"Malaya" loads

Kevan · October 5, 2002, 05:46 PM

Seems I read somewhere about some shotgun loads supposedly invented by the Brits who used them in Malaya. It was either 00 buck or #4 buck with all the "dead space" between the balls taken up by #6 birdshot. I don't think anyone manufactures these commercially, but anyone ever tried such a load they loaded themselves? I know that Aguila makes a mini-shell that is a combo of #1 and #4 buck. I wonder how well those work. Any thoughts?

BMWGS80 · October 5, 2002, 09:00 PM

The Brits found that #4 Buck was the best compromise between pattern size and projectile weight for jungle fighting. I do not remember the duplex load. I prefer that the shot be bufferred to minimize deformation. I have patterned all of my "social" smooth bores with both #4 and 00 shot. I like the #4 pattern better myself.

Cheers,

ts

**Mike Irwin** · October 5, 2002, 10:38 PM

You can get dual size shot loads from Remington and Winchester.

Kevan · October 6, 2002, 01:08 PM

Really? What are the shot sizes in the combos? I've never seen them anyhere. Who carries them? I'd like to try them just to see how they pattern.

Dave McC · October 6, 2002, 02:22 PM

4 buck can be an excellent choice, tho testing is the ONLY way to see what it'll do in a given gun.

The FBI used to and still may use 4 Buck in their 870s, citing less overpenetration and effect as good reasons.

An overlooked round is 1 Buck. I've stuck to 00 but have seen good work done with 1 buck and a judicious choice of choke. I doubt there's many shotguns out there that can work 00 through a Full Choke, but the smaller 1-4s don;t seem quite so sensitive.

As for Duplex loads, I've used Rem turkey loads like that but saw no great advantage to them.

leadbutt · October 6, 2002, 07:05 PM

IF you just wondering what the shot pattern will look like try some of Remingtons duplex turkey loads.The mixe of 4 and 7 1/2
was tried in Vietnam by a few of us,about the same time some of the Seals showed us a couple of their duck bill attachments,worked well in bunkers and some tunnels but in the bush 00 is better

Jim Watson · October 6, 2002, 08:47 PM

I think the main advantage of the Malaya load - British SSG and #6 - was that a low-tech guerrilla in the reeking jungle was in deadly danger of infection from even a #6. I don't see any use for it in SD or LE guns. Light load OO buck for me.

ronin308 · October 6, 2002, 09:20 PM

Note that the Turkey loads are #4 SHOT not #4 BUCK. I think...

October 5, 2002, 09:00 PM	#2
BMWGS80 Senior Member Join Date: April 15, 1999 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 288	The Brits found that #4 Buck was the best compromise between pattern size and projectile weight for jungle fighting. I do not remember the duplex load. I prefer that the shot be bufferred to minimize deformation. I have patterned all of my "social" smooth bores with both #4 and 00 shot. I like the #4 pattern better myself. Cheers, ts __________________ Everyone should be given a Bible, a boyscout manual and a Swiss Army knife at birth. All life's problems can be solved with these tools.

October 5, 2002, 10:38 PM	#3
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	You can get dual size shot loads from Remington and Winchester. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

October 6, 2002, 09:20 PM	#8
ronin308 Senior Member Join Date: April 9, 2001 Posts: 1,977	Note that the Turkey loads are #4 SHOT not #4 BUCK. I think... __________________ If you put the federal government in charge of the Sahara desert in five years there’d be a shortage of sand. -Milton Friedman

October 5, 2002, 05:46 PM	#1
Kevan Member Join Date: February 7, 2002 Location: Flagstaff, AZ Posts: 89	"Malaya" loads Seems I read somewhere about some shotgun loads supposedly invented by the Brits who used them in Malaya. It was either 00 buck or #4 buck with all the "dead space" between the balls taken up by #6 birdshot. I don't think anyone manufactures these commercially, but anyone ever tried such a load they loaded themselves? I know that Aguila makes a mini-shell that is a combo of #1 and #4 buck. I wonder how well those work. Any thoughts? __________________ William C. Quantrill Fan Club

October 6, 2002, 01:08 PM	#4
Kevan Member Join Date: February 7, 2002 Location: Flagstaff, AZ Posts: 89	Really? What are the shot sizes in the combos? I've never seen them anyhere. Who carries them? I'd like to try them just to see how they pattern. __________________ William C. Quantrill Fan Club

October 6, 2002, 02:22 PM	#5
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	4 buck can be an excellent choice, tho testing is the ONLY way to see what it'll do in a given gun. The FBI used to and still may use 4 Buck in their 870s, citing less overpenetration and effect as good reasons. An overlooked round is 1 Buck. I've stuck to 00 but have seen good work done with 1 buck and a judicious choice of choke. I doubt there's many shotguns out there that can work 00 through a Full Choke, but the smaller 1-4s don;t seem quite so sensitive. As for Duplex loads, I've used Rem turkey loads like that but saw no great advantage to them.

October 6, 2002, 07:05 PM	#6
leadbutt Senior Member Join Date: March 17, 2002 Location: Tidewater,Virginia Posts: 289	IF you just wondering what the shot pattern will look like try some of Remingtons duplex turkey loads.The mixe of 4 and 7 1/2 was tried in Vietnam by a few of us,about the same time some of the Seals showed us a couple of their duck bill attachments,worked well in bunkers and some tunnels but in the bush 00 is better __________________ "I am always willing to learn,but not always willing to be taught" Sir Winston Churchill

October 6, 2002, 08:47 PM	#7
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,543	I think the main advantage of the Malaya load - British SSG and #6 - was that a low-tech guerrilla in the reeking jungle was in deadly danger of infection from even a #6. I don't see any use for it in SD or LE guns. Light load OO buck for me.