[spudster]

What is everyone's preferred brands and types?

Thanks.

I've only had experience with Number 4 buck and 00 3 inch Remingtons. I can handle the recoil... I'd just like to be able to shoot faster.

[CajunBass]

I've killed a lot of deer with No. 1 Buckshot, mostly 3", but on one occasion with 2 3/4 "short magnum." The deer went down the same as with 3".

All were Remington shells. Hard to compare the recoil. The short magnums were in a Remington 1100, the long ones in a Mossberg pump.

I've never really used anything else, but I've seen deer that were killed with everything from no 7 1/2 birdshot (not recomended for anything bigger than rabbits, but it worked that time) to 000. Number 4 were used by a lot of guys when turkeys were legal, under the theory that they'd load the 4's in case they saw a turkey, then follow it up with something bigger. In practice, it seemed to make for a lot of deer not being killed. 00 was never popular in my group for some reason. I know a few guys who used it, but not many.

Now, 000 especially in a 3" shell, kills like lightening within it's range limitations. That stuff breaks bones like matchsticks. Again recoil seems to be more a factor of the gun than the shell. When I used 3" 000, it was always out of a Remington 1100 Magnun. That was a soft shooting gun. I never used a short magnum 000, there were just too few (8) in a shell to interest me.

[06]

According to the range you will be shooting at. For deer I use OO and have only missed once. Was shooting left shoulder straight down using a strange shotgun. Trying to do a head shot and only put holes into his ears. I would never use anything less than #1 buckshot and that at only close ranges. I use a slug barrel on my old Browning occasionally. It shoots like a rifle and is highly accurate.
Many recomend #4 for home defense citing the short range inside your rooms. Anything is lethal at that range including #8s.

[huntsman]

Good Defense #4 to 00 2 3/4" ?


9 pellets 00 is slightly less than a 1-1/8oz load while 27 pellet #4 is slightly more than 1-1/4oz. So I'm focusing on #4 and 12 pellet 00 in 2-3/4" for self defense and varmints. I use slugs for deer because buck isn’t legal.

Remington is the brand I buy and I roll my own #4

[Fred Fuller]

Pattern your gun at the ranges you expect to need it, and use whatever load meets your expectations for patterning. At HD range either shot size should suffice.

I prefer tight patterning 00 buck (Feeral LE-127 00) in the magazines backed up with Brenneke KO slugs in the Sidesaddles, but your needs may be different.

lpl

[Rshooter]

I personally use slugs in 2 3/4. I have a 3" gun but I see no reason to use 3" at HD ranges, even if I was using #4. Just think most police guns you see being traded in for the past several years are 2 3/4 inch guns, you are just starting to see the 3" guns being traded.

[spudster]

barrell is 18.5 btw.

I fired a mossberg gun with a ribbed barrell (don't know the length... just stating it was long and used for duck hunting) this saturday.

When comparing that gun and mine... My pattern was a bit looser than the bird gun.

[Youngster]

Now, 000 especially in a 3" shell, kills like lightening within it's range limitations. That stuff breaks bones like matchsticks. Again recoil seems to be more a factor of the gun than the shell. When I used 3" 000, it was always out of a Remington 1100 Magnun. That was a soft shooting gun. I never used a short magnum 000, there were just too few (8) in a shell to interest me.

Another fan of 000 here, particularily for its bone breaking and penetrating power, however I have no problem with using 2.75"ers as you're only giving up 1 pellet compared to a typical 2.75" 00 load, but you gain noticably better pellet performance. IMO the increased momentum and energy you get with the 000 pellet size seems to be at the point where it starts acting more like a real bullet instead of a submunition.

[MCgunner]

I have Number 3 buck 20 count in 2 3/4" 20s for home defense. When I HAVE to use buckshot (rather use rifle or handgun) on deer or hog sized game, I take 18 pellet 00 in 10 gauge. I'd use 000 in 10 gauge if I could find it.

[AllAmerican]

Self Defense = Fiocchi 00 Buck
Deer with a Shotgun = Fiocchi 00 Buck

I got a deal and a boatload of it.

I dont hunt deer with the shottie much though.

Im not opposed to defending the interior of the home with birdshot though.

[wnycollector]

Another vote for fiocchi low recoil 00 buck. It patterns fine in my Maverick 88 plus it was inexpensive so can practice with it more often!

[Ned Kelly]

If you use buckshot in my own opinion I would use 000 buck.

The reason is that the balls are uniformly arranged in the shell.

Two stacked one way, two stacked the other way and so forth. Should give a more consistent cone than the 00 buck.

[LoneStarWings]

I would like to try some #1 buck if only I could try a few boxes and pattern it. No one seems to have it around here, so I usually either Federal or Remington 00 buck.

[Youngster]

#1 buck is neat stuff if it patterns well in your gun {and if you can find it!} but be aware that it kicks nearly as hard as a 12 pellet 00 magnum load. Those #1 pellets seem to give up little in penetration to 00 out to 20 yards or so, and you get more of them.

[Daniel1120]

Federal makes some #4 buck 34 pellet stuff. 7 more pellets than regular #4, whats not to like?

They used to make #4 buck 34 pellet with plated shot, that stuff would be the "ultimate" in #4 buck IMO.

[missouri dave]

I use dead coyote. Love it.

[9x23]

Before using a shotgun, or any weapon for that matter, for hunting or defense you should be reasonably proficient with it.

Once at that level, I believe the main element for increasing your speed at either multiple or moving targets is to BELIEVE that you made your shot before you go to the next one.

A simple test is to take 3 pepper poppers and first see that your shot made the popper move before going to the next one. After that shoot each of the poppers WITHOUT waiting for a target reaction. The difference will be so dramatic it can easily timed with a stop watch - using a shot timer will be even more convincing. Using this course of fire is a great confidence builder too.

In this case believing is seeing!.....9x23

[9x23]

My preference for both loaded ammunition and relaoding supplies is Federal.

I've been using their products for over 25 years with satisfaction. However for the applications you're talking about almost any major manufacturer's shotshells will give reasonably good performance.

For home protection I use a reduced charge 41 pellet hand load with a spreader wad. For deer I use a 12 pellet 00 buck Federal 3" shotshell.....9x23

[RP88]

I like either 00 2-3/4 shells, or #1 plated 3" shells. Shotgun recoil was never a problem through my 500 persuader, so I'd feel comfortable with either. The #1 seems more preferable, but I don't have much trigger time with it.

[Dimis]

Remington Buckshot 2 3/4 1325fps 8 pellet 000

Remington 2 3/4 1325fps 9 pellet 00

Breneke 2 3/4 1oz Slugs

ive also uses 3 inch variations of 00 and 000 loads but always REMINGTON

ive found that the rems just pattern better in my gun than anything else and im happy about that because they are less expencive than alot of "tactical/defense" loads
i even got a few boxes of Federals Tactical with flight control wad and i still like my remingtons

[KevinAbbeyTech]

My preference for both loaded ammunition and relaoding supplies is Federal.

+1 on federal being a good brand