Buckshot Pattern Photos

[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

 

[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.

 

[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.

 

[Dr.Rob]

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




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.

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