Shotgun Selection Part 4 - Shot Shell Selection

     The type of shot shell you use should reflect what you are hunting. There are as many shot loads as there are opinions about them. Here's my take about them, and what I use.

     The length of the loads you will use depends on what your shotgun is chambered for. The hull is measured by the length after it has been fired. Standard size is 2 3/4". 3" and 3 1/2" magnum rounds have more shot in them, hit harder, but kick harder as well. I've always used 2 3/4" for water fowl and upland birds with no problems and have occasionally used the 3" magnum loads for turkey. I have tried the 3 1/2" and have decided it kicks too hard for my taste. Always shoot what you are comfortable with, and can handle safely.

     The size and amount of shot (measured in ounces) in each shell should be chosen based on patterning results and what you plan to hunt. See this link for charts regarding these. The loads I usually carry are 2 3/4" #6 and #4 lead. I typically have a modified choke inserted, and stack the rounds to fire a #6 first followed by #4(s). I found that this produces the best pattern for a close shot and farther followups.

     The material that shot is made of varies. They come made of  lead and lead free loads such as steel, bismuth, and tungsten. In this particular order, the price also increases for each box of shells. As a general rule; if you use steel or bismuth, go up two shot sizes from what you normally use in lead. Tungsten Shot size stays the same as lead due to its density. Check your local laws regarding what type of shot you can use. For example, waterfowl is lead free shot only.

     Buck shot is usually used for home defense and law enforcement applications, but some still use it to take deer. The disadvantage with this load is that it's short range.

     Slugs are the long range answer to buckshot. I've used the rifled (Foster) and the sabot slugs. The difference between the two is this:

     Rifled slugs are designed to be fired from a smooth bore barrel. The rifling formed in the slug catches the
     resistance of the air, and causes it to spin.

     Sabot slugs are encased in a plastic sabot, and are fired from rifled barrels. The sabot catches the
     rifling in the barrel, and the spin gives you a highly accurate long range shot.

     Thanks for reading,
     -Rhody