMc

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.310" Buckshot - For Todays Smoothbore Handloader
« on: February 21, 2018, 01:46:19 pm »
In many ways a .310" hard cast ball is just about the perfect size for todays buckshot handloader.  These stack easily inside the shot cup of many plastic target wads in layers of three for a 9 pellet,  9/10 th ounce load.  Even better, the .31" pellet fits neatly into 6 two pellet layers in many 1.25 ounce size plastic wads for a 1.20 ounce payload.  Best of all the Lee Precision 6 cavity mold, sold only by Track of The Wolf, produces a flush cut sprue and so comes out of the mold ready to load.


https://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/1202/1/LEE-310-6C
« Last Edit: February 21, 2018, 02:06:01 pm by RMc »
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    coelacanth

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    Re: .310" Buckshot - For Todays Smoothbore Handloader
    « Reply #1 on: February 21, 2018, 11:58:08 pm »
    Yup.  Sounds about right.  I like to run No. 1 buck when I can find it - which is not often these days.
    Arizona" A republic, if you can keep it."

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    RMc

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    Re: .310" Buckshot - For Todays Smoothbore Handloader
    « Reply #2 on: February 22, 2018, 12:05:49 am »
    The .310" pellet is actually known today as #1-1/2 Buckshot by the folks at Ballistic products.

    Take a look at the chart referenced below:

    http://www.ballisticproducts.com/Buckshot-Loading-Manual-4th-ed/productinfo/00MBUCK/

    For what it's worth, none of the commercially loaded #1B come close to the nominal .30" diameter - usually running .286" to .290" in diameter and 33 to 35 grains each.

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    RMc

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    Re: .310" Buckshot - For Todays Smoothbore Handloader
    « Reply #3 on: March 13, 2019, 08:03:21 pm »
    Just wondering if anyone has tried this intermediate buckshot pellet size.
     
    In addition to the Lee 6 cavity mold offered by Track of the Wolf, this pellet size is available as a swaged high antimony pellet from Ballistic Products and as a cast "hardball" lead alloy pellet from Hunters Supply cast bullets.

    These .310" buckshot pellets run approximately 44 grains or 10 pellets to the ounce. 

    https://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/1202/1/LEE-310-6C

    https://www.ballisticproducts.com/Super-Buck-Lead-1-1_2-8-lb_jar-310/productinfo/SBK15/

    http://hunters-supply.com/buck-shot-lbs-p-1072.html
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    coelacanth

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    Re: .310" Buckshot - For Todays Smoothbore Handloader
    « Reply #4 on: March 13, 2019, 08:25:26 pm »
    I haven't tried these products yet but I have heard good things about the Lee molds.  Very easy to use and rust free.  Just don't drop one on the concrete garage floor or you may end up with a misaligned set.   :panic

    Ballistic Products and Hunter's Supply are companies I haven't personally dealt with but I know Ballistic Products is very highly regarded in the Sporting Clays community for their products and customer service.
    Arizona" A republic, if you can keep it."

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    RMc

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    Re: .310" Buckshot - For Todays Smoothbore Handloader
    « Reply #5 on: March 13, 2019, 11:32:54 pm »
    The Lee 6 cavity .310" RB mold is not a standard Lee item.  It is carried only by Track Of The Wolf.  The 6 cavity mold is an easy mold to use compared to the 18 cavity Lee buckshot mold in three traditional sizes.

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    coelacanth

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    Re: .310" Buckshot - For Todays Smoothbore Handloader
    « Reply #6 on: March 13, 2019, 11:38:38 pm »
    A neighbor used to cast conical bullets for his black powder cartridge rifles and was a real fan of the Lee aluminum mold blocks compared to older styles. 
    Arizona" A republic, if you can keep it."

                                                   Benjamin Franklin

    RMc

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    Re: .310" Buckshot - For Todays Smoothbore Handloader
    « Reply #7 on: December 21, 2020, 06:30:01 pm »
    Just an update for the current ammo situation. 

    Nine .310" lead round balls - buckshot if you will - fit perfectly in a WAA12 wad. Indeed, in a 3 x 3 stack the pellets are flush with the top of the wad.  Depending on the lead alloy these weigh in at .91 ounce to just over .92 ounce. 

    That said, look up Alliant one ounce 12 gauge load data for Winchester AA or Remington Premier STS and like Remington hulls using AA12 wads. Then substitute 9 of the .31" lead balls for shot and finish loading as normal. 

    These are not long range hunting buckshot, but these are buckshot loads.
    « Last Edit: December 21, 2020, 08:30:18 pm by RMc »
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    coelacanth

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    Re: .310" Buckshot - For Todays Smoothbore Handloader
    « Reply #8 on: December 22, 2020, 01:01:12 am »
    Still a good load even if it isn't really pushing the envelope.   :thumbup1
    Arizona" A republic, if you can keep it."

                                                   Benjamin Franklin

    RMc

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    Re: .310" Buckshot - For Todays Smoothbore Handloader
    « Reply #9 on: December 22, 2020, 04:52:17 pm »
    Example:

    12 Gauge
    2 3/4-in. Winchester AA Plastic Shells
    1 shot wt.
    Win 209
    WAA12
    Green Dot
    1300 fps

    https://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/RecipePrint.aspx?shotype=&weight=1&weightdis=1&shellid=493&gtypeid=3&gauge=12&lid=681
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