Which shotgun shells to get?
I have a mossberg 500 12 gauge pump and trying to decide what is the best shells to buy. I am mainly gonna be using it to just take to the gun range to shoot and stuff. I also know it will take 2 3/4 and 3 inch shells. So with all the different types of shotgun shells out there, what is best for just basic like target shooting and stuff?.
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Most folks don't shoot static targets unless they use slugs, and they can be pricey for plinking. If they ultimate use of your shot gun is for hunting birds, then skeet and or trap is the best practice and bird shot (size 7,8 or 9 shot) is the best for that. If you are using it for home defense and shooting paper for practice, then 00 buck may be your best choice. For those you may want to change to a more open choke like modified or improved. 0 -
2 3/4" is fine for everything except turkey. 3" costs twice as much and kicks harder. knock yourself around if you want to 0 -
Most ranges will not let you shoot anything but birdshot for trap or skeet 7 1/2 and up.My club limits it to 1250 fps 0 -
quote:Originally posted by tsavo303
2 3/4" is fine for everything except turkey. 3" costs twice as much and kicks harder. knock yourself around if you want to
2 3/4" are fine for just about everything. Very seldom do you need a 3 inch load. For home defense I would use #2 or 4 shot and an open choke. Less chance of over penetration thru walls, and will make the meat ready for the meat wagon, not litigation or standing trial. The 2 3/4 will work for Turkey as well...I have seen them taken with a 410 and 28 gauge.
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Shotguns are a very versatile weapons. What makes them so is all the different loads you mentioned. With out experience or a mentor this can be confusing. If you will tell us what you intend to use the shotgun for or what type of target practice you are going to do we can better help you with ammo selection.
If you just want to become familiar with using your Mossberg buy some cheap target loads 2 3/4" in #7 1/2, 8, or 9 shot and have some fun. Learning all there is to know about shotgunning is a curve that can take some time. Your Mossberg will handle everything from tiny bird shot, through large buck shot and even slugs. Each have their uses. Those uses and effective ranges can be varied depending on what choke they are shot through. So the learning curve, if you are starting from scratch, can take awhile. There are a lot of possible combinations.
You have taken the first step in buying a shotgun, take your time, learn as you go, be safe, have fun, and ask away. We will be happy to help you along.
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Good advice already given.
In general, shotguns are not meant for shooting conventional paper targets. They're really most well-suited for shooting moving things, particularly things moving through the air (eg birds, or clay targets, which are really bird simulators).
If you want to shoot paper targets, you're better off with a rifle or pistol. .22 rifles, in particular are loads of fun, inexpensive to buy, and inexpensive to shoot, since .22LR ammo only costs a few cents per round.
For shooting clay (or actual) pigeons, the ordinary and relatively inexpensive 2-3/4" shotshells with #7, #7-1/2, or #8 shot are perfect. For most recreational type shooting, these are all you need.
3" shells are really best suited to hunting (and even then not absolutely necessary unless you're hunting turkeys or expect some really long range shots).
Simplifying a little bit, slugs are really a way of getting some sort of rifle-like performance from a conventional shotgun. These will potentially extend your range for medium game (or targets, I suppose) all the way to 100 yards, assuming you have rifle-like sights on the gun, and the ability to use them.
The problem with slugs is that they are expensive, and have high recoil. So unless you're got a thick wallet and/or shoulder they probably are not something you'd really want to spend too much time with on the range.
As mentioned, for pure defense use either indoors or at relatively short range outdoors, buckshot are probably your best bet. People debate which ones are best, but 00 buck, 0 buck, or #4 buck are popular choices that all could work well. Smaller shot (in general) has an advantage of lower penetration indoors, where shooting through walls could pose a real problem.
At very close range (ie inside a room) ordinary birdshot (like the kind you'd use to break clay targets) is actually a very effective defensive load too, creating a devastating wound, but also reducing risk of penetration through walls, etc. So you don't absolutely HAVE to have special ammo for defensive use, particularly indoors.0 -
I doubt if you'll find a range that will allow buckshot and/or slugs.The shot sizes are determined by what you are shooting. 0 -
Since it is a pump and you are just "plinking" with it I would buy the cheepest shells you can. I shoot mostly field loads in my shotguns from whatever is cheepest.
Some of my semi auto guns I need to make sure to get the right ammo weight. With a pump that will not be an issue.
I would get a couple different kinds of slug and buckshot and see which works best out of your gun for defensive situations.0 -
Thanks so much for all the replies 
. I am just looking to bring it to the range and have some fun shooting it with my other guns. Not trying to plink things, use my .22's etc.. for that. I just love shotguns and shooting them. If I was worried about accuracy and stuff would not of choose a shotgun. I really appreciate all the help, thanks so much everyone . I recently picked up some 2 3/4 inch rifled slugs for cheap so will try them when I go shooting and see how they work for me 0
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