Dominion Arms Kodiak Marine buckshot test results

[bushpilotmexico]

I bought the Kodiak from a CGN'er kind for for two purposes first just as an adjunct to my yote hunting and second nice to have in your back pack when bow hunting in Griz country here in BC. Since it has a short barrel advertised as 12.5" I decided to test some Federal Power Shok 00 buckshot, 9 .33" pellets with an advertised muzzle velocity of 1325 fps and some Remington Managed-Recoil 00 buckshot, 8 .33 pellets with an advertised muzzle velocity of 1200 fps. Mind you this muzzle velocity would have been measured out of a longer factory barrel and I didn't have the nerve to try and destroy my chronograph.

I had tried the Kodiak previously using each of the 3 choke tubes supplied with the shotgun but had decided to buy a Carlsons Coyote Choke tube (Beretta and Benelli fit the Kodiak). They advertise DEVASTATING PATTERNS UP TO 70 YARDS so i was curious to see how it would perform in my short barreled Kodiak. I should mention that I was using 2 3/4" shells.

Because I wanted to make this as close to a field test as possible all rounds were fired with me sitting on my 3 legged stool using my old faithful mono-pod front rest just as I would be doing if shooting at a yote. The Kodiak is equipped with a Vortex Viper red dot sight (6 moa). My target board was Staples white bristol board which measures 28" x 22".

Here are my results and I have tried to keep track of the number of pellets in brackets.

20 YARDS

1. FED 00

GROUP #1..... 13" (9)
GROUP #2..... 10" (9)

2. REM 00

GROUP #1..... 5.5" (8)
GROUP #2..... 10" (8)
GROUP #3..... 5.5" (8)

25 YARDS

1. FED 00

GROUP #1..... 9.5" (9)
GROUP #2..... 12" (9)

2. REM 00

GROUP #1..... 9.0" (8)
MISSED SHOOTING A SECOND GROUP SOMEHOW

35 YARDS

1. FED 00

GROUP #1..... 16" (6)
GROUP #2..... 10" (8)

2. REM 00

GROUP #1..... 13.5" (8)
GROUP #2..... 14.75" (8)

45 YARDS

1. FED 00

GROUP #1..... 18" (6)
GROUP #2..... 20" (7)

2. REM 00

GROUP #1..... 13' (8)
GROUP #2..... 14" (8)

50 YARDS

1. FED 00..... 26" (4)
GROUP #2..... 26" (4)
GROUP #3..... 13" (6)

2. REM 00

GROUP #1..... 19" (7)
GROUP #2..... 17" (7)

Kind of interesting test results as I had found before, just plinking, that even with the Kodiak factory choke tubes the Remington managed-recoil seemed to group better than the Federal. The Remington seems to have more of it's 8 pellets consistently on target.

All recorded results for each distance would have had the majority of pellets regardless of the number in a kill zone.
The Kodiak is below.

 

[870P]

Those are excellent patterns, on par with many Vang Comp shotguns!

You either got lucky or whoever manufactures these shotguns puts a lot of thought into their barrel's interior geometry.

 

[livesound41]

Which Federal 00 were you using? The blue box, or black box stuff is generally just so/so. Try the Federal premium with 9 pellet copper plated 00 and the flitecontrol wad. It should have a caption in the top right hand with picture and text saying flitecontrol wad. It comes in the 5 round box with an black/orange/gold colouring. This particular ammo groups better than most, 2nd place to the winchester long beard turkey series, followed by Score 00.

 

[timandkimandshea]

Those are fantastic patterns with 00buck, regardless of the shotgun, IMO
T

 

[870P]

Any further testing in mind OP?

 

[tenglish]

I would be interested in seeing some slug testing data for the grizz safety. That seems like a very cool set up! Glad too see its performing well for you. Any issues with reliability?