#6 lead shot?

sjones · December 13, 2002, 11:40 PM

I live in houston and can't find any anywhere. Does any one know where I can get some? I even tried several online stores with no luck.7 1/2,8,9 no problem,but I can't find any #6. I wanted to load up a bunch for general hunting,rabbits,pheasants,and so forth. sj

lockandrock · December 14, 2002, 12:20 AM

You might waht to try Basspro shop. #6 is probably not the most commonly loaded shot size but it is available.

You can also try midway usa and other locations

**Mike Irwin** · December 14, 2002, 01:41 AM

Try finding 7 shot.

Long Path · December 14, 2002, 03:26 AM

I don't think I've ever seen 7 shot, Mike!
I know it was oft used by Brits, but here, you find #2, #4, #5, #6, #7 1/2, #8, and #9.

maxwayne · December 14, 2002, 09:43 AM

My South Dakota hunting buddy lives in Dallas and he cant find any loaded 6's down there. He shoots pheasants at a tower shoot a couple of times a year. When we are in SD, he stocks up on 6's to take back with him.

Johnny Guest · December 14, 2002, 09:54 AM

Long Path mentions difficulty of finding #7 shot. It used to be fairly common, at least in loaded shells, in the Fort Worth area--I guess it waws dring the 1960s when I was buying a fair amount of it. I've never loaded shotgun shells, so never paid attention to abundance/scarcity of #7. It stands to reason that most shotshell reloading is done by those engaged in the target sports, though, and wanting lots of shot in the pattern, tend to use smaller sizes. (duh!)

When I was young, most of the loaded shotshells I encountered were number six - - -The "all around" size. South Jefferson County, Oklahoma--My Uncle Fred Coats used to keep his old Nitro Hunter double just inside the farm house back door, with six or eight #6 loads and a couple of buck on the shelf above it. The sixes served for foxes, coyote, prairie wolves, skunks, chicken hawks, and wot-not. Dunno why the buckshot. The bear. deer, and most of the outlaws were gone from his area for many years. He was on good terms with the "laws," and had no truck with untaxed alcohol.

My dad's main sport was rabbit hunting with a .22 rifle. The few times I know of him going dove hunting on the ranch ponds outside El Paso, he also used #6 shot. He died when I was 17, and his choice of shot size was never a topic of discussion.

I need to locate a few old paper hulled #6 shells to display with Uncle Fred's old hammer gun, whenever I get around to shadow boxing it. Just wouldn't do to show it with those namby-pamby 7-1/2 shells!

Best,
Johnny

HSMITH · December 14, 2002, 10:16 AM

Graf and Sons or Gamaliel should have the #6 shot, Ballistic Specialties will have it too. You will pay a pretty penny for one bag of shot shipped but it will load over 300 typical game loads. I prefer #5 shot and a tight choke for hunting, but have used 6's a lot. #7 can still be found around here, but with a flushing dog I prefer a larger shot on pheasants and the like.

sjones · December 14, 2002, 12:37 PM

HSMITH,I finaly got all the bugs out of my new press and it is shooting ok now. I appreciate all the help that you have given me. It turned out that the adjustments on the sizemaster were all wrong.I got a friend who is into shotshell reloading to come over to the house and we went through it from stage one to the final crimp.One of the problems was that the final crimp was way to deep and it was buckling the shells.Thanks again. sheldon

HSMITH · December 14, 2002, 12:47 PM

ANYTIME bud. Just glad I was able to help.

Zorro · December 15, 2002, 01:16 AM

#6's are my do everthing shot size.

Without #6's there would be bird shot inside Bob White Quail I might bite down on!

December 13, 2002, 11:40 PM	#1
sjones Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 1999 Location: waxahachie,Texas Posts: 337	#6 lead shot? I live in houston and can't find any anywhere. Does any one know where I can get some? I even tried several online stores with no luck.7 1/2,8,9 no problem,but I can't find any #6. I wanted to load up a bunch for general hunting,rabbits,pheasants,and so forth. sj

December 14, 2002, 01:41 AM	#3
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	Try finding 7 shot. __________________ "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.

December 14, 2002, 12:20 AM	#2
lockandrock Registration in progress Join Date: December 26, 2001 Location: sunshine Fl Posts: 122	You might waht to try Basspro shop. #6 is probably not the most commonly loaded shot size but it is available. You can also try midway usa and other locations

December 14, 2002, 03:26 AM	#4
Long Path Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 1999 Location: N. Texas Posts: 5,899	I don't think I've ever seen 7 shot, Mike! I know it was oft used by Brits, but here, you find #2, #4, #5, #6, #7 1/2, #8, and #9. __________________ "Welcome to The Firing Line, a virtual community dedicated to the discussion and advancement of responsible firearms ownership."T.F.L. Policy Page Will you, too, be one who stands in the gap? ____________

December 14, 2002, 09:43 AM	#5
maxwayne Senior Member Join Date: March 10, 2001 Posts: 402	My South Dakota hunting buddy lives in Dallas and he cant find any loaded 6's down there. He shoots pheasants at a tower shoot a couple of times a year. When we are in SD, he stocks up on 6's to take back with him.

December 14, 2002, 09:54 AM	#6
Johnny Guest Moderator in Memoriam Join Date: August 28, 1999 Location: North Texas Posts: 4,123	Does shot size preference change as a matter of "style?" Long Path mentions difficulty of finding #7 shot. It used to be fairly common, at least in loaded shells, in the Fort Worth area--I guess it waws dring the 1960s when I was buying a fair amount of it. I've never loaded shotgun shells, so never paid attention to abundance/scarcity of #7. It stands to reason that most shotshell reloading is done by those engaged in the target sports, though, and wanting lots of shot in the pattern, tend to use smaller sizes. (duh!) When I was young, most of the loaded shotshells I encountered were number six - - -The "all around" size. South Jefferson County, Oklahoma--My Uncle Fred Coats used to keep his old Nitro Hunter double just inside the farm house back door, with six or eight #6 loads and a couple of buck on the shelf above it. The sixes served for foxes, coyote, prairie wolves, skunks, chicken hawks, and wot-not. Dunno why the buckshot. The bear. deer, and most of the outlaws were gone from his area for many years. He was on good terms with the "laws," and had no truck with untaxed alcohol. My dad's main sport was rabbit hunting with a .22 rifle. The few times I know of him going dove hunting on the ranch ponds outside El Paso, he also used #6 shot. He died when I was 17, and his choice of shot size was never a topic of discussion. I need to locate a few old paper hulled #6 shells to display with Uncle Fred's old hammer gun, whenever I get around to shadow boxing it. Just wouldn't do to show it with those namby-pamby 7-1/2 shells! Best, Johnny

December 14, 2002, 10:16 AM	#7
HSMITH Senior Member Join Date: June 21, 2002 Posts: 2,019	Graf and Sons or Gamaliel should have the #6 shot, Ballistic Specialties will have it too. You will pay a pretty penny for one bag of shot shipped but it will load over 300 typical game loads. I prefer #5 shot and a tight choke for hunting, but have used 6's a lot. #7 can still be found around here, but with a flushing dog I prefer a larger shot on pheasants and the like.

December 14, 2002, 12:37 PM	#8
sjones Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 1999 Location: waxahachie,Texas Posts: 337	HSMITH,I finaly got all the bugs out of my new press and it is shooting ok now. I appreciate all the help that you have given me. It turned out that the adjustments on the sizemaster were all wrong.I got a friend who is into shotshell reloading to come over to the house and we went through it from stage one to the final crimp.One of the problems was that the final crimp was way to deep and it was buckling the shells.Thanks again. sheldon

December 14, 2002, 12:47 PM	#9
HSMITH Senior Member Join Date: June 21, 2002 Posts: 2,019	ANYTIME bud. Just glad I was able to help.

December 15, 2002, 01:16 AM	#10
Zorro Senior Member Join Date: October 28, 2000 Posts: 1,072	#6's are my do everthing shot size. Without #6's there would be bird shot inside Bob White Quail I might bite down on!