WB
Dual purpose shotshells...
Tuesday, June 02, 2020, 16:11

I took a little inventory and discovered we were short on shotgun shells. A standard commodity on the farm, sometimes you just need to blast something and only a shotgun will do. I have trained the kids to function both pumps, a 500 Mossberg and a 870, and I have two doubles I like to keep around for my daughter. Momma manages anything well but she kind of likes the double too. Both are Stevens, one a 19" barreled customized 20 and the other a like framed old post-war M5100 16 26" M&F.

Buckshot serves a defensive need but is somewhat limited to other varied chores. I've never been impressed with the density of factory buckshot anyway. #4 is the best and while the 12 bore can be found (27 pellets) the 20 ga. seems to only be popular in #3 buck (20 pellets) in the 2-3/4" hull. BTW the measurement is the "open" or fired hull FWIW. Good to have some anyway. Each blast is comparable to a burst from an Eastern Bloc machine-pistol.

Most of the "lead" shot ammo is smaller target size or very expensive Turkey loads. That leaves the old stand by #4 hardened Hi-brass (hi-velocity) or maybe as small as #6. Inside 25 yards either is seriously formidable to about anything. The #4 shot (.13 cal.) extends that a good bit. Supply being what it is I ended up with a couple boxes of Winchester 12 ga. 1-1/4 oz. #4 rated at 1330 fps and Fiocchi 20 ga. 3" 1-1/4 oz. #6 (.11 cal.) at about 100 fps less. The 16 ga. is the old Federal Purple hull 1-1/8 oz. #6 at 1200. Compared to dedicated buckshot the #4 payload has around 165-170 pellets and the 20 bore Magnum #6 has around 280! Residual energy drops off much faster with a .13 cal. pellet compared to a .25 but still with more numbers pretty formidable within effective ranges. My Grandfather once smoked a nice 8-point Whitetail with an identical 16 double Stevens to mine and a single payload of #4 at about 50 ft. It almost took it's neck clean off.

It is a measured 35 yds. to the road in front of the house and 50 to the cross fence in the backyard. I think no matter what we encounter within those boundaries the old scatterguns would manage pretty well. We have many more shotguns but these (4) listed are pressed into utility service and give a very comforting peace of mind. Old Joe Biden had absolutely no idea what he was suggesting, it ended up partially not too bad, and we won't waste any warning shots. The shotguns handy to the door are not such a bad idea backed up by whatever else might sooth your soul.