50 caliber buckshot load

So, you can get three 50 cal balls in a shotgun hull. With the right powder load and the proper wad, you could have a good pattern. What are your thoughts on this?

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I would imagine you’d need a sabot to prevent the shot from deforming and flying totally irregularly.

Also,… ouch! Can’t imagine it would be a light recoiling round!

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50 cal running down a 12Ga (.729 inch) barrel. I’m guessing you only get 2, maybe 3 balls?

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I used to make them for a .410 and used 3to4, 3 aught buckshot.
Just cut the top of the 3" shell, dump the BBs out, pull the shot cup, add a bit more powder, reinsert the shot cup, add 3to4 buckshot, add hot wax to the top of the shell to seal it, insert it into the chamber of a single shot shotgun and fire away. The loads were accurate out to 50yds with a 3 inch group, after that started to spread out.
I will be waiting. :smirk:

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I have several thousand rounds of 12 ga. #4 bird shot. I bought by accident. For whatever dumb reason I thought it was #4 buckshot. There are several usages I have for it so I kept it. Price was unbelievably cheap at the time, should have read it better. But I can use it. Hot wax… :drooling_face:

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I have 3" 410 shells with 4 each .40 caliber balls. I load 2.5" 410 shells with 4 each 000 buck in a shot cup.
Consider 20 gauge bore diameter is .615" and 12 gauge is .729". Without a sleeve those 50 caliber balls will be offset and will deform. My 410 has a .410" bore and all 4 balls are on an 8" paper plate at 35 yards. After that it is who knows. Basically a smooth bore musket. .50 " balls might work with the 20 if you use the shot cup but I don’t know how many it will hold.

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