Armory Sponsor
Posted: 8/27/2026 9:21:31 AM EDT
|
I’d like to get a case or two of buckshot, just to have on hand. I don’t do a lot of shotgunning, but it’s still a tool that everyone should have in the toolbox. I have some generic Rem 00 Buck that does ok, but tends to open up enough that one or two pellets will miss a torso-sized target at 25 yards, shooting with a modified choke. I’ve used Fed. Flite Control ammo before and it works well. It’s been long enough I forget which load I was using. I see they have a 9-pellet 1325 fps load and an 8-pellet 1145 fps load. The lighter load isn’t marketed as “reduced recoil”. For general purpose I’m leaning toward the lighter 8-pellet load. Primary use shotgun would be a 14” Rem 870 SBS, but I have other shotguns with longer barrels. Any compelling reason to use the heavier 9-pellet load vs. the 8-pellet load? |
Joined:
Aug 2026
Posts:
313
EE: 0% (0)
ZAF
| 8 or 9 pellet doesnt really bother me. My PD went with 8 because the females complained about the shotguns recoil...My big issue is anything FLIGHT CONTROL. Shotguns, especially fighting shotguns are supposed to have patterns that spread. Thats the point of shotguns. I want a dinner plate pattern at 25 feet. THATs the point of shotguns |
|
Originally Posted By PieterCoetzee: 8 or 9 pellet doesnt really bother me. My PD went with 8 because the females complained about the shotguns recoil...My big issue is anything FLIGHT CONTROL. Shotguns, especially fighting shotguns are supposed to have patterns that spread. Thats the point of shotguns. I want a dinner plate pattern at 25 feet. THATs the point of shotguns No |
|
Originally Posted By PieterCoetzee: 8 or 9 pellet doesnt really bother me. My PD went with 8 because the females complained about the shotguns recoil...My big issue is anything FLIGHT CONTROL. Shotguns, especially fighting shotguns are supposed to have patterns that spread. Thats the point of shotguns. I want a dinner plate pattern at 25 feet. THATs the point of shotguns Yeah, that doesn’t work. 25 feet, that’s 8 yards. And a 12” (dinner plate) pattern at 25 feet is a 3-foot pattern at 25 yards. At that rate, you’d be lucky to get more than 3 or 4 pellets on target with the rest going who knows where. |
|
Originally Posted By GarrettJ: Yeah, that doesn’t work. 25 feet, that’s 8 yards. And a 12” (dinner plate) pattern at 25 feet is a 3-foot pattern at 25 yards. At that rate, you’d be lucky to get more than 3 or 4 pellets on target with the rest going who knows where. Originally Posted By GarrettJ: Originally Posted By PieterCoetzee: 8 or 9 pellet doesnt really bother me. My PD went with 8 because the females complained about the shotguns recoil...My big issue is anything FLIGHT CONTROL. Shotguns, especially fighting shotguns are supposed to have patterns that spread. Thats the point of shotguns. I want a dinner plate pattern at 25 feet. THATs the point of shotguns Yeah, that doesn’t work. 25 feet, that’s 8 yards. And a 12” (dinner plate) pattern at 25 feet is a 3-foot pattern at 25 yards. At that rate, you’d be lucky to get more than 3 or 4 pellets on target with the rest going who knows where. Dude doesn’t want a shotgun. He wants ye olde blunderbuss. |
|
Originally Posted By bluemax_1: No Originally Posted By bluemax_1: Originally Posted By PieterCoetzee: 8 or 9 pellet doesnt really bother me. My PD went with 8 because the females complained about the shotguns recoil...My big issue is anything FLIGHT CONTROL. Shotguns, especially fighting shotguns are supposed to have patterns that spread. Thats the point of shotguns. I want a dinner plate pattern at 25 feet. THATs the point of shotguns No Not no... hell no. |
Do Good
Be Dangerous
Live Free
Be Dangerous
Live Free
| First question is what will you be using the ammunition in? If an autoloader will be used, stick to the standard pressure load instead of the "tactical" loadings that are all the rage now. Primary consideration needs to be reliability in your selected shotgun, then get to patterning. |
|
Originally Posted By jeffb1911: First question is what will you be using the ammunition in? If an autoloader will be used, stick to the standard pressure load instead of the "tactical" loadings that are all the rage now. Primary consideration needs to be reliability in your selected shotgun, then get to patterning. Originally Posted By jeffb1911: First question is what will you be using the ammunition in? If an autoloader will be used, stick to the standard pressure load instead of the "tactical" loadings that are all the rage now. Primary consideration needs to be reliability in your selected shotgun, then get to patterning. Originally Posted By GarrettJ: Primary use shotgun would be a 14” Rem 870 SBS, but I have other shotguns with longer barrels. |
Joined:
Aug 2026
Posts:
314
EE: 0% (0)
ZAF
|
Originally Posted By GarrettJ: Yeah, that doesn’t work. 25 feet, that’s 8 yards. And a 12” (dinner plate) pattern at 25 feet is a 3-foot pattern at 25 yards. At that rate, you’d be lucky to get more than 3 or 4 pellets on target with the rest going who knows where. Apologies I meant to type 25 yards Do I want a Blunderbus? Hahaha IDK maybe but I dont want a shotgun to be a rifle. Lets try this again, across the room, I want a fist size pattern, down the hallway I want a open hand size pattern and at 25 yards the dinner plate. In my mind the shotgun adds hit potential by spreading the shot. If you looking for a tight group, use a rifle Given the option Id love to try a "duckbill diverter" |
|
Originally Posted By PieterCoetzee: Apologies I meant to type 25 yards Do I want a Blunderbus? Hahaha IDK maybe but I dont want a shotgun to be a rifle. Lets try this again, across the room, I want a fist size pattern, down the hallway I want a open hand size pattern and at 25 yards the dinner plate. In my mind the shotgun adds hit potential by spreading the shot. If you looking for a tight group, use a rifle Given the option Id love to try a "duckbill diverter" Originally Posted By PieterCoetzee: Originally Posted By GarrettJ: Yeah, that doesn’t work. 25 feet, that’s 8 yards. And a 12” (dinner plate) pattern at 25 feet is a 3-foot pattern at 25 yards. At that rate, you’d be lucky to get more than 3 or 4 pellets on target with the rest going who knows where. Apologies I meant to type 25 yards Do I want a Blunderbus? Hahaha IDK maybe but I dont want a shotgun to be a rifle. Lets try this again, across the room, I want a fist size pattern, down the hallway I want a open hand size pattern and at 25 yards the dinner plate. In my mind the shotgun adds hit potential by spreading the shot. If you looking for a tight group, use a rifle Given the option Id love to try a "duckbill diverter" Well, most flight control loads get about 8" at 25 yards. |
Do Good
Be Dangerous
Live Free
Be Dangerous
Live Free
|
We beat to death the 8 pellet vs. 9 pellet around here often... here we go again. As those who actually shoot SG's know, barrels perform differently... some differences can be surprising. I've seen the 9th pellet flyer manifest itself significantly in one barrel yet not be too bad in another. When you shoot/qualify about 250+ Deputies a year, using 9 pellet loads with 250 different shotguns, year after year, you tend to notice things. I'd see if YOUR barrel shoots 9 pellet acceptable, and if so, that's what I'd use. I'd gladly give up ONE pellet for a better pattern, which 8-pellet arguably tends to give... but again, that's not an absoute. |
| I mainly notice 8 shot has tighter groups. Meanwhile 9 shot always has a flyer. I guess it depends on if you care about that flyer or not. If not go 9 shot. If so go 8 shot. In a hostage situation the shotgun isn't ideal, but hey the 8 shot is probably better. Flyer might hit the hostage. Unless you're a Speed fan, shoot the hostage, haha |
Joined:
Aug 2026
Posts:
315
EE: 0% (0)
ZAF
|
Originally Posted By GunDisaster: I mainly notice 8 shot has tighter groups. Meanwhile 9 shot always has a flyer. I guess it depends on if you care about that flyer or not. If not go 9 shot. If so go 8 shot. In a hostage situation the shotgun isn't ideal, but hey the 8 shot is probably better. Flyer might hit the hostage. Unless you're a Speed fan, shoot the hostage, haha THIS Theres no probably and the switching to a slug is just silly gun games shite. Far better and faster and just the right thig to do, is to transition to a handgun for the hostage shot. Once you accept that the shotgun isnt a precision weapon and the trying to make it one degrades its potential as a shotgun |
We are the Knights who say Fuuuuu!
Joined:
Sep 2004
Posts:
58671
EE: 100% (665)
TX, USA
|
I have a dozen shotguns & each its own beast. Some shoot 9 pellet buck well with minimum "flyer" issues. Some love the 8 better. My recommendation - Pattern YOUR Shotgun to see (A) what load YOUR gun likes best & (B) where your pattern centers with each load. Bigger_Hammer  |
LIFE'S JOURNEY IS NOT TO ARRIVE AT THE GRAVE SAFELY IN A WELL PRESERVED BODY,
BUT RATHER TO SKID IN SIDEWAYS, TOTALLY WORN OUT SHOUTING "HOLY $H!T...WHAT A RIDE"!!
BUT RATHER TO SKID IN SIDEWAYS, TOTALLY WORN OUT SHOUTING "HOLY $H!T...WHAT A RIDE"!!
|
I ended up buying a case of 9-pellet 00 buckshot. This is the low brass 1145 fps. Flite Control stuff. Of course I ordered it just before the comments about the 8-pellet loads often grouping better. Oh well. I had a chance to pattern it today through the Rem 870. This one has a factory 14” barrel with a fixed modified choke. I also shot some Remington 9-pellet 00 buck. This is a high brass load with a more traditional wad. I shot both at 10 and 25 yards. You can see the results below, with the 10 yard targets on the left and the 25 yard targets on the right. It seems 10 or maybe 15 yards is about the maximum range you want to shoot the Remington buckshot if you want to keep all of your pellets on target. The Fed kept all pellets in a group that could be covered by my palm. At 25 yards the Fed (far right target) produced about a 9-inch group. The Rem load put 6 in the target and 3 misses, including one that hit the next target over. I’ll have to try the Rem ammo in some other shotguns. Because this one isn’t it. The Flite Control, on the other hand is great. 
|
|
Originally Posted By GarrettJ: I ended up buying a case of 9-pellet 00 buckshot. This is the low brass 1145 fps. Flite Control stuff. Of course I ordered it just before the comments about the 8-pellet loads often grouping better. Oh well. I had a chance to pattern it today through the Rem 870. This one has a factory 14” barrel with a fixed modified choke. I also shot some Remington 9-pellet 00 buck. This is a high brass load with a more traditional wad. I shot both at 10 and 25 yards. You can see the results below, with the 10 yard targets on the left and the 25 yard targets on the right. It seems 10 or maybe 15 yards is about the maximum range you want to shoot the Remington buckshot if you want to keep all of your pellets on target. The Fed kept all pellets in a group that could be covered by my palm. At 25 yards the Fed (far right target) produced about a 9-inch group. The Rem load put 6 in the target and 3 misses, including one that hit the next target over. I’ll have to try the Rem ammo in some other shotguns. Because this one isn’t it. The Flite Control, on the other hand is great. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/55694/IMG_0281-3822434.jpg Nice. Thanks for the pics. Just got the same barrel. Those flite controls look great. |
|
This is a timely post, as I'm looking at SGAmmo to pick up some as well. Looks like they've got the 8 pellet 1145fps. I also have a 14" Remington 870 SBS, so these look good. @GarrettJ Tell your brother I said Hi! 
|
In the beginning, the universe was created. This made a lot of people very angry, and has been widely regarded as a bad move. -Douglas Adams
|
Originally Posted By Sartorius: This is a timely post, as I'm looking at SGAmmo to pick up some as well. Looks like they've got the 8 pellet 1145fps. I also have a 14" Remington 870 SBS, so these look good. THANKS!!!! I just bought some of the 8 pellet FC. This stuff can be hard to find. I buy it up when I can, hopefully I have a lifetime supply now. |
|
Originally Posted By GarrettJ: I ended up buying a case of 9-pellet 00 buckshot. This is the low brass 1145 fps. Flite Control stuff. Of course I ordered it just before the comments about the 8-pellet loads often grouping better. Oh well. I had a chance to pattern it today through the Rem 870. This one has a factory 14” barrel with a fixed modified choke. I also shot some Remington 9-pellet 00 buck. This is a high brass load with a more traditional wad. I shot both at 10 and 25 yards. You can see the results below, with the 10 yard targets on the left and the 25 yard targets on the right. It seems 10 or maybe 15 yards is about the maximum range you want to shoot the Remington buckshot if you want to keep all of your pellets on target. The Fed kept all pellets in a group that could be covered by my palm. At 25 yards the Fed (far right target) produced about a 9-inch group. The Rem load put 6 in the target and 3 misses, including one that hit the next target over. I’ll have to try the Rem ammo in some other shotguns. Because this one isn’t it. The Flite Control, on the other hand is great. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/55694/IMG_0281-3822434.jpg That's what I see in the flight control. Yeah it's a flier but still really close. |
Do Good
Be Dangerous
Live Free
Be Dangerous
Live Free
|
Originally Posted By Oldgold: Back when we deer hunted with dogs, #4 buckshot was the shell of choice. Close or out to 40+ yards. It was deadly. 3” magnum of course. That sounds really fun! I’ve wanted to shoot a deer or a hog with my M4 and some variant of flite control for quite awhile. Just hasn’t been feasible…. Yet. |
|
Originally Posted By PieterCoetzee: THIS Theres no probably and the switching to a slug is just silly gun games shite. Far better and faster and just the right thig to do, is to transition to a handgun for the hostage shot. Once you accept that the shotgun isnt a precision weapon and the trying to make it one degrades its potential as a shotgun Originally Posted By PieterCoetzee: Originally Posted By GunDisaster: I mainly notice 8 shot has tighter groups. Meanwhile 9 shot always has a flyer. I guess it depends on if you care about that flyer or not. If not go 9 shot. If so go 8 shot. In a hostage situation the shotgun isn't ideal, but hey the 8 shot is probably better. Flyer might hit the hostage. Unless you're a Speed fan, shoot the hostage, haha THIS Theres no probably and the switching to a slug is just silly gun games shite. Far better and faster and just the right thig to do, is to transition to a handgun for the hostage shot. Once you accept that the shotgun isnt a precision weapon and the trying to make it one degrades its potential as a shotgun It's interesting to get an African perspective on this vice the American police liability mantra. What have you shot with buckshot? |
|
Originally Posted By 870Fan: That sounds really fun! I’ve wanted to shoot a deer or a hog with my M4 and some variant of flite control for quite awhile. Just hasn’t been feasible…. Yet. I have hunted deer in NY for 50+ years with rifles and shotguns using slugs of all derivatives. No buckshot allowed for deer or bear. I have always been fascinated in shooting deer with buckshot especially on a dog hunt. Can’t find anyplace where this is done on a guided hunt. All seem to be private clubs. Even the hog hunts I went on in Florida said no buckshot. I have to scratch this itch. |
Armory Sponsor