Buckshot effectiveness
 

if im using 12 ga, 00, 3in, buckshot out of a 28" 870 barrel, what will my effective killing range be for a full and/or a superfull choke? im going to pattern it in a few days, but i would like an idea of where to start.

Buckshot should never be used beyond 40 yards max, and they really start losing steam beyond 30 yards. A lot of guys will tell you that they killed deer at 60 or 70 yards, but for every deer killed many more are wounded. One 00 Buckshot pellet at 40 yards has the energy equivalent of a .22 long rifle bullet, make sure that your pattern is still dense enough at that range to hit him with at least half a dozen pellets.

50 max if you were using a slug sight it in at 100 but buckshot Very utmost would be 50

First off, full and super full will cause horrible patterns. Modified will probably produce best. Second, its about the most ineffective setup one can use. I have been on two hunts with it. And I won't use it again.

They use it alot here in MD for sika deer hunting in the swamps. Kinda like jump hunting. I was with a group who all vollied 3 rounds at a sika at 35 yards, and I happen to be using sluggers and took it down.

Only shotgun slugs can be used here in Illlinois so buckshot isnt an option for us. However, I've talked and chatted with folks from different states that have used it and it sounds like about 40 yards is MAX with even the best grouping buckshot and chokes.

As mentioned above, their are MUCH better options to use than Buckshot. If I were limited to shotgun only (if I couldn't use my muzzleloader) I would most certainly opt for a SLUG... they are awesomely devastating to any deer they strike!

I like a full choke in my Stoeger 2000 with 3'' 00 buck.It'll keep 10-12 pellets in a 12'' circle,thats goodenough for me,at 40 yards.

The best advice is don't use buckshot. Go with a slug or get a rifle. Very ineffective.

that_guy,

Hello there. I am curiuos as to why you are opting or considering the use of buckshot?

Did someone tell you that's what to use in your situation? If so, what "is" your situation?

Did you expect to be taking running shots, like in a drive?

Will you be hunting in thick brush?

I'm not getting at anything nor do I have any special reasons I'm asking except to know.

Thanks,

iSnipe

In the lower part of the state in SC, buckshot is used quite allot in driving deer out of thickest into feilds. The most common step up i have seen is a shotgun shooting mod chk...3 1/2 in magnum with 000 buck. I have seen it DRT deer at 40 yards but i wouldnt shoot much farther than that. I have seen it kill deer out to 75 yards but it wasnt pretty..the deer was more or less hobbled or wounded and had to be shot again. i would keep it under 50yards.

My son uses a 20 gauge 870 with 3" #2 buck and I limit his shots to 40 yards. He has dropped 3 of the five deer he has killed in the past 2 years in their tracks and 2 others went less then 100 yards, the 2 bucks we had to track and the 3 does fell when he pulled on them. Wolfman who makes the 3 1/2 000, I have not ever seen 000, only the Nitro and they are over $100 for 25 shells.