Steel shot loads performance.

[skeet]

When reloading, especially steel, you must follow the recipe to the letter when using buffer. The buffers in steel loads usually are put in to make the load perform in a more liquid way. Helping things go smoothly through the forcing cone and chokes...mainly with larger shot. With lead shot you also have to follow buffered recipes to the letter because it usually raises chamber and bore pressures quite a bit...but with lead shot it is used mainly to protect the shot...keeping it more round...and again mostly with larger shot sizes. Loading buffered shotshells is not hard but it is demanding of time. Have done it in the past but for the most part loading specialized loads like those it usually isn't cost effective enough. The materials and time expended for the small amount of savings usually isn't worth it. Did a lot of reloading like this in the past. Loading hevishot MAY be an exception as far as savings...but only if you get the materials at a very attractive price and if you shoot a LOT. Factory loaded Hevi is expensive!!