2 3/4 vs 3" magnum...

[ny32182]

I just got a box of 3" magnum 00buck (15 pellet) to try out in my 870.

Assuming I don't have any problems with it, would this be better for HD than the 2 3/4" 00buck (9 pellet) I already have?

Also, I assume it punishes the gun a little more than 2 3/4". I tighten the ring that holds the barrel on as tight as I can with my hand, then use some padded channel locks to tighten it one more click. Is this a good/correct procedure?

 

[Dave McCracken]

15 pellet 00 will tear you a new one. And, it's overkill. Standard 9 pellet 00 is also overkill for close range crisis management.

If fact, one has to go down to the miniscule 410 before there's issues about sufficient energy.

At typical HD ranges, a 6 pellet 00 load will work well, unfortunately none is currently available from the factory.

Get more 9 pellet 00, or even the 8 pellet RR stuff and practice with it. Shoot a few melons and note the dispersal.

And, tightening ONE click is OK. More is bad.

 

[ny32182]

Thanks... I figured the 3" stuff would be pretty heavy hitting.

 

[45crittergitter]

Shoot, I like the 3.5" stuff - 18 pellets of 00 and preferably 27 pellets of #1. This is in a 7# gun.

I'd say you're overdoing it on the cap. Hand tighten only.

 

[Bill2k1]

+1 on hand tight

 

[ny32182]

What happens if you over tighten it?

I just don't want it to work loose under continued heavy recoil... and I'm a relative shotgun newbie, so I don't know exactly what it takes to do that.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Overtightening tends to torque things, the pump gets more friction and is harder to do. The mag tube can get bent a bit towards the front, and often this causes finish wear on the mag.

Take your cap and tighten it by hand, then grasp the barrel and see if it moves. If it does, channellocking it ONE click takes up the slop. Best for slugs and good for avoiding excess wear and headspace probs.

 

[Bix]

In addition to what's been mentioned, note that the larger payload may open up your pattern a bit (due to pellet deformation). This may or may not be desireable, depending on your requirements.

 

[mete]

The reduced recoil 00 buck works very well. Remember that at inside the house ranges the pattern is small - you have to aim !!

 

[LaEscopeta]

As I understand it, the main advantage of 3” and 31/2” shot shells is extra range. More powder for higher muzzle velocity means longer range, and more pellets means the pattern can be bigger, farther away, before the space between the pellets is bigger then the target.

This extra range is useful for goose some other types of hunting, but I agree with the above posts that magnum shells provide no real advantage over 2 ¾” shells for home defense. Unless maybe if you live in a 20,000 SF house, with shots lengths greater then 25 yards, and you don’t like slugs.

 

[dfaugh]

Personally I like the 3"

I use the S&B stuff, no shot cup, spreads really fast out my 20" Mossberg cylinder barrel (about 18" at 40 ft., max distance in my house) And still likely to hit with 2-4 pellets at 100 ft. if I need to use it outside...It does rattle your teeth, though.

 

[richardschennberg]

If you hand-tighten you can make sure it stays tight by checking it (attempting to re-tighten it by hand) at the beginning or end of each shooting day. If it does not move, it was already tight. If it tightens, you fixed the problem.
However, if you over-tighten, you will have a hard time installing or removing a plug, or doing any other magazine-tube maintenance.
Richard
Schennberg.com