need some info @ buckshot patterning from cylinder bore barrel

[kmrcstintn]

I had an older barrel shortened to make a 'pseudo' tactical barrel (similar to 18" cylinder bore barrels that are on tactical style shotguns)for home defense purposes; I will not be able to pattern loads (due to regulations at public range & sportsmens club and desires of the person that owns the land where we hunt--I did some major damage to target supports while patterning 2 years ago )

shotgun: Mossberg 500 12 guage w/ 18.5" cyliner bore barrel

loads: 1) Remington 12 ga 2 3/4" 00 buckshot (9 pellet @ 1325 fps); 2) Remington 12 ga 2 3/4" #4 buckshot (27 pellet @ 1325 fps)

understanding that not all loads pattern EXACTLY out of every shotgun...what 'relative' size patterns can I expect @ 10 yards distance?

BTW...I am not trolling and I am trying to make a decision about what to load for home defense in an apartment (minimize collateral damage) to prevent overpenetration if pellets pattern too wide; thank you

 

[peetee32]

i think the general rule of thumb is-
1 inch for every yard.

10yds away...a 10in pattern...give or take

 

[sm]

kmrcstintn,

IME, with that gun and barrel, those loads at 10 yards will fit into a 6" paper dessert plate, easy.

Federal five pack of 2 3/4" , nine pellet , 00 buck patterned tighter, and fit inside a 3.5" circle at that distance.
Another lot number of this Federal load, was consistent at 4".

I suggest using a 9" paper plate, for testing. Inexpensive and if you hold one to your COM and look in the mirror you will see why.

So I often use 6" paper dessert plates (different color than the white 9" ) inside the 9" to have a fast visual reference.

Plastic coffee can lids are 4" in diameter. So I use those to draw a circle, or just hold over a Pattern or Group.






Obligatory Disclaimer: all barrels, chokes, screw in chokes, and ammo vary, therefore variations exist, hence pattern your gun, with loads, for tasks at distances is recommend.

 

[4thPointOfContact]

Agreed, there is a LOT of leeway these days due to shot packaging.
As an example, my 18-inch cylinder barrel has patterns at 25 yards that are Easily covered in the width of a Dollar bill. Not that unusual when you are using Federal LE132-00 with the FliteControl wads, from what I've heard.

On the other hand Fiocchi low recoil buck at the same distance was the full width of the torso on the target at 25-yards.

 

[Fred Fuller]

Often enough, even CYL bore barrels that are factory made will have just a few points of choke. That's sufficient to make them pattern more evenly. That's why I plead with folks not to hacksaw a longer barrel when they want a short barrel, but to buy a factory short barrel to start with. Nowadays, most new Remington factory 18- 20" barrels are ImpCyl. Many of those yield excellent patterns with modern factory buckshot loads and group rifled slugs well also.

Given the wealth of available 12 gauge buckshot loads today, it's pretty easy to tailor patterns just by switching ammo. As a rule, buckshot loads with the FliteControl wad (Federal Premium and LEO loads and Hornaday TAP) will pattern very tightly out of open chokes. Inexpensive buckshot loads with soft lead pellets, not buffered or protected by plastic wads, most often yield wide-open patterns no matter what the choke (S&B or Rio). In between there are a lot of loads that will yield medium sized patterns, depending on the barrel used.

It pays to experiment, patterning paper is the best proof. There should be a place somewhere that you can pattern buckshot, using your own target frames to avoid damaging someone else's frames. Home-made knock-down target frames are easily and cheaply made.

hth,

lpl

 

[wcwhitey]

I have to agree with Lee Lapin. An 18.5" barrel for the Mossberg will only set you back about $70 bucks. I did some testing with a 12 Ga 870 with a factory and sawed barrel with a decent home crown. The factory barrel was a little bit tighter but had a whole lot more consistent pattern density. This leads me to believe that Improved Cylinder is not a complete free bore. This was with Winchester 00 9 pellet, military packaging. The front bead is a big help with slugs as well. Bill

 

[RyanM]

Would you be able to pattern loads anywhere if you made your own target stand? Here's a good, cheap, and highly portable design.

http://www.firearmstactical.com/briefs29.htm

The only things in the line of fire are the 1x2s, which are dirt cheap to replace.