Handloads: 00 Buck For Defensive Use

by
posted on August 17, 2024
nine Hornady 00 buckshot
Design by David Labrozzi.

As the name “buckshot” implies, it was used in bygone days to shoot deer at close range. About its only current use, however, is short-range defense against those dangers that lurk in the shadows.

00 buckshot specsI keep my 12-ga. Mossberg 500 Tactical close at hand during those nights camped in a tent. The Mossberg pump’s magazine is stuffed with 2¾" shells loaded with nine lead 00 buckshot pellets that immediately begin to spread when fired through the cylinder bore of the Mossberg’s barrel. I haven’t been able to significantly reduce the spread of 00 buckshot even by firing it through barrels with tighter improved cylinder and modified chokes, and that goes for both handloaded and factory 12-ga. buckshot loads.

Nine 00 balls overflow a shot cup to the top of a case’s mouth. Fitting the balls inside the shot cup requires tapping the edge of the case rim on the bench top while pushing the pellets with a finger to settle them in the case. Still, some space remains between the balls, and upon firing, they have a running head start to smash into each other. Add a grating ride down the bore, and the soft lead balls are already significantly deformed by the time they exit the muzzle.

The accompanying recipe results in an average 00 buckshot spread of 14" at 25 yards. To see if the spread of my buckshot handloads was excessive, I also shot Remington Express 2¾" 12-ga. shells loaded with nine 00 buckshot and polymer granules sifted between the balls that act like little pillows to cushion the balls during their rough ride down the cylinder bore. The Remington load averaged a spread of 12" at 25 yards.

One thing is certain about the buckshot load at close range, though—it delivers nearly 500 grains of lead, immediately devastating to things that prowl in the night.

Latest

RM New Rm1s 01
RM New Rm1s 01

New For 2025: Rost Martin RM1S & RM1C Comped

Two new models joined the Rost Martin handgun lineup in 2025, one with subcompact dimensions and another with a built-in compensator that promises to reduce recoil substantially.

CMP Resumes M1911 Pistol Sales

As of January 2025, the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) had resumed sales of surplus U.S. Army M1911/M1911A1 pistols to qualified U.S. citizens.

Gun Of The Week: Military Armament MAC-5K

For this episode of Gun Of The Week we’re on the range with the MAC-5K, a non-NFA SMG clone from Military Armament Corporation.

The Armed Citizen® June 6, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

The End Of An Era: Smith & Wesson's Last Model 64 .38 Special Revolver

First introduced in 1970 as an adaptation of the Model 10, Smith & Wesson's Model 64 stainless steel revolver dutifully served law enforcement with a prolonged lifespan until the 1990s when trade-in programs initiated around the globe. And today, collectors can find these well-loved and once-used examples on the commercial market for enjoyment and protection.

A Girl & A Gun Survey Highlights Women's Favorite Guns & Gear

According to the Gear Check at A Girl & A Gun National Conference, several standout models and brands that emerged as favorites among women shooters, as well as preferences when it came to aftermarket products.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.