Help a noob "prep" ammo question

[hardlyworking]

Good morning gang,

There are a lot, I mean a LOT of choices for shotshells.

I'd like to buy a case or more (250+) of something that I can train with (SoCal Skeet Clinic!) and have on hand for SHTF in case I need to hunt crows/doves/bunnies to feed my family after CA has a big old earthquake/tsunami/zombiezzzz. I want at least one shell that will be good/ideal for both of those applications as I come from the "train like you intend to use" school of thought.

My versamax can handle steel, 2-3/4 thru 3-1/2 inch shells, and currently is wearing an IC choke.

I don't need anything as specific as what brand (though you are welcome to add that), I just need a starting point before I blow $60-$300 on shells. 3" 7.5 shot? 2.75" 9 shot? 3.5" 8 shot?

Thanks for your thoughts!

[Gem1950]

Google - Shelf life shotgun ammunition

[hardlyworking]

What I'm hoping is that there is a "reasonable" load that will work for both uses, so that I can buy and use a single round often and get used to its performance, rather than sitting in the box in my garage. I want to use it, but buy enough of it so that I've always got some around "just in case" that will serve the purpose of hunting small game out of necessity.

[Captain Dick]

I'm just going to address the SoCal Clinic ammo. Buy the cheapest you can find of shot size #7 1/2, #8. or #9. You cannot shoot any size larger than #7 1/2 at Triple B Clay's, or most other clay target ranges.

If you're still not sure, you can wait to buy your ammo at Triple B's when you attend the Clinic.

P.S. You did not mention what gauge your shooting, but if it's 12ga, lite 1oz loads (7/8oz even better, but they start to get expensive) are much more pleasant to shoot than the 1 1/8oz loads and there's no difference in how they break the targets. If 20ga, just get standard loads.

[Iskra]

The reason there are so many different loads is because they all have different uses. You don't need or want 250 boxes all the same.

Buy 100 boxes of 2.75" #7.5 target loads and use them all up. At that point, you'll be good at shooting your shotgun. You'll also have broken anything that might break, and will have exposed any hiccups in your technique and corrected them.

Then buy 50 more boxes of those, and shoot at least 4 boxes a month in 1 or 2 trips. That's your maintenance.

Buy 25 boxes of #3's which is your "split the diffference" load that will be ok for ducks, close geese, and small turkeys. Buy 25 boxes of 00 buck for HD etc. Buy 25 boxes of 3" #8's which is your dove/quail/pheasant/cottontail load. And buy 25 boxes of slugs for deer/pig/ranged defense.

250 boxes, and you'll know how to use them.

They store just fine. Just keep them cool and dry. I still have #3 lead loads left over from when my grandfather used to hunt ducks with lead before the ban. I use them at the patterning board to let new shooters try the shotguns, as they're not much good for anything else. They still go bang every time and they're probably close to 40 years old.

[Captain Dick]

The reason there are so many different loads is because they all have different uses. You don't need or want 250 boxes all the same.

Buy 100 boxes of 2.75" #7.5 target loads and use them all up. At that point, you'll be good at shooting your shotgun. You'll also have broken anything that might break, and will have exposed any hiccups in your technique and corrected them.

Then buy 50 more boxes of those, and shoot at least 4 boxes a month in 1 or 2 trips. That's your maintenance.

Buy 25 boxes of #3's which is your "split the diffference" load that will be ok for ducks, close geese, and small turkeys. Buy 25 boxes of 00 buck for HD etc. Buy 25 boxes of 3" #8's which is your dove/quail/pheasant/cottontail load. And buy 25 boxes of slugs for deer/pig/ranged defense.

250 boxes, and you'll know how to use them.

They store just fine. Just keep them cool and dry. I still have #3 lead loads left over from when my grandfather used to hunt ducks with lead before the ban. I use them at the patterning board to let new shooters try the shotguns, as they're not much good for anything else. They still go bang every time and they're probably close to 40 years old.

Pretty damn reasonable advice. The 3" #8's for dove/quail might be a bit harsh (I shoot my 410 bore target loads for dove at least), but other than that, pretty damn reasonable advice.

[Trapdude86]

...Buy 25 boxes of 3" #8's which is your dove/quail/pheasant/cottontail load...

Poor doves!!! LOL

[hardlyworking]

Awesome, thank you guys!

[hardlyworking]

I'm just going to address the SoCal Clinic ammo. Buy the cheapest you can find of shot size #7 1/2, ...

P.S. You did not mention what gauge your shooting, but if it's 12ga, lite 1oz loads (7/8oz even better, but they start to get expensive) are much more pleasant to shoot than the 1 1/8oz loads and there's no difference in how they break the targets.

http://www.ammunitiontogo.com/product_info.php/cPath/315/products_id/5607

SOLD! er... BOUGHT!

[Captain Dick]

Hey Iskra, I just wanted to add, we know you're giving a compromise answer to a compromise question. Good post.

[JagerDog]

Though I like to direct my load specifically at my quarry, 2-3/4" 1-1/8 #8 will take care of any clay targets and most any small game. I prefer 7.5's for small birds and #9 for skeet, but they aren't as versatile.

3" and 3.5" are for waterfowl (steel #3 or thereabouts for ducks and BB or or so for geese) and big game (buck).

[ysr_racer]

For semi autos I always recommend 1 1/8oz loads, they cycle more reliably.

1oz and 7/8oz loads don't have enough "recoil" to work the action.

[ogarcia_02]

I have a little of everything. ~1.5k rounds of birdshot (7.5 or 8), ~400 rounds of buckshot and slugs and a few boxes of BB shot for duck and some #5 shot for pheasant. Not a lot compared to what some of the guys here have but it's a start lol.

[hardlyworking]

lol, I have... 5 different boxes of slugs (going to test and pick one to get more of) and then 75 shells of Rio 7.5.

We all start somewhere! I'm just trying to start "smart" and not just buy a bunch of stuff because its cheap and then find out later that I really should have spent another $5 and gotten "the good stuff"

[ysr_racer]

Buy it and blast it, you'll have fun.