3" vs. 2.75" buckshot

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nightwolf1974

New member
Been having trouble finding the 3" Remington 000 buckshot I love to shoot in my 870 Tactical, so I've been thinking of dropping back to the 2.75" Remington 000 buckshot.

My question for y'all is.............

Would you feel under powered in a defensive exchange, at 12 to 15 yards* by dropping back to the 2.75" 000 buckshot load...vs. the 3" 000 buckshot load?

The 870 is my travel/camping shotgun, and I take an undisclosed amount of spare shells with me.

*My personal belief is after 15yds, it's handgun(1911, Glock, or AR pistol) time.*:D
 
My HD shotguns don't even have 3" chambers, good old 9 pellet OO buck has been doing the trick for over 100 years.
And get some federal "flight control" buck and/or slugs and it turns your 15 yard limit to more like 50.
 
2-3/4" #1 is my preference. Inside 15 yards with 000, would not think it would make much of a difference at all.
 
I'd consider 2 3/4" loads as an improvement.

The only time I find 3" shells of any help is with steel shot. To be effective you normally have to go up about 2 shot sizes when comparing steel to lead. The 3" shells help get the pellet count back up to a reasonable number.
 
The 3" #1 Buck 24 pellet load might be the best overall personal defense load ever made for the 12 gauge shotgun. That's a massive payload, nearly triple the pellet of a standard police 00 load, but the pellets are only slightly smaller at .30 cal vs 00 .33 cal.
 
jmr40 said:
I'd consider 2 3/4" loads as an improvement.



The only time I find 3" shells of any help is with steel shot. To be effective you normally have to go up about 2 shot sizes when comparing steel to lead. The 3" shells help get the pellet count back up to a reasonable number.
Click to expand...


Agreed...

I only use 3” for hunting, and even then, it wasn’t that big of a difference. Don’t hunt too much anymore, but didn’t even see the need to move to 3.5” when both my 11-87s were 3”.

I like the 3” ability, but not because I regularly shoot them. Rather be able to shoot whatever I have on hand, if need be.
 
agreed

Less recoil and flash with the standard 2-3/4 load, allowing faster follow up. The three inch shell can be a real thumper and it's slightly added wallop doesn't really matter at SD shotgun ranges. Heck, some LE outfits have gone to a low recoil, 8 pellet 00 load.
 
Federal Flite-Control Buckshot put tight patterns and cylinder bore in the same sentence!
Three inch 12 pellet 00B @ 1325 from industry test barrels.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/10...tecontrol-wad#

Note: The 3" twelve pellet 00B Flite-Control round is a 1 & 3/8 ounce, (600 grain), load.

The low recoil 8 pellet 2.75" version of the 00B Flite-Control round is a 9/10 ounce load.

The 3" Dixie Tri-Ball is a 2.2 ounce load.

Dixie Tri-Ball:

http://www.dixieslugs.com/products.html
 
I’d stick with 2 3/4 OOO Buck. The recoil is lighter, but eight .36 caliber lead balls sure make a mess of the intended target.
 
t4terrific said:
I’d stick with 2 3/4 OOO Buck. The recoil is lighter, but eight .36 caliber lead balls sure make a mess of the intended target.
Click to expand...
American made factory loaded 000B usually measures .345" to .350" in diameter with the weight running 61 to 63 grains.
 
3" shells use the same amount of powder at the 2.75. So the same amount of powder
is going to drive the 2.75 shot harder...
 
If you're in a firefight at 12 to 15 yards, you're already in a pickle. You'll have no time to think or worry about it.
Difference between 3" and 2.75" is the number of pellets and the recoil. Both felt and actual recoil. However, if you're going to use a 3" Mag, you're better off with #4 buck. Gives you 41 6mm pellets. 27 pellets in a 2.75" shell. Vs 10 of 000 buck.
"...your 15 yard limit to more like 50..." Using plain rifled slugs out of a smooth bore with rifle sights, you can expect 2" to 3" groups at 100 yards.
"...Remington states .36 caliber on the box..." Calibre is flexible to the manufacturers. .36 calibre can be .375–.380 inch diameter. .38 calibre is .357" diameter.
 
#4 buck

Aside from the fact that the OP was inquiring regards 00 or 000 buck, I can't agree with the suggestion for #4B as a GP buckshot load. Quite a few agencies went to #4 buck in the late 70's, early 80's. Then they shot a few felons with the stuff, and the results were not all that impressive. I believe nearly all switched back to larger buck within the decade.

Those 6mm pellets do give one a higher pellet count, but less mass which effects penetration. Lengthen the distance of your SD shots, or add an outer garment, and #4 buck may not do so well.
 
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