Lets see ;

0000 is .380"

000 is .360"

00 is .340"

0 is .320"

1 is .300"

2 is .270"

3 is .260"

4 is .240"

I use WIN Grex in my buckshot loads . I have a 9mm case with wire around the base and "generally I put something like 3-5 case fulls per shell depending on shot size and gauge .

At the moment all my buck loads in 10 , 12 , 16 and 20 gauge get buffer .

Over the course of the last five or six years I've killed a doe with the W&C Scott 10 gauge shooting unbuffered 00 , another doe with a Parker GH 16 gauge shooting unbuffered #1 , another doe with the LC Smith Quality 2 10 gauge shooting unbuffered #1 , a doe with the Ithaca Grade 2 10 gauge shooting unbuffered #3 , a spike with the Ithaca Grade 2 10 gauge with both barrels one with #3 and the other with 000 both unbuffered . Used my Parker Grade 2 10 gauge top lever loaded withbuffered 0 to take a pair single barrel each .

All the loads mentioned were handloaded by me , no factory so far !

Well, you have a whole lot better luck than I have getting buckshot to pattern - even at 25yds.

paul what choke are you useing with the buckshot loads....charlie

I believe it's Mod.

I finally checked at my friends BP gun store and .315, or 32 cal RB's fit real nice in a 10ga wad. I got three in a layer. Also received BPI 10ga wads and buffer. The wads are cheaper than Remington SP-10 wads, and they unslit. There's a couple tabs holding the petals together. I loaded one with unslit and one with a slit wad. Nine of them is only a nice light 1oz load. I read where the unslit wad will tumble 180 and act like a plastic nose bullet. I'll be shooting them with a sand bunker behind the target board. If I get just one big hole maybe I can dig it out. 12 balls would be about a 1 1/3oz - maybe try one of them if I get a decent group with the lighter load.

Buffer will increase pressure. There is no "rule" on how much that I'm aware of.

The BPI wads are stitched , not unslit should break apart when shot .

Yes buffer can increase pressure significantly , no rule and type of buffer can make a big difference .

Last year I pulled apart some 3 1/2 12ga buckshot loads (15 pellet of 00). I used the scavenged buckshot and buffer to make a 2 7/8" 10ga buckshot load. I made a 9 pellet (1 1/8 ounce load) stacking the pellets and filling the voids with buffer. It was propelled by 19 grains of Red Dot. I fired 2 of them through my Rem 1894 A grade that has .045 and .046 for choke. At 30 yards both barrels put all 9 pellets in a 30" circle. Both barrels also put 4 of those 00 pellets in a 10" and 12" circle close to the point of aim. Those tight chokes did not blow the pattern, the buffer did not blow up the gun. If I was inclined to hunt a deer with buckshot in this gun I think it would do the trick.

pete you now have a real deer slayer... my remington 10 ga has not been shot with buckshot yet...i m having trouble with the left barrel not fireing...guess i will have to work on it soon....charlie