NWcityguy2
Member
I conducted a test comparing the affordable (and available) Rio Royal Buck and compared it to what I consider to be the gold standard of buckshot in the 00 Federal Tactical. The test gun was my Girsan MC321 Tactical (18.5" barrel) and I used a light modified and full choke for the test. The following loads were tested...
- Federal Tactical 00 buckshot (9 pellets)
- Rio Royal Buck 00 buckshot (9 pellets)
- Rio Royal Buck #1 buckshot (12 pellets)
- Rio Royal Buck #4 buckshot (21 pellets)
- Rio Royal Buck #4 buckshot (27 pellets)
With the Rio Royal Buck, one shot was taken with each choke from 10 and 20 yards, and three shots were taken with each choke from 30 yards. With the Federal Tactical, one shot was taken with the light modified choke at 10, 20, and 30 yards. All patterns were done on standard IDPA targets. To assist in seeing the pattern, the targets at 20 and 30 yards (and some at 10) have a red dot added to each hole left by the buckshot. The goal of this test was to pattern the buckshot, not necessarily place as many pellets in the -0 zone as possible. These loads did have different points of impact at 30 yards.
Results: Federal Tactical 00 buckshot (9 pellets)
Results: Rio Royal Buck 00 (9 pellets)
- Federal Tactical 00 buckshot (9 pellets)
- Rio Royal Buck 00 buckshot (9 pellets)
- Rio Royal Buck #1 buckshot (12 pellets)
- Rio Royal Buck #4 buckshot (21 pellets)
- Rio Royal Buck #4 buckshot (27 pellets)
With the Rio Royal Buck, one shot was taken with each choke from 10 and 20 yards, and three shots were taken with each choke from 30 yards. With the Federal Tactical, one shot was taken with the light modified choke at 10, 20, and 30 yards. All patterns were done on standard IDPA targets. To assist in seeing the pattern, the targets at 20 and 30 yards (and some at 10) have a red dot added to each hole left by the buckshot. The goal of this test was to pattern the buckshot, not necessarily place as many pellets in the -0 zone as possible. These loads did have different points of impact at 30 yards.
Results: Federal Tactical 00 buckshot (9 pellets)
Results: Rio Royal Buck 00 (9 pellets)
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