Questions about shotgun and shells.

1) Yes, you can shoot bird shot out of your barrel.
2) I'm not into buckshot, but it is better than bird shot. Can't tell you anything on sizes.

No choke would be a "cylinder bore" or just a cylinder choke. It will shoot shot, buck, or slugs just fine. But as you noticed, a cylinder choke isn't very tight so it isn't the best for wing shooting, especially at long range. For home defense, which is typically very close range, a cylinder choke should be fine.

Recoil is a function of the weight of the shot and how fast it goes (related to drams of powder). You can get low recoil buckshot, or go with lighter and slower slugs. Slugs are probably the most effective for home defense, but they have a lot of range and penetration. So if neighbors are close, buckshot may be better.

What is the chamber length on this shotgun (should be 2 3/4", 3", or 3 1/2")? Make sure you don't get shells that are too long for the chamber. If you're worried about recoil, usually the shorter they are the lower recoils is, so look for 2 3/4" loads. There are even some mini-buck rounds available that are even shorter (like 1 3/4 to 2 1/2"). These will work fine in a single shot, but can hang up in repeaters.

If going with buckshot, I'd look at #4 buck (can be marginal on heavily clothed people or if behind barriers), or OO Buck. You'll have the most choices of loads in these two sizes. Don't use bird shot for self defense.

Here's some possible low recoil ammo choices (finding some of this in stock at many places may be difficult right now):
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/73...n-12-gauge-1-3-4-7-8-oz-rifled-slug-box-of-20
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/12...reduced-recoil-00-buckshot-9-pellets-box-of-5

Johnny, I would use #7 1/2 shot in a 12 ga, as it would definitely stop the most aggressive perpetrator, and not hit your neighbors, especially at close range. Penetration at close range with bird shot is not a pretty sight, even if you use a light dove/quail load. Buckshot and slugs will go thru drywall and thru stucco without any hesitation.

How do you know it does not have any choke? Inexpensive guns like that typically have a fixed choke of some constriction - possibly modified or full. Just because there is no changeable choke tube does not necessarily mean that it has no choke. It might even have a designation near the breech or on the underside of the barrel

What size shot would be best, like 00 buck? Also will buckshot have less of a kick than the slugs

Click to expand...

For HD, any of the buck shot sizes will do fine. Recoil is determined by the weight of the gun, the mass of the payload and the velocity of the payload. That is a light gun and its stock dimensions pretty much suck, so shooting heavy loads like slugs and buckshot ARE going be noticed by the shooter. If the slug loads and buckshot loads weigh the same and have the same velocity, the recoil will be the same

Federal Flitecontrol Ammunition, either the birdshot or buckshot performs better IMO/IME in a barrel with no (AKA Cylinder) choke. Choke can actually open up the patterns with Flitecontrol Ammunition.

The choke of a shotgun is usually stamped on the barrel near the breech if it is a fixed choke, and on the choke tube in the gun if it takes interchangeable choke tubes. Most single shot shotguns are usually choked, unless the barrel was cut down at some time. A quick and easy way to determine choke is to take a dial caliper and measure the inside diameter of the barrel. If a 12 Gauge and the muzzle measures .730, it is a Cylinder Choke, .720 is Improved Cylinder, .710 is Modified, .700 is Full, etc. The choke is also determined by the inside diameter of the barrel in relation to the muzzle inside diameter, the difference is known as the POC, or points of constriction. Just measuring the inside diameter at the muzzle will get you close.

2.75 inch Federal Flitecontrol Low Recoil 00 Buckshot is what I would recommend for self defense in your shotgun. It has the felt recoil of a birdshot load. Yes, you can shoot 2.75 inch ammunition in a shotgun chambered for 3 inch.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

Anytime...if you have any other questions, let us know.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

oneounceload,

Well is there a such thing as a shotgun without a choke? As far I can remember the entire barrel is completely smooth.

Click to expand...

Completely smooth is what makes it a shotgun. Yes, some shotguns can have a muzzle that is the same diameter as the bore - what is called a Cylinder choke. That has a constriction of 0.000". However, since the constrictions are measured in thousandths of an inch, without proper measuring tools, it would be hard to just look or feel.

Doing a Google search seems to indicate that these were made by H&R/NEF and came with a fixed Modified choke

The reason I'm worried about the recoil is because my brother in law is not a very experienced shooter so I'm afraid that if he needs to use it he's going to want to push back against the gun and overcompensate for the kick and it's going to throw his shot off target. I'll guess it would be best if he goes out to the shooting range and gets used to it first.

Click to expand...

A shotgun won't be much benefit to someone who has not practiced with it first. Encourage or even better require your brother in law to practice with it before you lend it to him. At least you will reap the benefit of a fair expectation whether or not he might hurt himself or some unintended person if he should use it. Teach him proper firearm rules etc first. You will sleep better. Good Luck!

A shotgun without choke has little regular practical shotgun use -- I would bet that gun is Modified or, especially if older, fixed Full choke.

Old trick: if it's a 12 gauge full choke a dime won't fit into the muzzle but it starts to just fit in a Modified choke basically like it was a gauge for it. Loose is less than Modified.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1QxF6ESv9Y

In a single shot, you can shoot any cartridge that is chamber length or shorter. However, if you shoot a bunch of the shorty 1 3/4" loads and then try to feed a 2 3/4" load, it may not fit because of chamber fouling. SO make sure he cleans it if using different length shells.

There is also a mini buckshot load if the Federal loads with Flyte Control wad are too punishing (but that is a great self defense load). See these: http://www.midwayusa.com/product/16...e-1-3-4-4-and-1-buckshot-11-pellets-box-of-20

Several good choices.The Federal Flight Control loads in 00(PD156) and #4 buck(PD132) are excellent in cylinder bore guns.

Those H&R and other single barrel shotties are light weight and recoil can be stout for many. Look at some of the reduced recoil buckshot loads such as Federal Premium #H132 00 2 3/4" , Hornady 12 GA TAP® Reduced Recoil- No. 86265.

I would put a good recoil pad on it,slip-ons from Pachmayer,Limbsaver work well as long as it doesn't increase the length of pull too much.

That looks like either an H&R Pardner SB-1 or New England Firearms SB-1. Should have a modified or full choke. The barrel should have the info right on top near the breech. I have an NEF 20ga SB-1. I think H&R bought NEF or something like that. The guns are exactly the same. It will also take 3" shells.

http://www.hr1871.com/Firearms/Shotguns/pardnerYouth.asp

As far as shooting buck shot and bird shot, you will have no problem. Even if it was a cylinder bore, it wouldn't matter in a HD situation. If it was a cylinder bore, it would matter when you got to the 30-40 yard range and it also depends on the ammo. Some guns preform differently with one ammo then another. Hope this helps.