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orc4hire wrote:

KBCraig wrote:Even from my 18.5 inch cylinder choke Winnie 1300, a load of No. 8 is going to hit like a slug at 10-15 feet. That's why the first two rounds out of the tube will be birdshot, and the rest of the mag is No.4 buck. And there are four slugs in a buttsock; I'm prepared for all ranges from "across the bedroom" to "across the back yard".

Have you actually tried that? Reason I ask is that I have. I've fired birdshot from a Winchester 1300 (20 gauge, 18") at a piece of cardboard about 20' away. The shot patterned fairly evenly in a circle a foot or more in diameter.

Yes, that's why I specified 10-15'.

Think about it: how many 20' shots can you make in your house, muzzle to target? If your house is that big or that open, then yeah, load up with buckshot.

Not that I object to loading up with buckshot to start with; I just prefer the No.8 to limit overpenetration.

Kevin

HighVelocity wrote:

orc4hire wrote:You have been given poor advice.

I agree. Bird shot is a very poor choice against 2 legged varmints.

At what range?

I have a very open floorplan house, but the longest shot I could take would be about 36 feet, and that's if I'm standing with my back to the wall at one end of the hallway, and the BG is standing against the far wall of my living room. That's wall-to-wall distance, not muzzle to target.

A far more typical distance in a BG scenario would be 1-5 yards, because typical room sizes in an average American home are no more than 16' along the longest wall. We've got a 14x16' master bedroom, and a 20x21' living room, which are considered pretty large for a 1700 s.f. 3/2 ranch.

Even from my 18.5 inch cylinder choke Winnie 1300, a load of No. 8 is going to hit like a slug at 10-15 feet. That's why the first two rounds out of the tube will be birdshot, and the rest of the mag is No.4 buck. And there are four slugs in a buttsock; I'm prepared for all ranges from "across the bedroom" to "across the back yard".

Not that a shotgun is going to be my first choice. I'd rather not have both hands full of weapon. The first thing I'll reach for will be my P97 in my right hand, and either/or flashlight or cell phone in my left, depending on the circumstances.

Kevin