.25 round ball mould

[GunnyMack]

Does anyone have a .25 round ball mould?
Looking to sell it or willing to cast some for me?
I'd like to try some as buckshot but I don't want to jump into it and find out it's not worth the effort.
Sure I can buy 3buck but where's the fun in that?

[6pt-sika]

I knew several guys in our area that liked #3 and #4 buck for shooting deer when they used dogs . I’ve killed two deer where #3 buck was involved not when using dogs and to be honest wasn’t overly impressed . Killed one with #2 buck one day and to be honest I wasn’t terribly impressed with that either . All three were my handloads and all three were in 10 gauge guns , on paper the patterns were fine inside my parameters but as you would expect didn’t do much against bones of any size . #1 , 0 on up will knock the fire out of deer or atleast when I used them but as I said #2 and #3 left a bit to be desired . I realize this wasn’t what you were asking but thought it would be best to say it just the same . FWIW the #2 and #3 buck I loaded was factory made buckshot not the slightly softer stuff I cast in 0000 and larger .

[6pt-sika]

I suspect Tanner will be your best/easiest option . But they only make single cavity with no attached sprue cutter . https://www.ballmoulds.com/

[6pt-sika]

I’ve purchased 6 or 8 molds from Tanner they have a relatively quick turn around . For me except during the height of Covid the turn around has been 2-3 weeks . I don’t think they keep molds in stock ready to go but rather cut as ordered .

[GunnyMack]

I've shot quite a few deer with 4 buck, never had an issue with it not killing a deer.
My 870 with a 30" full fixed choke that I've ported and done some polishing internally will throw 4 bucks amazingly tight patterns, it also shot to old Remington nickel plated OO extremely well.
I've got a choke tube from Carlson for my Benelli that loves Federal 3"OO.

Only reason I'm looking of the 3 buck is I'd like to come up with a lower pressure 20ga load so I can try to get a deer with the Parker. 6 or 7 OO in 20ga just not what I would like. Maybe O would work too...

[jeepnik]

I knew several guys in our area that liked #3 and #4 buck for shooting deer when they used dogs . I’ve killed two deer where #3 buck was involved not when using dogs and to be honest wasn’t overly impressed . Killed one with #2 buck one day and to be honest I wasn’t terribly impressed with that either . All three were my handloads and all three were in 10 gauge guns , on paper the patterns were fine inside my parameters but as you would expect didn’t do much against bones of any size . #1 , 0 on up will knock the fire out of deer or atleast when I used them but as I said #2 and #3 left a bit to be desired . I realize this wasn’t what you were asking but thought it would be best to say it just the same . FWIW the #2 and #3 buck I loaded was factory made buckshot not the slightly softer stuff I cast in 0000 and larger .

#4 worked just fine on Florida deer. Then again those up on Eglin AFB weren't much larger than German shepherds (to the Florida folks, yes I am exaggerating).

[6pt-sika]

I've shot quite a few deer with 4 buck, never had an issue with it not killing a deer.
My 870 with a 30" full fixed choke that I've ported and done some polishing internally will throw 4 bucks amazingly tight patterns, it also shot to old Remington nickel plated OO extremely well.
I've got a choke tube from Carlson for my Benelli that loves Federal 3"OO.

Only reason I'm looking of the 3 buck is I'd like to come up with a lower pressure 20ga load so I can try to get a deer with the Parker. 6 or 7 OO in 20ga just not what I would like. Maybe O would work too...

I handloaded #1 ,#2 and #3 for both the 20 and 28 . The 20 gauge #3 shot exceptionally well on paper in a Fox Sterlingworth 20 28” I had . If memory serves it did okay in the VHE 20 28” I had . Both those guns were F&M I had a VHE 20 26” that’s was IC&M that didn’t care to much for the same load .

[6pt-sika]

Honestly I’d have no qualms shooting factory 2 3/4” 20 gauge buck loads in your Parker . Only ones I ever worried much about were the 1880’s guns and anylonger I don’t worry about them that much .

[GunnyMack]

I kind of figured factory stuff would work just fine, but you know as well as I do - ya gotta play around and find some load that works.

[rock-steady]

Marty's Molds = $120
https://martysmolds.com/products/round- ... 5717402678

BPI Super Buck #3 8lb jug = $43
https://www.ballisticproducts.com/Super ... nfo/SBK03/

Bubba Rountree, Wade loads #3 Buck for 20ga
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zySTWpQ1gK4

[GunnyMack]

Thanks Rock Steady-
I'm well aware of BP, the mould is a bit pricey! Especially if I don't like how it shoots.
I'm thinking of just getting a 4 buck mould.