Sellier & Bellot #4 buckshot...patterning & shooting impressions

[kmrcstintn]

I just performed a patterning session and trial shooting session of Sellier & Bellot #4 buckshot (sorry, no pics...I do not have a digital camera) and here's the scoop:

Weapon:

Remington 870 12 ga Magnum Express SPS-T ('special purpose shotgun-turkey'); 22" barrel; hi-viz front & adjustable rear sights~rear sight removed to achieve a 'bead sight' aim; hign comb buttstock; 3" chamber; chokes tested: Remington improved cylinder, Remington full, Red Head (Bass Pro Shop brand) modified

Load:

Sellier & Bellot #4 buckshot; 27 pellet; 2 3/4"; max dram; clear casing (no crimp on top~a sepapate plastic disc covers the buckshot and sides are folded down on themselves to hold the cap disc), no shot cup, no polyethelene 'buffering' (as Remington loads have), felt wad, paper separator pad between felt wad & powder; sold in 25 round boxes at Gander Montain in my area for $13.99; I was concerned about shot deformation & lead fouling since there is no shot cup

Targets:

Speedwell Economy B-27 targets

I found that a friend from work has a father-in-law wih some land at the foot of a mountain and he invited my out to explore the land as a possible hunting area next year; there is a target stand and firing lane set up;

I measured 10 yards from target stand with a measuring tape; I stood back from the 10-yard mark so the muzzle was 10 yards from the target; my point-of-aim on the target was just above the line that separates the 8 ring & 9 ring in the chest area on the silhouette; I tested 1 round with each of the chokes tested; here's my results:

full choke: worst performance; pellet column appeared to be 'overchoked' and spread out after leaving the barrel; group measurements: top-to-bottom: 13"; side-to-side: 15.5"; bulk of shot group was in the lower chest and the upper abdomen with a 3 flyers outside of the 8 ring (2 flyers in the 7 ring on one side and 1 flyer outside the 7 ring on the other); the full choke patterned low;

improved cylinder choke: middle performance; pellet column tighter than full choke; group measurements: top-to-bottom: 12"; side-to-side: 9.25"; bulk of shot group was more centered in the upper and middle chest with 4 flyers outside the 8 ring (3 flyers in the 7 ring in the upper chest and 1 flyer outside the 7 ring at the base of the neck); a lower point-of-aim would seem approriate since the improved cylinder choke patterned high;

modified choke: best performance; pellet column tighter than the other 2 chokes; group measurements: top-to-bottom: 7.75"; side-to-side: 8.75"; bulk of shot group in middle chest just left of center with 2 flyers just outside the 8 ring on the high side; this is the choke and buckshot load combo I have selected for home defense use

if another shooter prefers to land X ring shots then a lower point-of-aim would be needed; I want to place as many pellets in the chest region as possible since abdomen shots may not always cause quick incapacitation; this is why I took a higher point-of-aim on the target

I used the rest of the box of shells for 'shucking' practice and I also shot some leftover Federal 2 3/4" #4 buck magnum loads for comparison; the Federal magnum loads were much louder and gave harsher recoil; the Sellier and Bellot max dram loads were comfortable compared to the Federal magnum loads; the S&B loads still offered a good amount of recoil, but were more manageable; the auditory report of the S&B loads was quieter that the Federal magnum loads;

I have shot Sellier & Bellot #00 buckshot 2 3/4" loads from a friend's Moosberg 500 Persuader a few years ago; with both shooting sessions under my belt, I find that Sellier & Bellot make good quality products that are reliable in pump guns that are in good operating condition;

patterning defensive loads from a selected gun is highly recommended so that the shooter doesn't operate on assumptions (eg: Remington Express buckshot loads state on the boxes that any choke may be used and that full chokes offer the best performance; if I transferred this idea to the Sellier & Bellot load, I may have had flyers that could cause collateral damage or cause injury to an innocent victim)

BTW: cleanup was no worse than usual (not much impacted lead in the barrel)

 

[M2 Carbine]

Good report.

I keep a Ithaca and 870 (20 inch cylinder bore) loaded with #4 S&B buckshot.
BTW S&B has 21 ball AND 27 ball #4 so you have to watch which one you buy.

Last week I did some experimenting with a laser/light on my pistol grip 12ga Ithaca, out to 35 yards.
The laser/Ithaca combo works very well.

This is the target from 17 and 26 yards.
Shooting from the hip using the laser.

The top group is two S&B #4 and two S&B 00 12 pellet buckshot loads shot from 17 yards.
The bottom target is four Wolf slugs shot from 26 yards. The two shots in the target's blue jeans are also two slugs shot from 26 yards.

 

[kmrcstintn]

thanks for your input...I didn't know they had a 21 pellet load...I'm guessing it is their version of a 'low recoil' load

 

[M2 Carbine]

I had never paid any attention myself. I've had several ten round boxes of #4 S&B for some time and just noticed the difference when I started shooting the Ithaca with the laser.

I'm not sure which one I used on the above target, but I suspect it was the 21 count.

Both are still sold. I picked up three more boxes of the 27 count at Cheaper Than Dirt a few days ago and they were selling the 21 count also.

BTW, this is four shells of 12 count S&B 00 buck at 26 yards, fired fairly fast. (from the hip)



Moving out to 35 yards, about half the balls missed and only about 1/4 (14) of the 00 buck made good center hits. I didn't try #4 but I suspect the spread would be about the same (from my gun).
(the white square in the middle is reflector tape, so I can see the laser at that distance in the sunlight)

 

[sam1952]

Interesting that you brought up Sellier & Bellot. I just bought an FN SLP and a box of 2 ¾ S&B 00 to try along with some Winchester 00 Buckshot. The S&B was a clear casing with 12 shot. Winchester 2 ¾ 9 shot.

I liked the S&B a little better then the Winchester but found a major discrepancy between the two. My FN would only hold 5 shells of the S&B but 6 of the Winchester. Comparing the two shells, both being 2 ¾, the S&B was longer then the Winchester. I’m sure making room for the 12 shot. Haven’t found it in a 9 shot and not sure if it’s available.

Am wondering if this shell capacity is true with other model shotguns or just with my FN.

 

[M2 Carbine]

They may both say 2 3/4 but measure them.
The S&B 12 ball 00 shell is actually 2 1/2 inches, about 1/4 inch longer that the 9 ball 00 Federal, that I have.

S&B does make a 9 ball 00 also. I assume the length is the same as the other 9 ball loads.
$3.69/10 round box at Cheaper than Dirt # AMM-815.

BTW the published velocity is,
9 ball=1210fps
12 ball=1180fps

And the 12 ball is cheaper at $3.19/10 rounds. # AMM-840

 

[greg531mi]

I bought a case of 200 of S&B at Cabelas in September for $52.00
Seems that they are discontinuing it. Seems to be great ammo....