Buckshot through full choke

[Dr. Pepper]

Okay, I have a bit of a question about using buckshot in a newly acquired shotgun. I recently acquired a Remington Model 11 with a full choke, and I wanted to know if there would be any issue using buckshot through it? It is also an early production, so I wanted to know if that would be a cause for additional concern? I have done some reading on the matter, and it sounds like it wouldn't pattern well, but it would be safe. Is that correct?

[hermosabeach]

Buckshot will get squished well deformed in a full choke. It effects the pattern as the pellets will have some deformation.

Modified seems to be the tightest that works well for me.

I have seen buck shot rip a screw in choke out of a shotgun. As the shot was being compressed the stresses were enough to pull out the choke.

You have a great old hunting gun.

Why the need for buckshot?

If for home defense, I would suggest a shorter barrel than a hunting gun
If you want to use it for home defense then I would suggest something like #2 or #4. It is not as good as 00 but would be safe with the older gun.

[jeffrice6]

The tightest I've ever run buck/slug is modified

[Zenja]

At the least it will open up your choke over time

[wweigle]

I have read places that its not wise to shot the larger buck shot through any choke tighter than modified. The big balls of lead do not compress like a smaller shot loads, and can damage your barrel. I would suggest considering having the choke reamed out to modified. In this day and age, if you plan on using the gun for hunting, with today ammunition, and steel shot required for waterfowl, a modified choked gun is probably more versatile, it least here in California. The exception would probably be Turkey hunting. You definitely never want to shoot steel shot through anything tighter than modified, even with modern guns, and the other issue with steel shot is the age of your gun and the type of steel your barrel is made out of. The jury is still out regarding shooting modern steel ammo through older guns with open chokes. Lot of people safely doing it with no problems, many recommend you don't. The responses I have read on forums from Remington regarding this question, suggests you don't, but they really do not give you a definite no. There answer is clearly worded to cover their butt, and sell modern guns. Probably depends a lot on the model of gun due to barrel thickness. Fixed full choke guns were very popular back in the day, primary for water fowl hunting, before the lead ban, using older ammo designs, that's why there are so many guns out there with fixed full chokes. With today's ammo designs, and the lead ban, the only time I use a full choke is turkey hunting, and only because I like to use my first shotgun for something, a 1970's 870 that has a fixed full choke. Probably would kill just as many turkeys with a modified choke, at the ranges I shoot. My Citori has never had anything but modified in it for waterfowl, pheasants and doves sense I bought it 15 years ago. It really depends on what you plan to use the gun for, and like my 870 you may want to keep it for special types of hunts. Hope I did not get off topic.

[Dattebayo]

In this day and age, other than turkey hunting, with today ammunition, and steel shot required for waterfowl, a modified choked gun is probably more versatile, it least here in California. I would consider having the choke reamed out to a modified constriction. Then it would probably be safe for buckshot. The only time I use a full choke is turkey hunting, and only because I like to use my first shotgun for something, a 1970's 870 that has a fixed full choke. My Citori has never had anything but modified in it for waterfowl, pheasants and doves sense I bought it 15 years ago.

I agree as if you look at the recommended usage lists of all the choke sizes, full is really the least versatile. IC, LM, and M seem to cover most of the bases short of turkey.

[a1rfreshener]

buying different ammo is cheaper and less hassle, than destroying a new gun and or splitting a barrel/choke.

[Nahuatl]

FUD. Call Shawn Carlson of Carlson's Chokes, the guy who makes Cabela's chokes. He sells full choke tubes for both lead and harder hevi-shot. I've been using lead #4 buck and tungsten T-buck through expensive Beretta and Benelli shotguns for many many years.

There is nothing better than putting 1100 grains of lead on target.

[rojocorsa]

FUD. Call Shawn Carlson of Carlson's Chokes, the guy who makes Cabela's chokes. He sells full choke tubes for both lead and harder hevi-shot. I've been using lead #4 buck and tungsten T-buck through expensive Beretta and Benelli shotguns for many many years.

There is nothing better than putting 1100 grains of lead on target.

OP's gun is fixed choke though.

[Dinosaur Jr]

Get yourself a Mossy 590 if you want to pump out buck & slugs.

[Dr. Pepper]

Thanks for the info everyone; after reading the input, I think I will hold off on the 00 Buck for now. I will see if I can get something smaller, perhaps No.1 or No.2. I really was going to shoot maybe one or two rounds of 00 through the thing, but I'll just hold on to it then.

[a1rfreshener]

it sucks cause my get off my porch round is 00 buck, but #6 shot coming out of a x full choke puts a nice size fist hole out to 20 yards

[rojocorsa]

How easy/hard is it to find a shorter cyl bore barrel for OP's Auto-5?


Or he better off getting an inexpensive pump gun for buck and slugs?

[Cessnapilot89]

Don't do it. And the Barrel for an Auto 5 will not work on an 11. Metric vs inch and what not.