Does this sound right, I'm thinking of using Federal Premium® FLITECONTROL® #1 buckshot for HD however I'm not sure what choke to use, maybe full choke? Any comments are appreciated. Thanks
Take several sheets out of the closet, put them over a cloths line, step back the amount you feel a bad guy would be at, shoot the sheet, use a different choke on each sheet, compare sheets, look for pellets in the area does the most damage, use that one.
Or you could use "butcher paper" ...or plain old white wrapping paper...or brown paper bags...or whatever..../ a heck of a lot cheaper than bed sheets...
Take several sheets out of the closet, put them over a cloths line, step back the amount you feel a bad guy would be at, shoot the sheet, use a different choke on each sheet, compare sheets, look for pellets in the area does the most damage, use that one.
I am curious as to how many holes in the sheet you get using buckshot?
Depends on how many slugs is in the shot, main thing is how the pattern looks on the sheet or paper or whatever you use. If the pattern is all wide you may not get the best tresults, if pattern is tight then you will do some damage if on target.
Dont go use a barn as some idiot did on our place when I was a kid. nor a farm equipment just sitting there. Nor a street sign as most city folk shoot up out here where some of us live full time.
Really it doesnt make a damn bit of difference. Once you load that thing and they hear the "CLICK CLICK" they will either run or have a heart attack and die...kidding, but seriously. Point and shoot, if you hit them with a 12 ga its game over...period.
At typical HD ranges, choke choice is moot. The difference in patterns between Cyl and Full is maybe an inch. However....
Atypical shots arise in the home, AND every HD shotgun may have to double as a CD shotgun.
CD? Community Defense. Think of those ad hoc militias after Katrina turning their hoods into safe zones where looting, violence and rapine were minimal compared to other areas.
So, take that into consideration when picking a choke.
Something that will keep all the pattern within 12-15" at 25 yards is,IMO, close to ideal.
You specifically asked about a choke for Federal PREMIUM Flite Contol #1 Buck. I have both something similar (Federal Premium Personal Defense with Flight Control 00 buck) and some Remington Ultra Home Defense with heavy dense BB's that I bought for HD. I never thought of Civil Defense as raised by Dave, but should such an occassion arise I would probably be using a short barrel 870 with a fixed open cylinder (no choke) and suspect it will be nice and tight at the 25 yards posited by Dave. I think he may ahve posted someting about how it patterns at that distance, but do not recall. Still, I have seen at least one post where someone claimed a 6" pattern at 15-20 yards with iFlight Control and an open cylinder short barrel 870.
I would just run a very open choke if you have screw-ins and if you may be using some slugs you may want to go with an IC. The proof of the pudding is the individual gun and how it patterns for you.