[lbmii]

Attached are some photos of targets fired at 6 paces (~7 yards) of some different buckshot. I am a strong proponent of the now scarce single ought 12 pellet and No 1 16 pellet buckshot loads in 12 gauge 2 ¾. These loads provide more pellets and much greater surface area than the standard 9 pellet double ought. Although No 4 27 pellets provides even more surface area the No 1 and single ought provides for more adequate penetration.

The shotgun is a Mossberg 590 A1 DA with a 20” Modified choke.

If you have pattern photos of your own favorite buckshot loads please post and give distance and barrel length and choke. Also if possible include a ruler in the photos.

Attached to this post is Remington single ought 12 pellets at 6 paces.

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=1023617

[lbmii]

Attached is Winchester No 1 buck 16 pellets at 6 paces 20" barrel modified choke.

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=1023620

[lbmii]

Attached is Remington No 1 buck 16 pellets at 6 paces 20" barrel modified choke.

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=1023624

[lbmii]

Attached is Federal Premium Double Ought 9 pellets at 6 paces 20" barrel modified choke.

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=1023629

[lbmii]

Attached is Remington Long Range 1 1/4 once lead BB shot (about 62 pellets) at 6 paces 20" barrel modified choke.

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=1023639

[Cameron Lamont]

That Federal Premium 00 9 pellet seems to be the ticket.

It is the same as I found it my Winchester, nice tight patterns...

Thanks for the info.

Cameron

[Dave McCracken]

Good job, thanks for posting.

Note the difference in pattern size even at close range, which probably works out to about 5 yards.

We HAVE to actually test out our Shotgun/load/choke combinations to know what the equipment is capable of.

Also,I've a long held hunch that 1 buck was the best all around load.

[lbmii]

Yes different brands of otherwise identical shotgun ammo can pattern very differently. Personally I prefer a moderate and evenly spread pattern. Not as tight as the premium rounds produce but not so wide as to be spread too thin.

[Black_Talon]

I shot these from a newish 870P with an 18" IC bbl. All patterns were shot at 16 yards (the longest length of an indoor shot in my house :) ). All ammo was "low recoil" 00B from various manufacturers. Ruler in pic is 12" long.

Note the large difference in the size of the patterns. It's a really good idea to pattern your gun with several types of ammo to see what works best.

Estate "SWAT" Low Recoil 00B, 9 pellets
http://www.concealedcarry.info/modules/xoopsgallery/cache/albums/Image-Hosting/EST_SWAT_00B_01.jpg

Hornady TAP Reduced Recoil 00B, 8 pellets
http://www.concealedcarry.info/modules/xoopsgallery/cache/albums/Image-Hosting/Horn_TAP_00B_02.jpg

WW Ranger Low Recoil 00B, 9 pellets
http://www.concealedcarry.info/modules/xoopsgallery/cache/albums/Image-Hosting/WW_Ranger_00B_02.jpg

WW SuperX Low Recoil 00B, 9 pellets
http://www.concealedcarry.info/modules/xoopsgallery/cache/albums/Image-Hosting/WWSX_00B_02.jpg

Here's the gun I shot it out of:
http://home.mminternet.com/~mwtrummel/RKBA/870_2003_01.jpg

[lbmii]

I would never had thought such a tight pattern as produced by the Hornady round could have existed had you not posted the photo.

[lbmii]

Of the three different brands of No. 1 Buck 16 pellet rounds tested the brand that had by far the biggest spread was Federal. Attached is Federal No 1 buck 16 pellets at 6 paces 20" barrel modified choke.

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=1026154

[lbmii]

Attached is Remington Triple Ought buck 8 pellets at 6 paces 20" barrel modified choke. Every shot I made with this one produced a unique tight single straight-line pattern of 6 or 7 balls with one or two wide flyers generally perpendicular to the straight line.

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=1026169

[lbmii]

The Federal No 4 Buck Mag 34 pellet round produced the widest pattern of all rounds tested. The photo below is of a shot taken at 5 paces; at 6 paces the pattern covers the whole 14 inch wide target. This round might be good if you desire a wide spread of many pellets in a fairly short distance. Of course test the round in your own firearm first.

Attached is Federal No 4 Mag 34 pellets at 5 paces 20" barrel modified choke.
http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=1026187

[lbmii]

Attached is Remington No 4 buck 27 pellets at 6 paces 20" barrel modified choke.

This round also produced a wide pattern. No 4 Buck might have less penetration than the other buckshot loads. If you desire a wide pattern at short range and good shot density without as heavy as recoil as the Mag rounds you might consider this load. But again test it for yourself.
http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=1026211

[lbmii]

This is the shotgun used in all of the tests.
http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=1026221

[lbmii]

Black Talon,

Where did you find the low recoil shells? Especially the WW Ranger Low Recoil 00B, 9 pellets? I can not find any locally. Also have you ever tested any low recoil triple ought?

[JERRY]

this is good info.


i have a 870 with a 18.5" barrel and its loaded with 00 buck. i cant shoot a pettern anywhere because i have no out door ranges where i live and the nra range is slugs only for shottys.......

im in a row house, so the range max is appx. 15 feet from top of the stairs to the bottom, i guess thats 5 paces?


id like to see how 00 buck spreads at 15' from a 18" barrel. but for now, i can try to deduce from this thread.

[lbmii]

I have some different brands of standard and magnum 00 Buck that I patterned at those distances. I will post some photos Friday. One load that is not bad at all is cheapy Sellier and Bellot 12 pellet 00 buck. It is not loaded to a Magnum level so it does not kick real hard. It does have dirty smokey powder and the 2 3/4 inch shells are longer than standard US 2 3/4 shells. In my Mossberg I lose I round of capacity.

I would also really consider using PMC brand No 4 birdshot 2 3/4 inch, 1 1/4 oz., 3 3/4 Dram Equv, I will post a photo. It is very good ammo. The recoil is identical to standard buckshot loads.

[Black_Talon]

Black Talon,

Where did you find the low recoil shells? Especially the WW Ranger Low Recoil 00B, 9 pellets? I can not find any locally. Also have you ever tested any low recoil triple ought?

From here (http://www.northwestloading.com/catalog/default.php?cPath=1_8&sort=2a&page=4). I've never shot any 000B.


BTW - When I patterened all the OOB, I also took along some 4B as well. It patterned awful, at best it was as good as the worst OOB patterns, at worst it was as large as the paper I was using (24"). Bleech!

[lbmii]

Black Talon,

I have added your link to my favorites.

Attached is Remington Standard double ought buck 9 pellets at 5 paces 20" barrel modified choke. Note that 3 pellets went into the same hole near the center. I found that it was not too uncommon for the pellets to stick in several groups of two and sometimes three with this particular round. I wonder if my Modified choke is squeezing the pellets together. Does anyone out there experience this with a more open choke barrel?
http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=1028398

[lbmii]

Attached is Remington Standard single ought buck 12 pellets at 5 paces 20" barrel modified choke. Compare this with the double ought buck above. You get better shot density, 3 more pellets than double ought, and ballistic gelatin penetration of about 16 inches* with single ought buck. I do not know why single ought and No. 1 buck has fallen almost to extinction.

*My source for gelatin penetration is: www.cprc.org/tr/1998/03/tr-1998-03.pdf (http://www.cprc.org/tr/1998/03/tr-1998-03.pdf ) This is a scientific site. It also did penetration studies on some birdshot.


http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=1028420

[lbmii]

Attached is Remington Express Long Range Number 4 birdshot at 5 paces 20" barrel modified choke. The recoil and power loading is the same as standard buckshot rounds. You can also get this round in no. 2 birdshot as well as BB shot (see previous post). Number 2 birdshot and BB shot generally must be ordered on-line.
http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=1028438

[lbmii]

Attached is PMC Number 4 birdshot 1 ¼ ounce, 3 ¾ Dr Eqv at 6 paces 20" barrel modified choke. The recoil and power loading is the same as standard buckshot rounds. This ammo is fairly inexpensive and I use it for practice on falling plates due to its’ same recoil as buckshot. A good idea is to find inexpensive practice ammo that simulates the recoil of your defense rounds. With a shotgun, recoil recovery and quick action cycling is of great importance and this takes practice.
http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=1028451

[lbmii]

Attached is a photo of Federal 20 pellets no 1 buckshot fired at 5 paces from a 20 inch barrel with a modified choke. I was going to try to go to the range today and test some more but I have come down sick with the flu.
http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=1041242

[Dave McCracken]

I hope you whip that flu PDQ. Thanks for taking some time and posting all that.

EVERYONE should find out what their particular load/choke/shotgun will do under realistic circumstances.

I suggest everyone measure the longest possible shot opp in their residence, add a yard just because and shoot a few different loads. Go with the tightest patterning if all else is equal.

A note.... While 00 has a very good record on one shot stops,so does 8 shot. I've a hunch that 1 buck may be close to the optimum load. It oft patterns tighter than the larger pellets but still has enough mass to keep energy up out there some distance.

Most standard 00 has about the same kick as a 1 1/8 oz high velocity field load. These make good practice rounds, although some "Duty" ammo should be fired periodically. If the weapon is stored loaded,the ammo that's been in it should be fired off and fresh ammo used after cleaning.

[lbmii]

A problem I have run into is it is hard to find No 1 and Single Ought Buckshot as well as low recoil double ought. Because of this I made one big huge Internet order of a large variety of different rounds that I could not find locally. I ordered no 4 - 27 pellet, no 1 - 16 pellet, and O - 12 pellet. I did not think at the time to try the low recoil. I ordered several boxes in each of the big three brands in each of the above buckshot types. I also tested the different brands and premium verses regular of double ought that I bought locally.

What was interesting was that the brand that I had traditionally always gone with was Federal. I considered Federal the best and Winchester the worst with Remington in-between. What I found was that the best brand depended on the particular round type. Winchester did the best of the 16 pellet no 1 buck. Remington did the best of the 12 pellet single ought buck. Federal advertised tight patterns for its' no 1 buck but had a very wide and inconsistent spread.

The main thing is to pattern different ammo in your particular weapon and go with what you feel is the best for your particular situation. In my case it's Remington 12 pellet single ought buck or Winchester no 1 buck.

[pangris]

Great post and interesting results!

I personally use Winchester Ranger Low Recoil in my 11-87P, or Remington 1 oz slugs. I like slugs :)

As far as quality between Remmy, Winchester and Federal - no difference. Like Ford, Chevy and Dodge. They all have some good stuff, some crappy stuff, people that love them and people that had a bad experience.

I wouldn't hesitate to use any of the three as long as it gave consistent results in my gun. In my 11-87, the Win Ranger and Remington slugs do best, so thats what I use!

[lbmii]

Speaking of slugs! You know I have had really good luck with PMC brand slugs. You might try them out.

[lbmii]

I went to the range yesterday to test some standard OO buck at 16 yards so as to compare with Black Talon's results. However I got all the way out to the range and discoverd that I had left the 00 buck at home. So I patterned what I had with me at 16 yards.

Below is Remington #1 buck 16 pellet at 16 yards. I fired a bit high on the target. Fourteen of the 16 pellets hit the target. I think had I been better centered all would have hit.

Mossberg 590 DA 20" Modified Choke
http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=1044967

[lbmii]

Remington Express 3" 000 Buck 10 pellets at 16 yards; Mossberg 590 DA 20" Modified Choke. I pulled this one high and to the right pretty bad. All 10 pellets are within a 8" X 9" square. Correct me if I am wrong but I think 3 inch 000 buck is the Wyatt Earp Load.
http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=1044979

[lbmii]

Remington Express 3" #4 Buck 41 pellets at 16 yards; Mossberg 590 DA 20" Modified Choke. I counted 37 out of 41 pellets on the 14'" X 18" target. Shot density was good and centered pretty well. Recoil is pretty hard. This is what I loaded when I had a single barrel H&R shotgun. This might be a good round for use in double barrel coach guns.
http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=1044997

[Dr.Rob]

So why aren't any of you patterning those on dangerous game targets?


:D

Seriously... I made a LOT of solid holes in a pattern board trying to work up a buckshot load for my Pedersoli 12 ga double. Nice info.

[sm]

So why aren't any of you patterning those on dangerous game targets?
Dr.Rob, I did.
When I patterned anything I either used a clay target or carboard cut out to see the effective pattern for the given load and intended task.

I also used cardboard stencils with spray paint, stick ons with intended critter.Be it pellets for birds, Buckshot or slugs.

I have to admit tho'...I had fun using a Purple Barney for my "dangerous" Critter targets for buckshot and slugs. Hey it respresented what I needed represented.

A kid I instructed made me a cardboard cut out- purple spray paint and set. Also I was given Barney posters, and someone printed a bunch for me to use.

[ especially useful when teaching ladies with kids to shoot to focus on target..." you spend 5 hrs in a car on a trip with the damn Barney tape playing over and over again to keep a brat happy..." -one mom I instucted]

We ever get attacked by mutant alien purple dino's you folks will be "pleading" for my test results. :D

BTW,Speaking of that beatuiful BP Shotgun - do you have any testing comparisons to share? I admit I have very little experience and knowlege on the subject of BP and BP SGs. Just curious how modern and BP compare.

I WILL have one of them "purty" shotguns someday.

[lbmii]

Is there someone out there in the Internet comopolis that owns a 12 gauge with a variety of screw in chokes? If you do would you mind taking some common regular power 9 pellet 00 buck and create some patterns with each of the chokes you have? Would you take some digital photos and post them here? I think the results would be interesting to see. I am limited to a fixed modified choke.

[lbmii]

I bought a chronometer today and will try to get some results posted soon.

[lbmii]

I have tested the following loads for velocities using my Mossberg 20 inch barrel:

Winchester # 1 Buck 16 pellet = 1236 FPS advertised = 1250 FPS

Remington # 0 Buck 12 pellet = 1236 FPS advertised = 1275 FPS

PMC Heavy Field Load 3 3/4 DR EQ, 1 1/4 OZ #5 bird = 1195 FPS adv=1330

Federal Field and Target 3 DR EQ, 1 1/8 OZ #8 bird = 1099 FPS adv = 1200