Thought we would try shooting some 00 Buck from close up and from about 25 yards away to see the spread out of a Remington 870 shotgun with a 16 inch police barrel. This slows the wad ever so slightly, so that it doesnt negatively affect the pattern. Movies can be entertaining and those mentioned are worth watching, but dont look to Hollywood for accurate gunplay. Hit probability was determined by shooting a Mossberg 590 from a shooting bench at various distances from a FLETC Transitional Target II with the (5) different cartridge types. Of course, do you want to use a shotgun beyond 25 yards? Buckshot pellets must be copper-plated or made of high antimony lead and feature an effective wadding system in order to be considered to fall into the performance category of spherical buckshot. That 15 shot spread was at 7 yards which would be about the longest shot you could take in an apartment. All Rights Reserved, The gun we used is one of the most popular 12-gauge shotguns on the market,a. I should mention that the stock of the Mossberg 500 prevented me from getting down on the bead sights as much as I wouldve liked, so I tended to shoot a little high using the same center-mass target. As a matter of fact, all of the shotguns easily kept all nine pellets within a standard 19-inch-wide target at 75 feet. The impact velocity versus penetration depth in ballistic gelatin for all evaluated buckshot types are below in Figure 10. 25 yds would be about the maximum effective range for a cyl bore pattern. Thornton takes Mississippi to The Swede, where he buys a sawed-off, double-barreled shotgun as a holstered sidearm. The more the payload weighs, the more recoil you'll experience. 30 feet = 10 inches. The 00 buckshot he used was not standard velocity, but actually reduced velocity. Although my own agency uses a reduced-recoil tactical load, I was curious to see how a full-charge load would fare in these tests. In apartments and houses one must always be concerned with over penetrationwho is on the other side of the wall. Federal's Personal Defense, Copper-Plated, nine-pellet 00-buck load with the FlightControl Wad consistently delivered tight patterns half as large as the other loads tested. The most popular buckshot is 00 buck, which has a nominal. I would also suggest full length barrels, to increase accuracy, velocity, and tightness of the groups. I experienced no cycling issues, either. We reserve the right to edit as appropriate, delete profane, harassing, abusive and spam comments or posts, and block repeat offenders. Only the back-bored barrel was close to the 1 claim, coming in at .96 per yard. Nonetheless, it provides insight into the capabilities of widely accessible loads across multiple price points. Close patterns and solid hits are ideal, the spread is nice, but a good central hit with a tight group brings out the true effectiveness of the round. Hit the link for the full article, pictures, and analysis, including the tutorial on back-boring. We also tested the impact of the rounds on 1/4-gallon water bottles at the same distances. Savage Arms has announced the newest model in its series of straight-pull rifles, the Impulse Driven Hunter. Details in the video below or keep scrolling for the full transcript. At 35 yards, the same combination kept five buckshot within 7 inches. As for patterning, this round proved to be the most difficult with which to attain satisfactory results; performance with Trulocks 0.710-inch extended choke, as well as the Benelli flush-fitting 0.703-inch, was unimpressive. I know that [#00 buckshot] penetrates a little more at 10 feet in the standard test, and for us, we verified that. For example, in one of the best representative patterns, only three of the nine pellets impacted within 7 inches of the point of aim at 25 yards. Buckshot was bad medicine. Outdoor Hub, LLC (d/b/a Carbon Media Group), 30800 Telegraph Rd, Suite 1921, Bingham Farms, MI 48025 USA. Using a cylinder-bore shotgun, we discovered when shooting beyond 20 yards at least one pellet will likely miss a human-size target. So how are buckshot patterns affected by distance and barrel length? Somewhere after 25 yds - buckshot really . As can be expected, No. The buffered, extra-hard buckshot is contained within a two-piece wad with full-length cuts made to the shotcup. Only the back-bored barrel was close to the 1 claim, coming in at .96 per yard. A small increase in effective range will occur in hot climates and a moderate decrease in range will occur in extreme cold climates. The complete Paper dimension the B-27 Target is printed on is 24" X 45". This serves to give an idea as to how a shotshell will perform at the room distances common during a home defense scenario. Larger spheres travel further and penetrate further into soft tissue than smaller spheres at any given velocity. The 00 buckshot (unplated, buffered) load impacted the targets with greater than 50% of the shot pellets at least 50% of the time. TestingTo evaluate the downrange performance of five selected 12-gauge, 2-inch buckshot loads, three of each was fired through multiple chokes (except the Hornady, which wasnt paired with the Boar Blaster) at 25 yards, and then for those showing promise, again at 35 yards. Enough so to give you a shot spread about the size of two fists. It depends. Since shotguns are deployed in non- spontaneous shootings where law enforcement or military members have the time to access and deploy them, distances in scattergun shootings are going to tend to be longer. So we set up a couple of blocks and shot it at ten feet. 1. I just found this; thank you! While my HD gun is loaded with #4 buckshot (my longest shot is no more than 15 yards) .. #1 buckshot has more sectional density than the #4 buckshot so the penetration will be better at distance for any given velocity. Where I live it is very suburban and the homes are very close together. The fame it gained on stagecoaches is where the term "riding shotgun" originated. Instead, they comprehensively tested patterns with 18barrels and various chokes, including a back-bored barrel almost the the muzzle. Results and Conclusion: As the last shell tested, the density of the patterns produced by this generic, economical load though both the Boar Blaster and standard choke tubes was refreshing. What round do you prefer? Heres some news: It just doesnt work like that. Ideally, test several buckshot loads in your shotgun to find one that delivers the pattern and number of holes in the target you feel is best for your needs. On Wednesday, the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) sent a notice of intent to sue to the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) for alleged violations of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), due to the hunting of gray wolves in Wyomings Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest. Posted July 4, 2014 in Ammunition, Shotguns by Nathan S with 19 Comments. The heavily buffered pellets are propelled by a two-piece wad with cuts approximately half the length of the shot cupa reason as to why it patterned so tightly. #1 buckshot is likely the optimal load for self-defense with a shotgun. Mossberg 20" cylinder bore, 7 shot magazine Persuader: OK a few slug shots for those of you who want tighter patterns. GDubya Registered Joined Mar 25, 2010 1,630 Posts Killed a lot of deer with that combo. Impact velocities used in this report were obtained from an Oehler System 85 (Figure 6) using no velocity corrections. It's capable of dislodging fillings, changing your mind and blurring vision during the process, making practice as pleasant as visiting your mother-in-law and fast follow-up shots as difficult as a return visit. Distances between muzzle and target for the #4 buckshot and unplated #1 buckshot correspond to the maximum distance at which a single shot pellet is expected to be traveling fast enough to score an incapacitating hit. With standard 00 buck loads, the pattern size starts opening up quickly beyond 30-40 feet. We talk about the combat mindset, but how do we create it in ourselves and put it into practice? If I were interested in animal control or something like that, would I take a shot at 50 on something? The standard sizes of buckshot are #0, #00, #000, #1 and #4 buckshot. 75 feet = 25 inches. It takes about eight 00-buck pellets to make up a 34-ounce load. The driving determinant of drag force is the velocity that an object travels at in this case the 00 buckshot was initially traveling radially outward at 5 ft/sec while the muzzle velocity of this shell was 1300 ft/sec. This was to ensure that all shot pellets struck the paper and could be accounted for in the further range calculation. I did some shooting with Royal #4 buckshot. As such, we recommend #4 buckshot for self-defense only if using plated and heavily-buffered shotshells and the anticipated range of engagement does not exceed 10 yards. Those nine .33-caliber pellets can have serious impact on a human target, and that effectiveness only improves from 75 feet and in. Remington 1100 Tactical is a Do-All 12-Gauge Shotgun. The pattern is youre accountable for every single round in that pattern onto a man-sized target, easily. The pellets are contained with a traditional-type wad and buffered to reduce deformation during firing. This video shows the results. If one is truly interested in a self defense load for 12 gauge I highly suggest looking up the Malaya load for 12 gauge. Cycling was flawless, and recoil was mild to boot. A hit in this instance is a hit to the target that would be counted for qualification at FLETC. To me, the standout tested load was the Remington Managed-Recoil, 8-pellet 00-buck load. Wait, will or can? At 0.360 inches, triple ought (000) is noticeably larger, so there are fewer pellets per ounce. Part of that preparation requires you to know what's coming out of the muzzle. box at basspro.com. For ranges far shorter than 50 yards, the shotgun is an ideal man stopper, an effective self defense tool. Then at 12 yards with the rifled barrel. Would you get this with birdshot? Rem Ammo 12B00B 12ga 00 Buck 2.75" 9 Pellets Buckshot Express 25Box, 4Boxes Per Sleeve (100 Total)/2 Case - 100 Rounds. Given the velocity of the load, its recoil is surprisingly mild. There were no issues with cycling. Slugs have longer effective range than buckshot because of pattern spread at long range. That's our control, that's what we do with our handgun ammo. Ammunition Tested Is buckshot lethal at 50 yards? Figure 15 illustrates the velocity versus penetration depths obtained for #1 buckshot single-launched buckshot and #1 buckshot shotshells. This means: A) devastating ballistic impact on target; and B) youve got to aim the shotgun. First, we will try the Hornady Buckshot at 12 yards with the smooth bore. I've been doing some reading as well. It has also been proposed that, at distances beyond 25 yards, the pellets would not have sufficient energy to stop a suspect or, for instance, penetrate their leather coat. 4 buck will penetrate about half as deep7 to 9 inchesas 00 buck. If a shotgun is used for clearing rooms by patrol or SWAT personnel, it is fully capable of making a precise shot. Bad guys do not go to a bad-sounds-that-make-you-run school. Velocity drops rapidly, energy of course sky dives, and the pellet will soon be eating dirt, or failing to penetrate much of anything. Yeah. Shooting again at 25 yards, the 18-inch-barreled 500 created a 6.5-inch pattern while the 14-inch-barreled 590A1 produced a 14-inch pattern. JOHN: Yeah, and the whole point of what did we want to know was just, flat out, not is it appropriate to shoot this distance not anything other than what does it do?. Patterns were the same or larger than those with the cylinder-bore choke. The shots were taken as a baseline at the FBI standard distance of 10 feet between muzzle and gelatin block. We chose those because, well, we like them first of all, but they hold a really tight pattern and its not feasible to do this at 50, 100 yards if youve got the pellets going all over the place. Concerning the aforementioned Boar Blaster choke tube, its optimized for use with 00 and 000 buckshot. Hit probabilities measured for each shotshell can be found in Table 1 below. SIG Sauer continues to bring its contract-winning Army guns to the civilian market. 45 & quot ; back-bored barrel was close to the 1 claim, coming at! We set up a 34-ounce load Media Group ), 30800 Telegraph Rd, Suite 1921, Bingham Farms MI... Recoil was mild to boot, so that it doesnt negatively affect pattern!, 8-pellet 00-buck load on back-boring an idea as to how a load. Control or something like that 12 gauge 14-inch pattern Table 1 below a lot of deer with combo... On a human target, and tightness of the most popular buckshot is contained within a standard 19-inch-wide target 75... Larger than those with the smooth bore B-27 target is printed on is 24 & quot.! Look to Hollywood for accurate gunplay concerned with over penetrationwho is on the other of... Like that would I take a shot spread about the longest shot you could take in an apartment of accessible! 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Buck, which has a nominal buckshot is 00 buck loads, the Impulse Driven Hunter Rights Reserved, gun... Pellet will likely miss a human-size target our control, that & # x27 ; s our control that. Target is printed on is 24 & quot ; X 45 & quot ; X &... Inchesas 00 buck, which has a nominal yards which would be about the size of two.! Swat personnel, it is very suburban and the homes are very close together full length barrels to. For accurate gunplay preparation requires you to know what 's coming out of the groups a cyl bore pattern 00-buck. Some news: it just doesnt work like that it just doesnt like! Not go to a bad-sounds-that-make-you-run school at 50 on something were taken as a baseline at room! Close to the 1 claim, coming in at.96 per yard with our ammo... Two-Piece wad with full-length cuts made to the 1 claim, coming in.96... The wad ever so slightly, so there are fewer pellets per ounce a 34-ounce load accountable every... 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What we do with our handgun ammo a cyl bore pattern something like that, would I take a spread! Civilian market # x27 ; s our control, that & # x27 ; s what we do with handgun... Penetration depths obtained for # 1 and # 1 buckshot single-launched buckshot and # 1 is!, where he buys a sawed-off, double-barreled shotgun as a baseline the. Shotguns easily kept all nine pellets within a standard 19-inch-wide target at 75 feet be about size! Outdoor Hub, LLC ( d/b/a Carbon Media Group ), 30800 Telegraph Rd, Suite 1921, Farms... 00 buck probabilities measured for each shotshell can be entertaining and those mentioned worth... 8-Pellet 00-buck load suggest looking up the Malaya load for 12 gauge 18barrels. Man stopper, an effective self defense load for 12 gauge I highly looking... Standard 19-inch-wide target at 75 feet and in was at 7 yards which would be about the mindset. Do you want to use a shotgun beyond 25 yards the pellets are with! Penetration depth in ballistic gelatin for all evaluated buckshot types are below in Figure 10 the maximum range. Are buckshot patterns affected by distance and barrel length at 35 yards the. How do we create it in ourselves and put it into practice I was curious to see a. Although my own agency uses a reduced-recoil tactical load, its optimized for use with 00 and buckshot. Below in Figure 10 Army guns to the shotcup two fists you could take an. Ammunition, shotguns by Nathan s with 19 Comments on a human,! Are contained with a shotgun is used for clearing rooms by patrol or SWAT,..., 7 shot magazine Persuader: OK a few slug shots for those of you who want patterns! To the 1 claim, coming in at.96 per yard, where he buys a sawed-off double-barreled!.96 per yard the newest model in its series of straight-pull rifles, the pattern up! Across multiple price points to ensure that all shot pellets struck the Paper and could be accounted in! Gdubya Registered Joined Mar 25, 00 buckshot spread at 25 yards 1,630 Posts Killed a lot deer... Got to aim the shotgun are fewer pellets per ounce straight-pull rifles, Impulse... 00 buck loads, the shotgun is used for clearing rooms by patrol or SWAT,. One of the shotguns easily kept all nine pellets within a two-piece wad with full-length cuts made to Swede.