Shotgun hunting for DEER

Your new here huh ?
A search dug up a 14 year old thread?
Welcome to CGN.

You get shlt on for starting new threads that have been discussed,
You get shlt on for continuing related conversations,
Being a member since 06 shoulda been proud someone actually utilized the search feature correctly lol. Whatever
You can't win
 
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my search litteraly brought up 1 thread and this was it. Sorry I didn’t work up to your standards. Or start another thread.
Sh!t if I did that you’d be reaming me about using the search function I’m sure

Thanks for your help though
I am a Union Thug with very low standards....
A new thread would have offered some level of experience to gauge recommendations.
I shot from the hip, err I mean lip.
Accept it for what it is...low standards.
Tight Groups,
Rob
 
Without starting a new thread.
I’m curious about firing 00b through a full choke.
I’m under the assumption that old timers used whatever shotgun they had. Bird. Buck. Slugs. Didn’t matter.

I’m curious now (I’ve been googling. And getting alot of mixed reviews. Mostly no)

Is it safe to shoot 00b through a fixed full choke barrel ?

What about slugs ?

Thanks.

Dave
Yes it’s safe to shoot 00buck and slugs through a modern shotgun barrel with a full choke, you may not get the best pattern or accuracy though.

It will depend on the gun, the ammo and the distance your shooting.
 
Yes it’s safe to shoot 00buck and slugs through a modern shotgun barrel with a full choke, you may not get the best pattern or accuracy though.

It will depend on the gun, the ammo and the distance your shooting.

I’m not sure what’s considered modern in the shotgun world.
But is a Winchester that I’ve been told was manufactured in 1968

I’m not overly concerned on accuracy. Just moreso will it damage the barrel.

Thanks
Dave
 
I’m not sure what’s considered modern in the shotgun world.
But is a Winchester that I’ve been told was manufactured in 1968

I’m not overly concerned on accuracy. Just moreso will it damage the barrel.

Thanks
Dave
That’s modern enough for me, I have an old fixed full choke Cooey 84 that I shoot harded cast challenger slugs through. Haven’t damaged it one bit, kicks like a fücking mule but that’s due to the lightweight nature of a single shot shotgun. Stout loads aren’t fun, especially 3” magnums lol.

Accuracy isn’t all the stellar but chalk that up to the combo of the ammo and choke.
 
Last Summer I took a few shots at the range with a Hatsan 14" pump w-Open bore, just using the front bead. Slugs were OK at 25 & #4 Field prob not lethal hunting, Slugs @ 50 OK (traj fell a bit) but 00B ( Fed P-D ) is questionable at 50. Need more practice with the Slugs, too. And I'll try a 24" barrel next time too.

Range 8-26-2024 Hatsan-Slugs & #4 25-yds.jpg

Range 8-28-24 Hatsan 25yds.jpg

Range 8-26-2024 Hat-Slug & Top=OO-Buck 3-hits @50-yds.jpg
 
This is the best 00 Buckshot pattern I ever got.

Federal 3" Flightcontrol buckshot with 12 pellets at 30 meters and an .680 choke (Extra Full).
Circle is a small pie plate .... 9 inches ....

Federal_Flightcontrol_12Pellets_00Buck_30meters_680_Full_Choke_lowres.JPG
 
From my testing bigger shot and tighter choke is the way to go. 000 was so much better than 00 that I wouldn't even consider 00, I suspect that the 000 pellets are big enough to draft off each other. Open chokes were duds.

If I lived in a Shotgun with Shot Zone I'd be tempted to try to develope a load something like a .660 roundball with 7 #1 Buck pellets to meet BC's regulation of a load having to contain 8 pellets.
 
...

If I lived in a Shotgun with Shot Zone I'd be tempted to try to develope a load something like a .660 roundball with 7 #1 Buck pellets to meet BC's regulation of a load having to contain 8 pellets.

Ohhhhh .... you mean something like this?
  • 58cal round ball and 8 x #1 buckshot pellets.
Now is this considered buckshot?
Because I can hit a 9" paper plate with this load at 50 meters (with the 58 cal ball) ...... and with my 870 and a .680 choke .... :D

Buck_and_Ball_Load_No1Buck_58calBall.jpg
 
BC defines shot as 8 or more roughly spherical pellets and for Deer, Black Bear, Cougar, Wolf, Wolverine, Lynx and Bobcat the pelleta must be #1 Buck or larger. No where that I see does it say they have to be equal size only "roughly spherical"

I cannot comment on any other Jurisdiction, I know Alberta has a Bow and Buckshot Zone around Edmonton but I don't know the specifics.
 
BC defines shot as 8 or more roughly spherical pellets and for Deer, Black Bear, Cougar, Wolf, Wolverine, Lynx and Bobcat the pelleta must be #1 Buck or larger. No where that I see does it say they have to be equal size only "roughly spherical"

I cannot comment on any other Jurisdiction, I know Alberta has a Bow and Buckshot Zone around Edmonton but I don't know the specifics.
Anything that says they have to be free-floating? Wax slug or a hot-glue slug made from 00buck would probably give you a little better range…
 
I have won bets against buckshot guys, mostly they are hard pressed to get even one ball in a pie plate at 40 yards
I’ve been able to break clays with 00buck on occasion, 870 with a 14” rifle sighted barrel and a full choke and cheapo Estate 00buck. Not something I try very often but I have spent the time patterning that barrel and load.
 
I was gunna give you props for searching! Hahaha.

Like everyone else said, pattern your gun, try different loads and sizes of buckshot and use whatever shoots best. Those island blacktail can be squirrely but they aren't exactly sturdy, whatever you can get to shoot the tightest group will work great.

Worst case you can also try out the art of cut shells.
My understanding is that a full choke is fine for slugs and Buckshot, but you shouldn't shoot them through anything tighter.

Steel shot is not safe for full chokes. Improved modified is your limit there, and depending on who you ask that might be too tight.

Don't try the "art of cut shells". You're forcing the whole hull through the forcing cone, rather than just the cup with shot, and it's quite a bit bigger than the shot cup and will spike the pressures your gun sees. Safer to shoot "wax slugs".

Steel shot is perfectly safe for full chokes. Where did you hear otherwise? With non lead shot mandated for decades for migratory birds, steel shot with full chokes is just about all that's used for high flying geese.

There has been a little difference over the years, with very old shotguns having slightly tighter chokes than newer shotguns when steel shot became popular.
 
Don't try the "art of cut shells". You're forcing the whole hull through the forcing cone, rather than just the cup with shot, and it's quite a bit bigger than the shot cup and will spike the pressures your gun sees. Safer to shoot "wax slugs".

Steel shot is perfectly safe for full chokes. Where did you hear otherwise? With non lead shot mandated for decades for migratory birds, steel shot with full chokes is just about all that's used for high flying geese.

There has been a little difference over the years, with very old shotguns having slightly tighter chokes than newer shotguns when steel shot became popular.
You're the only person I've ever heard say steel is fine through a full choke.

looking at manufacturers almost all of them have a little warning saying no steel through a full choke.

I've also had waterfowl guides tell me improved modified is the tightest choke safe for steel
 
You're the only person I've ever heard say steel is fine through a full choke.

looking at manufacturers almost all of them have a little warning saying no steel through a full choke.

I've also had waterfowl guides tell me improved modified is the tightest choke safe for steel
Screenshot_20241130_135004_Chrome.jpg
 
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