The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post

Dave McC · November 17, 2000, 11:08 PM

Within legal and practical limits,zero cause/effect between bbls and range.

But remember, the shotgun is a great close range weapon, and the key word in this sentence is, "Close".

Under 25 yards or so, the shotgun is devastating when used with proper ammo by a trained and cool hand. Much beyond 25 yds, there's better choices.

Most folks capable of dressing themselves and crossing the street on the green light are capable of making good hits at 75 yards with slugs. That's IF they train and practice.

Buck, even the best loads, start impacting off the target around 25 yards with some pellets. The folks who go to turkey shoots and hunt deer in buckshot areas have done lots of research on this, and the result is there's limits on the projectiles and pattern even after custom smithing and load selection.

A short bbled scattergun might not win many trophies nor make you into a local legend, but there's much fun to be had with a riot shotgun and clay pigeons, or real pigeons for that matter.BTW, a riot bbled 870 with just a bead sight and #8 shot loads does one great impersonation of a quail gun, tho the folks with the Parkers and other doubles might not invite you to lunch with them(G)...

There's a 21", tubed bbl on the 870 I use for flying stuff, and I do OK with it.

November 17, 2000, 11:08 PM	#2
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	Within legal and practical limits,zero cause/effect between bbls and range. But remember, the shotgun is a great close range weapon, and the key word in this sentence is, "Close". Under 25 yards or so, the shotgun is devastating when used with proper ammo by a trained and cool hand. Much beyond 25 yds, there's better choices. Most folks capable of dressing themselves and crossing the street on the green light are capable of making good hits at 75 yards with slugs. That's IF they train and practice. Buck, even the best loads, start impacting off the target around 25 yards with some pellets. The folks who go to turkey shoots and hunt deer in buckshot areas have done lots of research on this, and the result is there's limits on the projectiles and pattern even after custom smithing and load selection. A short bbled scattergun might not win many trophies nor make you into a local legend, but there's much fun to be had with a riot shotgun and clay pigeons, or real pigeons for that matter.BTW, a riot bbled 870 with just a bead sight and #8 shot loads does one great impersonation of a quail gun, tho the folks with the Parkers and other doubles might not invite you to lunch with them(G)... There's a 21", tubed bbl on the 870 I use for flying stuff, and I do OK with it.