Shotguns, Buckshot, and SHTF

Marktwain | 23 October, 2011 | Marktwain

[PubliusMM]

Ditto on the mossy. I’ve kept at least one Mossberg 500 close at hand for that last 20 years. Reliable, predictable, affordable... Current ‘favorite’ is outfitted with Pachmyr Vindicator kit (pistol grip and fore end). Only loads I’ve use in all this time? Alternated 00-buckshot and deer slug in the full 8-shot mag tube; and two ‘quick to grab’ 50-round bandoliers loaded the same way. Excellent tools...

[marktwain]

What's the life, the *safe* life, of various boxes of this, that, and whatever that's stored in a dry place?

Most ammo, stored in a dry place that is reasonably cool (below 90 degrees F) will be in excellent shape for at least 50 years. I try to use up all my old ammo before that time frame. I have shot lots of ammo that is 50-60 years old, and it mostly works just fine. The problems arise from ammo that has been exposed to water or, worse, oil.

The NRA tested ammunition that was a bit over a hundred years old, and it generally worked very well.

If you are shooting old, questionable ammo, you do not have to worry about cartridges being overpressure and blowing your gun up (unless the cartridges are unknown reloads). What you have to worry about are squib rounds that stick a bullet in your barrel (shoot the next round without removing the obstruction and blow the gun up), hang fires that go click...boom, and misfires that do not work at all.

I do not worry about shooting old ammo, as long as it is in a situation that is not critical. I shot a bunch of 12 gauge that had gotten soaked and then dried, hunting dove. It nearly all was satisfactory, but I did get a few misfires and one hangfire. You just have to be aware, and do not shoot another shot until you check your bore, after getting a misfire or squib load.

[bgill]

Thanks. I’d heard that but still.

[Chode]

and for jsut in case...

[Georgia Girl 2]

Here on the East Coast everybody has a 12 gauge shotgun and we use buckshot and slugs because its common for deer hunting. We prefer #4 buckshot (sometimes hard to find) over 00 due to the fact that you get more pellets per round and as we won’t be using the shotgun over 25 yards. Over 25 yards all others get M-4 or AK-74. LOL!

Federal’s good ammo. We also use Remington and Winchester. We currently have our Mossberg 500 tactical loaded with the first two rounds being Federal defense loads and the next four in 00 buck as we have not been able to find any #4 lately.

When we bought the Federal defense loads a couple of mos ago the guy behind the counter at Pro Bass very quietly said “I wouldn’t put those on my Bass Pro Shop reward card and I would pay cash”. He looked like former military and my fiancee’ kind of looks like a shooter which he is. Plus he had his US border patrol hat on so we got the picture. I’m just passing this on to all you freepers. We take that to mean the Feds are monitoring all ammo purchases and probably making Pro Bass cooperate. Livin in the USSA. Ain’t it grand?

[Chode]

it's called Buckshot, but don't get caught with it in the field during deer season here in ny... slugs only

[marktwain]

When we bought the Federal defense loads a couple of mos ago the guy behind the counter at Pro Bass very quietly said “I wouldn’t put those on my Bass Pro Shop reward card and I would pay cash”.

Thanks for the heads up. As I stated before, I am pretty high profile already. I do believe in cash, though.

[Chuckster]

Don't you people ever get tired of posting this unfunny, unwitty statement?

Do you people never tire of bragging about all the guns and ammo you have cached? Let me break it down into plain English for you.

Only a complete idiot would post a detailed inventory of his firearms and ammo on the internet.

[Georgia Girl 2]

You haven’t see the deer in GA. Probably 100-120 Lb average. We have an overpopulation and they are thin. You can take 13 per season. 2 Per day.

[GOPJ]

I ordered a case of what I think is the best buckshot out there, Federal LE 9 pellet 00 buck with the Flight Control wad. A person that I know well in a State Patrol said that they tested it extensively, and that it gave incredible patterns (about 6 inches at 25 yards).

Drywall stops buckshot too - if you're defending your family the worst outcome is accidently killing a sleeping child 3 rooms away...

[Chode]

i wish they'd let us thin the heard round here that way... there'd be a hell of a lot less people getting killed / cars in the shop from hitting the damn things every year

[GGpaX4DumpedTea]

PING!

[Oatka]

Those,

combined with are my favorite combination.

[Hugin]

Many people might want slugs for a shotgun, but my thought is that a rifle does every thing a shotgun with slugs does, and does it better. I don't want to be messing around with changing ammunition in a deady situation, and the incredible groups that the best buckshot loads give you make it fairly effective out to 100 yards in any case.

Are you going to carry both a rifle and shotgun with you? Go back and get your rifle? My ourdoor load would be first round a #4 birdshot 2oz turkey round. Also we have rattlesnakes around here, and that would work fine for that, as well as effective for self defense within 25 yds. Then alternate between slugs and #4 buckshot. If overpenatatration is an issue (neighbors close by), stick with birdshot or #4 buck. BTW, have you tested your rounds at 100 yds? I don't think any shotgun pattern is going to be effective beyond about 50 yards, even with a full choke, and buck is usually fired from an unchoked barrel.

[Mount Athos]

drywall doesn’t stop buckshot, this test it went through 7 drywall boards. Birdshot went through drywall too

http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot3.htm

[Mariner]

"Aim just under the groin and the #4 Buck will not only knock them down but has the best chance to rip through an artery. The lower aim point will be under body armor if the perp is smart enough to be wearing it. "

I was taught to aim just above and just to the side of the d!ck no matter what I am shooting.

It drops them EVERY time for 9mm on up...broken hip or pelvis...shortly to bleed out.

[Armedanddangerous]

got plenty of mags for that taurus? cant have enough high caps.

[Armedanddangerous]

got plenty of mags for that taurus? cant have enough high caps.

[Armedanddangerous]

got plenty of mags for that taurus? cant have enough high caps.

[marktwain]

I don't think any shotgun pattern is going to be effective beyond about 50 yards, even with a full choke, and buck is usually fired from an unchoked barrel.

I do not intend to be carrying a shotgun unless I am hunting. If I am otherwise carrying a long gun, it will be a rifle. It is certainly a good idea to pattern your individual shotgun with the ammunition that you have. At 100 yards, a 00 buck pellet has about the same energy as a .22 high velocity bullet at that range. From what I have read and heard from people who actually tested it, the Federal LE Flight Control 00 buck loads can consistently put multiple hits on a silhouette target at 100 yards. They seem to do best from a cylinder bore gun.

I am not saying that there are no applications for slugs. There certainly are. It is even more important to test fire your gun with slugs than it is with buckshot.

It is my belief that for those who are one of the many who do not shoot much, have a shotgun, and have the courage and resolve to help defend their neighborhood if the need ever arises, then buckshot is best.

Would I prefer that they be "well regulated" in the sense of a "well regulated militia"? Certainly. It is just a fact that most people are not, and will not put the time and effort and training it takes on the small chance that they see of needing those skills.