Buckshot

Birdville2011 · August 23, 2007, 03:46 PM

since texas will have a split dove season this year, 2 weeks will be in deer season. because of luck, if i take a shotgun, i'll see deer, but if i take my .30-30, i'll see dove. i was thinking i would buy a box of buck shot and have it with me while dove hunting in case i saw a deer- what size shot should i get that would be good out to 30 or 40 yards?

banditt007 · August 23, 2007, 04:12 PM

why not smooth bore slugs...like fosters/brenneke's? these kill much better than buckshot. for buckshot i'd go 00 buck 2 3/4" or 3" you have to shoot some paper targets to see how the pattern is w/ them and at what distance. the closer the better w/ buckshot. 40 yards is pushing it IMO. if you want some REAL buckshot, check out a company called dixie slugs... their tri-ball load. its 3 hard cast 20 gauge balls in a 3" 12 gauge hull. they group extremly tight, and do A LOT MORE damage than the .33 caliber or so buckshot which is 00 buck.

Birdville2011 · August 23, 2007, 04:17 PM

the reason i cant get a smooth bore shotgun is i just bought an 870 express and mom won't let me spend money on a new barell. plus i like a mod. choke while dove hunting. i'll just stick to a couple rounds of buckshot in my vest

lockedcj7 · August 23, 2007, 04:20 PM

Check you local laws. Carrying slugs or buckshot would be illegal while hunting migratory birds in SC. If it was legal, I'd keep a foster slug or two in my pants pocket.

Birdville2011 · August 23, 2007, 04:28 PM

i already have and i can. plus its dove and deer season... they overlap in texas

PointOneSeven · August 24, 2007, 01:47 PM

I say strap up for Dove season and stick a couple of 00's or slugs in the pocket in case you see a deer. Good luck on the hunt.

newerguy · August 24, 2007, 03:04 PM

You almost certainly have a smoothbore barrel now, and there is a recent thread about using slugs through a modified choke.

ActivShootr · August 24, 2007, 03:19 PM

Texas rocks!!! TN won't let us use buckshot for deer, nor will they let us carry slugs while hunting other game.

Birdville2011 · August 24, 2007, 04:31 PM

i don't have that many shooting angles where i hunt so buckshot would be great... almost any shot, unlike if i used a slug

retrieverman · August 24, 2007, 10:32 PM

I agree with the suggestion to pattern the buckshot out of your gun, and I would try the modified choke first (it has patterned best for me). I think your plan is great. I am a huge fan of 00 buck and have killed 20 deer and hogs with it, but I sure try to limit my range to 30 yards and under. I have made clean kills out to 40 yards, but that is stretching it in my opinion.

Good luck and happy hunting!

T. O'Heir · August 24, 2007, 10:47 PM

Any size of buckshot is unreliable at any distance. Use a slug and sight in before you go.

oldbillthundercheif · August 24, 2007, 11:13 PM

I want to go deer/dove hunting! That sounds like a hell of a lot of entertainment.

Pattern your buckshot before you go out, though, so you can get some idea of your useful range. Chokes sometimes do weird things to big projectiles, but it will probably be fine.

crowbeaner · August 26, 2007, 08:48 PM

I'm an opportunist; I always carry birdshot with me when I deer hunt. I would carry the slugs. They will shoot farther, and have a better track record of putting deer down. Buckshot isn't legal for deer hunting here. Good hunting and shoot a BIG one. My $.02. CB.

August 23, 2007, 03:46 PM	#1
Birdville2011 Member Join Date: August 1, 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 69	Buckshot since texas will have a split dove season this year, 2 weeks will be in deer season. because of luck, if i take a shotgun, i'll see deer, but if i take my .30-30, i'll see dove. i was thinking i would buy a box of buck shot and have it with me while dove hunting in case i saw a deer- what size shot should i get that would be good out to 30 or 40 yards? __________________ Marlin 336W .30-30 Remington 870 Express Synthetic 12ga Remington 597 .22lr Springfield 20ga (old)

August 23, 2007, 04:17 PM	#3
Birdville2011 Member Join Date: August 1, 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 69	the reason i cant get a smooth bore shotgun is i just bought an 870 express and mom won't let me spend money on a new barell. plus i like a mod. choke while dove hunting. i'll just stick to a couple rounds of buckshot in my vest __________________ Marlin 336W .30-30 Remington 870 Express Synthetic 12ga Remington 597 .22lr Springfield 20ga (old) Last edited by Birdville2011; August 24, 2007 at 04:33 PM.

August 23, 2007, 04:20 PM	#4
lockedcj7 Senior Member Join Date: February 15, 2007 Posts: 1,215	Check you local laws. Carrying slugs or buckshot would be illegal while hunting migratory birds in SC. If it was legal, I'd keep a foster slug or two in my pants pocket. __________________ To a much greater extent than most mechanical devices, firearms are terribly unforgiving of any overconfidence, complacency or negligence.

August 23, 2007, 04:28 PM	#5
Birdville2011 Member Join Date: August 1, 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 69	i already have and i can. plus its dove and deer season... they overlap in texas __________________ Marlin 336W .30-30 Remington 870 Express Synthetic 12ga Remington 597 .22lr Springfield 20ga (old)

August 24, 2007, 04:31 PM	#9
Birdville2011 Member Join Date: August 1, 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 69	i don't have that many shooting angles where i hunt so buckshot would be great... almost any shot, unlike if i used a slug __________________ Marlin 336W .30-30 Remington 870 Express Synthetic 12ga Remington 597 .22lr Springfield 20ga (old)

August 23, 2007, 04:12 PM	#2
banditt007 Senior Member Join Date: March 19, 2006 Posts: 694	why not smooth bore slugs...like fosters/brenneke's? these kill much better than buckshot. for buckshot i'd go 00 buck 2 3/4" or 3" you have to shoot some paper targets to see how the pattern is w/ them and at what distance. the closer the better w/ buckshot. 40 yards is pushing it IMO. if you want some REAL buckshot, check out a company called dixie slugs... their tri-ball load. its 3 hard cast 20 gauge balls in a 3" 12 gauge hull. they group extremly tight, and do A LOT MORE damage than the .33 caliber or so buckshot which is 00 buck.

August 24, 2007, 01:47 PM	#6
PointOneSeven Senior Member Join Date: August 8, 2006 Posts: 579	I say strap up for Dove season and stick a couple of 00's or slugs in the pocket in case you see a deer. Good luck on the hunt.

August 24, 2007, 03:04 PM	#7
newerguy Senior Member Join Date: June 5, 2005 Posts: 218	You almost certainly have a smoothbore barrel now, and there is a recent thread about using slugs through a modified choke.

August 24, 2007, 03:19 PM	#8
ActivShootr Senior Member Join Date: August 15, 2007 Posts: 1,040	Texas rocks!!! TN won't let us use buckshot for deer, nor will they let us carry slugs while hunting other game.

August 24, 2007, 10:32 PM	#10
retrieverman Member Join Date: August 20, 2007 Posts: 46	I agree with the suggestion to pattern the buckshot out of your gun, and I would try the modified choke first (it has patterned best for me). I think your plan is great. I am a huge fan of 00 buck and have killed 20 deer and hogs with it, but I sure try to limit my range to 30 yards and under. I have made clean kills out to 40 yards, but that is stretching it in my opinion. Good luck and happy hunting!

August 24, 2007, 10:47 PM	#11
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	Any size of buckshot is unreliable at any distance. Use a slug and sight in before you go.

August 24, 2007, 11:13 PM	#12
oldbillthundercheif Junior member Join Date: April 21, 2006 Location: New Orleans Posts: 2,450	I want to go deer/dove hunting! That sounds like a hell of a lot of entertainment. Pattern your buckshot before you go out, though, so you can get some idea of your useful range. Chokes sometimes do weird things to big projectiles, but it will probably be fine.

August 26, 2007, 08:48 PM	#13
crowbeaner Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2007 Location: Upstate SC Posts: 1,943	I'm an opportunist; I always carry birdshot with me when I deer hunt. I would carry the slugs. They will shoot farther, and have a better track record of putting deer down. Buckshot isn't legal for deer hunting here. Good hunting and shoot a BIG one. My $.02. CB.