Ammo For Shotgun Training Class

[Guerrero]

I'm looking at taking two shotgun classes this summer. The ammo requirements are:

"150 rounds of birdshot, 50 rounds of buckshot, and 15 rounds of slugs (quality ammo recommended for patterning)"

and

"200 rounds of birdshot, 50 rounds of buckshot, and 15 rounds of slugs (quality ammo recommended for patterning), 50 rounds for handgun"


I got a message through to the instructor and asked about high-quality SD ammo (Federal Flite Control, Critical Defense, etc.), and he responded that we would use the "good stuff" only for patterning. This leaves a bunch of ammo for training.

What do people suggest? I think in the past I've heard @TCinVA say that Winchester AA birdshot is good for training, and I think @167 mentioned S&B 9-pellet 00.

[167]

What gun are you using?

Birdshot is about $100/flat right now.

Good buckshot and slugs are about $1/shell

Okay buckshot about $0.50/shell

[Guerrero]

What gun are you using?

Birdshot is about $100/flat right now.

Good buckshot and slugs are about $1/shell

Okay buckshot about $0.50/shell

Remington 870P

[entropy]

Same boat. Class late summer. 300/200/100/100 recommended quantities.

I stocked up last year when I got the new pup and decided to chase grouse again. Pink hulled Remington stuff. I’ve used buckshot from Royal in the past as well as slugs from Sterling. Both are from Turkey IIRC. They both get the job done. I have some Hornady Black and FFC that pattern better, but no way I’m buying 200rds of FFC to shoot at cardboard. I’m going to give the instructor a ring and see what he says, but I’m figuring most all of it is going to be consumed by manipulation drills.

I see the S&B stuff is well stocked at my favorite contraband dealer. I’m doing a low-light pistol class as well within the next few months so I really need to break out the plastic before the next pandemic or alien invasion hits...

Using an 870 pump as well. My shoulder is already hurting! Lol

I’m not a fan of side saddles or the like. Can’t stand them. I need to touch bases with him as well on that. Only thing on it right now is my original beat-to-hell 6P with a LED head. I really don’t like that in their either, but need it there. Same with slings. I’m a “bare naked” kinda guy...

[167]

Remington 870P

Birdshot options. Any of them should work unless the instructor wants a specific shot size. I know Tom Givens prefers students use a #5 or #6 size birdshot. Not sure about some of the others.

https://www.rogerssportinggoods.com/...matrixoption=2

https://www.rogerssportinggoods.com/...matrixoption=2

https://www.rogerssportinggoods.com/...matrixoption=2

https://www.rogerssportinggoods.com/...matrixoption=2

Links to good buckshot and slugs.

https://www.gtdist.com/catalog/produ...category/1031/

https://www.gtdist.com/products/guns...lug-2-3-4.html

https://www.gtdist.com/federal-12ga-...lts-2-3-4.html

Links to okay buckshot. Will function well, but not pattern as well as FFC.

https://www.rogerssportinggoods.com/...2-3-4-1-325FPS

https://www.rogerssportinggoods.com/...matrixoption=1

Rogers Sporting Goods ships free for orders over $100, and in my experience they ship pretty quickly.

[entropy]

Thanks 167!

[RevolverRob]

Curious if anyone has tried the Nobelsport Buck - https://www.bereli.com/nobelsport-12...s-anslr1200bk/

The price is good overall and seems like it would be decent training fodder if the shell quality is there, little bit lower recoil closer to low-recoil FFC.

[TCinVA]

I've shot a metric boatload of the Winchester SuperX birdshot for practice. I tend to use #6 or #4 if it's available as it does a little bit better job of simulating the recoil of defensive ammo. I've also fired a whole bunch of Federal's Top Shot bulk loads. Both are just fine as bulk training birdshot.

When it was cheap, I did a lot of practice with S&B buckshot.

I have had the most problems out of Rio shells.

For "good stuff" buckshot, pretty much anything with plated pellets and grex for cushioning between them will qualify as "good stuff" in the buckshot territory. My go-to is Federal Flite Control.

For slugs my advice to clients is to find the slug that hits as close to the same point of aim as possible to their preferred buckshot load and stick with that because it makes life a hell of a lot simpler. If that's not possible then zero your gun for what you will be doing with it the most (zeroing for slugs on a home defense gun makes little sense. Zeroing for buckshot on a slug gun meant for bear defense makes little sense) and then figure out what your slug/buck of choice will be doing with that point of aim, put it on a dope card and tape that thing to the stock.

[TCinVA]

Curious if anyone has tried the Nobelsport Buck - https://www.bereli.com/nobelsport-12...s-anslr1200bk/

The price is good overall and seems like it would be decent training fodder if the shell quality is there, little bit lower recoil closer to low-recoil FFC.

I've started seeing it in the last couple of years. I can't say it stands out for remarkable patterning performance, but it seems to go bang reliably.

[revchuck38]

I've shot a metric boatload of the Winchester SuperX birdshot for practice. I tend to use #6 or #4 if it's available as it does a little bit better job of simulating the recoil of defensive ammo. I've also fired a whole bunch of Federal's Top Shot bulk loads. Both are just fine as bulk training birdshot.

When it was cheap, I did a lot of practice with S&B buckshot.

I have had the most problems out of Rio shells.

For "good stuff" buckshot, pretty much anything with plated pellets and grex for cushioning between them will qualify as "good stuff" in the buckshot territory. My go-to is Federal Flite Control.

For slugs my advice to clients is to find the slug that hits as close to the same point of aim as possible to their preferred buckshot load and stick with that because it makes life a hell of a lot simpler. If that's not possible then zero your gun for what you will be doing with it the most (zeroing for slugs on a home defense gun makes little sense. Zeroing for buckshot on a slug gun meant for bear defense makes little sense) and then figure out what your slug/buck of choice will be doing with that point of aim, put it on a dope card and tape that thing to the stock.

^^^^What he said. When I did a class with @LHS and his Dad, I used Winchester AA for most of it because it wasn't that much more than the cheap stuff at Academy. I've gone through most of a case of Fiocchi 00 and had no problems in either my 870 Magnum or 590A1.

Re: the bolded part above, I've found that the low recoil Federal slugs in @167's post have the same POA/POI as Flite Control eight pellet 00 buck at 25 yards in my 870.

Going off on a tangent, make sure you bring the correct screwdrivers/Allen wrenches/whatever tightens the fasteners on your shotgun to the class. Stuff loosens on a shotgun during a high-volume class the same way it does on a revolver.