Hi!
I was wundering if any of you use/or have used Buckshots for hunting?? what sort of hunting? how did they work?
I have heard that they are very effective as a "stopper" at close range 0-25 yards on lions and such game.
//Overkill

I killed my first whitetail deer with a 20 gauge loaded wiith buckshot. While devastating at close range on thin skinned game, if the range is too far it will not penetrate well. A small caliber round ball has very little weight and low sectional density. I have no idea how it would work on a charging lion but if I was hunting lion I would rather have a rifle.

I've used 12ga. buckshot to hunt two legged dangerous game and I can confirm that it is very effective out to 30 yards.

Pegleg,

We'd all like to hear some of your stories on this topic!

Living here in New Jersey for many years that's all I used. After slugs were legal alot of hunters went with that.

But in areas I hunt, so thick with bushes and trees, shots are no longer then 40 to 50 yards. Let me tell you, buckshot is deadly in that range! I would never use anything else in that sitution. I've also taken a few Black Bears with buckshot.

Its quite popular in SA in some regions for thick bush or driven hunts on bushbuck, bushpig, duiker etc and works for them at closer ranges, like 30 meters. Bushpig at night with no lights at close range(under 20 meters, keep to ensure multiple pellet hits) ...35gram (1 1/4 oz) SSG or SG works with head shots.

Widowmaker416/
Please tell me more about how the buckshots worked on blackbear.. how was the effect? at what range??
//Overkill

You mentioned Lions and such game...... Some PHs use shotguns for following up wounded Leopard - but I prefer to use my rifle. FWIW, I did a follow up last year (on Leopard) with another PH who was using a shotgun. We got charged and both shot and hit (and killed) the cat at 6 or 7 yards. I recently saw the skull at the taxidermist and not a single pellet had penetrated the skull.

There are a few PHs that use them on Lions - but rather them than me. - I'll stick to my rifle........

I have used 16 ga buck on Dik-Dik and Blue Duiker, worked well and did not damage the pelts.