Just very curious to what you all think. I have always used 3" shells, in a #00 Buckshot, which gives me 15 pellets of power. What do you guys think of the 3 1/2 ##00 Buck in caparison where has 18 pellets.? Obviously the cost almost doubles with the 3.5. Do you think that extra kick and 3 pellets is worth the price?
Opinions needed about Buckshot
- Thread starter lakobe1
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For the effective range with buckshot on a deer or hog I do not think it matters. That stuff is pretty useless over about 60-70 yards. Not saying you cant kill something with it over that range but its very inconsistant and unreliable. If you have to use a shotgun get a rifled slug barrel and shoot slugs they have a much more effective range.
Bigchillin83
Well-Known Member
I have a beretta 1301 tactical with a 18.5" cylinder bore and ghost ring sights, with standard Winchester/remington 1 oz slugs I can tear up the center of a paper plate at 50 yards, and wouldn't second guess 100yrd shot with it, the only thing about a cylinder bore is buckshot, but I have been using federal 00buck with "flight control wad" and I can get 14"-18" all pellets on target at 50 yards, I'm sure with a modified choke you could get fruther distance, usuall with cylinder bore you can expect 1" of spread every yard( 20yards 20" pattern with buckshot and so on) look on YouTube they have some people shooting federal flight control 70 yards with tight patterns and a fella set up a cronograph at 50 yards I think and shot buckshot through it and still had enough fps for a deer penetration I would stick with slugs for hogs or keep it under 25 yards with buck shot for sure
I don't know if I would trust buckshot to make a clean kill on a deer over about 25 yds. Unless, and a very important unless, I had shot many rounds and found a combination that produced a small group of shot at whatever range it was capable of achieving. I have killed one deer at about 15 yds. with Remington 3 in. Nitromag 00 buckshot from a modified choke tube in a 28" Browning Auto-5. There was about a 3.5 to 4 inch group in the shoulder of the animal. It knocked the deer over on impact and it didn't get up.
I don't know about slugs out of your gun but, I do know that they make slug shotguns that are very capable of shooting small groups at fairly long ranges up to 100 yds from a scoped shotgun.
Some states have entire areas of the state where rifles are forbidden for deer hunting and a shotgun is the only option.
I don't know about slugs out of your gun but, I do know that they make slug shotguns that are very capable of shooting small groups at fairly long ranges up to 100 yds from a scoped shotgun.
Some states have entire areas of the state where rifles are forbidden for deer hunting and a shotgun is the only option.
Back in the day we went after hogs with slugs. Never tried buckshot, but like somebody said previously just talking about it makes my shoulder hurt. I've heard that 3.5 12 gauge is basically a 10 gauge payload, but I've never done a comparison to see whether that was true or not.
000 3" mag. Definitely a step up.
I patterned my old rainy day 12 bore with a full choke and it held the best pattern down range with this load. For some reason, 00 prefers a cylinder bore over full choke.
Try the 000 and you'll see.
Edit: found a vid for ya. I prefer the larger shot of the 000. The tighter pattern down range is an added bonus.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhkB1v5oxn4&sns=em
I patterned my old rainy day 12 bore with a full choke and it held the best pattern down range with this load. For some reason, 00 prefers a cylinder bore over full choke.
Try the 000 and you'll see.
Edit: found a vid for ya. I prefer the larger shot of the 000. The tighter pattern down range is an added bonus.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhkB1v5oxn4&sns=em
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This morning I tried #000 3" today with the Modified choke tube and at 35 yards the 10 pellets were all with in a 8-9 inch group. I was thinking about trying the full choke to see if the pattern might be even a little tighter. The issue I have is if I am shooting a combination of slugs and Buckshot on a hunt, Id need a choke inserted that can handle both. I wouldn't feel comfortable shooting a slug, using Full choke.
Bigchillin83
Well-Known Member
Your right I wouldn't shoot slugs with a full choke, I think your fine with a pattern that tight, keep the modified, load a slug first and follow up with buck shot to catch the ones running you didjtn blow up with that first slug, that's what I do, works like a champ... I've never tired 000 buck, that's a lot bigger pelletit prob slams it pretty good!!!
Bigchillin83 I think using the modified for both will be a great option, as you said. Now I will have to see what rifled slug will work best in my slick barrel shooting with a beaded sight, no scope. I'm not sure what a Good distance for shooting a 3' slug is recommended. Any suggestions?
Bigchillin83
Well-Known Member
Most slugs are 1oz and 2 3/4" but mine has ghost ring sights, might wanna put some on, but I have hit paper plates at 50 yards easy with a beaded sight in my 1187, you jus have to focus a little more and make sure your vent rib, if it has it, almost disappears, and see pretty much only the bead, other wise it will throw your shot off, unless maybe it would be cheaper to just add a second bead like a turkey gun, but 50 yards ought to be no problem with a beaded sight and 20-30 deff ought to be a point and click
I've never used a shotgun on a hog..... I've seen some pretty thick shields on hogs and would have some concern if the shield would or would not dissipate the energy in the pellets before they got to the vitals (might need to go through bone too). I'd think slugs are good choice.... or a light repeater like a .30-30 Winchester 1894 Carbine. I'd like to see some 00 buck tested on two shields of a hog.... if it goes through both, I'd feel like I could trust it.
