Idiot 12 ga ammo question

[ttbingo]

Just picking up a 590 and 930 both in 18" (in case they get outlawed) for hd and sh#ts and giggles. What do you guys recommend for hd as well as range for havin fun and shooting steel and paper? Buckshot, slugs, birdshot? What's the going price per round at the moment for any of them?

[RedFord150]

00 Buckshot and Slugs are around $1 or more per round in small boxes. Think 5 or 10 shells.
Bigger box gets cheaper per round.
00 Buck, #1 Buck, and #4 Buck all have their supporters.
Nobody likes birdshot for HD. I found this out when I started a thread about using #4 Magnum Turkey Loads for HD.
For HD, Slugs penetrate a lot. I am thinking the Buckshot is better choice. Some guys say to use 00 Buck outdoors and #1 or #4 Buck indoors.
For the range, buy the cheapest stuff that works and is accepted by your range. The more rounds you shoot, the better you get.
Like any other firearms related question, you can ask 10 gun owners and get 11 different opinions.
Good luck.

[axhoaxho]

These are some of the 12g ammos I use personally, and I'd recommend them:

00 Buckshots (for HD, etc.) Nice quality, and they are on sale too.

http://www.ammunitiontogo.com/product_info.php/pName/10rds-12-gauge-nobelsport-le-2-34-12-pellet-00-buckshot-ammo/cName/12-gauge-2-34-buckshot

#8 Target Loads (for plinking, etc.) Good price & quality, and each purchase will benefit the Wounded Warriors project.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Federal-Red-White-Blue-Target-Loads-Per-Case/1307328.uts?Ntk=AllProducts&searchPath=%2Fcatalog%2Fsearch%2F%3FN%3D5100191%2B1000003387%26Ne%3D1000003387%26Ntk%3DAllProducts%26Ntt%3Dammos%26Ntx%3Dmode%252Bmatchallpartial%26WTz_l%3DHeader%253BSearch-All%2BProducts%26WTz_st%3DSearchRefinements%26form_state%3DsearchForm%26search%3Dammos%26searchTypeByFilter%3DAllProducts%26x%3D0%26y%3D0&Ntt=ammos&WTz_l=Header%3BSearch-All+Products

[hardlyworking]

IMO if you aren't shooting these, you are a *****!

http://litfld.com/wp/?page_id=738

T'S HERE! The 12ga 3.5" Lightfield Commander. The only 3.5" available anywhere. This slug is bore-size .73 caliber, 460 grains (1 3/8oz) flying at 1890 fps for a whopping 3649 ft/lbs of Kinetic energy.

[redstars]

I just picked up a shotgun as well, it seems my local range only allows slugs for targets and specific bird shot (#5 & #6?) in the skeet area. My gun store suggested 00 for home defense, but i don't think he knows i live in an apartment.

Cant wait to go and shoot it for the first time though!

[Iskra]

I just picked up a shotgun as well, it seems my local range only allows slugs for targets and specific bird shot (#5 & #6?) in the skeet area. My gun store suggested 00 for home defense, but i don't think he knows i live in an apartment.

Cant wait to go and shoot it for the first time though!

A lot of skeet & trap ranges don't allow any actual bird shot, just Target Loads ("low brass") in #7.5 and 8. Bird loads (taller brass, more powder) also come in #7.5 or 8, so make sure you're not buying shells called "upland game", "pheasant", etc. just to get the right number shot. Low brass will be clearly marked Target.

[Bad Voodoo]

My gun store suggested 00 for home defense, but i don't think he knows i live in an apartment.

Apartment and/or home walls, family, kids, pets, neighbors... I know the opinion re opinions, but 00 and/or slug is a really bad idea if you place any value at all on people in or around your protection zone. Shooting tight patterns at the range is one thing but introducing stress can make that shot at home, in the dark, out of a hard sleep, go just about anywhere. And that's another thing. Whatever you buy, make sure you zero and pattern at the range to be absolutely sure about how that load patterns out of YOUR gun.

00 will go through walls (plural), and a slug? Hell, a slug won't stop until it goes through your neighbors wall(s). A slug is something you use to destroy hardened targets or heavy game. 00 is something you use outdoors for defense or mid-sized game. #1 or #4 Buck is, IMO, best for indoor HD use. Birdshot/target loads at the range, all day long.

Again, just one man's opinion.

[Dattebayo]

A lot of skeet & trap ranges don't allow any actual bird shot, just Target Loads ("low brass") in #7.5 and 8. Bird loads (taller brass, more powder) also come in #7.5 or 8, so make sure you're not buying shells called "upland game", "pheasant", etc. just to get the right number shot. Low brass will be clearly marked Target.

First off, Low brass and high brass no longer signify the amount of powder in a load. It is all marketing now, as powder no longer burns the plastic hulls as paper hulls in the days of old. Now it is even unneccesary to use any brass in shotshells.

The more important qualities to look at is velocity, load weight, and load size.

From my experience with patterning my shotgun, with a improved modified choke, up to about 10 yards, the shot has bearly left the cup and leaves holes like it was a slug. Within that working range, I think it would be adequate to take down someone. Step it up to 15 and you are starting to see the shotshell spread.



Depending on where you live, the size of your house, and who lives with you and around you, will determine the hd round you choose.