Rex's Firearm and Reloading Blog: Basic Shotgun Shell Selections

Hello All,

This post was a request from a fellow friend/shooter who is getting started into firearms and wanted some info on shotshell selections, lead only no steel. We will start out with upland bird, turkey, varmint, larger game and clay target shooting(Sorry no waterfowl yet.) I will try to stay with just the basics of off the shelf rounds, but this topic can open up a whole can of worms with off the shelf rounds and reloaded rounds. Don't forget about choke selections as well while reading this post.

Upland Bird Rounds

As stated above this is all of the shelf ammo, most manufactures offer the same shot as all the others. These will be all 2 3/4" Shell Length.

Let's start with Dove and Quail, your basic shot sizes you will be using in 7 1/2 and 8, depending on distance and bird size you may use 7 shot as well. Also shotshell shot will depend on gauge size as well for smaller birds you can go with a 20 gauge which will save on the destruction of smaller birds.

Pheasants, probably only be using a 12 gauge for these larger upland game birds. Basic shot size will be 6, you could go to a 5 if they are wild birds in open fields where your shots will be farther. If your shooting farmed birds in close cover, you could go down to a 7 shot if they are all close shots. Some people have different opinions on ammo in the the gun, some guys will load two 6 shots and a 5 for the last for the longer distance, and some will load two 6's and a 7.

Turkey

Turkeys, these will be heavy loads to knock down these tough old birds. These will be 12 gauge 3" length shells. Basic shot size will be 5 and 6, some state have shot rules for turkey hunting. Not much to say about turkeys shotshell, a lot depends on barrel length, choke size and stealthiness. I will be talking a little about chokes at the end of this post.

Varmints

Let's start with coyotes. These will be 12 gauge with choices from 2 3/4" to 3 1/2" length shells. Available options will be buck shot and slugs.

Buck shot used will be size, 1,4,00 and 000, slugs will be smaller less than 1oz rifled slugs for smooth barrels.

Squirrels have a few options to fit your need, these will be 12 gauge 2 3/4" shells, shot sizes will range from 4-6 depending on your need, food or just for pest eradication.

Deer

Buck shot and slugs will be your only choice for taking down deer or other larger game animals, these will be 12 gauge 2 3/4" to 3 1/2".

Buckshot will be sizes from 00 to 000. Slugs will be 1oz, rifled for smooth bore and sabots.

Target

This section will cover just a general overview of target shooting, I will not go into depth on each of the disciplines(trap,skeet,sporting clays) all will be 12 gauge 2 3/4" shells.

Shot size will be between 7-9 shot, 7 1/2 is widely popular for recreational shooters both for targets and some smaller upland bird, that size is most common in stores. I'd say over 95% who shoot target disciplines locally or professionally, reload, due to the fact they can tune the shotshell to there needs.

Chokes

Your choke will depend on a few things, game type, ranges, shot size/type and what you like. There are many different options fitting each and every combo of what you are shooting. Listed from the widest to the tightest group: Cylinder, Improved, Modified and Full. There many different variants of each one I listed.

Conclusion

Hope this helps anybody just starting out into the shotgunning world. Below I will ad a few links to in store shotshell brands, shot size charts and choke information below.

So long and thanks for reading.

Informative Links

Let me know if there are any links or brands you would like added to the list below.

Rex's Firearm and Reloading Blog

Monday, September 7, 2015

Basic Shotgun Shell Selections

Hello All,

Upland Bird Rounds

Turkey

Varmints

Deer

Target

Chokes

Conclusion

Informative Links

Shotshell Brands

Shot Size Information

Choke Tube Information

No comments:

Post a Comment