I don't get the love that people have for 00 buck...
If you want to penetrate, get a slug. Or if you insist on buckshot, 000 buck penetrates far better than 00 buck. One less pellet, but they weigh about 35% more each and are .03" wider with the same velocity - So they've got a LOT more inertia. And you don't get the "9th pellet flier" that's common in 00 buck.
If you want plenty of wound channels without over penetration, #4 buck is the king It boasts 28 pellets of .24 calibre so you are absolutely going to hit something vital if you put a shot into centre of mass.
If you absolutely have to compromise, or want a single do-it-all load, #1 buck is still better than 00. 16 pellets (almost double what 00 offers) of .30 calibre, so you're not losing much in terms of penetration.
But for home defence, I'd recommend #4 buck all the way, with 1 1/8 oz slugs on a side-saddle for when you need to penetrate cover.
I'd say 00 is easier to find. I don't disagree with what you wrote, but I don't hink I've ever seen 000 buck, #4 buck or #1. Maybe I should go look online. But the 00 is right there on the shelf next to the cheap ammo. Slug, well I keep that in case I wake up and there is a Grizzly or a Moose in my bedroom.
True. I'm in the process of rebarreling a Tikka action with a .308 bolt face. I want to do anything except.308...
.308 is a compromise cartridge, though admittedly one with lots of history.
Want to shoot further and even hit harder beyond 600m? 6.5CM all the way.
Want to hit harder at close range? .338 Federal.
Need for speed /flat trajectory? 6mm CM or .243.
Sub sonic? .375 Raptor (it's necked up .308 analogous to how the .300BO is a necked up .223).
Hell there's even the .45 Raptor, which is a straight walled .308 case with a.45 cal pistol bullet, to replicate the .45-70 ballistics in a bolt or semi auto if you ever wanted that for some reason.
But a competition series I go to only allows "military calibers" so I'm stuck with choosing a sub optimal cartridge because there are fudds even in the long range precision community.
Damn right. The 70 degree bolt throw on a tikka is why I got it. I've been a savage shooter for a long time, just bough the tikka action this week, super stoked to get to building it.
I'd love to get a 6.5CM like yours done up but the only competition around limits us to .308. At least barrel changes can be done relatively easily.
wanted to dip my feet into competition this year
Definitely recommend it. The community is pretty great, I met a mentor at a competition who's helped me improve quite a bit. It's a great opportunity for learning from others
I don't get the love that people have for 00 buck...
If you want to penetrate, get a slug. Or if you insist on buckshot, 000 buck penetrates far better than 00 buck. One less pellet, but they weigh about 35% more each and are .03" wider with the same velocity - So they've got a LOT more inertia. And you don't get the "9th pellet flier" that's common in 00 buck.
If you want plenty of wound channels without over penetration, #4 buck is the king It boasts 28 pellets of .24 calibre so you are absolutely going to hit something vital if you put a shot into centre of mass.
If you absolutely have to compromise, or want a single do-it-all load, #1 buck is still better than 00. 16 pellets (almost double what 00 offers) of .30 calibre, so you're not losing much in terms of penetration.
But for home defence, I'd recommend #4 buck all the way, with 1 1/8 oz slugs on a side-saddle for when you need to penetrate cover.
I'd say 00 is easier to find. I don't disagree with what you wrote, but I don't hink I've ever seen 000 buck, #4 buck or #1. Maybe I should go look online. But the 00 is right there on the shelf next to the cheap ammo. Slug, well I keep that in case I wake up and there is a Grizzly or a Moose in my bedroom.
True. I'm in the process of rebarreling a Tikka action with a .308 bolt face. I want to do anything except.308...
.308 is a compromise cartridge, though admittedly one with lots of history.
Want to shoot further and even hit harder beyond 600m? 6.5CM all the way.
Want to hit harder at close range? .338 Federal.
Need for speed /flat trajectory? 6mm CM or .243.
Sub sonic? .375 Raptor (it's necked up .308 analogous to how the .300BO is a necked up .223).
Hell there's even the .45 Raptor, which is a straight walled .308 case with a.45 cal pistol bullet, to replicate the .45-70 ballistics in a bolt or semi auto if you ever wanted that for some reason.
But a competition series I go to only allows "military calibers" so I'm stuck with choosing a sub optimal cartridge because there are fudds even in the long range precision community.
Damn right. The 70 degree bolt throw on a tikka is why I got it. I've been a savage shooter for a long time, just bough the tikka action this week, super stoked to get to building it.
I'd love to get a 6.5CM like yours done up but the only competition around limits us to .308. At least barrel changes can be done relatively easily.
Definitely recommend it. The community is pretty great, I met a mentor at a competition who's helped me improve quite a bit. It's a great opportunity for learning from others