49 yr old Beretta A-301 - buckshot

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blakeyboy

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So Dad's favourite and most used gun is said Beretta, sitting in a safe for 30 years. Dusted it off, slapped a truglo rmr rib mount base and holosun 407c red dot on it, triad tactical shot shell holder and comb raiser for alignment to the red dot and patterned a shotgun for the first time.

40 yards, 8 different types of 00 buckshot.

This one is a 3" magnum with 28" fixed full choke barrel.

The federal premium tight wad plated stuff was ok, bigger patterns but still decent 2nd choice imo to what turned out to be the best choice.

Regular Remington 2 3/4" 9 pellet at 1325.

I documented 6 shots at 40 yards on shipping paper with a sharpie dot over 2' wide plywood, 54 pellets total, all in the proverbial body no prob but 46-48 of them (85-89%) landed inside a 12" circle.

Quick math assuming 54 gr pellets at say 1320 fps for lack of 2" on standard 30" velocity, should have about 1016 fps left at 40 and 973 at 50. Feels like it will kill deer to 50 without stretching.

That was a ton of fun, the old girl still works like a champ although it only did waterfowl for a dozen years steady then slowed down for a couple years of just a couple hunts a year. No trap or volume range stuff.

May have to fill a tag or two with it, I'm not really into the birds so this way I can resurrect it and keep it producing for the freezer. And maybe come coyote/wolf calling also.

Any buckshot hunters here? What's thoughts on this performance? I was pleased to find an affordable common load that patterned out of the fixed full choke! Makes life easy to get this going. And also, my assessment of 50 yard potential accurate?
 
blakeyboy said:
So Dad's favourite and most used gun is said Beretta, sitting in a safe for 30 years. Dusted it off, slapped a truglo rmr rib mount base and holosun 407c red dot on it, triad tactical shot shell holder and comb raiser for alignment to the red dot and patterned a shotgun for the first time.

40 yards, 8 different types of 00 buckshot.

This one is a 3" magnum with 28" fixed full choke barrel.

The federal premium tight wad plated stuff was ok, bigger patterns but still decent 2nd choice imo to what turned out to be the best choice.

Regular Remington 2 3/4" 9 pellet at 1325.

I documented 6 shots at 40 yards on shipping paper with a sharpie dot over 2' wide plywood, 54 pellets total, all in the proverbial body no prob but 46-48 of them (85-89%) landed inside a 12" circle.

Quick math assuming 54 gr pellets at say 1320 fps for lack of 2" on standard 30" velocity, should have about 1016 fps left at 40 and 973 at 50. Feels like it will kill deer to 50 without stretching.

That was a ton of fun, the old girl still works like a champ although it only did waterfowl for a dozen years steady then slowed down for a couple years of just a couple hunts a year. No trap or volume range stuff.

May have to fill a tag or two with it, I'm not really into the birds so this way I can resurrect it and keep it producing for the freezer. And maybe come coyote/wolf calling also.

Any buckshot hunters here? What's thoughts on this performance? I was pleased to find an affordable common load that patterned out of the fixed full choke! Makes life easy to get this going. And also, my assessment of 50 yard potential accurate?
Click to expand...

I've never personally use buckshot on anything bigger than nuisance beaver ( keep reading for explanation as to why ) I've took a week or two off for deer season every year since I was 4, that was 30 years ago. In those years I've seen 4 different shotgun Slade's come and go from the gang, one still hunts with us only because he was told to learn to use a rifle or switch to slugs; as a last ditch effort he tried out federals flight control buckshot (more on that at the end.

Of the other 3 compadres they hit 11 deer that I can remember between them all over a 10 year period, only 4 were ever found. As my grandfather used to say "buckshot ain't good for nothin but geese" I tend to agree with him on that. Unless the deer is inside 40 yard and 100% broadside buckshot shouldn't even be on the radar, even then if you got the ability to use a rifle or even slugs there's absolutely no reason to use buckshot.

Reasons to not use buckshot.

1. It's unpredictable cause it's "shot" no matter how big the balls are
2. Don't penetrate for ####
3. You're not lookin for a blood trail you're lookin for blood "specks"
4. Outside 40 yards and a perfect broadside shot your chances of losin a deer go waaaay up

Now onto the federal flight control. My cousin who's love affair with his beat up, taped stock Ithaca 37 took my advice and tried federals flight control buckshot; I suggested it cause the black cloud steel loads absolutely shred ducks out beyond sane ranges. A 2 3/4" 00 buck with the flight control wad still has the pellets in the wad at 20 yards out of a improved cylinder and puts them all into a 10 inch circle at 60 yard. When that full load hits a deer at 20-40 yards it's quite the thing, it just blows them off their feet and they usually go a total of 0 yards.

So in saying all this I hope I've helped. Get the choke bored out to improved cylinder and use federals flight control buckshot; if not, use challenger slugs cause they don't seem to care what kind of choke they go through they just shoot good.
 
When used right buckshot is extremely effective in whitetail deer and coyotes. I generally run federal premium flight control wadded 00buck or federal tac 00buck which still has the flight control wad. It works well in my a303 Beretta mod choke and my 1301 comp is awesome with it in ic. My a400 patterns it well thru all chokes. These loads also preform well from about a dozen sxs guns I've tried it in as well.
I like Remington 41 pellet #4 buck for coyotes and federal 00buck for deer. The deer I've taken with 00buck were all within 40 yards #### broadside and facing me. Face on shots were instant kills. Pellets penetrated the throat neck and chest thru the brisket. Broadside shots found most pellets against the off side hide or under a broken rib on the offside. Most unaware deer have dropped some managing to get up and do the nose rubbing the ground run for 20 or 30 yards before falling over. The ones that were alert ran the furthest and never fell until they died. Distances covered ranged 30 to 50 yards with one running nearly 150. It was a 40ish yard shot on a running buck I gave it both barrels and each shot showed signs of solid hits. The deer ran down the bank on the trail until death leaving a decent blood trail. The blood trail wasn't instant. It took 30 to 40 yards to begin but the deer was blowing blood from the mouth and nose.
I do prefer slugs but I have no issues with buckshot and during the controlled ml season I often carry a sxs loaded with 10x pellets of 00buck over 85grs ffg powder

There's a member on here goes by brobee2323 or something like that and he has made some great videos of buckshot taking deer. His videos clearly show the positive effects of buckshot when used correctly and he goes on to show the recovered pellets and the wound tracks. For anyone looking for a good reference to the basics of buckshot hunting watch his videos
 
Thanks for that, it’s definitely not gonna be a primary, will likely do some coyote and wolf calling and be a camp gun. Mine does like the 3” flight control to about 18” patterns with 12 but it didn’t like the 2 3/4” 12 pellet. So it’s my second choice but it wasn’t putting more tighter around the point of aim at 40 than the rem so seems like not worth the recoil or cost penalties. I know I have a back up option if needed. I knew it was gonna be a challenge to find something that worked through the fixed full choke and that most likely wouldn’t be flight control. So I got lucky. That rem stuff seems to have a good rep on kill and patterns. My goal was mostly to have a versatile camp, predator, fun pattern set up. Agree single projectile centerfire the way to go. And if I took more serious a better barrel and reload tungsten if I wanted max potential from a shotty. I think I have similar pattern to your buddies set up. And yeah if no one takes the time to pattern I can see why it would be a problem on deer. I tested 8 loads and most of the common off the shelf stuff was twice the pattern and one wouldn’t even be on 24” most of the time. That would just make deer run faster lol. I’m not likely to take a running shot either and with the red dot and that tight pattern I can’t imagine a deer taking that at 40 at all.

I wanted it to be doable on Dad’s old gun with minimal changes. Just a reflex red dot and a butt stock shell holder and one load that could do it all (except birds). Shoots soft enough with that load and I had my 15” gong out as well for effect and I pasted it with three very quick at 40. Very satisfying! For no practice and haven’t shot at waterfowl since it was just a teen I was already thinking deer look out. Some things I’ll be more about the method and the tool, I’ll be looking for some new challenges and excuses.
 
I watched all brobee’s stuff too, between the alberta boy who took down two wolf doubles this winter with a shotgun and brobee that was the inspiration to dust the ole beretta off and see what time it was. ;)

I’ve done lots of archery and centerfire but this sounds like a good time also. I had a shorter (cut down) lop rem 1100 2 3/4” modified back when Dad was shooting the beretta. Him and a fellow named Reg Coleman brought the first couple in from the texaco gas station on McLeod trail in Calgary when it was also a sporting goods store. Word got out, beretta’s everywhere now lol. They had the only two aroun here for awhile back then. I’ll put a deer in the freezer with it this year.
 
I'm in no way sayin buckshot ain't effective when the Indian knows how to fling the arrow. I killed a 250+ pound black bear with #6 bird shot from a 16 gauge once, weren't really the right load but at 15 feet and closin quickly it put quite a crater in his forehead.

The Remington load sounds like it shoots pretty good for you, not just a "good'nuff" load but it'll actually produce a wall of death with the majority of the pellets where they need to be. Check out Bubba Rountree on YouTube, Wade builds his own buckshot loads and kills deer at 80 yards at times
 
Glad you're getting use out of the old Beretta. I still like my old a303. I have 2.75" and 3" chambered barrels for it. For calling coyotes and wolves I really like #4 buck. It really hits hard and the pellet increase really helps for smacking small coyotes.
Every gun is different I've had the best results with 2.75" federal 9 pellet 00b in the vast majority of guns. The Remington 00buck wasn't that great but the Remington #4 buck does well. Especially 3" 41 pellet loads.

I've tried just about every 000buck load on the market and haven't gotten a decent pattern passed 20 yards yet except my 000buck 410 reloads. Those are good for water jugs and watermelons
 
trapoholic said:
I've never personally use buckshot on anything bigger than nuisance beaver ( keep reading for explanation as to why ) I've took a week or two off for deer season every year since I was 4, that was 30 years ago. In those years I've seen 4 different shotgun Slade's come and go from the gang, one still hunts with us only because he was told to learn to use a rifle or switch to slugs; as a last ditch effort he tried out federals flight control buckshot (more on that at the end.

Of the other 3 compadres they hit 11 deer that I can remember between them all over a 10 year period, only 4 were ever found. As my grandfather used to say "buckshot ain't good for nothin but geese" I tend to agree with him on that. Unless the deer is inside 40 yard and 100% broadside buckshot shouldn't even be on the radar, even then if you got the ability to use a rifle or even slugs there's absolutely no reason to use buckshot.

Reasons to not use buckshot.

1. It's unpredictable cause it's "shot" no matter how big the balls are
2. Don't penetrate for ####
3. You're not lookin for a blood trail you're lookin for blood "specks"
4. Outside 40 yards and a perfect broadside shot your chances of losin a deer go waaaay up

Now onto the federal flight control. My cousin who's love affair with his beat up, taped stock Ithaca 37 took my advice and tried federals flight control buckshot; I suggested it cause the black cloud steel loads absolutely shred ducks out beyond sane ranges. A 2 3/4" 00 buck with the flight control wad still has the pellets in the wad at 20 yards out of a improved cylinder and puts them all into a 10 inch circle at 60 yard. When that full load hits a deer at 20-40 yards it's quite the thing, it just blows them off their feet and they usually go a total of 0 yards.

So in saying all this I hope I've helped. Get the choke bored out to improved cylinder and use federals flight control buckshot; if not, use challenger slugs cause they don't seem to care what kind of choke they go through they just shoot good.
Click to expand...

Challenger slugs you say for any choke? I figured I’d stay away of slugs with the full choke. I found the 1610 fps 1 1/8 oz challengers so off to the range I go again.
 
Just about any rifled slug meant for smooth bore guns can be fired thru a full choke. That said some choke tubes are not rated for slugs. A fixed full choke will be safe however some guns like them and others accuracy is non existent and only trying it will tell

There are rifles slugs designed only for rifled barrels as well like the brenneke gold 3" magnum slugs

I've had good success with challenger slugs in both smooth and rifled barrels. They are my slug if choice if my home cast slugs don't give the accuracy I want in a certain gun
 
^ Calgary shooting centre has tried the gold slugs in smooth bores not sure what choke thought. They’ve posted it here on this sight when they got a bunch in stock
 
brybenn said:
Just about any rifled slug meant for smooth bore guns can be fired thru a full choke. That said some choke tubes are not rated for slugs. A fixed full choke will be safe however some guns like them and others accuracy is non existent and only trying it will tell

There are rifles slugs designed only for rifled barrels as well like the brenneke gold 3" magnum slugs

I've had good success with challenger slugs in both smooth and rifled barrels. They are my slug if choice if my home cast slugs don't give the accuracy I want in a certain gun
Click to expand...

I had a savage 220f and did kill a late season elk at 100 with the barnes 278 gr load(federal). Can’t say it would run well with 4 buck for coyote or wolf calling. ;)

All about the smooth bore and for now maximizing versatility of Dad’s old goose rig. I just thought maybe the truball might be a bit much or too inaccurate for the old 28” fixed full choke? So will see how these challengers do, apparently they are a top penetrator which I’m keen on, will group test at 40 and that should tell the story if it’s just a bear defensive round or potentially a hundred yard deer round. Happy that I’ve got a 50 yard deer and maybe 60 wolf/coyote buckshot set up. This slug thing could just be icing on the cake.
 
The challengers tend to penetrate well. The truball slugs can be very consistent in guns that like them.
Rio makes a slug very similar to the challenger as well that's always been accurate in my guns. Don't see them much anymore but Rio ammo is starting to show up again so maybe the slugs have come back. Can't say I've actively shopped for slugs lately except for 20ga slugs
 
Well to close the loop on this ole beretta I got out to test the challenger slugs and I did a five shot group at 40 into 4 holes. Nice 3.5” triangle for 4 of the shots in 3 holes and then one higher that made the overall 5.25”. So I’ll be danged...this shotty can do it all. 28” fixed full choke ain’t no joke lol.
 
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blakeyboy said:
Well to close the loop on this ole beretta I got out to test the challenger slugs and I did a five shot group at 40 into 4 holes. Nice 3.5” triangle for 4 of the shots in 3 holes and then one higher that made the overall 5.25”. So I’ll be danged...this shotty can do it all. 28” fixed full choke ain’t no joke lol.
Click to expand...

I admire you on two different fronts. First in wanting to keep Pawhs gun viable but more importantly spending the time with shooting all the diffewrent(Looky) loads to know what the gun will do. Kudoos. A good gunner with a known gun willing to let out of range quarry pass will harvest every time they squeeze the trigger. Ill second the 4Buck for dogs it makes em take the dirt knap quick. Best of luck with Pawhs gun!! Cheers Chris
 
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