A Full choke should keep 70% of the buckshot pellets on a 30" target at 40 yards.
A Modified should keep 60% and a Improved choke should keep 50% on 30" at 40 yards.
However if you want to shoot slugs as a defensive load for out to distance you would need a Cylinder choke which will not constrict the buckshot loads at all.

 

For that distance and shotgun I would keep it as open as possible and use Federal Flite Control rounds to tighten up your spread. You will have no problem doing that at 35Y with 00 or 1 buck. Keep the other tube loaded with slugs. The 1 oz. true balls should work just fine.

 

I have a Mossberg 590 that was a special run that came with a choke tube and it came with Improved Cylinder. It patterns nearly as well as my Mossberg 500 that has been to Vang Comp. I would say start with either Modified or Improved Cylinder and see what the results are and if you don't like them move up.

 

The immediate decision was made for me since the LGS only had one Winchester Invector choke and that was Improved Modified (right below Full).

The group tightened up 2 3/4 inches at 15 yards, to 12 3/4 inch spread.
The shells are two inch, 6 pellet, 00 Buck, Centurion brand, at 1250 FPS.

I have some other buckshot shells around here to try out yet.

However if you want to shoot slugs as a defensive load for out to distance you would need a Cylinder choke which will not constrict the buckshot loads at all.

No slugs. Too much stuff around here to use slugs.

If I can't get a tight enough pattern with the shotgun I'll just stay with the AR for distance.
The KSG should be handy around the house.



.

 

Well I think I'm on the right track.

I just finished checking two loads with the Red Dot and Streamlight TLR-2 at 25 yards.

The first load was 00 Brenneke 9 pellet Buckshot.
I was a little disappointed because 2 pellets missed the 25 inch target.
The load also kicked pretty good (my shoulders are still sore from past operations).

The second try was with the 6 pellet 2 inch Centurion 00 Buckshot.
Much better.

I shot the first shell using the Red Dot. I was a couple inches high and right when the gun fired.

I used the laser, firing from the hip, for the second shot. The laser was about dead centered.
(In low light the laser makes the shotgun extremely deadly. I can't remember missing a shot, from the hip, with my laser equipped shotguns).

All 12 pellets are on target in a decent group, with a couple out to 19.5 inches.


Now I have to look around for a 00 Buck load that spreads the least.

 

Federal Flite control will probably be that.

 

Federal Flite control will probably be that.

Thanks. I'll look for it next trip to town.

 

I just picked up a KelTec KSG also!! Put a Surefire M900 PG Forend Light on it, MagPul Back up sights, and a Trijicon RMR. It is sharp!! I will get to shoot it on Thursday and sighi the RMR in with slugs and see how it does with various loads. I prefer Rio Reduced recoil buckshot, but will run full power as well!!

I live in the country, so slugs are a possibility for HD. Nothing says "get off my lawn" like a 1oz slug!!!

 

I live in the country, so slugs are a possibility for HD. Nothing says "get off my lawn" like a 1oz slug!!!

12 ga slugs tend to leave them all over the lawn.



posted from my stupid smart phone, please excuse any spelling mistakes.

 

I had a period where I was obsessed with buckshot patterns. I didn't want one ragged hole up close, but wanted an effective pattern out to 35-45 yards. See the problem?

Pattern depends on the specific gun and each specific load combo. The only way to know for sure is to test each load at 5 or 10 yards increments. An old bed sheet hung between two trees is great for pattern testing BTW. Lots of room to see the spread and lots of room for testing multiple loads on the same sheet.

If I had to pick a combo without testing it would be CYL or IC choke and Federal Flite-control 8 pellet buck. It is the tightest load I have ever tested. Never throws a flyer and puts all 8 pellets on a B27 at 40 yards. 50 yards still puts 4-5 pellets COM.

In my testing the Flite control loads do better with little to no choke, or atleast tighter chokes do not necessarily produce tighter patterning. MOD helps some buck loads and full never seems to help pattern buck loads better for me, but can help with certain birdshot patterns.

It appears you have a private range, which makes pattern testing much easier and faster. Looks like you have some work to do.

The results may surprise you, some cheap loads pattern very well in some guns.

 

A Full choke should keep 70% of the buckshot pellets on a 30" target at 40 yards.
A Modified should keep 60% and a Improved choke should keep 50% on 30" at 40 yards.
However if you want to shoot slugs as a defensive load for out to distance you would need a Cylinder choke which will not constrict the buckshot loads at all.

Since when do slugs require no choke? Not all slugs, even of the same design, are the exact same diameter. If you plan on shooting hard, dangerous game slugs like Dixies or Brenneke magnums, little or no choke is definitely wanted. Soft deer slugs will go through anything except maybe extra full, and some, being a little undersized, are known to prefer a modified choked bore.

 

Federal Flite control will probably be that.

The local gun store ordered some for me yesterday. In a couple days I'll have the results.

The testing will be done in the evening using the Streamlight TLR-2 laser/light, firing from the hip.
My shoulder hurts.

I know........ you big sissy. :supergrin:
Actually I'm more accurate when using the laser.


On the internet I've seen some impressive results with these shells. Even claims of tight groups out to 50 yards.

 

Soft deer slugs will go through anything except maybe extra full, and some, being a little undersized, are known to prefer a modified choked bore.

A couple years ago this is my Rem 870 with a modified choke.
The gun has rifle sights.
The slugs were Wolf.



One shot at 25 yards.
Three shots at 35 yards.
Three shots at 50 yards.


The barrel leads up bad.

 

A couple years ago this is my Rem 870 with a modified choke.
The gun has rifle sights.
The slugs were Wolf.



One shot at 25 yards.
Three shots at 35 yards.
Three shots at 50 yards.


The barrel leads up bad.

Shooters Choice is the best I have found for removing the plastic and fouling from a shotgun barrel. I like Hoppes and always have some around, but the Shooters Choice wins hands down for shotgun barrels.

 

I'd skip the choke and go for low recoil Federal ammo instead. My 20" 590 will keep all 15 pellets in a B25 target's upper chest at 30+ yards without an issue with an IC barrel. At 15+ yards it still patterns in one golf-ball sized hole.

 

Police shotguns are normally cylinder bore. Winchester 9 pellet loads of 00 buck averaged 1" of spread per yard of travel. (Rem 870).

 

Deer hunters routinely drop deer at 35 yards using a standard load of 00 buck and an IC choke. Even a standard buckshot load should be able to keep 50-60% of its pellets on target at 35 yards. A Federal with flit control should be at or near 100%. All with Improved Cylinder.

I routinely shoot ducks with Federal Black Rain steel shot with flite control wads at 35-40 yards with my IC choked BenelliSBE2.