Thanks for all the replies and interest, pards!
O. Bill - dead soft is the ONLY type of lead I'd consider. And yes, my Tula, while imported back in the 70s or 80s (it still says USSR) is pretty modern steel and like most Soviet equipment, is over-built in the strength department. A NICE feature, IMHO. It is essentially the same as one of the newer imports, (Bounty Hunter II I think) but has some of the older styling details which I like. (Slim wrist like old guns, dark red buttplate and pistol-grip cap, etc. It even has some minor engraving - which is still on the newer imports, I think. It's just enough decoration to make it look less than bare-bones plain. The chrome lined barrels/chambers and short forcing cones are a nice touch. [As an aside: the longer forcing cones are thought to be easier on the shooter, recoil-wise. My old Stoeger had looong forcing cones, this Tula doesn't. I can tell NO difference in felt recoil. However, I have heard from learned folks that the longer forcing cones work better if your loads use a plastic shotcup, but if you use wads - like me - then you (I) can get good patterns with wads. I've never had the opportunity to "print" my loads, so I can't say fer sure.]
Griz - yep, 12. Thanks for the GREAT suggestion. How big of a hole do you punch? I assume (
) that is to center the ball, so to speak. No cloth patches to make up for any bore differences due to the choke? You didn't say, so I'd guess the top wad has no hole, correct? How much powder are you calling a square load? The same (approx. & by volume) 50 grs. for the buck'n'ball? What I use now is a Lee adjustable shot dipper set at 1 oz for 2F or 3f (whatever is on hand) and either 1 or 1 1/8 oz of #8 or #9 shot. Or whatever. we haven't got any knockdowns yet, only swingers, but my load moves them right nicely!
Buck'n'ball! Sounds like my NEXT project!