"What's in your shotgun?" Buckshot

Andy Griffith · Nov 22, 2009

We need a good buckshot thread!!!

We haven't had one in a while...I don't think.
I am certain that there are as many answers to the question "which buckshot do you use" as there are loads of buckshot...which makes my brain freeze.

Just notice that I didn't ask "which buckshot is best" which as we all know is a question that many will disagree on...whether to use large ones for penetration, or smaller ones to get more holes/hits...etc. Most of us have heard it all and become kinda set in our ways as we get older so an opinion is a bit more jaded than that of some whippersnapper.

I'll start it...
I've always been a fan of #1 Buck- whether in a 12 gauge or 16 gauge for hunting or self defense. Lead BB Shot is my second choice- when I could find it...but now I can load it myself for those pesky coyotes...and I suspect it would work somewhat effectively on those two legged vermin too if one were to attempt to harm my family or myself.

flop-shank · Nov 22, 2009

I'm currently running an 18" Ithaca 37 Featherlight (a gorgeous little hottie made in 1955) as my HD long gun right now. I feed it Remington 2 3/4" 27 pellet #4 buck. I tried that load against Remington 2 3/4" 9 pellet 00 buck and the gun patterns perfectly for the likely shots within my home, including the longest possible shot, with #4 buck. I give it what it likes. The 00, which my other guns like, shot like crap.

Smith Pistol · Nov 22, 2009

I have just one shotgun, a 12 ga Remington 870 w/ 18" bbl. It's only purpose is as a defensive weapon.

The round I use is Federal 12 ga Tactical 00 buck shot. The 00 buck is loaded in the shotgun with Federal 12 ga Tactical slugs in the carrier.

I also have some Federal 3" magnum 00 Buck and Federal 3" magnum slugs stocked in the safe, but I don't keep them loaded for use. I prefer Federal's Tactical series for home defensive use.

Peter J. · Nov 22, 2009

I currently have 00 in my HD gun, but have been thinking about switching over to BB shot. A couple of loads of BB would be like getting hit by a Claymore mine in a household setting. I love combat style shotguns. I have about 6 in my home that would be considered "combat" with extened mag tubes. Hard to beat a 12 Ga. in close up situations unless you live in a state that would allow a Full-Auto Mac 10 or M-2 Carbine.

BigRich315 · Nov 22, 2009

flop-shank said:
I'm currently running an 18" Ithaca 37 Featherlight (a gorgeous little hottie made in 1955) as my HD long gun right now. I feed it Remington 2 3/4" 27 pellet #4 buck. I tried that load against Remington 2 3/4" 9 pellet 00 buck and the gun patterns perfectly for the likely shots within my home, including the longest possible shot, with #4 buck. I give it what it likes. The 00, which my other guns like, shot like crap.

+1 for #4, strangely enough with the same gun! Great minds...

I've killed many a squirrel and the like, plus won a couple personal contests with my Ithaca 37 and #4 Winchester Super-X. Nothing else shoots like it besides Dad's Rem 1100 which is the undisputed Champion (the go-to-gun for all turkey shoots). I have no doubt it will get the job done if needed.

RogueJSK · Nov 22, 2009

My personal 870, a 12 gauge with 20" rifle sighted barrel and Choate +3 extension, stays loaded with #4 buckshot for HD purposes. But I do have plenty of low recoil HP slugs and 00 buck around, with a few of each handy in my sidesaddle.

Yellowstone · Nov 22, 2009

I had to go for 00 buck, only because slugs weren't a choice... and I do have some 00 buck (18 pellet rubber) in my side saddle, along with ferret gas rounds.

Glock 'em down · Nov 22, 2009

I've always said, "an ounce of lead is an ounce of lead."

No matter what load you choose...especially at close ranges.

That being said, I've used 00 Buck since I first donned a gun and badge over 20 years ago. It's been the standard cop load for more years than I can remember.

My Mossberg 590 is stoked with Winchester Super-X 00 Buck with 6 more in the side saddle and 4 slugs in the Speedfeed stock. The Cimarron 1878 Coach is loaded with Winchester Super-X 00's as well, with 4 more in a leather butt cuff by Andy Langlois.

US made rifle slings, bridle leather and solid brass hardware, made by me!.

ARMinSC · Nov 22, 2009

I keep a Stoeger Coach Gun 20" beside the bed for HD. I keep it loaded with Winchester 2 3/4 Supreme XX Turkey #4 shot, but I got 5 Winchester 2 3/4 Super X 00 bucks on the butt stock for a reload.

nitesite · Nov 22, 2009

My ghost ring 590 has a couple Federal Tactical Low-Recoil 9-pellet 00-buck w/ Flite Control Wad. They group (not pattern) about 7-8 inches at 30-yards. Then there are foster slugs behind them in the tube. A lot of them.

Photog · Nov 22, 2009

18 1/2" barrelled 10 ga. SxS loaded with 3 1/2" BB shot. In my Remington 870, I have one round of 7 1/2 shot sized trap load in the chamber, followed by 4 rounds of No. 4 buckshot 3" and then the last three are rifled slug. I think it was Jeff Cooper who suggested that arrangement, although he kept the chamber empty. He stated that the racking of the slide might get the intruders attention, and if he decided to fire a warning shot, then the trap load would do the least damage to the walls and have less chance of passing through walls to do harm to anything else. After the racking of the slide and a warning shot, if things were still happening, well then he was well prepared.

redlevel · Nov 22, 2009

My Stoeger 12 gauge Coach Gun is loaded with 2 3/4 inch 00 buck. When I ride out on the golf cart late afternoons during deer season, I replace the buckshot in the right barrel with a slug, just in case.

nitesite · Nov 22, 2009

Photog said:
18 1/2" barrelled 10 ga. SxS loaded with 3 1/2" BB shot.

Freakin' OUCHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

CAJUNLAWYER · Nov 22, 2009

# 4 buck-nuff said

bmhiii · Nov 22, 2009

Mossberg is loaded w/ 5 #4 buckshot with a couple of 00 buckshot thrown in for good measure. All 2 3/4".

Charles · Nov 22, 2009

Another BIG +1 for the Federal Tactical w/ Flite Control wad. About 3-4" at 15 yards from my 18" 870's. I will say that if they made this load in #1 I'd be all over it. Before I discovered how well it patterns I was a #1 fan. The Federal FCW is just a quantum leap ahead of everything else if you want to throw a tight pattern. I keep the buck in the butt cuff and slugs (half low-recoil and half full-power) in the side saddle.

nitesite · Nov 22, 2009

Charles said:
Another BIG +1 for the Federal Tactical w/ Flite Control wad. About 3-4" at 15 yards from my 18" 870's. I will say that if they made this load in #1 I'd be all over it. Before I discovered how well it patterns I was a #1 fan. The Federal FCW is just a quantum leap ahead of everything else if you want to throw a tight pattern. I keep the buck in the butt cuff and slugs (half low-recoil and half full-power) in the side saddle.

It's a beautimous buckshot load, I'm telling ya'......

EPM · Nov 23, 2009

I'll add this,i'm now a retired L.E.O. During my time as a officer we carried double ought buckshot in our riot guns. Then we switched for several years to # 4 buckshot. Then back to double ought. This was a widespread trend at the time. The majority still use double ought. Of course it's a debate,and always will be. During my career I've been in the position to see a number of homicides by shotgun. I never seen a victim live within effective range, shot with double ought. I did go to a shooting involving a victim that took a full load of #4 buck in the entire upper torso. He was lying on his back fully alert,and talking to us. He even asked me for a cigarette,and smoked it while we waited for a ambulance. I expected him to go into shock,and die at any moment. He didn't,and when the ambulance staff were going to put him on the strecher he pushed them away,then helped himself on. I never felt good about #4 buck since. If he was armed he could have still been very deadly. I know there is exceptions,this is for what ever it's worth. I keep my own shotgun loaded with both double ought buck,and slugs.
Ed

badge 851 · Nov 23, 2009

Buckshot for all Four

I have 4 shotguns scattered throughout my residence; two pumps & two SxS. The pumps are 12 & 20ga, the SxS are 16ga & 20ga. 12ga is stoked w/Federal® Low Recoil 9 pellet 00 Buck, 16ga carries Federal® 12 pellet #1 Buck; both 20ga's are loaded w/Remington® #3 Buck. I'll be 60 in a few months & no longer care to shoot a 12ga w/High Velocity (ie: Hornady® TAP™ 1600fps 00) Buckshot. The 12ga Low Recoil stuff is fine; 16 & 20ga Buck even better (for me). YMMVH.

EPM · Nov 23, 2009

badge 851 said:
I have 4 shotguns scattered throughout my residence; two pumps & two SxS. The pumps are 12 & 20ga, the SxS are 16ga & 20ga. 12ga is stoked w/Federal® Low Recoil 9 pellet 00 Buck, 16ga carries Federal® 12 pellet #1 Buck; both 20ga's are loaded w/Remington® #3 Buck. I'll be 60 in a few months & no longer care to shoot a 12ga w/High Velocity (ie: Hornady® TAP™ 1600fps 00) Buckshot. The 12ga Low Recoil stuff is fine; 16 & 20ga Buck even better (for me). YMMVH.

By the way you may know this there is a police load 00 buckshot that has eight pellets instead of the standard nine pellets. Don't ask me why,but that's what we carried in the patrol cars. The way it's loaded it keeps a tighter group even at 25 yards,and many times you can get all eight pellets in a full size police target torso area at that range.
Ed

"What's in your shotgun?" *Buckshot*

What *buckshot* is in your shotgun?

Double-ought or larger for mine! (Including tri-ball, 0000 and 000 loadings too)

I've had a fondness for single-ought and #1 Buck. (12 or 16 gauge loads)

#2 or #3 buck in mine (typically for 20 gauge guns)

I love the number of pellets in #4 Buck (10 or 12 gauge)

I use a load of BB shot or smaller (all the way down to #9).

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