Choosing shotshell's for a Remington 870 XCS Marine Magnum

[IVIeltdown]

Hi there...

I recently purchased my first shotgun, a Remington 870 XCS Marine Magnum. It accepts 12 ga. 2 3/4" and 3" shells (3" chamber) and has an 18" barrel with a fixed cylinder choke.

I'm a little overwhelmed with all of the shotshell's out there as to which types are compatible with the 870 XCS MM.

From what I understand, buckshot is the best for home defence for its penetration (read: stopping power) properties when compared to birdshot. Are there any concerns shooting steel vs. lead?

As for slugs, from what I've read they should be rifled slugs for this particular shotgun (smooth bore) rather than sabot slugs. Not sure that I'm on the right track.

Any suggestions as to specific shells for home defence or general shooting of shi*? Also, shells that should not be used. Not much information in the manual on shotshell selection and I'm having a hard time collecting usefull/credible info using "google magic".

Maybe I'm just reading too much into this. I just don't want to feed any shells through my shotgun that may have adverse effects.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Rutger]

What are you wanting to accomplish for this 870?

If you want to shoot at your range, check your range rules. Many will restrict you to slugs, in which case you can go with a cheepo 1oz deer slug.

If you are hunting, then by taking the CORE course (if you are in BC) you will pic up the basics for the game you intend to go after.

Shotguns, especially 12 gauges, are the swiss army knife of guns. and what you feed it, depends entirely on what you hope to accomplish.

If it was me, and I was shooting sh*t and stuff, then 12 gauge buckshot would be my load of choice. This has particularly impressive results on watermelons, cantaloupe and other fruits and veggies.

 

[Rutger]

Double post for some reason...

 

[Hotwheels81]

Any suggestions as to specific shells for home defence or general shooting of shi*? Also, shells that should not be used. Not much information in the manual on shotshell selection and I'm having a hard time collecting usefull/credible info using "google magic".

#2 shot up close and personal will make a big hole.... yet will slow down alot after passing thru a layer or two of drywall... 00 buckshot will exit an exterior wall of your home and keep going.

steel shot costs alot more then lead... save the steel for geese and ducks...

any of the cheap winchester stuff at walmart or canadian tire will get your feet wet... rifled slugs are about $5 a box of 5 and 00B is about $4 a box of 5... get some #7-#8 shot for blasting milk jugs while your at it...

if you havent played with slugs before i would suggest you avoid anything that says "magnum" or 3" on the box unless your not scared of a little extra recoil...

also just incase your planning on playing without earplugs... DONT.

 

[drvrage]

For cheap shooting ####:

- Wal Mart Value Packs of anything. Really anything. From #9 to #2 they are cheap and will give you maximum shooting time for the money. They also carry buck and slugs at reasonable prices so go hog wild.

For Home defense:

- Any buckshot. Preferably #1 or #00. There is ample reading to do on this one and it is endlessles debated, but I will say this. Overpenetration is a concern, but not as much as underpenetration. If you are going to use a gun for self defense, I want as many big fricken holes as I can get in a criminal. Bird is for birds. Buck is for Goblins.

Hunting:

-Whatever your laws require. In Ontario, anywhere near water requires steel. #2 steel is nice for geese.

- For deer, you are right on track. Smoothbore require rifled "Foster" type slugs as opposed to sabots. You MM will shoot both of them fine, but the sabots are WAY pricier and will confer NO benefit in anything but a rifled barrel so why bother pissing money away.

- For Rabit and other small game, cheap lead shot with #4 or #6, #7.5 are fine. I also like steel just because I don't wanna eat lead pellets and a 12 gauge, while suitable, is a little overkill for the little ones.

Shotshells that you Don't want to put into it:

- Obviously as you have a 3" chamber don't buy any 3.5" shells. Can be very very dangerous. I have done it accidentally in a Stoger SXS luckily only with buck not a slug. The gun survived unharmed, but I almost broke my finger in the trigger guard due to the explosive recoil. One shot from this combo gave a friend of mine a 1 foot flinch and he didn't even pull the trigger.

- 3" Slugs while safe for the gun, are not fun for you unless you have a recoil reducing stock. Stick to 2.75" and you'll be a happy camper.

- Flares and bear bangers are safe in your gun because it is cylinder bore (No choke) but as a little piece of advice, don't shoot too many of these and when you do, clean the hell out of them ASAP. I was at a friends cottage where someone "acquired" a box of 250 flares. We used them as fireworks for ####s and giggles over beers. (Not the shooter) The next morning we looked at the gun, and while not ruined, had obvious nastiness that we simply could not get out. It looked like pitting maybe, and no amount of scrubbing could get it out. I can only guess that the flares cooked it somehow. Maybe corrosive phophorous from the flares? I dunno, and I don't know what kind of flares they were. Why risk ruining such a magnificent gun.

 

[IVIeltdown]

I live in Alberta and I do not hunt. All of my shooting so far has been at the local range.

Rutger, as for whether I'm allowed to to use bird/buckshot at the range or just slugs...good point. I'll have to look into that rather than just assume that its okay.

The main purpose for this shotgun is home defence. I'm not interested in hunting. Apart from that, I'd occasionally take it to the range to have some fun with.

Thanks for all of the information...greatly appreciated.

 

[Win/64]

any of the cheap winchester stuff at walmart or canadian tire will get your feet wet... rifled slugs are about $5 a box of 5 and 00B is about $4 a box of 5... get some #7-#8 shot for blasting milk jugs while your at it...

if you havent played with slugs before i would suggest you avoid anything that says "magnum" or 3" on the box unless your not scared of a little extra recoil...

also just incase your planning on playing without earplugs... DONT.

Stay away from the Walmart stuff it's crap. You would be better off buying a flat (10 boxes) of target loads. It's cheaper and the shells are better.