[SandLine]

For use in a Mossberg 18.5" without a choke, is there any point to buying "premium" 00 buckshot (~$1/shell), such as Federal Power Shok or the Winchester military surplus stuff?

If not, I'd much prefer my $0.65/shell Remington Express bulk pack from Walmart.

My rationale is it's a shotgun that randomly spews lead of any brand whether the ammo's expensive or not. It's not a rifle where buying expensive, match grade ammo actually does make a difference.

[Jorg]

My rationale is it's a shotgun that randomly spews lead of any brand whether the ammo's expensive or not. It's not a rifle where buying expensive, match grade ammo actually does make a difference.
Your wallet may not like to hear this, but you're dead wrong. There is a substantial difference in the way shotgun "randomly spews lead" when using premium buckshot, particular those with Flitecontrol wads, buffered shot, and/or plated pellets compared to the cheap stuff.

[hub]

My rationale is it's a shotgun that randomly spews lead of any brand whether the ammo's expensive or not.

The trick is finding the brand that it spews the best.:)

While shot is always random, all different brand shells pattern differently in each shotgun barrel and each different choke. Since you have a fixed cyl bore barrel half of the equation is already solved for you. Some may shoot better patterns with the cheap stuff, who knows that's why you always here about people "patterning" their shotgun for particular loads. It will probably shoot them all different. If cost is a concern and you don't necessarily have to have the tightest patterns go buy several different brands of cheap stuff and have some fun seeing which one it holds the tightest pattern with. Then buy a bunch of that kind.

Don't count out the reduced recoil shells if your trying to get a good tight patterns and are not worried about maximum penetration. They are lower velocity and lower pellet count but sometimes they do pattern really good.

Just to add because it's that time of year, one of my favorite targets for patterning is Christmas paper. Take some left over or cheap dollar tree type and turn it around backwards and put a few aiming dots or cross hairs on the white side a pretty good distance apart with a sharpie or just a can of black spray paint. Tack up one end and roll it out in between some fence polls/ fence line, tree's, two target stands or whatever. If you have a pretty steep shooting berm around that can work OK to just keep the angle in mind.

I think this is cheap and saves alot of time by not having to shoot, rehang, shoot, rehang. Shoot one round at each dot with one type of ammo. Go mark each pellet hole somehow, straight mark to the right, circle, triangle, box, whatever just mark them all the same per brand. Next round change ammo and mark. Continue until out of ammo or paper is starting to get too damaged to read and mark the holes good.

Merry Christmas,
HUB

[roklok]

With high quality loads, randomly spewing lead is not the case. +1 to the suggestion of Federal Flite-control, it is amazing what these loads will do out of a cylinder bore shotgun. A good load should produce repeatable patterns at any given range, and it is wise to know these patterns, from actually testing the given load at various distances.

[content]

Hello friends and neighbors // It is not up to what I perfer, it is up to what your shotgun prefers.

Buy several types and pattern them at various ranges. Definately try some with flightcontrol wads. You will have greater confidence in your ammo after doing a pattern test then any info I could give you about my results.
If the results tell you the extra cost ammo gives you and extra survival chance I'd say it is worth it.

Good luck finding whats right for you.

[huntsman]

the Winchester military surplus stuff?

I’m not sure this fits the “high quality” ammo designation, regardless of the price.

[Sam1911]

Here is a great link (http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=191407&start=0) with pictures and measurements of buckshot patterns at various distances with various loads.

Specifically he compares some military buckshot, some Remington L.E. stuff, and the Federal Flite Control products.

Amazing difference!

-Sam

[AcceptableUserName]

that stuff isn't "premium". it has it's applications but by no means is it top flight.


Federal Flitewad, when you can get it, is MUCH tighter. It does make a difference. Personally I'm starting to employ looser stuff, like the "garbage" sellier and bellot and Wolff. I'm using a pistol grip-only shotgun so that spread is nice. Provided you can aim and get a nice cheek weld, tighter the better.


Take out some Hornady TAP and Federal Vital-Shok from Walmart and see what your gun likes the best. That's my honest advice to you given your current gun.

[Sam1911]

I'm using a pistol grip-only shotgun so that spread is niceAhhh...so that's how "tolerance stacking" works! Kind of the "two wrongs might make a right" theory of defensive shooting.

:D Ha ha!

-Sam

[chevyforlife21]

just buy the cheap stuff unless you live in a very bad area. shells need to be replaced every year or so anyway if kept in your mag tube the spring tension makes them deform

[ishida]

I just bought some cheap Fiocchi nickel-plated #00 (reduced recoil) for about $0.55 a round. Considering the small house I live in, and my method of defense (move into main bedroom with rest of family--guard door), I don't need the ultra-tight patterns Flite Control gives it (more like pre-fragmented slug), since the distance won't be more than 7 yards.

[trickyasafox]

I just picked up a few boxes of that SB stuff for a mossberg 500 as well. shoots okay- but better stuff is. . . better. Doesn't mean the low cost stuff doesn't have a place though.

[SandLine]

Wow, you guys weren't kidding about those Federal Flite Control shells!! And I thought all shells would basically follow the 1" spread per yard rule of thumb. I think it's too tight for HD ranges (might as well just use a slug), but it certainly does extend the useful range of 00 buck. Does anyone know how it patterns at relatively long ranges, ~50 yards+?