Magnum Shells vs. Not

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cologuy

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I don't have a lot of experience (read: none) with shotguns, but I just inherited a nice Rossi 12ga., 3" double barrel, and I need some help. Some shotgun shells are marked "Magnum", and some (same shot size, length, etc.) aren't. From browsing various websites, talking with a VERY unhelpful sporting goods clerk, and doing what research I can, I still can't get a satisfactory explanation of the difference between regular shells and Magnum, if any. I'd love to learn to shoot this gun, but I hate to damage it in the process. Can anyone educate me? Thanks in advance.
 
Don't take my word for it.

I was under the idea that Magnum shells had more powder than regular shells, often a the expense of loosing a few pellets of shot to make up the room.
The idea faster pellets = more stopping power (more energy retained downrange)

but dont take my word for it, hopefully somebody with more experience than me comes in and clears it up nice.
 
Depending on your intended purpose, regular target loads will recoil less and be more pleasant to shoot, especially for clay targets, smaller upland birds like dove and quail, fun shooting, etc.

If you're talking about SD/HD, that is a different animal, as is hunting waterfowl
 
"magnum" for shotshells is more marketing hype than info. Magnum shells are intended for hunting-they tend to have more and harder shot, more powder for better patterns at long ranges, and larger shot sizes to match your game. Any 12 ga 3" shell would be safe in your gun, but unless you are shooting wild pheasants, turkey, or waterfowl (with nontoxic) why pay extra to batter you shoulder. For targets use light AA or RXP loads, for upland game dove or upland loads are fine.
 
All wrong.

"Magnum" as it applies to shotgun loads always means more shot, same powder volume. The magnum rounds throw shot at a bit lower velocity than standard 2 3/4 shells,but they throw more of it and have a significantly higher recoil impulse.
 
Either way, larger charge or not your gun will shoot them.

So grab some 3" candle sticks and make it rain!
 
Well, back in the days of black powder the charge may have been the same, but not likely now. The manufacturers load to achieve the maximum allowable pressure for the shot charge, which give the maximum velocity, with that shot charge.
I had a Rossi SxS like you describe, double triggers and extractors, and it killed a lot of ducks with Magnum fodder. It really liked Kent Impact shells. I put a slip on Pachmyr pad on mine to lenghten the LOP a little and it fit me real well like that. A little light for shooting the heavy stuff without heavy clothes, too. Enjoy.
 
RevolvingGarbage is correct in his explanation except perhaps on the velocity. Magnum shells have heavier (read more) shot payload. They are generally longer than the standard shells to accomodate more shot, for example all 3" shells and longer are considered magnums in the 12 ga as 2-3/4" is the base size.

For lead shot standard shells usually have a maximum of 1-1/4oz of shot while 2-3/4" shells used to be marked as magnums with 1-3/8oz or 1-5/8oz of shot and where refered to by hunters as "baby magnums".

Unlike metalic cartridges the "magnums" don't necessarily have higher velocity than standard loads. Lead shot is limited to a maximum velocity of under 1,450 fps after which point the wad will normally push through the shot column and "blow" the pattern.

Steel shot has changed the game a little as its lighter than lead so an 1-1/4oz load of steel would typically have as many pellets as a much heavier lead load of the same shot size, perhaps 2-5/8oz or more. Steel loads are usually 3" or longer magnums and have much larger shot to come close to the killing capability of lead in shorter shells. Steel also gets driven faster since it looses velocity quicker than lead and needs that higher velcoity to have any down range effectiveness.
 
I hate to nit pick, but 1450 fps is no magic number for lead, and trying to go faster has nothing to do with blowing a wad through through the shot and messing up the pattern. Otherwise all these new even heavier than lead loads at 1500 fps wouldn't pattern worth a hoot. Trying to go faster with lead would get you into the area of diminishing returns because of trying to get as much shot out there as possible to maintain killing density at range, at a decent velocity, while staying under the pressure curve. Getting good results depends on matching components. Primers, powder, shotcup, and shot. And staying within the pressure limits of the gauge and chamber length is the key to the whole works. Note: 3-1/2" 12 gauge has a higher pressure limit than 2-3/4" or 3".
 
rem 870 express vs. rem 870 express super magnum
Hi im new here and i got a couple of questions..

1.whats the diffrence between rem 870 express and rem 870 express super magnum...does the super magnum only shoot magnum loads and the normal one only shoots non magnum loads?

2.can both the rem 870 express and rem 870 express super magnum shoot buckshot and slugs and what chokes do you need to shoot them.
____________________________________________________________________
automated lead scoring
invoice factoring
 
Thanks, everyone, for the fast replies. I guess I can kind of ignore the Magnum name, and shoot whatever 3" shells I like. I don't intend to shoot a lot of heavy loads (buckshot, etc.), but I want to run a box or two of each type through the gun to see how it shoots, what it's capable of, that sort of thing. I'll probably stick to target loads once I do that - I'm too old & out of shape to be hiking through the contryside, I mainly stick to the range these days.
 
Us old guys need to stick together.

I can tell you right off the bat that 3" mags in a double will not be fun.
No fun atall!

Even 2 3/4" Mag turkey loads ring my chimes anymore in doubles & pumps. I get by with semi-autos, but the solid lock-up guns just hurt.

rc
 
I agree; if you're going to be using it for HD, and not hunting use the traditional 2 3/4 shells. Performance will be acceptable and your shoulder won't take such a pounding.
 
I've shot hundreds of regular full power loads at a stretch without hurting my shoulder but it only takes a few Magnum loads to leave a bruise unless my shooting form is absolutely perfect.
 
Haha... I know. I'm talking about this one day where I was on a Boy Scout campout with my troop... we were a lucky bunch, because we were just about the only troop within 50 miles to have a rifle and shotgun campout each year. I was eh... 14 at the time. We'd go out to the MDC area in Gallatin, MO, which has 3 different rifle ranges and a clays area. Next to the clays area is an archery range, but we used it for straight shooting with the shotguns. You had a choice of either the rifle range or the shotgun activities, but you could switch off. That year, I decided to stick with the shotgun. I had my 20 gauge Benelli Montefeltro that my dad had bought for me as "my" shotgun, and his 12 gauge Winchester M1300 Defender, the kind with the synthetic stock. Of course, both of these guns kick hard, and I burned through what had to be 175- 250 shells that day. I got an extra t-shirt, rolled it up like a doughnut, and slid my arm through the hole. That's what I used for recoil protection, and if I got the butt of the gun dead on the t- shirt, it actually worked pretty well. I still got sore though. It was getting close to dinner time, and I had completely run out of shells, and then I noticed that one of the scouters in the troop had some more than he really needed. It was interesting how he shot, he had a 12 gauge 870. However, he was a firefighter. I've known him since I was 4... he used to be on the Haz-Mat team, but had broken his back in the line of duty, and couldn't handle the recoil of the shotgun standing up. He would sit down and cross his legs to be able to shoot. He wasn't at all bad doing this. I went over to him to ask for some shells, and he handed me some that he had in this bag. Some were 2.75"; others were 3" magnums. I just kind of loaded them into the Defender, not really caring too much about the length of the shells. I got through a few in the tube, then racked the slide to load up another round. I pulled the trigger, and knew from the recoil (and searing pain coming from my shoulder) what I had just sent down range. I decided to put the shotgun down at that point and go make dinner :D.
 
""Magnum" as it applies to shotgun loads always means more shot"

There are always exceptions to every so-called rule. For instance, it is easy to buy 3" magnums loaded with the standard 1 1/8 oz of shot.

John
 
Enlighten me?

I have never heard of an 1 1/8 oz magnum load.

Except maybe in 20 ga steel shot.

Who loads 1 1/8 mag 12's?

rc
 
Are we counting 3" steel and slugs?

Give me a second to find one.

WF143 12 3" / 76 1550 4.56 *1 1/8* / 31.9 2 ,3 ,4 ,BB Speed-Shok® Steel


This one is 1 1/4 oz lead:

PF140 12 3 / 76 1400 4 *1 1/4* / 35.44 3 ,5 Wing-Shok® High Velocity Pheasants Forever

Back to 1 1/8 oz...

Brenneke USA SuperSabot Ammunition 12 Gauge 3" *1-1/8 oz* Lead-Free Sabo... $15.99 ·

Win XRS123 Super-X® 12 3" 1 oz. Sabot

Xpert® Hi-Velocity Steel Shotshells 3 1-1/8 OZ #4 SHOT

Okay, out of time, gotta hit the road. John
 
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