Buckshot Pattern Photos

[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.

 

[lbmii]

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

 

[lbmii]

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

 

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

 

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

 

[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

Hornady TAP Reduced Recoil 00B, 8 pellets

WW Ranger Low Recoil 00B, 9 pellets

WW SuperX Low Recoil 00B, 9 pellets

Here's the gun I shot it out of:

 

[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.

 

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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.

 

[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.

 

[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.

 

[lbmii]

This is the shotgun used in all of the tests.

 

[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. 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?

 

[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 This is a scientific site. It also did penetration studies on some birdshot.

 

[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.

 

[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.

 

[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.

 

[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.