An Unscientific Range Test on Buckshot

[SandHill]

There is a lot of opinion on the web that the absolute best round for home defense is No. 1 buckshot rather than the far more popular 00. I don't want to reopen that debate. I am sure that 00 will get the job done. However, I was persuaded that the tradeoff was worth it - 16 pellets at .30 caliber apiece vs. 9 pellets at .33 caliber each. Once I decided I wanted No. 1 buck, I was then confronted with the problem of finding some. Its not that common.

Eventually, I found Remington Express No. 1 in stock at Cabelas and Winchester XX No. 1 in stock at sgamm.com By this point, I was delighted to actually have some, but the next question was: "Which one is the best, and the one I should keep loaded for HD."

Last night I was able to do a side by side comparison at an indoor range at 7 yards (the only distance they will allow you to shoot buckshot at). Using my Winchester Defender with 18 inch barrel, they both fed reliably, exhibited a similar spread at seven yards and both are rated at 1250 fps. I am confident they are both up to the task. However, one of them seemed to me to pattern better, with a more consistent distribution of pellets. Here is a photo, with Remington on the left and Winchester on the right:

http://s925.photobucket.com/user/KatapultMike/media/Number1BuckPattern_zpse4d30084.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0

Its not a big difference, but I'm going with the Winchester. Whaddya think?

[XVIga_Rob]

I like the Winchester pattern. Considering the center of the pattern, how was the POI vs. the POA?

[bob7122]

they will both kill.

[billrd]

I like the Winchester pattern. Considering the center of the pattern, how was the POI vs. the POA?

Penetration?

[ceh383]

Penetration?

They both look like they penetrated the paper equally

[border.bandito]

They both look like they penetrated the paper equally

[OldShooter32]

Buckshot will penetrate several layers of wallboard easily -- I'd recommend #4 shot to keep density high and reduce penetration. You'll certainly stop someone at close range, but reduce the risk of taking out the kid next door.
At 7 yards pattern and density are moot.

[Junkie]

I think I remember reading that #4 doesn't quite meet the FBI penetration standards. However, in most situations it should penetrate adequately to reach vital organs. It'll still go through it's fair share of walls, but it's not as bad as something heavier.

[SandHill]

They both look like they penetrated the paper equally

^^^^^True. Like I said it was unscientific. Sorry I don't have access to ballistics gel and a chronograph to do it right.

Have you taken a defensive shotgun class before? Because that matters more than which brand of buckshot you use.

^^^^^Also true. Actually, I am of the opinion that any buckshot out of a twelve gauge is up to the task. But as long as you are going to the range and cruising online ammo vendors, why not try to figure out what is "best"?

I like the Winchester pattern. Considering the center of the pattern, how was the POI vs. the POA?

I'd say they were both dead on, as you might expect with a long gun at seven yards. Shot the Winchester on the right side first, and the wad made a big hole on the left side, so I aimed a bit lower with the Remington in order to get a clean sheet of paper to show the pattern.

Buckshot will penetrate several layers of wallboard easily -- I'd recommend #4 shot to keep density high and reduce penetration. You'll certainly stop someone at close range, but reduce the risk of taking out the kid next door.
At 7 yards pattern and density are moot.

Right now, I'm loaded first two rounds No. 4, then rest 00. I want to run a few more rounds of the No. 1 through my gun it before I load it for home defense.

I'm surprised I haven't heard from the "bigger is better" crowd yet. Usually these threads devolve into a shoving match: "nothing smaller than 00," "I run only 000," "hey, I found some 0000" ,"you guys are bunch of wussies, nothing but slugs will do....."

[L84CABO]

Good post. Generally speaking I wouldn't have a problem using 0 Buck. Would want to pattern it out to 25 yards though before I chose one.

With that said, I do really like the Federal Tactical 00 w/Flight Control and would choose it over 0 for the tighter pattern.

[SandHill]

Good post. Generally speaking I wouldn't have a problem using 0 Buck. Would want to pattern it out to 25 yards though before I chose one.

With that said, I do really like the Federal Tactical 00 w/Flight Control and would choose it over 0 for the tighter pattern.

I like the Flite Control 00 as well. Right now, that's what I've got in my HD shotgun, after the first two rounds of No.4. I expect at 25 yards it would be more effective than No. 1. At seven yards, the spread on the No. 1 was around six inches. That it is probably as tight as I would want it, so I don't see any advantage to the Flite Control at that range.

I think seven yards is a pretty realistic range for in-the-house defense for most people. In my house, there is no 25 yard shot possible. The longest line of sight is ~15 yards. I like the No. 1 at 7 yards, and would love to be able to pattern it at 15 yards. But I don't have anywhere to do it. The indoor range I go to will only allow buckshot at 7 yards, and the outdoor range I go to won't allow it at all.

[Fill]

Just food for thought.... #4 buckshot in 3" are my go-to shells for predator hunting. The Remington Magnum Express 3" shells loaded to max dram have 41 .25 cal pellets and are rated at 1225 fps at the muzzle. Ive shot a coyote broadside before at 20-25 paces, and had some of the shot pattern exit the opposite side of the animal. #4 buckshot is no joke. 00 may penetrate a little further but the differnce for my use application is negligible.

Ive got a couple hundred shells of Fiocci in 2-3/4 #4 buck. They hold 27 pellets and are rated at 1350 fps. In essence, more energy but a slightly less dense shot pattern.

[SandHill]

Just food for thought.... #4 buckshot in 3" are my go-to shells for predator hunting. The Remington Magnum Express 3" shells loaded to max dram have 41 .25 cal pellets and are rated at 1225 fps at the muzzle.

Geez, Fill, that's almost two ounces of shot. Ouch! I would agree, that's no joke. Hope you aim the first one well.

One of the surprising things about the No. 1 buck I've been shooting is the mild recoil. They are rated at 1250 fps and throwing about 1.25 ounces of lead, but they feel as light as 9 pellets of 00 buck in a reduced recoil load.

[Fill]

#1 buckshot in 3" mags are also very effective for pred hunts, but I couldnt get them to pattern all that well with any of my chokes. The Winchester Super X #1 shells I have are max dram, 24 .30 cal pellets, and rated a 1150fps at the muzzle. At 25yds the best I could do was 7 or 8 (of 24) pellets onto a 13" paper plate. Whereas I can get 20+ (of 41) with #4 on the same size paper plate.

Every gun and tube patterns different though. If I could get #1 to pattern better id probably hunt with those instead.

But for indoor home defense, #1 buckshot out of a Improved Cylinder choke would be nasty and cover a damn good spread.

[SandHill]

Don't have any coyotes around here to shoot. Only wolves. Unfortunately, they wear business casual and are a protected species.