Shotgun ammo

[Severe]

I'm new to shotguns. I have a Mossberg 500At 12 gauge with a 28" modified choke that I acquired used and was wondering what type of shot should I buy for practice at an indoor range and where can I get it cheap. Thanks all for your replies.

[DeltaII5]

Wolf and Sellior & Bellot are quite cheap. I shoot 00 buck out of my 870 (18" no choke). Not sure what you would want, but I've never had a problem with the ammo and its quite cheap. Patterns aren't as good as the whincestor x I sometimes use, but its half the price.

[roland]

You should check with the range to see if they'll let you shoot a shotgun in their range, some don't. Most pistol ranges will let you shoot buck shot and slugs. Generally you don't want to shoot slugs though a choked gun, use either improved cylander or no choke. No choke doesn't mean to remove the choke tube and shoot it , It's a different choke, sometimes called open choke. Shoot whatever is the cheapest and on sale. you can pattern you shotgun, shoot a 30 circle 25 yards away to see how the ammo is hitting the target-buck or 00 buck etc. generally sight in with the slugs.

[Uni_Ownr]

Open Choke fixed = Cylinder Bore
Improved Cylinder fixed = one step tighter than Open

I have a Mossberg 500A Persuader 8 shot, Open or Cylinder Bore, my Rem. 870 Exp. Mag. has an Imp. Cyl. bore. It is not harmful to use slugs from a full choke. I have contacted the big American gun manufacturers about this. They told me if it was dangerous they would not market the guns or the ammo either.

Granted, you will get one hell of a kick from shooting a slug from a full choke, but it will not harm the gun, so long as it is a fixed choke shotgun. I would not shoot slugs from guns with chokes tighter than full choke, or from a gun that requires screw in choke tubes, unless the screw in choke tube is meant for slugs and it is secured in the barrel TIGHTLY.

I also like the Sellier & Bellot ammo shot from my Mossberg and my Rem. shotguns, I go for the cheaper Buckshot and Slugs, they have always worked well for me.

[roland]

You didn't say if you were going to use it for hunting. You can look on the back of most shotgun ammo boxes for the appropriate shot size for the game your hunting. I use lead #7.5 and #6 for just about everything except ducks and geese, then use steel #2, bb, and T.

[Uni_Ownr]

I myself have had to use rifled slugs in fixed full choked shotguns. I had no other choice at the time, I didn't have a rifle legal to hunt with for deer. All we had was a .22 Magnum rifle. Sure it beat the crap out of me, but I still put the venison on the table.

[BearTitan]

I agree that Sellior & Bellot shotgun shells are a great buy. I keep a belt loaded with #4 buckshot right next to my shotgun. Not many guys go with #4 because #00 buck is so popular. For home defense, I prefer #4. Test it at 8 yards (24 feet is the max you would shoot in a home defense situation) and you will see. 00 buck puts 9 holes in the man-size target. #4 buck removes the entire middle of the man size target.

Out past 10-12 yards, the advantage clearly goes to 00.

Shoot watermelons to get the full effect!