Can I shoot Buckshot and target loads from a Remington 18.5"?

[STARR15]

It is a HD shotgun Remington 870. 18 1/2 inch barrel. Smoothbore. A couple of friends said I should only shoot #4 to Buckshot out of it because of short barrel. :banghead:
I haven't shot from this gun before(New). I know I can shoot a rifiled Slug. Just not a slug.
Just trying to be safe and not stupid.

Can I shoot Winchester target loads 8 shot 2 1/2 inch just to practice with cheap shells??
Thanks

 

[mp510]

You can shoot birdshot, buckshot (any size), and slugs through your gun safely. The cylinder bore won't help with patterning birdshot very well at a distance, but there is many things that you can practically use it for.

 

[STARR15]

Thanks- Just being overly paranoid.:

 

[50 Shooter]

Being a smoothbore the only type of slugs that you can't shoot (you can but it would be a waste of money) are sabot type of slugs. As noted already you'll need to shoot rifled slugs out of the barrel. Other then that you can shoot any type of ammo throught it (even the sabot's but you wouldn't hit the broadside of a barn).

If you're shooting clays, try to shoot them as close as possible to you so you'll have a better chance of hitting them.

 

[hub]

A couple of friends said I should only shoot #4 to Buckshot out of it because of short barrel.

Barrel length has nothing to do with the pattern it's the choke. You can shoot anything you want through your 18.5 smoothbore barrel since it's probably(should say on side of barrel)

CYL(.000 or no choke)

IMP CYL .010 choke restriction.

I know you can't change your choke because it doesn't accept choke tubes but here is a pretty good read on chokes and a few charts showing effective distances and how to pattern.

http://www.wildfowlmag.com/tips_strategies/shotgun_062304/

 

[AcceptableUserName]

Your friends should visit THR more often. You can even shoot Sabot slugs through your gun if you want, it's just not as effective. The only risky (and I don't think it's even too terribly risky IIRC) is shooting a slug through a full choke. Don't make a habit of it though. Don't shoot a shell size your gun isn't chambered for, and youre good to go.

 

[BrianB]

I've shot everything but sabot slugs (which wouldn't make sense anyway) through my 18.5" barrel. I've even had fun with airborne clay pigeons in spite of the length. Accuracy at range can improve with a longer barrel and choke, but you're good to go.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Accuracy at range can improve with a longer barrel and choke, but you're good to go.

A longer barrel mostly acts to change the balance and swing of the gun -- it has no effect on "accuracy" (if we can apply that term to a load of shot.) Choke is the key, and I believe you can have that 18 1/2" barrel threaded for slimline screw-in chokes. You can also jug choke the barrel.

 

[BrianB]

Thanks for adding the extra clarifying details, Vern.

 

[PuddlePirate]

I have the same gun next to my bed loaded with #00 buck for HD. Same RSG I used for LE/military for 18 years with the same ammo. Interesting thing when practicing at 25 yards with a transitional target: Put the bead sight on the belly button instead of center body. For some reason, the pellets rise in flight. Works for me.

 

[76shuvlinoff]

I have an old cut down single shot 12 with 18 1/2" barrel.
At 7 paces the 00 buck pattern is 6 to 7 " and 2" tighter than #4.
I have not tried slugs in it, I just figured they'd be all over the map.
Dang, now I'm going to have to try it....

 

[roo_ster]

Pattern those guns with your SD ammo. You might be surprised at what you'll find. I sure was, whan I found that Rem Express 2 3/4" 000 buck held tightest together at range, even better than some loads "known" to pattern tighter than others.

Look at the stickies up top to see what I mean.

 

[rcmodel]

The only risky (and I don't think it's even too terribly risky IIRC) is shooting a slug through a full choke

There is no risk.

Rifled slugs are perfectly safe to shoot through full choke guns.
In fact, probably the most common & widely used guns in exstinance at the time the Forster slug was invented in 1931 was the single-shot full-choke farm gun and the full-choke 1897 Winchester.
Both were much weaker & tighter bored then any of todays guns.

Anyway, an unfired 12 ga Foster slug in my collection measures .685" diameter.
A 12 ga Full choke runs .700" or there abouts.

Not to mention, slugs are soft pure lead, hollow, with ribs on them that allows a place for lead to be displaced.

They are far easier for a full choke to handle then a tightly compressed hard alloy shot charge.

rc

 

[BushyGuy]

you can shoot practically any 12 gauge load except sabot slugs out of a Remington 870, they are one of the strongest and most durable shotguns ever built they can handle the the Magnum loads except a 3.5" if its not a super magnum. you can buy the low recoil shells for target and trap shooting (low brass).