Shotgun question

[Guest FNEG]

I have been looking for awhile now and can only find a little info here and there about shotgun shot patterns ... I am mainly looking for choke and barrel length differences. Do any of you have a good read on this topic?

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[Guest vthokies03]

There is no great read, you have to try with your gun and the ammo.

[Guest FNEG]

Lol I can't afford that.

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[DaveS]

You're just going to have to get out and pattern your shotgun, there is no way around that. Think about what you want to hunt and choose YOUR AMMO ACCORDINGLY. Here's how I would go...

My Remington 870 has a 28 inch barrel, interchangable chokes. When I rabbit/squirrel hunt, #6 high brass and modified choke works well for out to about 30/35 yards. Number 5's and number 4's fit in there also.

If I'm dove/quail hunting, I like modified/improved choke with number 7 or 8 shot. Good patterns from both.

My Mossberg 835 has a 26 inch barrel and shoots awesome.

Just think of what you want to hunt, then look at shot sizes and shoot from there. There is NO "Magic" pill. It takes different ammo and some paper to see what works best for you.

Improved/Modified choke with #7 or #8 shot.......dove and quail (pattern your gun and see whish shoots best.

Full choke if hunting waterfowl, squirrels with alot of leaves in the trees and rabbit at long range/heavy brush with #4, 5 or 6 shot....

The list is just way too long for posting.

Try different things!!!

Edited April 10, 2012 by wd-40

[ShaunM]

wd is correct you just have to shoot and try different things. I know with me it was learning from my dad and going with other hunters to learn.

[Guest FNEG]

I guess I worded it wrong. How does a 20 inch HD barrel compare to a 28 inch which is what I have on my 870. And I will keep but I was thinking more or less in a shtf situation is a 20 inch capable of hunting and will it have enough energy at "x" distance to kill small game. I know all guns can kill and will do it just don't know the limit to put down a animal and not just wound it. Kinda like a .22 can kill a deer but is highly frowned upon and I would never try... just thinking wieght savings in the event of bugging out.

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[quietguy]

I think I get what you are asking, but have to completely agree with what others have said. You are asking for a manual for questions that only experience can provide. A shotgun isn't a precision tool that you can say this load and this choke are good from x yards to y yards. And getting a good range on small, fast moving targets is even harder. You just really have to get a feel for it.

Does your 20" barrel have interchangeable chokes, or is it cylinder bore, or is it rifled?

[Guest FNEG]

I don't have a 20 inch barrel yet that is why I am asking about it.

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[10-Ring]

So you are asking if your HD gun that you would depend on to kill a person can handle small game? I don't guess it's ideal, I would be careful at what range I'm shooting at. Go ahead and pattern the gun, you say that you can't afford it but a box of 25 shells (hunting loads)costs about $7. I'll just stick with my old plain Jane 870 Express with the 28" barrel and wood stocks. It's not all tacticool but it's not going to make a damn bit of difference to the guy breaking into my house anyway.

[DaveS]

10-Ring hit it good. Now that we're finding out what you want....stay with the Remington 870 express. If you want an "all around" choke, go with modified. It will handle anything you want to shoot out of it. If you want to look cool standing in your front yard some night....get you a 20 inch slug barrel for it and mount a miried of night scopes and stream lights, or just leave it plain. But remember....your going to have to shoot them! No way around it! I would never ever give a shotgun the title of "HD" if I didn't what it could handle and at what ranges. Most homes don't have a twenty yard shooting lane, so it's going to be "up close and personal". A short barrel shotgun may be fine in the house (I actualy prefer a handgun) but out hunting range is a different story. Stay with the 870....

[whiskey]

For example, I have a short barrel Mossberg Tactical Turkey shotgun. With an extra full turkey choke I am getting exceptional patterns for turkey hunting well past 40 yards. Now that is great for turkey hunting, but it would be awful for dove hunting. I also wouldn't want to rabbit hunt with it. From my studies, I have learned that you can expect tighter patterns on a slightly longer barrel, but the gains are marginal and usually not considered to be worth the extra weight and length when it comes to turkey guns.

Longer shotgun barrels are popular for wing shooting because they swing better, not because they pattern better. Modern guns with changeable chokes are generally capable of producing similar patterns for a given choke, despite the length of the barrel. So a modified choke in a 28" barrel throws a similar pattern to the same choke/shell combo from a 20" barrel.

[Guest 270win]

Those riot barrels are not good hunting barrels. Buy a good 26-28 inch barrel with screw in chokes. I use modified for handicapped trap and squirrels. Those short 18-20 inch barrels don't have the best balance for hunting and if it is cylinder bore forget getting a decent pattern for hunting any distance.

[enfield]

Those riot barrels are not good hunting barrels. Buy a good 26-28 inch barrel with screw in chokes. I use modified for handicapped trap and squirrels. Those short 18-20 inch barrels don't have the best balance for hunting and if it is cylinder bore forget getting a decent pattern for hunting any distance.

An 18 inch cylinder-bored barrel is excellent for pheasant in heavy cover. But, in general, it's not a hunting barrel -- too much spread at normal distances.