Got my 870, got some question about it and i'm confused about picking loads

[rebbryan]

i got some help here before i bought it, and one of em was remington's website but that gave me too much run around and i didn't have the patience for it

the shotgun:
it's a 4 shot magazine, can i put 4 shells in it and not have to worry about the magazine losing some tension?

can you unload it w/o cycling everything through the chamber?

loads:

i dunno nuttin about loads, if someone could explain them to me or direct me to a website that'd help a lot. i know how to load em and shoot em, don't know what the shot sizes mean or what the dram is.

other than that it looks like a good gun, 870 synethetic version. yet to go to the range b/c of problems finding one close

 

[SanduneCC]

can you unload it w/o cycling everything through the chamber?

Only if it has the shortened "Police" forend. If it's a standard 870 with the long forend, you wont be able to reach in and depress the shell stop.

 

[El Tejon]

reb, good gun. Serves as my main shotgun.

The mag spring: Yes. I have several ST's "FBI Model". The one by the bed is loaded and ready. It remains that way and has for years (geez, am I that old). No problems here.

Admin unloading: Yes. Check your manual. Better yet have someone show you. Better yet get a class.

Loads: get a white lab coat and a pair of those horn-rimmed safety glasses like in 8th grade woodshop. Buy different loads and experiment. Remember that in sizing it is an inverse relationship for shot and buck.

Go shoot your gun and check to see what it likes and dislikes. I have two ST 870s with consecutive serial numbers--one likes Federal #4 buck, its sister prefers Rem #00 buck. Go figure.

Get a class and then another.

 

[redneck2]

Basics

to quickly answer the shot size question...

Biggest shot typically found is OO Buckshot..about the size of a standard pencil eraser. Drops to O, 4,3,2, and 1 buckshot, sizing down

typical shot is BB (the size of a regular BB) 2,4,5,6, 7 1/2, 8, 9 & 12, sizing down. 12 is about the same as coarse sand. My local gun shot has a plastic display that has one of each size shot for comparison.

Generally the bigger the game, the bigger the shot. For doves, use 7 1/2's or 8's. For rabbits, use 5' or 6's. Pheasants, use 4's. Bigger game requires the pellet to drive deeper for a kill, so each pellet has to be larger.

Small shot..use a more open choke because you have more shot so you can cover a bigger area and still get the pattern full, but it won't be as effective at longer ranges because the pellets don't carry enough energy.

There are basic gun/shotgun books avaliable in the library and for sale in magazines like Shooting Times, G&A, etc.

 

[dport]

I thought #1Buck was bigger than #4 IIRC #1Buck has 16 pellets whereas #4Buck has twenty-something (27?).

 

[Al Thompson]

Buckshot goes from OOO (biggest - about .38), OO, O, #1, 2 3 and #4 (about .24).

 

[El Tejon]

dport, you're right. Standard #4 is 27 pellets of .24 caliber.

redneck, remember, inverse relationship.

 

[rebbryan]

okay thanks for all the help so far, got some more questions if ya'll don't mind

do you shoot rifled slugs in non rifled barrels?

i heard not to shoot slugs with chokes in, but my manual says to not shoot the firearm w/o the choke tube installed. what's right?

anything fun or cool you can put on ribbed barrels? or is that bead the only thing that can go on it?

what's the shortest barrel you can have?

 

[Dave McCracken]

Reb, I think if you research the 101 series I started and many good folks have contributed to, there's answers to most of your questions.

A couple answers rat now....

Rifled slugs are for smoothbore barrels and those with rifled choke tubes. Fully rifled barrels work best with sabots. There's exceptions, but not many.

If your shotgun has choke tubes, do NOT operate it without one in place and snugged down tightly.

Williams has a set of open sights that mount on a vent rib and give adjustability with slugs and turkey loads. Not good for wingshooting.

Having a barrel shorter than 18" measured from the muzzle to breech face can get you in trouble with the Feds.

HTH...