Winchester, now in its 154th year of operation, incredibly enters its 90th year under Olin. Winchester first began providing ammunition to the U.S. military during World War I. It currently produces more small caliber ammunition for the Army than anywhere outside the Lake City plant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Lake City Army Ammunition Plant first began production in 1941. It produces small caliber military ammunition for training and combat. Winchester previously operated the facility from 1985-200. For more information, visit winchestermilitary.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Winchester Assumes Full Operational Control of Lake City Army Ammo Plant","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"winchester-lake-city-army-ammo-plant","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:13:43","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:13:43","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2020\/10\/01\/winchester-lake-city-army-ammo-plant\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":93170,"post_author":"312","post_date":"2019-09-03 06:01:50","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-03 10:01:50","post_content":"It would be hard to find someone who doesn\u2019t have a healthy respect for buckshot. A well-placed load of buckshot is one of the surest ways to stop a close-range deadly assault. Does it always work? No, but in the book Stopping Power<\/em>: A Practical Analysis of the Latest Handgun Ammunition<\/em>, Evan Marshall and Ed Sanow found that 00 buckshot stopped gunfights at least 90 percent of the time when at least six pellets struck the torso. Smaller-sized buckshot was a little less effective, but not by much.\r\n\r\n[in_content post=\"108869\" alignment=\"align-left\" \/]\r\n\r\nIn addition, their data on buckshot penetration tends to support the conclusion of forensic pathologist Dr. Vincent Di Maio. His book Gunshot Wounds<\/em>: Practical Aspects of Firearms, Ballistics, and Forensic Techniques<\/em> states that buckshot usually doesn\u2019t penetrate through-and-through on torso hits. This is due to buckshot\u2019s relatively light weight and low sectional density. The result is the reduced possibility of collateral damage, as long as care is taken to pattern one\u2019s gun at several distances and not shoot beyond the range at which all pellets have a high probability of hitting the target. Because it combines high rates of stopping power with controlled penetration, buckshot is a natural choice for close-range personal defense.\r\nToday\u2019s 12 Gauge Buckshot Choices<\/h3>\r\nIn the wide-open spaces of the Old West, the double-barrel 10-gauge coach gun may have made a lot of sense, but in today\u2019s urban and rural areas, most people are best served by a 12 gauge firing 2\u00be-inch ammunition<\/a>. Why? The 12 gauge generates a lot less recoil than the 10 gauge, and 2\u00be-inch ammo has more than enough power for defense. In fact, Federal\u2019s nine-pellet Personal Defense 00 buckshot load delivers 1,575 foot-pounds of energy (fpe) at the muzzle, which is about three times the energy of a .357 Magnum round.\r\n\r\nHornady\u2019s eight-pellet Critical Defense 00 load delivers 1,872 fpe, which is about twice as much as a .44 Magnum round. I prefer the Federal load with the FliteControl wad in my lightweight Remington 870 Express Tactical because it patterns the tightest in this particular gun and also generates the lowest recoil. Less recoil allows me to make faster follow-up shots\u2014if any are necessary.\r\n
Power Up<\/h3>\r\nHowever, my experience over the last 30 years has shown that some of the low-recoil tactical loads have not been as reliable in semi-auto shotguns. Therefore, I prefer the Hornady Critical Defense load or Remington\u2019s full-power TAC 8 shells in my Remington Model 1100 deer gun. Again, it\u2019s a matter of finding a load that is both reliable in your gun and throws tight patterns to reduce the risk of collateral damage.\r\n\r\nAs for the magnum 2\u00be-inch and 3-inch 00 loads, I\u2019ve never had these pattern tighter than the eight- or nine-pellet loads. The 00 magnums may be good for shooting running deer, where a wider pattern and more pellets make good sense, but for personal defense, my preference is to stay with the eight- and nine-pellet 00 loads that use plated and\/or hardened shot, since they tend to pattern best. Well-known defensive shotgun trainer Tom Givens of Rangemaster Firearms Training Services recommends 12-gauge, eight-pellet, 00 buckshot loads for personal defense because eight 00 pellets tend to stack more evenly in 12-gauge, 2\u00be-inch shotshells than do nine.\r\n
Smaller Shells<\/h3>\r\nSome people prefer 16- or 20-gauge shotguns, or even .410s, because they have less recoil. Even though these shotshells hold less powder and shot than 12-gauge ammo, the guns that shoot these smaller shells are usually quite light and still kick to a degree when firing buckshot. That\u2019s especially true of the 3-inch, 20-gauge Federal Vital-Shok and Personal Defense loads.\r\n\r\nThe only .410 shotgun I\u2019ve used with buckshot was an S&W Governor. It patterned very tightly with Federal\u2019s 000 buckshot Handgun ammo, and was an impressive close-range self-defense gun. If I were to switch to a .410, I\u2019d try the Federal Handgun, Hornady Critical Defense, Remington Ultimate Defense and Winchester 000 loads to see which one recoiled the least and patterned best in my gun. The only buckshot load available in 16 gauge is a Federal Power-Shok loaded with 12 pellets of #1 buckshot, so there isn\u2019t much of a choice.\r\n
Trial By Fire<\/h3>\r\nOn the other hand, every gun patterns differently, so I took my 12-gauge Remington 870 Express Tactical to the range to fire four loads to provide examples of how one gun can shoot very different patterns with different loads. I\u2019ve customized this gun by replacing the factory-installed cylinder-bore choke tube with a Rem Choke modified tube. That\u2019s because my personal experience and work in law enforcement have shown that 12-gauge guns usually shoot tighter patterns with a modified choke. I also mounted a Nikon P-Tactical Spur 3-MOA reflex sight and a Crimson Trace Rail Master Pro green laser\/100-lumen LED light, making my 870 both fast and accurate day or night. Always remember that you must aim a shotgun, because it\u2019s possible to miss the target entirely.\r\n
12 Gauge Buckshot On the Range<\/h3>\r\nI tested two tactical 00 loads: Federal\u2019s reduced-velocity, nine-pellet Personal Defense ammo and Hornady\u2019s full-velocity, eight-pellet Critical Defense load. Both have special wads designed for tight patterns. In addition, I patterned Remington\u2019s reduced-velocity, 21-pellet #4 buckshot Ultimate Defense ammo and Winchester\u2019s nine-pellet 00 buckshot Super-X load to demonstrate the patterns typical of #4 and 00 buckshot loads designed for general use.\r\n\r\nI fired one shot with each load at the head of a full-sized silhouette target 7 yards away, and one at the center of the target\u2019s chest at 15 yards. Each load kept all of its pellets in the head at 7 yards, although the Super-X hunting load clearly shot the largest pattern. At 15 yards, the area of the pattern of the Federal load remained essentially the same as it was at 7 yards. The other loads shot patterns that were wider at 15 yards than at 7 yards, and the Remington #4 load increased the most in area. In general, my experience has been that #4 buckshot patterns get larger very quickly as the distance from the gun to the target increases. See the included table for more results.\r\n\r\n[in_content post=\"76770\" alignment=\"align-right\" \/]\r\n
The Right Choice<\/h3>\r\nWhen selecting buckshot for personal defense, shooters must reconcile their recoil tolerance and the risk of collateral damage where they live with a specific load\u2019s reliability and patterning in their gun. No one should limit their choices to the loads I\u2019ve discussed. The ones I prefer have simply been the ones that performed best for my needs in the guns that I\u2019ve used. In the end, the right choice is one that\u2019s well reasoned and made with the understanding that the defensive role of buckshot is primarily personal and home defense at distances that rarely exceed 15 yards.\r\n
12 Gauge Buckshot Performance<\/h3>\r\nBuckshot: Pattern: <\/strong>7 Yards, 15 Yards<\/strong>\r\n
\r\n \t
\u201cWinchester employees have built a reputation with the U.S. Army that is unrivaled, and for the past year, we have been preparing for this significant transition,\u201d said Brett Flaugher, president of Winchester. \u201cWe were selected to manage the Lake City plant because of our industry-leading capabilities and track record. For decades, we have successfully demonstrated those capabilities in quality, innovation and on-time delivery as well as through our partnership with the U.S. Army in developing solutions that service the U.S. Warfighter. Our team is fully prepared and 100% committed to the safe, reliable and efficient operation of the Lake City plant.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Winchester, now in its 154th year of operation, incredibly enters its 90th year under Olin. Winchester first began providing ammunition to the U.S. military during World War I. It currently produces more small caliber ammunition for the Army than anywhere outside the Lake City plant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Lake City Army Ammunition Plant first began production in 1941. It produces small caliber military ammunition for training and combat. Winchester previously operated the facility from 1985-200. For more information, visit winchestermilitary.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Winchester Assumes Full Operational Control of Lake City Army Ammo Plant","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"winchester-lake-city-army-ammo-plant","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:13:43","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:13:43","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2020\/10\/01\/winchester-lake-city-army-ammo-plant\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":93170,"post_author":"312","post_date":"2019-09-03 06:01:50","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-03 10:01:50","post_content":"It would be hard to find someone who doesn\u2019t have a healthy respect for buckshot. A well-placed load of buckshot is one of the surest ways to stop a close-range deadly assault. Does it always work? No, but in the book Stopping Power<\/em>: A Practical Analysis of the Latest Handgun Ammunition<\/em>, Evan Marshall and Ed Sanow found that 00 buckshot stopped gunfights at least 90 percent of the time when at least six pellets struck the torso. Smaller-sized buckshot was a little less effective, but not by much.\r\n\r\n[in_content post=\"108869\" alignment=\"align-left\" \/]\r\n\r\nIn addition, their data on buckshot penetration tends to support the conclusion of forensic pathologist Dr. Vincent Di Maio. His book Gunshot Wounds<\/em>: Practical Aspects of Firearms, Ballistics, and Forensic Techniques<\/em> states that buckshot usually doesn\u2019t penetrate through-and-through on torso hits. This is due to buckshot\u2019s relatively light weight and low sectional density. The result is the reduced possibility of collateral damage, as long as care is taken to pattern one\u2019s gun at several distances and not shoot beyond the range at which all pellets have a high probability of hitting the target. Because it combines high rates of stopping power with controlled penetration, buckshot is a natural choice for close-range personal defense.\r\n The contract includes an initial term of seven years. Additionally, the Army may extend it up to three additional years. The contract helps make Winchester the world's largest small arms ammunition<\/a> manufacturer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWinchester employees have built a reputation with the U.S. Army that is unrivaled, and for the past year, we have been preparing for this significant transition,\u201d said Brett Flaugher, president of Winchester. \u201cWe were selected to manage the Lake City plant because of our industry-leading capabilities and track record. For decades, we have successfully demonstrated those capabilities in quality, innovation and on-time delivery as well as through our partnership with the U.S. Army in developing solutions that service the U.S. Warfighter. Our team is fully prepared and 100% committed to the safe, reliable and efficient operation of the Lake City plant.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester, now in its 154th year of operation, incredibly enters its 90th year under Olin. Winchester first began providing ammunition to the U.S. military during World War I. It currently produces more small caliber ammunition for the Army than anywhere outside the Lake City plant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Lake City Army Ammunition Plant first began production in 1941. It produces small caliber military ammunition for training and combat. Winchester previously operated the facility from 1985-200. For more information, visit winchestermilitary.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Winchester Assumes Full Operational Control of Lake City Army Ammo Plant","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"winchester-lake-city-army-ammo-plant","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:13:43","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:13:43","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2020\/10\/01\/winchester-lake-city-army-ammo-plant\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":93170,"post_author":"312","post_date":"2019-09-03 06:01:50","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-03 10:01:50","post_content":"It would be hard to find someone who doesn\u2019t have a healthy respect for buckshot. A well-placed load of buckshot is one of the surest ways to stop a close-range deadly assault. Does it always work? No, but in the book Stopping Power<\/em>: A Practical Analysis of the Latest Handgun Ammunition<\/em>, Evan Marshall and Ed Sanow found that 00 buckshot stopped gunfights at least 90 percent of the time when at least six pellets struck the torso. Smaller-sized buckshot was a little less effective, but not by much.\r\n\r\n[in_content post=\"108869\" alignment=\"align-left\" \/]\r\n\r\nIn addition, their data on buckshot penetration tends to support the conclusion of forensic pathologist Dr. Vincent Di Maio. His book Gunshot Wounds<\/em>: Practical Aspects of Firearms, Ballistics, and Forensic Techniques<\/em> states that buckshot usually doesn\u2019t penetrate through-and-through on torso hits. This is due to buckshot\u2019s relatively light weight and low sectional density. The result is the reduced possibility of collateral damage, as long as care is taken to pattern one\u2019s gun at several distances and not shoot beyond the range at which all pellets have a high probability of hitting the target. Because it combines high rates of stopping power with controlled penetration, buckshot is a natural choice for close-range personal defense.\r\n The contract includes an initial term of seven years. Additionally, the Army may extend it up to three additional years. The contract helps make Winchester the world's largest small arms ammunition<\/a> manufacturer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWinchester employees have built a reputation with the U.S. Army that is unrivaled, and for the past year, we have been preparing for this significant transition,\u201d said Brett Flaugher, president of Winchester. \u201cWe were selected to manage the Lake City plant because of our industry-leading capabilities and track record. For decades, we have successfully demonstrated those capabilities in quality, innovation and on-time delivery as well as through our partnership with the U.S. Army in developing solutions that service the U.S. Warfighter. Our team is fully prepared and 100% committed to the safe, reliable and efficient operation of the Lake City plant.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester, now in its 154th year of operation, incredibly enters its 90th year under Olin. Winchester first began providing ammunition to the U.S. military during World War I. It currently produces more small caliber ammunition for the Army than anywhere outside the Lake City plant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Lake City Army Ammunition Plant first began production in 1941. It produces small caliber military ammunition for training and combat. Winchester previously operated the facility from 1985-200. For more information, visit winchestermilitary.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Winchester Assumes Full Operational Control of Lake City Army Ammo Plant","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"winchester-lake-city-army-ammo-plant","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:13:43","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:13:43","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2020\/10\/01\/winchester-lake-city-army-ammo-plant\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":93170,"post_author":"312","post_date":"2019-09-03 06:01:50","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-03 10:01:50","post_content":"It would be hard to find someone who doesn\u2019t have a healthy respect for buckshot. A well-placed load of buckshot is one of the surest ways to stop a close-range deadly assault. Does it always work? No, but in the book Stopping Power<\/em>: A Practical Analysis of the Latest Handgun Ammunition<\/em>, Evan Marshall and Ed Sanow found that 00 buckshot stopped gunfights at least 90 percent of the time when at least six pellets struck the torso. Smaller-sized buckshot was a little less effective, but not by much.\r\n\r\n[in_content post=\"108869\" alignment=\"align-left\" \/]\r\n\r\nIn addition, their data on buckshot penetration tends to support the conclusion of forensic pathologist Dr. Vincent Di Maio. His book Gunshot Wounds<\/em>: Practical Aspects of Firearms, Ballistics, and Forensic Techniques<\/em> states that buckshot usually doesn\u2019t penetrate through-and-through on torso hits. This is due to buckshot\u2019s relatively light weight and low sectional density. The result is the reduced possibility of collateral damage, as long as care is taken to pattern one\u2019s gun at several distances and not shoot beyond the range at which all pellets have a high probability of hitting the target. Because it combines high rates of stopping power with controlled penetration, buckshot is a natural choice for close-range personal defense.\r\n Olin Corporation announced Thursday it effectively assumed total management and operational control of the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant in Independence, Mo. The U.S. Army selected Winchester to operate and manage the Lake City plant in 2019. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n The contract includes an initial term of seven years. Additionally, the Army may extend it up to three additional years. The contract helps make Winchester the world's largest small arms ammunition<\/a> manufacturer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWinchester employees have built a reputation with the U.S. Army that is unrivaled, and for the past year, we have been preparing for this significant transition,\u201d said Brett Flaugher, president of Winchester. \u201cWe were selected to manage the Lake City plant because of our industry-leading capabilities and track record. For decades, we have successfully demonstrated those capabilities in quality, innovation and on-time delivery as well as through our partnership with the U.S. Army in developing solutions that service the U.S. Warfighter. Our team is fully prepared and 100% committed to the safe, reliable and efficient operation of the Lake City plant.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester, now in its 154th year of operation, incredibly enters its 90th year under Olin. Winchester first began providing ammunition to the U.S. military during World War I. It currently produces more small caliber ammunition for the Army than anywhere outside the Lake City plant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Lake City Army Ammunition Plant first began production in 1941. It produces small caliber military ammunition for training and combat. Winchester previously operated the facility from 1985-200. For more information, visit winchestermilitary.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Winchester Assumes Full Operational Control of Lake City Army Ammo Plant","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"winchester-lake-city-army-ammo-plant","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:13:43","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:13:43","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2020\/10\/01\/winchester-lake-city-army-ammo-plant\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":93170,"post_author":"312","post_date":"2019-09-03 06:01:50","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-03 10:01:50","post_content":"It would be hard to find someone who doesn\u2019t have a healthy respect for buckshot. A well-placed load of buckshot is one of the surest ways to stop a close-range deadly assault. Does it always work? No, but in the book Stopping Power<\/em>: A Practical Analysis of the Latest Handgun Ammunition<\/em>, Evan Marshall and Ed Sanow found that 00 buckshot stopped gunfights at least 90 percent of the time when at least six pellets struck the torso. Smaller-sized buckshot was a little less effective, but not by much.\r\n\r\n[in_content post=\"108869\" alignment=\"align-left\" \/]\r\n\r\nIn addition, their data on buckshot penetration tends to support the conclusion of forensic pathologist Dr. Vincent Di Maio. His book Gunshot Wounds<\/em>: Practical Aspects of Firearms, Ballistics, and Forensic Techniques<\/em> states that buckshot usually doesn\u2019t penetrate through-and-through on torso hits. This is due to buckshot\u2019s relatively light weight and low sectional density. The result is the reduced possibility of collateral damage, as long as care is taken to pattern one\u2019s gun at several distances and not shoot beyond the range at which all pellets have a high probability of hitting the target. Because it combines high rates of stopping power with controlled penetration, buckshot is a natural choice for close-range personal defense.\r\n Winchester 6.8 Western comes in Ballistic Silvertip, Match and Expedition Long Range lines. Muzzle velocities approach range 2,910-2,970 fps. For even more info, please visit winchester.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"6.8 Western: Winchester's New Cartridge for Long-Range Shooting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"winchester-6-8-western-long-range","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:58","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/15\/winchester-6-8-western-long-range\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":125708,"post_author":"645","post_date":"2020-10-01 10:12:53","post_date_gmt":"2020-10-01 14:12:53","post_content":"\n Olin Corporation announced Thursday it effectively assumed total management and operational control of the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant in Independence, Mo. The U.S. Army selected Winchester to operate and manage the Lake City plant in 2019. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n The contract includes an initial term of seven years. Additionally, the Army may extend it up to three additional years. The contract helps make Winchester the world's largest small arms ammunition<\/a> manufacturer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWinchester employees have built a reputation with the U.S. Army that is unrivaled, and for the past year, we have been preparing for this significant transition,\u201d said Brett Flaugher, president of Winchester. \u201cWe were selected to manage the Lake City plant because of our industry-leading capabilities and track record. For decades, we have successfully demonstrated those capabilities in quality, innovation and on-time delivery as well as through our partnership with the U.S. Army in developing solutions that service the U.S. Warfighter. Our team is fully prepared and 100% committed to the safe, reliable and efficient operation of the Lake City plant.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester, now in its 154th year of operation, incredibly enters its 90th year under Olin. Winchester first began providing ammunition to the U.S. military during World War I. It currently produces more small caliber ammunition for the Army than anywhere outside the Lake City plant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Lake City Army Ammunition Plant first began production in 1941. It produces small caliber military ammunition for training and combat. Winchester previously operated the facility from 1985-200. For more information, visit winchestermilitary.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Winchester Assumes Full Operational Control of Lake City Army Ammo Plant","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"winchester-lake-city-army-ammo-plant","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:13:43","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:13:43","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2020\/10\/01\/winchester-lake-city-army-ammo-plant\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":93170,"post_author":"312","post_date":"2019-09-03 06:01:50","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-03 10:01:50","post_content":"It would be hard to find someone who doesn\u2019t have a healthy respect for buckshot. A well-placed load of buckshot is one of the surest ways to stop a close-range deadly assault. Does it always work? No, but in the book Stopping Power<\/em>: A Practical Analysis of the Latest Handgun Ammunition<\/em>, Evan Marshall and Ed Sanow found that 00 buckshot stopped gunfights at least 90 percent of the time when at least six pellets struck the torso. Smaller-sized buckshot was a little less effective, but not by much.\r\n\r\n[in_content post=\"108869\" alignment=\"align-left\" \/]\r\n\r\nIn addition, their data on buckshot penetration tends to support the conclusion of forensic pathologist Dr. Vincent Di Maio. His book Gunshot Wounds<\/em>: Practical Aspects of Firearms, Ballistics, and Forensic Techniques<\/em> states that buckshot usually doesn\u2019t penetrate through-and-through on torso hits. This is due to buckshot\u2019s relatively light weight and low sectional density. The result is the reduced possibility of collateral damage, as long as care is taken to pattern one\u2019s gun at several distances and not shoot beyond the range at which all pellets have a high probability of hitting the target. Because it combines high rates of stopping power with controlled penetration, buckshot is a natural choice for close-range personal defense.\r\n Both Winchester and Browning already offer different platforms in the new cartridge. Most Winchester XPR and Model 70 rifles chamber the new 6.8, while most Browning X-Bolt variants also carry the cartridge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester 6.8 Western comes in Ballistic Silvertip, Match and Expedition Long Range lines. Muzzle velocities approach range 2,910-2,970 fps. For even more info, please visit winchester.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"6.8 Western: Winchester's New Cartridge for Long-Range Shooting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"winchester-6-8-western-long-range","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:58","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/15\/winchester-6-8-western-long-range\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":125708,"post_author":"645","post_date":"2020-10-01 10:12:53","post_date_gmt":"2020-10-01 14:12:53","post_content":"\n Olin Corporation announced Thursday it effectively assumed total management and operational control of the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant in Independence, Mo. The U.S. Army selected Winchester to operate and manage the Lake City plant in 2019. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n The contract includes an initial term of seven years. Additionally, the Army may extend it up to three additional years. The contract helps make Winchester the world's largest small arms ammunition<\/a> manufacturer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWinchester employees have built a reputation with the U.S. Army that is unrivaled, and for the past year, we have been preparing for this significant transition,\u201d said Brett Flaugher, president of Winchester. \u201cWe were selected to manage the Lake City plant because of our industry-leading capabilities and track record. For decades, we have successfully demonstrated those capabilities in quality, innovation and on-time delivery as well as through our partnership with the U.S. Army in developing solutions that service the U.S. Warfighter. Our team is fully prepared and 100% committed to the safe, reliable and efficient operation of the Lake City plant.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester, now in its 154th year of operation, incredibly enters its 90th year under Olin. Winchester first began providing ammunition to the U.S. military during World War I. It currently produces more small caliber ammunition for the Army than anywhere outside the Lake City plant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Lake City Army Ammunition Plant first began production in 1941. It produces small caliber military ammunition for training and combat. Winchester previously operated the facility from 1985-200. For more information, visit winchestermilitary.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Winchester Assumes Full Operational Control of Lake City Army Ammo Plant","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"winchester-lake-city-army-ammo-plant","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:13:43","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:13:43","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2020\/10\/01\/winchester-lake-city-army-ammo-plant\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":93170,"post_author":"312","post_date":"2019-09-03 06:01:50","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-03 10:01:50","post_content":"It would be hard to find someone who doesn\u2019t have a healthy respect for buckshot. A well-placed load of buckshot is one of the surest ways to stop a close-range deadly assault. Does it always work? No, but in the book Stopping Power<\/em>: A Practical Analysis of the Latest Handgun Ammunition<\/em>, Evan Marshall and Ed Sanow found that 00 buckshot stopped gunfights at least 90 percent of the time when at least six pellets struck the torso. Smaller-sized buckshot was a little less effective, but not by much.\r\n\r\n[in_content post=\"108869\" alignment=\"align-left\" \/]\r\n\r\nIn addition, their data on buckshot penetration tends to support the conclusion of forensic pathologist Dr. Vincent Di Maio. His book Gunshot Wounds<\/em>: Practical Aspects of Firearms, Ballistics, and Forensic Techniques<\/em> states that buckshot usually doesn\u2019t penetrate through-and-through on torso hits. This is due to buckshot\u2019s relatively light weight and low sectional density. The result is the reduced possibility of collateral damage, as long as care is taken to pattern one\u2019s gun at several distances and not shoot beyond the range at which all pellets have a high probability of hitting the target. Because it combines high rates of stopping power with controlled penetration, buckshot is a natural choice for close-range personal defense.\r\n \u201cThe 6.8 Western cartridge brings a new perspective to long-range hunting and shooting,\u201d said Ryan Godderidge, senior vice president of sales, marketing and firearms for Browning. \u201cIt provides magnum level performance in our short action rifles, giving the shooter highly effective down-range energy, even at longer ranges, while allowing for a lighter-weight platform. We\u2019re excited about bringing this into the market place.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Both Winchester and Browning already offer different platforms in the new cartridge. Most Winchester XPR and Model 70 rifles chamber the new 6.8, while most Browning X-Bolt variants also carry the cartridge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester 6.8 Western comes in Ballistic Silvertip, Match and Expedition Long Range lines. Muzzle velocities approach range 2,910-2,970 fps. For even more info, please visit winchester.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"6.8 Western: Winchester's New Cartridge for Long-Range Shooting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"winchester-6-8-western-long-range","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:58","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/15\/winchester-6-8-western-long-range\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":125708,"post_author":"645","post_date":"2020-10-01 10:12:53","post_date_gmt":"2020-10-01 14:12:53","post_content":"\n Olin Corporation announced Thursday it effectively assumed total management and operational control of the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant in Independence, Mo. The U.S. Army selected Winchester to operate and manage the Lake City plant in 2019. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n The contract includes an initial term of seven years. Additionally, the Army may extend it up to three additional years. The contract helps make Winchester the world's largest small arms ammunition<\/a> manufacturer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWinchester employees have built a reputation with the U.S. Army that is unrivaled, and for the past year, we have been preparing for this significant transition,\u201d said Brett Flaugher, president of Winchester. \u201cWe were selected to manage the Lake City plant because of our industry-leading capabilities and track record. For decades, we have successfully demonstrated those capabilities in quality, innovation and on-time delivery as well as through our partnership with the U.S. Army in developing solutions that service the U.S. Warfighter. Our team is fully prepared and 100% committed to the safe, reliable and efficient operation of the Lake City plant.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester, now in its 154th year of operation, incredibly enters its 90th year under Olin. Winchester first began providing ammunition to the U.S. military during World War I. It currently produces more small caliber ammunition for the Army than anywhere outside the Lake City plant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Lake City Army Ammunition Plant first began production in 1941. It produces small caliber military ammunition for training and combat. Winchester previously operated the facility from 1985-200. For more information, visit winchestermilitary.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Winchester Assumes Full Operational Control of Lake City Army Ammo Plant","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"winchester-lake-city-army-ammo-plant","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:13:43","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:13:43","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2020\/10\/01\/winchester-lake-city-army-ammo-plant\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":93170,"post_author":"312","post_date":"2019-09-03 06:01:50","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-03 10:01:50","post_content":"It would be hard to find someone who doesn\u2019t have a healthy respect for buckshot. A well-placed load of buckshot is one of the surest ways to stop a close-range deadly assault. Does it always work? No, but in the book Stopping Power<\/em>: A Practical Analysis of the Latest Handgun Ammunition<\/em>, Evan Marshall and Ed Sanow found that 00 buckshot stopped gunfights at least 90 percent of the time when at least six pellets struck the torso. Smaller-sized buckshot was a little less effective, but not by much.\r\n\r\n[in_content post=\"108869\" alignment=\"align-left\" \/]\r\n\r\nIn addition, their data on buckshot penetration tends to support the conclusion of forensic pathologist Dr. Vincent Di Maio. His book Gunshot Wounds<\/em>: Practical Aspects of Firearms, Ballistics, and Forensic Techniques<\/em> states that buckshot usually doesn\u2019t penetrate through-and-through on torso hits. This is due to buckshot\u2019s relatively light weight and low sectional density. The result is the reduced possibility of collateral damage, as long as care is taken to pattern one\u2019s gun at several distances and not shoot beyond the range at which all pellets have a high probability of hitting the target. Because it combines high rates of stopping power with controlled penetration, buckshot is a natural choice for close-range personal defense.\r\n \u201cThe cartridge development defines collaborative innovation,\u201d said Matt Campbell, vice president of sales and marketing for Winchester Ammo. \u201cWe have designed a cartridge for the growing segment of long-range shooters and hunters that offers serious features and benefits. We strive to introduce new products that add value to our customers, and we believe the 6.8 Western will do just that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe 6.8 Western cartridge brings a new perspective to long-range hunting and shooting,\u201d said Ryan Godderidge, senior vice president of sales, marketing and firearms for Browning. \u201cIt provides magnum level performance in our short action rifles, giving the shooter highly effective down-range energy, even at longer ranges, while allowing for a lighter-weight platform. We\u2019re excited about bringing this into the market place.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Both Winchester and Browning already offer different platforms in the new cartridge. Most Winchester XPR and Model 70 rifles chamber the new 6.8, while most Browning X-Bolt variants also carry the cartridge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester 6.8 Western comes in Ballistic Silvertip, Match and Expedition Long Range lines. Muzzle velocities approach range 2,910-2,970 fps. For even more info, please visit winchester.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"6.8 Western: Winchester's New Cartridge for Long-Range Shooting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"winchester-6-8-western-long-range","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:58","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/15\/winchester-6-8-western-long-range\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":125708,"post_author":"645","post_date":"2020-10-01 10:12:53","post_date_gmt":"2020-10-01 14:12:53","post_content":"\n Olin Corporation announced Thursday it effectively assumed total management and operational control of the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant in Independence, Mo. The U.S. Army selected Winchester to operate and manage the Lake City plant in 2019. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n The contract includes an initial term of seven years. Additionally, the Army may extend it up to three additional years. The contract helps make Winchester the world's largest small arms ammunition<\/a> manufacturer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWinchester employees have built a reputation with the U.S. Army that is unrivaled, and for the past year, we have been preparing for this significant transition,\u201d said Brett Flaugher, president of Winchester. \u201cWe were selected to manage the Lake City plant because of our industry-leading capabilities and track record. For decades, we have successfully demonstrated those capabilities in quality, innovation and on-time delivery as well as through our partnership with the U.S. Army in developing solutions that service the U.S. Warfighter. Our team is fully prepared and 100% committed to the safe, reliable and efficient operation of the Lake City plant.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester, now in its 154th year of operation, incredibly enters its 90th year under Olin. Winchester first began providing ammunition to the U.S. military during World War I. It currently produces more small caliber ammunition for the Army than anywhere outside the Lake City plant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Lake City Army Ammunition Plant first began production in 1941. It produces small caliber military ammunition for training and combat. Winchester previously operated the facility from 1985-200. For more information, visit winchestermilitary.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Winchester Assumes Full Operational Control of Lake City Army Ammo Plant","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"winchester-lake-city-army-ammo-plant","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:13:43","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:13:43","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2020\/10\/01\/winchester-lake-city-army-ammo-plant\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":93170,"post_author":"312","post_date":"2019-09-03 06:01:50","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-03 10:01:50","post_content":"It would be hard to find someone who doesn\u2019t have a healthy respect for buckshot. A well-placed load of buckshot is one of the surest ways to stop a close-range deadly assault. Does it always work? No, but in the book Stopping Power<\/em>: A Practical Analysis of the Latest Handgun Ammunition<\/em>, Evan Marshall and Ed Sanow found that 00 buckshot stopped gunfights at least 90 percent of the time when at least six pellets struck the torso. Smaller-sized buckshot was a little less effective, but not by much.\r\n\r\n[in_content post=\"108869\" alignment=\"align-left\" \/]\r\n\r\nIn addition, their data on buckshot penetration tends to support the conclusion of forensic pathologist Dr. Vincent Di Maio. His book Gunshot Wounds<\/em>: Practical Aspects of Firearms, Ballistics, and Forensic Techniques<\/em> states that buckshot usually doesn\u2019t penetrate through-and-through on torso hits. This is due to buckshot\u2019s relatively light weight and low sectional density. The result is the reduced possibility of collateral damage, as long as care is taken to pattern one\u2019s gun at several distances and not shoot beyond the range at which all pellets have a high probability of hitting the target. Because it combines high rates of stopping power with controlled penetration, buckshot is a natural choice for close-range personal defense.\r\n The Western 6.8 boats heavier bullet weights than 6.5 CM, 6.5 PRC and .270 WSM. It also delivers more energy than 6.5 CM, 6.5 PRC and 7mm Rem. Mag. Conversely, it exhibits less recoil than .300 WSM, .300 Win. Mag. or .300 PRC. The cartridge utilizes long, heavy bullets, all in a short-action rifle platform. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe cartridge development defines collaborative innovation,\u201d said Matt Campbell, vice president of sales and marketing for Winchester Ammo. \u201cWe have designed a cartridge for the growing segment of long-range shooters and hunters that offers serious features and benefits. We strive to introduce new products that add value to our customers, and we believe the 6.8 Western will do just that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe 6.8 Western cartridge brings a new perspective to long-range hunting and shooting,\u201d said Ryan Godderidge, senior vice president of sales, marketing and firearms for Browning. \u201cIt provides magnum level performance in our short action rifles, giving the shooter highly effective down-range energy, even at longer ranges, while allowing for a lighter-weight platform. We\u2019re excited about bringing this into the market place.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Both Winchester and Browning already offer different platforms in the new cartridge. Most Winchester XPR and Model 70 rifles chamber the new 6.8, while most Browning X-Bolt variants also carry the cartridge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester 6.8 Western comes in Ballistic Silvertip, Match and Expedition Long Range lines. Muzzle velocities approach range 2,910-2,970 fps. For even more info, please visit winchester.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"6.8 Western: Winchester's New Cartridge for Long-Range Shooting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"winchester-6-8-western-long-range","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:58","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/15\/winchester-6-8-western-long-range\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":125708,"post_author":"645","post_date":"2020-10-01 10:12:53","post_date_gmt":"2020-10-01 14:12:53","post_content":"\n Olin Corporation announced Thursday it effectively assumed total management and operational control of the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant in Independence, Mo. The U.S. Army selected Winchester to operate and manage the Lake City plant in 2019. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n The contract includes an initial term of seven years. Additionally, the Army may extend it up to three additional years. The contract helps make Winchester the world's largest small arms ammunition<\/a> manufacturer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWinchester employees have built a reputation with the U.S. Army that is unrivaled, and for the past year, we have been preparing for this significant transition,\u201d said Brett Flaugher, president of Winchester. \u201cWe were selected to manage the Lake City plant because of our industry-leading capabilities and track record. For decades, we have successfully demonstrated those capabilities in quality, innovation and on-time delivery as well as through our partnership with the U.S. Army in developing solutions that service the U.S. Warfighter. Our team is fully prepared and 100% committed to the safe, reliable and efficient operation of the Lake City plant.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester, now in its 154th year of operation, incredibly enters its 90th year under Olin. Winchester first began providing ammunition to the U.S. military during World War I. It currently produces more small caliber ammunition for the Army than anywhere outside the Lake City plant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Lake City Army Ammunition Plant first began production in 1941. It produces small caliber military ammunition for training and combat. Winchester previously operated the facility from 1985-200. For more information, visit winchestermilitary.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Winchester Assumes Full Operational Control of Lake City Army Ammo Plant","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"winchester-lake-city-army-ammo-plant","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:13:43","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:13:43","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2020\/10\/01\/winchester-lake-city-army-ammo-plant\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":93170,"post_author":"312","post_date":"2019-09-03 06:01:50","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-03 10:01:50","post_content":"It would be hard to find someone who doesn\u2019t have a healthy respect for buckshot. A well-placed load of buckshot is one of the surest ways to stop a close-range deadly assault. Does it always work? No, but in the book Stopping Power<\/em>: A Practical Analysis of the Latest Handgun Ammunition<\/em>, Evan Marshall and Ed Sanow found that 00 buckshot stopped gunfights at least 90 percent of the time when at least six pellets struck the torso. Smaller-sized buckshot was a little less effective, but not by much.\r\n\r\n[in_content post=\"108869\" alignment=\"align-left\" \/]\r\n\r\nIn addition, their data on buckshot penetration tends to support the conclusion of forensic pathologist Dr. Vincent Di Maio. His book Gunshot Wounds<\/em>: Practical Aspects of Firearms, Ballistics, and Forensic Techniques<\/em> states that buckshot usually doesn\u2019t penetrate through-and-through on torso hits. This is due to buckshot\u2019s relatively light weight and low sectional density. The result is the reduced possibility of collateral damage, as long as care is taken to pattern one\u2019s gun at several distances and not shoot beyond the range at which all pellets have a high probability of hitting the target. Because it combines high rates of stopping power with controlled penetration, buckshot is a natural choice for close-range personal defense.\r\nToday\u2019s 12 Gauge Buckshot Choices<\/h3>\r\nIn the wide-open spaces of the Old West, the double-barrel 10-gauge coach gun may have made a lot of sense, but in today\u2019s urban and rural areas, most people are best served by a 12 gauge firing 2\u00be-inch ammunition<\/a>. Why? The 12 gauge generates a lot less recoil than the 10 gauge, and 2\u00be-inch ammo has more than enough power for defense. In fact, Federal\u2019s nine-pellet Personal Defense 00 buckshot load delivers 1,575 foot-pounds of energy (fpe) at the muzzle, which is about three times the energy of a .357 Magnum round.\r\n\r\nHornady\u2019s eight-pellet Critical Defense 00 load delivers 1,872 fpe, which is about twice as much as a .44 Magnum round. I prefer the Federal load with the FliteControl wad in my lightweight Remington 870 Express Tactical because it patterns the tightest in this particular gun and also generates the lowest recoil. Less recoil allows me to make faster follow-up shots\u2014if any are necessary.\r\n
Power Up<\/h3>\r\nHowever, my experience over the last 30 years has shown that some of the low-recoil tactical loads have not been as reliable in semi-auto shotguns. Therefore, I prefer the Hornady Critical Defense load or Remington\u2019s full-power TAC 8 shells in my Remington Model 1100 deer gun. Again, it\u2019s a matter of finding a load that is both reliable in your gun and throws tight patterns to reduce the risk of collateral damage.\r\n\r\nAs for the magnum 2\u00be-inch and 3-inch 00 loads, I\u2019ve never had these pattern tighter than the eight- or nine-pellet loads. The 00 magnums may be good for shooting running deer, where a wider pattern and more pellets make good sense, but for personal defense, my preference is to stay with the eight- and nine-pellet 00 loads that use plated and\/or hardened shot, since they tend to pattern best. Well-known defensive shotgun trainer Tom Givens of Rangemaster Firearms Training Services recommends 12-gauge, eight-pellet, 00 buckshot loads for personal defense because eight 00 pellets tend to stack more evenly in 12-gauge, 2\u00be-inch shotshells than do nine.\r\n
Smaller Shells<\/h3>\r\nSome people prefer 16- or 20-gauge shotguns, or even .410s, because they have less recoil. Even though these shotshells hold less powder and shot than 12-gauge ammo, the guns that shoot these smaller shells are usually quite light and still kick to a degree when firing buckshot. That\u2019s especially true of the 3-inch, 20-gauge Federal Vital-Shok and Personal Defense loads.\r\n\r\nThe only .410 shotgun I\u2019ve used with buckshot was an S&W Governor. It patterned very tightly with Federal\u2019s 000 buckshot Handgun ammo, and was an impressive close-range self-defense gun. If I were to switch to a .410, I\u2019d try the Federal Handgun, Hornady Critical Defense, Remington Ultimate Defense and Winchester 000 loads to see which one recoiled the least and patterned best in my gun. The only buckshot load available in 16 gauge is a Federal Power-Shok loaded with 12 pellets of #1 buckshot, so there isn\u2019t much of a choice.\r\n
Trial By Fire<\/h3>\r\nOn the other hand, every gun patterns differently, so I took my 12-gauge Remington 870 Express Tactical to the range to fire four loads to provide examples of how one gun can shoot very different patterns with different loads. I\u2019ve customized this gun by replacing the factory-installed cylinder-bore choke tube with a Rem Choke modified tube. That\u2019s because my personal experience and work in law enforcement have shown that 12-gauge guns usually shoot tighter patterns with a modified choke. I also mounted a Nikon P-Tactical Spur 3-MOA reflex sight and a Crimson Trace Rail Master Pro green laser\/100-lumen LED light, making my 870 both fast and accurate day or night. Always remember that you must aim a shotgun, because it\u2019s possible to miss the target entirely.\r\n
12 Gauge Buckshot On the Range<\/h3>\r\nI tested two tactical 00 loads: Federal\u2019s reduced-velocity, nine-pellet Personal Defense ammo and Hornady\u2019s full-velocity, eight-pellet Critical Defense load. Both have special wads designed for tight patterns. In addition, I patterned Remington\u2019s reduced-velocity, 21-pellet #4 buckshot Ultimate Defense ammo and Winchester\u2019s nine-pellet 00 buckshot Super-X load to demonstrate the patterns typical of #4 and 00 buckshot loads designed for general use.\r\n\r\nI fired one shot with each load at the head of a full-sized silhouette target 7 yards away, and one at the center of the target\u2019s chest at 15 yards. Each load kept all of its pellets in the head at 7 yards, although the Super-X hunting load clearly shot the largest pattern. At 15 yards, the area of the pattern of the Federal load remained essentially the same as it was at 7 yards. The other loads shot patterns that were wider at 15 yards than at 7 yards, and the Remington #4 load increased the most in area. In general, my experience has been that #4 buckshot patterns get larger very quickly as the distance from the gun to the target increases. See the included table for more results.\r\n\r\n[in_content post=\"76770\" alignment=\"align-right\" \/]\r\n
The Right Choice<\/h3>\r\nWhen selecting buckshot for personal defense, shooters must reconcile their recoil tolerance and the risk of collateral damage where they live with a specific load\u2019s reliability and patterning in their gun. No one should limit their choices to the loads I\u2019ve discussed. The ones I prefer have simply been the ones that performed best for my needs in the guns that I\u2019ve used. In the end, the right choice is one that\u2019s well reasoned and made with the understanding that the defensive role of buckshot is primarily personal and home defense at distances that rarely exceed 15 yards.\r\n
12 Gauge Buckshot Performance<\/h3>\r\nBuckshot: Pattern: <\/strong>7 Yards, 15 Yards<\/strong>\r\n
\r\n \t
BROWSE BY BRAND
Today\u2019s 12 Gauge Buckshot Choices<\/h3>\r\nIn the wide-open spaces of the Old West, the double-barrel 10-gauge coach gun may have made a lot of sense, but in today\u2019s urban and rural areas, most people are best served by a 12 gauge firing 2\u00be-inch ammunition<\/a>. Why? The 12 gauge generates a lot less recoil than the 10 gauge, and 2\u00be-inch ammo has more than enough power for defense. In fact, Federal\u2019s nine-pellet Personal Defense 00 buckshot load delivers 1,575 foot-pounds of energy (fpe) at the muzzle, which is about three times the energy of a .357 Magnum round.\r\n\r\nHornady\u2019s eight-pellet Critical Defense 00 load delivers 1,872 fpe, which is about twice as much as a .44 Magnum round. I prefer the Federal load with the FliteControl wad in my lightweight Remington 870 Express Tactical because it patterns the tightest in this particular gun and also generates the lowest recoil. Less recoil allows me to make faster follow-up shots\u2014if any are necessary.\r\n
Power Up<\/h3>\r\nHowever, my experience over the last 30 years has shown that some of the low-recoil tactical loads have not been as reliable in semi-auto shotguns. Therefore, I prefer the Hornady Critical Defense load or Remington\u2019s full-power TAC 8 shells in my Remington Model 1100 deer gun. Again, it\u2019s a matter of finding a load that is both reliable in your gun and throws tight patterns to reduce the risk of collateral damage.\r\n\r\nAs for the magnum 2\u00be-inch and 3-inch 00 loads, I\u2019ve never had these pattern tighter than the eight- or nine-pellet loads. The 00 magnums may be good for shooting running deer, where a wider pattern and more pellets make good sense, but for personal defense, my preference is to stay with the eight- and nine-pellet 00 loads that use plated and\/or hardened shot, since they tend to pattern best. Well-known defensive shotgun trainer Tom Givens of Rangemaster Firearms Training Services recommends 12-gauge, eight-pellet, 00 buckshot loads for personal defense because eight 00 pellets tend to stack more evenly in 12-gauge, 2\u00be-inch shotshells than do nine.\r\n
Smaller Shells<\/h3>\r\nSome people prefer 16- or 20-gauge shotguns, or even .410s, because they have less recoil. Even though these shotshells hold less powder and shot than 12-gauge ammo, the guns that shoot these smaller shells are usually quite light and still kick to a degree when firing buckshot. That\u2019s especially true of the 3-inch, 20-gauge Federal Vital-Shok and Personal Defense loads.\r\n\r\nThe only .410 shotgun I\u2019ve used with buckshot was an S&W Governor. It patterned very tightly with Federal\u2019s 000 buckshot Handgun ammo, and was an impressive close-range self-defense gun. If I were to switch to a .410, I\u2019d try the Federal Handgun, Hornady Critical Defense, Remington Ultimate Defense and Winchester 000 loads to see which one recoiled the least and patterned best in my gun. The only buckshot load available in 16 gauge is a Federal Power-Shok loaded with 12 pellets of #1 buckshot, so there isn\u2019t much of a choice.\r\n
Trial By Fire<\/h3>\r\nOn the other hand, every gun patterns differently, so I took my 12-gauge Remington 870 Express Tactical to the range to fire four loads to provide examples of how one gun can shoot very different patterns with different loads. I\u2019ve customized this gun by replacing the factory-installed cylinder-bore choke tube with a Rem Choke modified tube. That\u2019s because my personal experience and work in law enforcement have shown that 12-gauge guns usually shoot tighter patterns with a modified choke. I also mounted a Nikon P-Tactical Spur 3-MOA reflex sight and a Crimson Trace Rail Master Pro green laser\/100-lumen LED light, making my 870 both fast and accurate day or night. Always remember that you must aim a shotgun, because it\u2019s possible to miss the target entirely.\r\n
12 Gauge Buckshot On the Range<\/h3>\r\nI tested two tactical 00 loads: Federal\u2019s reduced-velocity, nine-pellet Personal Defense ammo and Hornady\u2019s full-velocity, eight-pellet Critical Defense load. Both have special wads designed for tight patterns. In addition, I patterned Remington\u2019s reduced-velocity, 21-pellet #4 buckshot Ultimate Defense ammo and Winchester\u2019s nine-pellet 00 buckshot Super-X load to demonstrate the patterns typical of #4 and 00 buckshot loads designed for general use.\r\n\r\nI fired one shot with each load at the head of a full-sized silhouette target 7 yards away, and one at the center of the target\u2019s chest at 15 yards. Each load kept all of its pellets in the head at 7 yards, although the Super-X hunting load clearly shot the largest pattern. At 15 yards, the area of the pattern of the Federal load remained essentially the same as it was at 7 yards. The other loads shot patterns that were wider at 15 yards than at 7 yards, and the Remington #4 load increased the most in area. In general, my experience has been that #4 buckshot patterns get larger very quickly as the distance from the gun to the target increases. See the included table for more results.\r\n\r\n[in_content post=\"76770\" alignment=\"align-right\" \/]\r\n
The Right Choice<\/h3>\r\nWhen selecting buckshot for personal defense, shooters must reconcile their recoil tolerance and the risk of collateral damage where they live with a specific load\u2019s reliability and patterning in their gun. No one should limit their choices to the loads I\u2019ve discussed. The ones I prefer have simply been the ones that performed best for my needs in the guns that I\u2019ve used. In the end, the right choice is one that\u2019s well reasoned and made with the understanding that the defensive role of buckshot is primarily personal and home defense at distances that rarely exceed 15 yards.\r\n
12 Gauge Buckshot Performance<\/h3>\r\nBuckshot: Pattern: <\/strong>7 Yards, 15 Yards<\/strong>\r\n
\r\n \t
BROWSE BY BRAND
Winchester Takes Over Lake City Army Ammo Plant<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Today\u2019s 12 Gauge Buckshot Choices<\/h3>\r\nIn the wide-open spaces of the Old West, the double-barrel 10-gauge coach gun may have made a lot of sense, but in today\u2019s urban and rural areas, most people are best served by a 12 gauge firing 2\u00be-inch ammunition<\/a>. Why? The 12 gauge generates a lot less recoil than the 10 gauge, and 2\u00be-inch ammo has more than enough power for defense. In fact, Federal\u2019s nine-pellet Personal Defense 00 buckshot load delivers 1,575 foot-pounds of energy (fpe) at the muzzle, which is about three times the energy of a .357 Magnum round.\r\n\r\nHornady\u2019s eight-pellet Critical Defense 00 load delivers 1,872 fpe, which is about twice as much as a .44 Magnum round. I prefer the Federal load with the FliteControl wad in my lightweight Remington 870 Express Tactical because it patterns the tightest in this particular gun and also generates the lowest recoil. Less recoil allows me to make faster follow-up shots\u2014if any are necessary.\r\n
Power Up<\/h3>\r\nHowever, my experience over the last 30 years has shown that some of the low-recoil tactical loads have not been as reliable in semi-auto shotguns. Therefore, I prefer the Hornady Critical Defense load or Remington\u2019s full-power TAC 8 shells in my Remington Model 1100 deer gun. Again, it\u2019s a matter of finding a load that is both reliable in your gun and throws tight patterns to reduce the risk of collateral damage.\r\n\r\nAs for the magnum 2\u00be-inch and 3-inch 00 loads, I\u2019ve never had these pattern tighter than the eight- or nine-pellet loads. The 00 magnums may be good for shooting running deer, where a wider pattern and more pellets make good sense, but for personal defense, my preference is to stay with the eight- and nine-pellet 00 loads that use plated and\/or hardened shot, since they tend to pattern best. Well-known defensive shotgun trainer Tom Givens of Rangemaster Firearms Training Services recommends 12-gauge, eight-pellet, 00 buckshot loads for personal defense because eight 00 pellets tend to stack more evenly in 12-gauge, 2\u00be-inch shotshells than do nine.\r\n
Smaller Shells<\/h3>\r\nSome people prefer 16- or 20-gauge shotguns, or even .410s, because they have less recoil. Even though these shotshells hold less powder and shot than 12-gauge ammo, the guns that shoot these smaller shells are usually quite light and still kick to a degree when firing buckshot. That\u2019s especially true of the 3-inch, 20-gauge Federal Vital-Shok and Personal Defense loads.\r\n\r\nThe only .410 shotgun I\u2019ve used with buckshot was an S&W Governor. It patterned very tightly with Federal\u2019s 000 buckshot Handgun ammo, and was an impressive close-range self-defense gun. If I were to switch to a .410, I\u2019d try the Federal Handgun, Hornady Critical Defense, Remington Ultimate Defense and Winchester 000 loads to see which one recoiled the least and patterned best in my gun. The only buckshot load available in 16 gauge is a Federal Power-Shok loaded with 12 pellets of #1 buckshot, so there isn\u2019t much of a choice.\r\n
Trial By Fire<\/h3>\r\nOn the other hand, every gun patterns differently, so I took my 12-gauge Remington 870 Express Tactical to the range to fire four loads to provide examples of how one gun can shoot very different patterns with different loads. I\u2019ve customized this gun by replacing the factory-installed cylinder-bore choke tube with a Rem Choke modified tube. That\u2019s because my personal experience and work in law enforcement have shown that 12-gauge guns usually shoot tighter patterns with a modified choke. I also mounted a Nikon P-Tactical Spur 3-MOA reflex sight and a Crimson Trace Rail Master Pro green laser\/100-lumen LED light, making my 870 both fast and accurate day or night. Always remember that you must aim a shotgun, because it\u2019s possible to miss the target entirely.\r\n
12 Gauge Buckshot On the Range<\/h3>\r\nI tested two tactical 00 loads: Federal\u2019s reduced-velocity, nine-pellet Personal Defense ammo and Hornady\u2019s full-velocity, eight-pellet Critical Defense load. Both have special wads designed for tight patterns. In addition, I patterned Remington\u2019s reduced-velocity, 21-pellet #4 buckshot Ultimate Defense ammo and Winchester\u2019s nine-pellet 00 buckshot Super-X load to demonstrate the patterns typical of #4 and 00 buckshot loads designed for general use.\r\n\r\nI fired one shot with each load at the head of a full-sized silhouette target 7 yards away, and one at the center of the target\u2019s chest at 15 yards. Each load kept all of its pellets in the head at 7 yards, although the Super-X hunting load clearly shot the largest pattern. At 15 yards, the area of the pattern of the Federal load remained essentially the same as it was at 7 yards. The other loads shot patterns that were wider at 15 yards than at 7 yards, and the Remington #4 load increased the most in area. In general, my experience has been that #4 buckshot patterns get larger very quickly as the distance from the gun to the target increases. See the included table for more results.\r\n\r\n[in_content post=\"76770\" alignment=\"align-right\" \/]\r\n
The Right Choice<\/h3>\r\nWhen selecting buckshot for personal defense, shooters must reconcile their recoil tolerance and the risk of collateral damage where they live with a specific load\u2019s reliability and patterning in their gun. No one should limit their choices to the loads I\u2019ve discussed. The ones I prefer have simply been the ones that performed best for my needs in the guns that I\u2019ve used. In the end, the right choice is one that\u2019s well reasoned and made with the understanding that the defensive role of buckshot is primarily personal and home defense at distances that rarely exceed 15 yards.\r\n
12 Gauge Buckshot Performance<\/h3>\r\nBuckshot: Pattern: <\/strong>7 Yards, 15 Yards<\/strong>\r\n
\r\n \t
BROWSE BY BRAND
Winchester Takes Over Lake City Army Ammo Plant<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Today\u2019s 12 Gauge Buckshot Choices<\/h3>\r\nIn the wide-open spaces of the Old West, the double-barrel 10-gauge coach gun may have made a lot of sense, but in today\u2019s urban and rural areas, most people are best served by a 12 gauge firing 2\u00be-inch ammunition<\/a>. Why? The 12 gauge generates a lot less recoil than the 10 gauge, and 2\u00be-inch ammo has more than enough power for defense. In fact, Federal\u2019s nine-pellet Personal Defense 00 buckshot load delivers 1,575 foot-pounds of energy (fpe) at the muzzle, which is about three times the energy of a .357 Magnum round.\r\n\r\nHornady\u2019s eight-pellet Critical Defense 00 load delivers 1,872 fpe, which is about twice as much as a .44 Magnum round. I prefer the Federal load with the FliteControl wad in my lightweight Remington 870 Express Tactical because it patterns the tightest in this particular gun and also generates the lowest recoil. Less recoil allows me to make faster follow-up shots\u2014if any are necessary.\r\n
Power Up<\/h3>\r\nHowever, my experience over the last 30 years has shown that some of the low-recoil tactical loads have not been as reliable in semi-auto shotguns. Therefore, I prefer the Hornady Critical Defense load or Remington\u2019s full-power TAC 8 shells in my Remington Model 1100 deer gun. Again, it\u2019s a matter of finding a load that is both reliable in your gun and throws tight patterns to reduce the risk of collateral damage.\r\n\r\nAs for the magnum 2\u00be-inch and 3-inch 00 loads, I\u2019ve never had these pattern tighter than the eight- or nine-pellet loads. The 00 magnums may be good for shooting running deer, where a wider pattern and more pellets make good sense, but for personal defense, my preference is to stay with the eight- and nine-pellet 00 loads that use plated and\/or hardened shot, since they tend to pattern best. Well-known defensive shotgun trainer Tom Givens of Rangemaster Firearms Training Services recommends 12-gauge, eight-pellet, 00 buckshot loads for personal defense because eight 00 pellets tend to stack more evenly in 12-gauge, 2\u00be-inch shotshells than do nine.\r\n
Smaller Shells<\/h3>\r\nSome people prefer 16- or 20-gauge shotguns, or even .410s, because they have less recoil. Even though these shotshells hold less powder and shot than 12-gauge ammo, the guns that shoot these smaller shells are usually quite light and still kick to a degree when firing buckshot. That\u2019s especially true of the 3-inch, 20-gauge Federal Vital-Shok and Personal Defense loads.\r\n\r\nThe only .410 shotgun I\u2019ve used with buckshot was an S&W Governor. It patterned very tightly with Federal\u2019s 000 buckshot Handgun ammo, and was an impressive close-range self-defense gun. If I were to switch to a .410, I\u2019d try the Federal Handgun, Hornady Critical Defense, Remington Ultimate Defense and Winchester 000 loads to see which one recoiled the least and patterned best in my gun. The only buckshot load available in 16 gauge is a Federal Power-Shok loaded with 12 pellets of #1 buckshot, so there isn\u2019t much of a choice.\r\n
Trial By Fire<\/h3>\r\nOn the other hand, every gun patterns differently, so I took my 12-gauge Remington 870 Express Tactical to the range to fire four loads to provide examples of how one gun can shoot very different patterns with different loads. I\u2019ve customized this gun by replacing the factory-installed cylinder-bore choke tube with a Rem Choke modified tube. That\u2019s because my personal experience and work in law enforcement have shown that 12-gauge guns usually shoot tighter patterns with a modified choke. I also mounted a Nikon P-Tactical Spur 3-MOA reflex sight and a Crimson Trace Rail Master Pro green laser\/100-lumen LED light, making my 870 both fast and accurate day or night. Always remember that you must aim a shotgun, because it\u2019s possible to miss the target entirely.\r\n
12 Gauge Buckshot On the Range<\/h3>\r\nI tested two tactical 00 loads: Federal\u2019s reduced-velocity, nine-pellet Personal Defense ammo and Hornady\u2019s full-velocity, eight-pellet Critical Defense load. Both have special wads designed for tight patterns. In addition, I patterned Remington\u2019s reduced-velocity, 21-pellet #4 buckshot Ultimate Defense ammo and Winchester\u2019s nine-pellet 00 buckshot Super-X load to demonstrate the patterns typical of #4 and 00 buckshot loads designed for general use.\r\n\r\nI fired one shot with each load at the head of a full-sized silhouette target 7 yards away, and one at the center of the target\u2019s chest at 15 yards. Each load kept all of its pellets in the head at 7 yards, although the Super-X hunting load clearly shot the largest pattern. At 15 yards, the area of the pattern of the Federal load remained essentially the same as it was at 7 yards. The other loads shot patterns that were wider at 15 yards than at 7 yards, and the Remington #4 load increased the most in area. In general, my experience has been that #4 buckshot patterns get larger very quickly as the distance from the gun to the target increases. See the included table for more results.\r\n\r\n[in_content post=\"76770\" alignment=\"align-right\" \/]\r\n
The Right Choice<\/h3>\r\nWhen selecting buckshot for personal defense, shooters must reconcile their recoil tolerance and the risk of collateral damage where they live with a specific load\u2019s reliability and patterning in their gun. No one should limit their choices to the loads I\u2019ve discussed. The ones I prefer have simply been the ones that performed best for my needs in the guns that I\u2019ve used. In the end, the right choice is one that\u2019s well reasoned and made with the understanding that the defensive role of buckshot is primarily personal and home defense at distances that rarely exceed 15 yards.\r\n
12 Gauge Buckshot Performance<\/h3>\r\nBuckshot: Pattern: <\/strong>7 Yards, 15 Yards<\/strong>\r\n
\r\n \t
BROWSE BY BRAND
Winchester Takes Over Lake City Army Ammo Plant<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Today\u2019s 12 Gauge Buckshot Choices<\/h3>\r\nIn the wide-open spaces of the Old West, the double-barrel 10-gauge coach gun may have made a lot of sense, but in today\u2019s urban and rural areas, most people are best served by a 12 gauge firing 2\u00be-inch ammunition<\/a>. Why? The 12 gauge generates a lot less recoil than the 10 gauge, and 2\u00be-inch ammo has more than enough power for defense. In fact, Federal\u2019s nine-pellet Personal Defense 00 buckshot load delivers 1,575 foot-pounds of energy (fpe) at the muzzle, which is about three times the energy of a .357 Magnum round.\r\n\r\nHornady\u2019s eight-pellet Critical Defense 00 load delivers 1,872 fpe, which is about twice as much as a .44 Magnum round. I prefer the Federal load with the FliteControl wad in my lightweight Remington 870 Express Tactical because it patterns the tightest in this particular gun and also generates the lowest recoil. Less recoil allows me to make faster follow-up shots\u2014if any are necessary.\r\n
Power Up<\/h3>\r\nHowever, my experience over the last 30 years has shown that some of the low-recoil tactical loads have not been as reliable in semi-auto shotguns. Therefore, I prefer the Hornady Critical Defense load or Remington\u2019s full-power TAC 8 shells in my Remington Model 1100 deer gun. Again, it\u2019s a matter of finding a load that is both reliable in your gun and throws tight patterns to reduce the risk of collateral damage.\r\n\r\nAs for the magnum 2\u00be-inch and 3-inch 00 loads, I\u2019ve never had these pattern tighter than the eight- or nine-pellet loads. The 00 magnums may be good for shooting running deer, where a wider pattern and more pellets make good sense, but for personal defense, my preference is to stay with the eight- and nine-pellet 00 loads that use plated and\/or hardened shot, since they tend to pattern best. Well-known defensive shotgun trainer Tom Givens of Rangemaster Firearms Training Services recommends 12-gauge, eight-pellet, 00 buckshot loads for personal defense because eight 00 pellets tend to stack more evenly in 12-gauge, 2\u00be-inch shotshells than do nine.\r\n
Smaller Shells<\/h3>\r\nSome people prefer 16- or 20-gauge shotguns, or even .410s, because they have less recoil. Even though these shotshells hold less powder and shot than 12-gauge ammo, the guns that shoot these smaller shells are usually quite light and still kick to a degree when firing buckshot. That\u2019s especially true of the 3-inch, 20-gauge Federal Vital-Shok and Personal Defense loads.\r\n\r\nThe only .410 shotgun I\u2019ve used with buckshot was an S&W Governor. It patterned very tightly with Federal\u2019s 000 buckshot Handgun ammo, and was an impressive close-range self-defense gun. If I were to switch to a .410, I\u2019d try the Federal Handgun, Hornady Critical Defense, Remington Ultimate Defense and Winchester 000 loads to see which one recoiled the least and patterned best in my gun. The only buckshot load available in 16 gauge is a Federal Power-Shok loaded with 12 pellets of #1 buckshot, so there isn\u2019t much of a choice.\r\n
Trial By Fire<\/h3>\r\nOn the other hand, every gun patterns differently, so I took my 12-gauge Remington 870 Express Tactical to the range to fire four loads to provide examples of how one gun can shoot very different patterns with different loads. I\u2019ve customized this gun by replacing the factory-installed cylinder-bore choke tube with a Rem Choke modified tube. That\u2019s because my personal experience and work in law enforcement have shown that 12-gauge guns usually shoot tighter patterns with a modified choke. I also mounted a Nikon P-Tactical Spur 3-MOA reflex sight and a Crimson Trace Rail Master Pro green laser\/100-lumen LED light, making my 870 both fast and accurate day or night. Always remember that you must aim a shotgun, because it\u2019s possible to miss the target entirely.\r\n
12 Gauge Buckshot On the Range<\/h3>\r\nI tested two tactical 00 loads: Federal\u2019s reduced-velocity, nine-pellet Personal Defense ammo and Hornady\u2019s full-velocity, eight-pellet Critical Defense load. Both have special wads designed for tight patterns. In addition, I patterned Remington\u2019s reduced-velocity, 21-pellet #4 buckshot Ultimate Defense ammo and Winchester\u2019s nine-pellet 00 buckshot Super-X load to demonstrate the patterns typical of #4 and 00 buckshot loads designed for general use.\r\n\r\nI fired one shot with each load at the head of a full-sized silhouette target 7 yards away, and one at the center of the target\u2019s chest at 15 yards. Each load kept all of its pellets in the head at 7 yards, although the Super-X hunting load clearly shot the largest pattern. At 15 yards, the area of the pattern of the Federal load remained essentially the same as it was at 7 yards. The other loads shot patterns that were wider at 15 yards than at 7 yards, and the Remington #4 load increased the most in area. In general, my experience has been that #4 buckshot patterns get larger very quickly as the distance from the gun to the target increases. See the included table for more results.\r\n\r\n[in_content post=\"76770\" alignment=\"align-right\" \/]\r\n
The Right Choice<\/h3>\r\nWhen selecting buckshot for personal defense, shooters must reconcile their recoil tolerance and the risk of collateral damage where they live with a specific load\u2019s reliability and patterning in their gun. No one should limit their choices to the loads I\u2019ve discussed. The ones I prefer have simply been the ones that performed best for my needs in the guns that I\u2019ve used. In the end, the right choice is one that\u2019s well reasoned and made with the understanding that the defensive role of buckshot is primarily personal and home defense at distances that rarely exceed 15 yards.\r\n
12 Gauge Buckshot Performance<\/h3>\r\nBuckshot: Pattern: <\/strong>7 Yards, 15 Yards<\/strong>\r\n
\r\n \t
BROWSE BY BRAND
Winchester Takes Over Lake City Army Ammo Plant<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Today\u2019s 12 Gauge Buckshot Choices<\/h3>\r\nIn the wide-open spaces of the Old West, the double-barrel 10-gauge coach gun may have made a lot of sense, but in today\u2019s urban and rural areas, most people are best served by a 12 gauge firing 2\u00be-inch ammunition<\/a>. Why? The 12 gauge generates a lot less recoil than the 10 gauge, and 2\u00be-inch ammo has more than enough power for defense. In fact, Federal\u2019s nine-pellet Personal Defense 00 buckshot load delivers 1,575 foot-pounds of energy (fpe) at the muzzle, which is about three times the energy of a .357 Magnum round.\r\n\r\nHornady\u2019s eight-pellet Critical Defense 00 load delivers 1,872 fpe, which is about twice as much as a .44 Magnum round. I prefer the Federal load with the FliteControl wad in my lightweight Remington 870 Express Tactical because it patterns the tightest in this particular gun and also generates the lowest recoil. Less recoil allows me to make faster follow-up shots\u2014if any are necessary.\r\n
Power Up<\/h3>\r\nHowever, my experience over the last 30 years has shown that some of the low-recoil tactical loads have not been as reliable in semi-auto shotguns. Therefore, I prefer the Hornady Critical Defense load or Remington\u2019s full-power TAC 8 shells in my Remington Model 1100 deer gun. Again, it\u2019s a matter of finding a load that is both reliable in your gun and throws tight patterns to reduce the risk of collateral damage.\r\n\r\nAs for the magnum 2\u00be-inch and 3-inch 00 loads, I\u2019ve never had these pattern tighter than the eight- or nine-pellet loads. The 00 magnums may be good for shooting running deer, where a wider pattern and more pellets make good sense, but for personal defense, my preference is to stay with the eight- and nine-pellet 00 loads that use plated and\/or hardened shot, since they tend to pattern best. Well-known defensive shotgun trainer Tom Givens of Rangemaster Firearms Training Services recommends 12-gauge, eight-pellet, 00 buckshot loads for personal defense because eight 00 pellets tend to stack more evenly in 12-gauge, 2\u00be-inch shotshells than do nine.\r\n
Smaller Shells<\/h3>\r\nSome people prefer 16- or 20-gauge shotguns, or even .410s, because they have less recoil. Even though these shotshells hold less powder and shot than 12-gauge ammo, the guns that shoot these smaller shells are usually quite light and still kick to a degree when firing buckshot. That\u2019s especially true of the 3-inch, 20-gauge Federal Vital-Shok and Personal Defense loads.\r\n\r\nThe only .410 shotgun I\u2019ve used with buckshot was an S&W Governor. It patterned very tightly with Federal\u2019s 000 buckshot Handgun ammo, and was an impressive close-range self-defense gun. If I were to switch to a .410, I\u2019d try the Federal Handgun, Hornady Critical Defense, Remington Ultimate Defense and Winchester 000 loads to see which one recoiled the least and patterned best in my gun. The only buckshot load available in 16 gauge is a Federal Power-Shok loaded with 12 pellets of #1 buckshot, so there isn\u2019t much of a choice.\r\n
Trial By Fire<\/h3>\r\nOn the other hand, every gun patterns differently, so I took my 12-gauge Remington 870 Express Tactical to the range to fire four loads to provide examples of how one gun can shoot very different patterns with different loads. I\u2019ve customized this gun by replacing the factory-installed cylinder-bore choke tube with a Rem Choke modified tube. That\u2019s because my personal experience and work in law enforcement have shown that 12-gauge guns usually shoot tighter patterns with a modified choke. I also mounted a Nikon P-Tactical Spur 3-MOA reflex sight and a Crimson Trace Rail Master Pro green laser\/100-lumen LED light, making my 870 both fast and accurate day or night. Always remember that you must aim a shotgun, because it\u2019s possible to miss the target entirely.\r\n
12 Gauge Buckshot On the Range<\/h3>\r\nI tested two tactical 00 loads: Federal\u2019s reduced-velocity, nine-pellet Personal Defense ammo and Hornady\u2019s full-velocity, eight-pellet Critical Defense load. Both have special wads designed for tight patterns. In addition, I patterned Remington\u2019s reduced-velocity, 21-pellet #4 buckshot Ultimate Defense ammo and Winchester\u2019s nine-pellet 00 buckshot Super-X load to demonstrate the patterns typical of #4 and 00 buckshot loads designed for general use.\r\n\r\nI fired one shot with each load at the head of a full-sized silhouette target 7 yards away, and one at the center of the target\u2019s chest at 15 yards. Each load kept all of its pellets in the head at 7 yards, although the Super-X hunting load clearly shot the largest pattern. At 15 yards, the area of the pattern of the Federal load remained essentially the same as it was at 7 yards. The other loads shot patterns that were wider at 15 yards than at 7 yards, and the Remington #4 load increased the most in area. In general, my experience has been that #4 buckshot patterns get larger very quickly as the distance from the gun to the target increases. See the included table for more results.\r\n\r\n[in_content post=\"76770\" alignment=\"align-right\" \/]\r\n
The Right Choice<\/h3>\r\nWhen selecting buckshot for personal defense, shooters must reconcile their recoil tolerance and the risk of collateral damage where they live with a specific load\u2019s reliability and patterning in their gun. No one should limit their choices to the loads I\u2019ve discussed. The ones I prefer have simply been the ones that performed best for my needs in the guns that I\u2019ve used. In the end, the right choice is one that\u2019s well reasoned and made with the understanding that the defensive role of buckshot is primarily personal and home defense at distances that rarely exceed 15 yards.\r\n
12 Gauge Buckshot Performance<\/h3>\r\nBuckshot: Pattern: <\/strong>7 Yards, 15 Yards<\/strong>\r\n
\r\n \t
BROWSE BY BRAND
Winchester Takes Over Lake City Army Ammo Plant<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Today\u2019s 12 Gauge Buckshot Choices<\/h3>\r\nIn the wide-open spaces of the Old West, the double-barrel 10-gauge coach gun may have made a lot of sense, but in today\u2019s urban and rural areas, most people are best served by a 12 gauge firing 2\u00be-inch ammunition<\/a>. Why? The 12 gauge generates a lot less recoil than the 10 gauge, and 2\u00be-inch ammo has more than enough power for defense. In fact, Federal\u2019s nine-pellet Personal Defense 00 buckshot load delivers 1,575 foot-pounds of energy (fpe) at the muzzle, which is about three times the energy of a .357 Magnum round.\r\n\r\nHornady\u2019s eight-pellet Critical Defense 00 load delivers 1,872 fpe, which is about twice as much as a .44 Magnum round. I prefer the Federal load with the FliteControl wad in my lightweight Remington 870 Express Tactical because it patterns the tightest in this particular gun and also generates the lowest recoil. Less recoil allows me to make faster follow-up shots\u2014if any are necessary.\r\n
Power Up<\/h3>\r\nHowever, my experience over the last 30 years has shown that some of the low-recoil tactical loads have not been as reliable in semi-auto shotguns. Therefore, I prefer the Hornady Critical Defense load or Remington\u2019s full-power TAC 8 shells in my Remington Model 1100 deer gun. Again, it\u2019s a matter of finding a load that is both reliable in your gun and throws tight patterns to reduce the risk of collateral damage.\r\n\r\nAs for the magnum 2\u00be-inch and 3-inch 00 loads, I\u2019ve never had these pattern tighter than the eight- or nine-pellet loads. The 00 magnums may be good for shooting running deer, where a wider pattern and more pellets make good sense, but for personal defense, my preference is to stay with the eight- and nine-pellet 00 loads that use plated and\/or hardened shot, since they tend to pattern best. Well-known defensive shotgun trainer Tom Givens of Rangemaster Firearms Training Services recommends 12-gauge, eight-pellet, 00 buckshot loads for personal defense because eight 00 pellets tend to stack more evenly in 12-gauge, 2\u00be-inch shotshells than do nine.\r\n
Smaller Shells<\/h3>\r\nSome people prefer 16- or 20-gauge shotguns, or even .410s, because they have less recoil. Even though these shotshells hold less powder and shot than 12-gauge ammo, the guns that shoot these smaller shells are usually quite light and still kick to a degree when firing buckshot. That\u2019s especially true of the 3-inch, 20-gauge Federal Vital-Shok and Personal Defense loads.\r\n\r\nThe only .410 shotgun I\u2019ve used with buckshot was an S&W Governor. It patterned very tightly with Federal\u2019s 000 buckshot Handgun ammo, and was an impressive close-range self-defense gun. If I were to switch to a .410, I\u2019d try the Federal Handgun, Hornady Critical Defense, Remington Ultimate Defense and Winchester 000 loads to see which one recoiled the least and patterned best in my gun. The only buckshot load available in 16 gauge is a Federal Power-Shok loaded with 12 pellets of #1 buckshot, so there isn\u2019t much of a choice.\r\n
Trial By Fire<\/h3>\r\nOn the other hand, every gun patterns differently, so I took my 12-gauge Remington 870 Express Tactical to the range to fire four loads to provide examples of how one gun can shoot very different patterns with different loads. I\u2019ve customized this gun by replacing the factory-installed cylinder-bore choke tube with a Rem Choke modified tube. That\u2019s because my personal experience and work in law enforcement have shown that 12-gauge guns usually shoot tighter patterns with a modified choke. I also mounted a Nikon P-Tactical Spur 3-MOA reflex sight and a Crimson Trace Rail Master Pro green laser\/100-lumen LED light, making my 870 both fast and accurate day or night. Always remember that you must aim a shotgun, because it\u2019s possible to miss the target entirely.\r\n
12 Gauge Buckshot On the Range<\/h3>\r\nI tested two tactical 00 loads: Federal\u2019s reduced-velocity, nine-pellet Personal Defense ammo and Hornady\u2019s full-velocity, eight-pellet Critical Defense load. Both have special wads designed for tight patterns. In addition, I patterned Remington\u2019s reduced-velocity, 21-pellet #4 buckshot Ultimate Defense ammo and Winchester\u2019s nine-pellet 00 buckshot Super-X load to demonstrate the patterns typical of #4 and 00 buckshot loads designed for general use.\r\n\r\nI fired one shot with each load at the head of a full-sized silhouette target 7 yards away, and one at the center of the target\u2019s chest at 15 yards. Each load kept all of its pellets in the head at 7 yards, although the Super-X hunting load clearly shot the largest pattern. At 15 yards, the area of the pattern of the Federal load remained essentially the same as it was at 7 yards. The other loads shot patterns that were wider at 15 yards than at 7 yards, and the Remington #4 load increased the most in area. In general, my experience has been that #4 buckshot patterns get larger very quickly as the distance from the gun to the target increases. See the included table for more results.\r\n\r\n[in_content post=\"76770\" alignment=\"align-right\" \/]\r\n
The Right Choice<\/h3>\r\nWhen selecting buckshot for personal defense, shooters must reconcile their recoil tolerance and the risk of collateral damage where they live with a specific load\u2019s reliability and patterning in their gun. No one should limit their choices to the loads I\u2019ve discussed. The ones I prefer have simply been the ones that performed best for my needs in the guns that I\u2019ve used. In the end, the right choice is one that\u2019s well reasoned and made with the understanding that the defensive role of buckshot is primarily personal and home defense at distances that rarely exceed 15 yards.\r\n
12 Gauge Buckshot Performance<\/h3>\r\nBuckshot: Pattern: <\/strong>7 Yards, 15 Yards<\/strong>\r\n
\r\n \t
BROWSE BY BRAND
Winchester Takes Over Lake City Army Ammo Plant<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Today\u2019s 12 Gauge Buckshot Choices<\/h3>\r\nIn the wide-open spaces of the Old West, the double-barrel 10-gauge coach gun may have made a lot of sense, but in today\u2019s urban and rural areas, most people are best served by a 12 gauge firing 2\u00be-inch ammunition<\/a>. Why? The 12 gauge generates a lot less recoil than the 10 gauge, and 2\u00be-inch ammo has more than enough power for defense. In fact, Federal\u2019s nine-pellet Personal Defense 00 buckshot load delivers 1,575 foot-pounds of energy (fpe) at the muzzle, which is about three times the energy of a .357 Magnum round.\r\n\r\nHornady\u2019s eight-pellet Critical Defense 00 load delivers 1,872 fpe, which is about twice as much as a .44 Magnum round. I prefer the Federal load with the FliteControl wad in my lightweight Remington 870 Express Tactical because it patterns the tightest in this particular gun and also generates the lowest recoil. Less recoil allows me to make faster follow-up shots\u2014if any are necessary.\r\n
Power Up<\/h3>\r\nHowever, my experience over the last 30 years has shown that some of the low-recoil tactical loads have not been as reliable in semi-auto shotguns. Therefore, I prefer the Hornady Critical Defense load or Remington\u2019s full-power TAC 8 shells in my Remington Model 1100 deer gun. Again, it\u2019s a matter of finding a load that is both reliable in your gun and throws tight patterns to reduce the risk of collateral damage.\r\n\r\nAs for the magnum 2\u00be-inch and 3-inch 00 loads, I\u2019ve never had these pattern tighter than the eight- or nine-pellet loads. The 00 magnums may be good for shooting running deer, where a wider pattern and more pellets make good sense, but for personal defense, my preference is to stay with the eight- and nine-pellet 00 loads that use plated and\/or hardened shot, since they tend to pattern best. Well-known defensive shotgun trainer Tom Givens of Rangemaster Firearms Training Services recommends 12-gauge, eight-pellet, 00 buckshot loads for personal defense because eight 00 pellets tend to stack more evenly in 12-gauge, 2\u00be-inch shotshells than do nine.\r\n
Smaller Shells<\/h3>\r\nSome people prefer 16- or 20-gauge shotguns, or even .410s, because they have less recoil. Even though these shotshells hold less powder and shot than 12-gauge ammo, the guns that shoot these smaller shells are usually quite light and still kick to a degree when firing buckshot. That\u2019s especially true of the 3-inch, 20-gauge Federal Vital-Shok and Personal Defense loads.\r\n\r\nThe only .410 shotgun I\u2019ve used with buckshot was an S&W Governor. It patterned very tightly with Federal\u2019s 000 buckshot Handgun ammo, and was an impressive close-range self-defense gun. If I were to switch to a .410, I\u2019d try the Federal Handgun, Hornady Critical Defense, Remington Ultimate Defense and Winchester 000 loads to see which one recoiled the least and patterned best in my gun. The only buckshot load available in 16 gauge is a Federal Power-Shok loaded with 12 pellets of #1 buckshot, so there isn\u2019t much of a choice.\r\n
Trial By Fire<\/h3>\r\nOn the other hand, every gun patterns differently, so I took my 12-gauge Remington 870 Express Tactical to the range to fire four loads to provide examples of how one gun can shoot very different patterns with different loads. I\u2019ve customized this gun by replacing the factory-installed cylinder-bore choke tube with a Rem Choke modified tube. That\u2019s because my personal experience and work in law enforcement have shown that 12-gauge guns usually shoot tighter patterns with a modified choke. I also mounted a Nikon P-Tactical Spur 3-MOA reflex sight and a Crimson Trace Rail Master Pro green laser\/100-lumen LED light, making my 870 both fast and accurate day or night. Always remember that you must aim a shotgun, because it\u2019s possible to miss the target entirely.\r\n
12 Gauge Buckshot On the Range<\/h3>\r\nI tested two tactical 00 loads: Federal\u2019s reduced-velocity, nine-pellet Personal Defense ammo and Hornady\u2019s full-velocity, eight-pellet Critical Defense load. Both have special wads designed for tight patterns. In addition, I patterned Remington\u2019s reduced-velocity, 21-pellet #4 buckshot Ultimate Defense ammo and Winchester\u2019s nine-pellet 00 buckshot Super-X load to demonstrate the patterns typical of #4 and 00 buckshot loads designed for general use.\r\n\r\nI fired one shot with each load at the head of a full-sized silhouette target 7 yards away, and one at the center of the target\u2019s chest at 15 yards. Each load kept all of its pellets in the head at 7 yards, although the Super-X hunting load clearly shot the largest pattern. At 15 yards, the area of the pattern of the Federal load remained essentially the same as it was at 7 yards. The other loads shot patterns that were wider at 15 yards than at 7 yards, and the Remington #4 load increased the most in area. In general, my experience has been that #4 buckshot patterns get larger very quickly as the distance from the gun to the target increases. See the included table for more results.\r\n\r\n[in_content post=\"76770\" alignment=\"align-right\" \/]\r\n
The Right Choice<\/h3>\r\nWhen selecting buckshot for personal defense, shooters must reconcile their recoil tolerance and the risk of collateral damage where they live with a specific load\u2019s reliability and patterning in their gun. No one should limit their choices to the loads I\u2019ve discussed. The ones I prefer have simply been the ones that performed best for my needs in the guns that I\u2019ve used. In the end, the right choice is one that\u2019s well reasoned and made with the understanding that the defensive role of buckshot is primarily personal and home defense at distances that rarely exceed 15 yards.\r\n
12 Gauge Buckshot Performance<\/h3>\r\nBuckshot: Pattern: <\/strong>7 Yards, 15 Yards<\/strong>\r\n
\r\n \t
BROWSE BY BRAND
Winchester Takes Over Lake City Army Ammo Plant<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Today\u2019s 12 Gauge Buckshot Choices<\/h3>\r\nIn the wide-open spaces of the Old West, the double-barrel 10-gauge coach gun may have made a lot of sense, but in today\u2019s urban and rural areas, most people are best served by a 12 gauge firing 2\u00be-inch ammunition<\/a>. Why? The 12 gauge generates a lot less recoil than the 10 gauge, and 2\u00be-inch ammo has more than enough power for defense. In fact, Federal\u2019s nine-pellet Personal Defense 00 buckshot load delivers 1,575 foot-pounds of energy (fpe) at the muzzle, which is about three times the energy of a .357 Magnum round.\r\n\r\nHornady\u2019s eight-pellet Critical Defense 00 load delivers 1,872 fpe, which is about twice as much as a .44 Magnum round. I prefer the Federal load with the FliteControl wad in my lightweight Remington 870 Express Tactical because it patterns the tightest in this particular gun and also generates the lowest recoil. Less recoil allows me to make faster follow-up shots\u2014if any are necessary.\r\n
Power Up<\/h3>\r\nHowever, my experience over the last 30 years has shown that some of the low-recoil tactical loads have not been as reliable in semi-auto shotguns. Therefore, I prefer the Hornady Critical Defense load or Remington\u2019s full-power TAC 8 shells in my Remington Model 1100 deer gun. Again, it\u2019s a matter of finding a load that is both reliable in your gun and throws tight patterns to reduce the risk of collateral damage.\r\n\r\nAs for the magnum 2\u00be-inch and 3-inch 00 loads, I\u2019ve never had these pattern tighter than the eight- or nine-pellet loads. The 00 magnums may be good for shooting running deer, where a wider pattern and more pellets make good sense, but for personal defense, my preference is to stay with the eight- and nine-pellet 00 loads that use plated and\/or hardened shot, since they tend to pattern best. Well-known defensive shotgun trainer Tom Givens of Rangemaster Firearms Training Services recommends 12-gauge, eight-pellet, 00 buckshot loads for personal defense because eight 00 pellets tend to stack more evenly in 12-gauge, 2\u00be-inch shotshells than do nine.\r\n
Smaller Shells<\/h3>\r\nSome people prefer 16- or 20-gauge shotguns, or even .410s, because they have less recoil. Even though these shotshells hold less powder and shot than 12-gauge ammo, the guns that shoot these smaller shells are usually quite light and still kick to a degree when firing buckshot. That\u2019s especially true of the 3-inch, 20-gauge Federal Vital-Shok and Personal Defense loads.\r\n\r\nThe only .410 shotgun I\u2019ve used with buckshot was an S&W Governor. It patterned very tightly with Federal\u2019s 000 buckshot Handgun ammo, and was an impressive close-range self-defense gun. If I were to switch to a .410, I\u2019d try the Federal Handgun, Hornady Critical Defense, Remington Ultimate Defense and Winchester 000 loads to see which one recoiled the least and patterned best in my gun. The only buckshot load available in 16 gauge is a Federal Power-Shok loaded with 12 pellets of #1 buckshot, so there isn\u2019t much of a choice.\r\n
Trial By Fire<\/h3>\r\nOn the other hand, every gun patterns differently, so I took my 12-gauge Remington 870 Express Tactical to the range to fire four loads to provide examples of how one gun can shoot very different patterns with different loads. I\u2019ve customized this gun by replacing the factory-installed cylinder-bore choke tube with a Rem Choke modified tube. That\u2019s because my personal experience and work in law enforcement have shown that 12-gauge guns usually shoot tighter patterns with a modified choke. I also mounted a Nikon P-Tactical Spur 3-MOA reflex sight and a Crimson Trace Rail Master Pro green laser\/100-lumen LED light, making my 870 both fast and accurate day or night. Always remember that you must aim a shotgun, because it\u2019s possible to miss the target entirely.\r\n
12 Gauge Buckshot On the Range<\/h3>\r\nI tested two tactical 00 loads: Federal\u2019s reduced-velocity, nine-pellet Personal Defense ammo and Hornady\u2019s full-velocity, eight-pellet Critical Defense load. Both have special wads designed for tight patterns. In addition, I patterned Remington\u2019s reduced-velocity, 21-pellet #4 buckshot Ultimate Defense ammo and Winchester\u2019s nine-pellet 00 buckshot Super-X load to demonstrate the patterns typical of #4 and 00 buckshot loads designed for general use.\r\n\r\nI fired one shot with each load at the head of a full-sized silhouette target 7 yards away, and one at the center of the target\u2019s chest at 15 yards. Each load kept all of its pellets in the head at 7 yards, although the Super-X hunting load clearly shot the largest pattern. At 15 yards, the area of the pattern of the Federal load remained essentially the same as it was at 7 yards. The other loads shot patterns that were wider at 15 yards than at 7 yards, and the Remington #4 load increased the most in area. In general, my experience has been that #4 buckshot patterns get larger very quickly as the distance from the gun to the target increases. See the included table for more results.\r\n\r\n[in_content post=\"76770\" alignment=\"align-right\" \/]\r\n
