effective range of OO buck for SHTF

[ked]

i know a pellet or two would hit target a longer range, but what distance would OO buck still be effective?

thanks, ked:wavey:

[J. Parker]

A week ago I was shooting Wolf 00 buck against a hillside at a distance of about 100yds and the spread was 15ft or so. It was kinda cool to see the pellets impact at that distance. Effective? I dunno but it sure would scatter a crowd.:supergrin:

[blaster_54738]

in my firearms class we shot at 10 yards to see the shot spread and then out to 15 yards. at 15 yards it was spread out a good ways but every pellet was still in the k-5. at 20 yards i would think most of the pellets would hit but you might have a few flyers.

[MrMurphy]

Primarily depends on the gun and ammo.

With my old Benelli Nova SP, standard Remington buck would stay on a single target, losing maybe a pellet or two, to about 25 yards.

Hornady TAP would keep a good pattern at that distance and keep all of them on target out about another 10 yards.

Just to keep all the pellets "vaguely in the same area" say against a group standing off at a distance, yeah, 75-100 yards you would either hit someone in the group or give them a close call.

[DFin]

With a 20 inch barreled shotgun I put nine 00 buck pellets (Remington brand ammo 12 gauge 2&3/4 in.) into a 2ft. wide x 18 in. high target at approx. 30 yards. Did about the same thing with an 18 inch barrelled shotgun too but did not count the exact number of holes in the target. I don't know the velocity or the lethality at that range.
Get some old election signs that you just stick in the ground & try it. They make great targets.

[fowler]

Yes 30-35yards with oo buck. 40-45 yds with 4-buck. I prefer number 4 buck with its higher pellet count and better more even pattern.

[Javelin]

Barrel length has very little to do with spread and everything to do with velocity. The spread of the shot pattern is determined by the shotgun shell and the end of the barrel.

If you want a really tight group you can try Federal with flight control will assist in keeping the shot together and a full choke. If you want wide spread just use an open choke.

I is surprising just how little the shot pattern expands at distances <10 yards....contrary to why homeowners typically choose the 12 gauge for defense. But no arguements on the power it gives.

My personal experience is with Federal Flight Control and they reach out to 75 yards with a full choke with decent reliability and seemingly good energy.

:)

[P220ST]

Ran some Federal Flight Control 00 full power loads thru a few different guns. Some people swear by the Fed-Tact loads. I was impressed at some of the groups, but found a few issues too. I got better patterns out of a IMP choke 870P than a MOD choke 807P.

Best thing to do is pattern your gun with different loads and see what works best. I tired 3 different guns, and each liked a different load. :dunno:

To answer the OP's question, I would say 35 yards is prolly the longest I would want to use buckshot. Any further, I would switch over to slugs.

[chance3290]

I teach 15-20 yards for effective range. Basic rule of thumb is buckshot spreads 1 inch per yard.
Lately I've seen that Federal Tactical with flight control wadding. I was impressed. It holds the groups much tighter.

[Onmilo]

+ on 30 yards maximum.
Think of a 00 Buck load as nine .32 acp bullets flying at once from a pocket pistol.

My buddy has an old Winchester 97 full choke pump gun that will keep 7 0f 9 pellets on a steel plate at 100 meters but it is an exception to the rule of shotguns.
That damn gun will also loosen fillings in your teeth from the recoil.

[CAcop]

This is from Wikipedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combat_shotgun#Effectiveness

A Joint Service Combat Shotgun Program report on the lethality of shotguns in war states, in support of the use of the shotgun in warfare, "the probability of hitting a man-sized target with a shotgun was superior to that of all other weapons", and goes on to support this with statistics compiled by the British from the conflict in Borneo in the 1960s[1].

The buckshot typically used in a combat shotgun spreads out to a greater or lesser degree depending on the barrel choke, and can be effective at ranges as far as 70 m (75 yards). The delivery of the large number of projectiles simultaneously makes the shotgun the most effective short range weapon commonly used, with a hit probability 45% greater than a submachine gun, and twice as great as an assault rifle[1]. While each pellet is only as effective as a small caliber handgun, and offers very poor penetration against an armored target, the multiple projectiles increases the likelihood of one or more peripheral wounds.

Table of shotgun hit probability on human sized target[8] Load Hits @ 50 yd (46 m) Hits @ 75 yd (68 m)
34 pellet #4 buck 6 2
27 pellet #4 buck 10 3
20 pellet #1 buck 7 4
16 pellet #1 buck 6 2
12 pellet 00 buck 4 2
9 pellet 00 buck 3 1
8 pellet 000 buck 1 0

A number of compromises are involved in choosing a shot size:[8][10]

Smaller pellets lose velocity more rapidly and penetrate the target less
Larger pellets means fewer pellets, resulting in a reduced probability of hits
Heavier loads produce more recoil and less velocity than lighter loads
Reduced recoil loads (less shot and/or lower velocity) may produce smaller patterns, which may increase hit probability

[DFin]

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