What diameter buckshot mold should I buy next?

[RMc]

Found it! Load No. 26 where the TUWGL12 is listed on the update page.
All of the components are currently available. Fantastic!

Be sure to post your 40 yard pattern tests here.

[RMc]

The trick is .4641 times the diameter of the bore (or ID of the shotcup) to get the ideal size for stacking in threes.

Wouldn't it be more important to fit a three buckshot pellet stack to the choke?

[Barry54]

Wouldn't it be more important to fit a three buckshot pellet stack to the choke?

I’m not sure. I mainly loved the formula because I can measure shot cups and calculate the diameter that should fit before buying a mold. If the pellets cause pickle bumps bad enough, there will be feeding/reliably issues.

If the pellets are in a shot cup, it’s purpose is to protect the payload, right?
It’s been a long time since I took geometry but I think the flats would be fairly evenly spaced. Two flats where each pellet contacts the other and one flat where the choke would mash. So close to a triangle pattern of flat spots.

Is this slight deformation going to be more or less than the layers stacked on top of each other and accelerating to the speed of sound in a split second?

I suppose marking dye of different colors could be used for side contact points vs top and bottom contact points. Then capture fired shot and compare.

All that is assuming the payload hasn’t shifted in the previous 14-24 inches when it reaches the choke.

Maybe this is why more open chokes have been known to pattern better with buckshot?

[Barry54]

The trick is .4641 times the diameter of the bore (or ID of the shotcup) to get the ideal size for stacking in threes.

Do you have another nifty formula like that for stacking by fours?

[RMc]

I’m not sure. I mainly loved the formula because I can measure shot cups and calculate the diameter that should fit before buying a mold. If the pellets cause pickle bumps bad enough, there will be feeding/reliably issues.

If the pellets are in a shot cup, it’s purpose is to protect the payload, right?
It’s been a long time since I took geometry but I think the flats would be fairly evenly spaced. Two flats where each pellet contacts the other and one flat where the choke would mash. So close to a triangle pattern of flat spots.

Is this slight deformation going to be more or less than the layers stacked on top of each other and accelerating to the speed of sound in a split second?

I suppose marking dye of different colors could be used for side contact points vs top and bottom contact points. Then capture fired shot and compare.

All that is assuming the payload hasn’t shifted in the previous 14-24 inches when it reaches the choke.

Maybe this is why more open chokes have been known to pattern better with buckshot?

Consider:

"Indeed, a choke friendly, easy to assemble load!

Two pellet layers, combined with PSB buffer, provide a very fluid transit through forcing cone and choke constrictions."
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Regarding the load discussed earlier:

To this pellet stack (2 x .310" = .620"), add twice the thickness of the wad petals for the suggested choke constriction that will consolidate rather than "mash" the buckshot pellets.

The same is true if you have calculated the diameter of your three per layer pellet stack and then add twice the thickness of the wad petals.

As with all things smoothbore, confirm with your pattern board.

[Minerat]

I would buy MP molds 8 cavity .310. It a lethal size and fits many shot cups great.

I have this one too. Allows 5 single stack in a 3" . 410. Plus works great in my Simpleshot slingshot too.

[Barry54]

Million dollar question

For lead buckshot at normal useful buckshot range, is 0.005” to 0.010” of “mash” on the pellets detrimental to patterns?

Personally, I haven’t done enough testing to know. Seems like a pellet would deform almost that much dropping it on the floor.

Is it worthwhile to give up the larger mass and kinetic energy to avoid a potential 0.010” flat spot?

How would you capture buckshot traveling supersonic to look for deformation of the pellets, without damaging them in the trap?

[MusicMan]

Million dollar question

For lead buckshot at normal useful buckshot range, is 0.005” to 0.010” of “mash” on the pellets detrimental to patterns?

Personally, I haven’t done enough testing to know. Seems like a pellet would deform almost that much dropping it on the floor.

Is it worthwhile to give up the larger mass and kinetic energy to avoid a potential 0.010” flat spot?

How would you capture buckshot traveling supersonic to look for deformation of the pellets, without damaging them in the trap?

High speed camera!

[RMc]

Million dollar question

For lead buckshot at normal useful buckshot range, is 0.005” to 0.010” of “mash” on the pellets detrimental to patterns?

Personally, I haven’t done enough testing to know. Seems like a pellet would deform almost that much dropping it on the floor.

Is it worthwhile to give up the larger mass and kinetic energy to avoid a potential 0.010” flat spot?

How would you capture buckshot traveling supersonic to look for deformation of the pellets, without damaging them in the trap?

For high performance handloaders, casting your own heat treated, high antimony lead alloy buckshot is the answer to pellet deformation concerns.

[Barry54]

For high performance handloaders, casting your own heat treated, high antimony lead alloy buckshot is the answer to pellet deformation concerns.

So do you select pellet size to fit the choke or do you assemble a load and then tinker with chokes?