new 870 with 18 inch cyl bore is spreading S&B 00 buckshot 5 inches at 7 yrds, I thought there was somthign wrong with the barrel until I shot my 500 18 inch cyl bore at same dist with same 00 buck, they both average 5 inch at 7 yrds, Can I assume the spread will be double at 14 yrds? If so how hard is it to thread an 870 cyl bore for a rem choke tube? Its also a 6 shot 870 so that complicates just buying a brrl already threaded for tubes. TIA-- Steve
Cyl bore spread for buckshot @ 7 yrds
- Thread starter steveo77
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oneounceload
member
Any good gunsmith can do the job as can folks like Mike Orlen in MA or Briley in Houston
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Easy!
http://www.choketube.com/choke-tube-installation.php
BTW: 1" per yard is the old rule of thumb.
So you are already ahead of the curve with what you got.
rc
http://www.choketube.com/choke-tube-installation.php
BTW: 1" per yard is the old rule of thumb.
So you are already ahead of the curve with what you got.
rc
Fred Fuller
Moderator Emeritus
Are you looking for tighter patterns?
If so, it would be cheaper to switch ammo to something better than S&B. Any of the usual suspects where cheap buckshot is concerned (S&B, Rio Royal etc) have dead soft lead pellets, that are poorly protected in firing and their trip down the bore. You want wide patterns, that list of qualities should give them to you. And adding choke may or may not do much to improve that situation.
Major manufacturer 'standard' grade buckshot will usually give medium sized patterns - Remington, Federal, Winchester, Fiocchi etc. Costs a bit more, but ... you get harder alloy lead pellets that are better protected with shot cups, shot collars, plastic buffering etc, which is where the better patterns basically come from.
And if you want the tightest possible patterns out of a CYL bore, get some FliteControl stuff - Federal Premium or LE, Hornady TAP etc. I have one 870P 18" CYL barrel that will deliver 4" patterns of Federal LE127 00 at 25 yards. And that isn't unusual. These loads feature very hard alloy pellets and/or plated pellets, excellent protection in the bore, and the amazingly efficient (as long as you don't use a wad restricting choke) FliteControl wad.
Or, Remington makes a 18.5" RS barrel with tritium sights and a factory fixed MOD choke, for reasonable money. Worth thinking about IMHO, especially given the current ammo situation.
And NEVER "assume" anything about what a given barrel will do with a given load at a given range. PATTERN IT and find out!
If so, it would be cheaper to switch ammo to something better than S&B. Any of the usual suspects where cheap buckshot is concerned (S&B, Rio Royal etc) have dead soft lead pellets, that are poorly protected in firing and their trip down the bore. You want wide patterns, that list of qualities should give them to you. And adding choke may or may not do much to improve that situation.
Major manufacturer 'standard' grade buckshot will usually give medium sized patterns - Remington, Federal, Winchester, Fiocchi etc. Costs a bit more, but ... you get harder alloy lead pellets that are better protected with shot cups, shot collars, plastic buffering etc, which is where the better patterns basically come from.
And if you want the tightest possible patterns out of a CYL bore, get some FliteControl stuff - Federal Premium or LE, Hornady TAP etc. I have one 870P 18" CYL barrel that will deliver 4" patterns of Federal LE127 00 at 25 yards. And that isn't unusual. These loads feature very hard alloy pellets and/or plated pellets, excellent protection in the bore, and the amazingly efficient (as long as you don't use a wad restricting choke) FliteControl wad.
Or, Remington makes a 18.5" RS barrel with tritium sights and a factory fixed MOD choke, for reasonable money. Worth thinking about IMHO, especially given the current ammo situation.
And NEVER "assume" anything about what a given barrel will do with a given load at a given range. PATTERN IT and find out!
LeonCarr
Member
Check out these threads for the difference that ammo makes:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=695148&highlight=00+Buck
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=727480&highlight=00+Buck
Some testing I did with a Cylinder Bore Remington 870 Express HD.
Just my .02,
LeonCarr
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=695148&highlight=00+Buck
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=727480&highlight=00+Buck
Some testing I did with a Cylinder Bore Remington 870 Express HD.
Just my .02,
LeonCarr
If you want tight patterns you've bought the wrong tool.
Personally on a HD shotgun most want an open pattern, esp at the short ranges its likely to be used which is why they have cylinder bore or "no choke". If I wanted a single hole I'd load a slug or use a rifle or handgun. If I need a tighter pattern for longer range then I'd grab one of my modified or full choke bird guns.
A single buckshot pellet can be quite lethal in the right spot. The chance of hitting that right spot goes up as you spread the multiple impacts over a wider area of the target.
Regarding ammo for different patterning. Slower the velocity of the pellets the tighter the pattern will be which is why the low recoil stuff patterns tighter than the typical standard ammo at 100 to 200+ fps faster.
Personally on a HD shotgun most want an open pattern, esp at the short ranges its likely to be used which is why they have cylinder bore or "no choke". If I wanted a single hole I'd load a slug or use a rifle or handgun. If I need a tighter pattern for longer range then I'd grab one of my modified or full choke bird guns.
A single buckshot pellet can be quite lethal in the right spot. The chance of hitting that right spot goes up as you spread the multiple impacts over a wider area of the target.
Regarding ammo for different patterning. Slower the velocity of the pellets the tighter the pattern will be which is why the low recoil stuff patterns tighter than the typical standard ammo at 100 to 200+ fps faster.
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Vol46
Member
I'm with Steve C. Why do you want a tighter pattern for HD? 5" - 10" at typical HD distances ( unless you have a very large house ) will put all pellets inside a bad guys torso & still leave a little margin for error.
huntsman
Member
Places like Gander do choke tubes now and that what I'd do(it'll change a one trick pony into a versatile tool). Remington Express buck is buffered and I'll bet the pellets have higher antimony than that cheap S&B which should lead to a tighter pattern.
Fred Fuller
Moderator Emeritus
Why do you want a tighter pattern for HD?
Can't speak for anyone else here, but in my case a shotgun is the go-to long gun around the house. That means outside as well as inside, pest control as well as varmints both 4 legged and 2 legged.
I want tight patterns because hitting what I shoot at is MY job not the shotgun's job, and I want to put as much lead on target at any reasonable range as I can get there. Tight patterns help me do just that.
Please note that personal preference is just that. Anyone who wants wide open patterns is welcome to them, they pay for their shotgun and ammo the same way I pay for mine. Everyone should be able to get pretty much whatever they want out of their shotgun, given the variety of ammunition available today, and the available barrels and choke tubes.
Can't speak for anyone else here, but in my case a shotgun is the go-to long gun around the house. That means outside as well as inside, pest control as well as varmints both 4 legged and 2 legged.
I want tight patterns because hitting what I shoot at is MY job not the shotgun's job, and I want to put as much lead on target at any reasonable range as I can get there. Tight patterns help me do just that.
Please note that personal preference is just that. Anyone who wants wide open patterns is welcome to them, they pay for their shotgun and ammo the same way I pay for mine. Everyone should be able to get pretty much whatever they want out of their shotgun, given the variety of ammunition available today, and the available barrels and choke tubes.
wnycollector
Member
+1 on this barrel. Fred posted about this barrel a few months ago and I picked one up for my 20+yo 870 express. It is a wonderful barrel. It produces very respectable, tight patterns with inexpensive buckshot loads. It seems to especially like the Melior/Rio 00 buck that SGAmmo had on sale last month for $69/200 rounds.
thanks for the input all
My ideal shotgun would fire a 5 inch pattern from 7-25 yrds. Ive never been a fan of the "scatter gun" concept. Today I fired mil spec Winchester 00 buck against estate 00 buck @ 25 yrds ,(cheapo) estate put 6 pellets in 6 inches,the mil spec winchester barely put 5 pellets in the backboard.I would have never thought a shotgun could be more fickle than a rifle with ammo .
My ideal shotgun would fire a 5 inch pattern from 7-25 yrds. Ive never been a fan of the "scatter gun" concept. Today I fired mil spec Winchester 00 buck against estate 00 buck @ 25 yrds ,(cheapo) estate put 6 pellets in 6 inches,the mil spec winchester barely put 5 pellets in the backboard.I would have never thought a shotgun could be more fickle than a rifle with ammo .
Jorg Nysgerrig
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As Fred suggested, look into something with a Flitecontrol wad. You'll be amazed by the difference.
788Ham
Member
Try smaller shot sizes, like #4 buck, or #2 buck, more pellets in the air, more to have in your pattern.
Master Blaster
Member
Maybe you really need a Slug? 5 Inches at 7 yards seems Ideal to me for what a cylinder bore short barrel should do.
Fred Fuller
Moderator Emeritus
I keep slugs (Brenneke KOs) in the Sidesaddle if I need them for longer range or greater penetration. Buckshot is for multiple wound tracts... at whatever range.
Again, JMHO, everyone needs to find solutions to fit their own individual circumstances.
Again, JMHO, everyone needs to find solutions to fit their own individual circumstances.
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