Really has a lot to do with how your shotgun is choked and the specific ammo choice. Different wads like different chokes, different manufacturers chokes will pattern differently with the exact same ammo. really tight chokes dont tend to pattern buckshot as well as they will bird shot. The issue comes from the constriction of the choke deforming the buckshot as it passes through the choke. Once the pellet is no longer spherical they fly erratic. If you are going to train to use a shotgun defensivly, it is adviseable to try multiple different loads with different chokes in YOUR shotgun and find out what works best at what ranges for whichever specific ammo you want to use.
Hi again.
So, i finally decided i needed to measure from the front door to the couch. I.e., the likeliest location I’d be shooting from in a self-defense situation.
It’s 8.5 meters.
Based on a few posts, it almost seems like i could use just about anything.
Yes, I’d like to avoid shoulder thumping. Admittedly, when i broke the gun in i did 50 rounds of 00, and 45 rounds of 7.5, and 8 shot.
That’s when i learned that the shorter brass didn’t eject cleanly.
So, I’d like to understand more…
Thank you again for all your posts.
One of my shotguns is a permanent full choke only (so I think I can only use bird shot shell in it), mainly used for small game hunt, it’s in .410. But if I ever would need to use it in SD, if no other option, I kinda like my hunting ammo, which is a TSS (Tungsten Super Shot) material:
Reportedly the pellets are extremely harder/solid than lead. I’ve seen better/lower prices for this same item at other stores though.
I’ve seen other non lead .410 bird shot ammo, which might be “better” but just so hard to find.
You should be able to shoot the Foster style slug (rifled slug) in the .410, I shot many in my Mossberg 500 w/full choke. As far as .410 Buck they are all in a line and can be fired from your full choke, I have fired up to 000 aught in mine .
