Effective 12 Gauge Range

H

HOGGHEAD

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I am going to buy a new 12 gauge shotgun. It will be used for Turkeys, Predators, and some crows. I have decided on the 870 Express with the ambi. pistol grip design, and either the 21" or the 23" barrel. I am trying to decide whether I want the 3" model, or the 3-1/2" model??

I am a handicapped hunter, and I can only hunt off my Kawasaki Mule. So I need a shorter shotgun so I do not beat the shotgun to death on the roll cage. And the Expres wil do just fine, because I am pretty hard on firearms, and it will get knocked around a good bit.

What are the real effective ranges of the 2-3/4 VS. 3 VS 3-1/2" shells??

I have been studying a lot of old posts. And a lot of different mfrs. specs. on their shotgun shells. However I am a bit perplexed at the information. I have noticed the real difference in velocity to be between 1180----1300 fps. And I have noticed different load weights having different velocities. So what is the real low down?? Tom.
 
in my opinion the limited range difference is not worth the battering from the 3.5" shells.

just get a good selection of choke tubes. ive killed turkeys with a full choke and a 2 3/4" load of BB, at 30m, but i dont normally hunt them so i dont know.
 
Just can`t see the need for 3 1/2" unless I were goose or duck hunting and I don`t hunt either of them and question the need then. Agree with Troy, the pounding of a magnum 3 1/2" turkeyload is just not worth the extra 10 yds. A 50 yd. shot,although a long one, can be done with the right load and choke set up using a 3". You just have to try different loads and pattern your shotgun. My longest with a 2 3/4" shell a friend of mine rolled for me using an old single shot Winchester with extra-full swedged barrel was right at 47yds. I don`t want to make a habit at that distance. Eyes aren`t what they used to be.
 
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I would go with the 3.5 inch just to know that i have it if i ever need it.
The range of the 12 gauge shotgun is anywhere from 1 yd or < to 50 yds. Some stray shot pellets may reach to 80 or 90 yds depending on obstructions in the way of the pattern.
 
What are the real effective ranges of the 2-3/4 VS. 3 VS 3-1/2" shells??
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You'll have to pattern test them in your particular shotgun to determine this for yourself.

Each barrel patterns uniquely as do different load/manufacturer selections.

A heavier shot load may damage more pellets (more inertia) as the pellets are pressed against each other from propellant ignition acceleration forces. Damaged pellets are less aerodynamic and are likely to veer off. A heavier shot load also creates greater potential for a "pool ball" effect as pellets collide with one another as they exit the bore, causing pellets to veer off.

Wad construction also affects accuracy.

Bottom line - the load that consistently patterns tightest at longer ranges will determine the "real effective range" of your individual shotgun.

Cheers!
 
A gun chambered in 3" is plenty balistically to take care of whatever you need. These days you can buy as many varieties of loads for a 3" as you can effectively for a 3 1/2".

The effective range is a function of velocity and pellet size / 7 1/2's can have an effective range of 50 - 60 yards especially in 1 1/8 oz loads at 1300 fps ( Remington Nitro sporting clays load ). A load of 6's or 4's will hit a little harder at that range than 7 1/2's , for a given velocity, because of the size and weight of the shot. But you only need 1, maybe 2 pellets, of 7 1/2's to break a clay target at that range / so translating that to an effective kill range on a bird is very difficult - and beyond 40 yards, maybe its a shot you shouldn't take because it may not end with a clean kill.
 
shotgun range

no wonder some of the crows i have been shooting at fly off. most of the shots that i get around my house are 60 to 80 yards. quit hunting a long time ago because of walking problems but aint above taking a shot or 2 around the house.
 
velocity and shot

You are on the verge of knowing something about shotshells.
There is no big difference in velocity as you have seen for your self.
Choice comes in shot size (turkey 4,5 and#6) and shot material (lead, copper coated lead, or heavy shot).
Turkey hunters take head shots. You want to break the neck or crack the skull.
The further out you want to shoot the smaller the size shot you need.
#5 heavy shot hits like #4 lead but has more pellets.
The larger pellet charges have less pellet count which means sparser patterns.
It is a give and take situation.
If you go with smaller pellets to increase the number of hits on turkey you may only wound the bird.
One pellet that kills is better than ten that wound.

Things to look for would be bore size and choke.
get Screw-in chokes and you can try different contrictions.
Look for an overbored or back-bored barrel.
They should pattern better.
If I was getting a pump I would go 3.5''
If it was auto I would suggest maybe a 3"

Check out www.wildlifedepartment.com/turkey_loads.htm
Article by Craig Endicot "Turkey Loads"
also goggle "wild turkey zone"
 
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USA123456789 said:
The range of the 12 gauge shotgun is anywhere from 1 yd or < to 50 yds. Some stray shot pellets may reach to 80 or 90 yds depending on obstructions in the way of the pattern."
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Yikes... If you believe shot shell pellets will go only 80 to 90 yards, perhaps you should hurry to a shooting safety course. As one who has laid-out shotgun range safety zones, and field verified the published data, let me assure you that typical target loads routinely exceed 90 yards.

Years ago, General Journee, a French ballistics expert, developed a formula to the effect that the maximum range in yards equals 2200 times the shot diameter in inches. When the gun is held at a horizontal position or only slightly elevated, this formula gives the maximum range of shot sizes as shown below.

# 2 - 330 yards
# 4 - 286 yards
# 6 - 242 yards
# 7 1/2 - 209 yards
# 8 - 198 yards
# 9 - 176 yards

If your gun is elevated, as in the shooting sports, the range is increased. Altitude also has an effect on how far shot will carry. Data published by the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute, for example, indicates the maximum range for # 7 1/2 shot is 780 feet at sea level but increases to 1,080 feet at high altitude (12,000 ft.).
 
Range

That is correct Zippy. Years ago in an old American Rifleman magazine, there was an article which cited your reference. I recall the article may have been titled "That Shotgun May Shoot Further Than you Think" and it recorded how, in the late 19th century, a gentleman on horseback was shot at a range of approximately 200 yards. Certainly freak conditions as well as the softer lead then used [which increases the risk of pellets being clumped together] may have had a hand in this. But considering this was the blackpowder era, it was eyebrow raising. I believe firearms manufacturers use the following margin of safety as recommendations:
shotguns - 500 yards
rimfire rifles: 1.5 miles
centrefire rifles: 4 miles.

It goes without saying that with today's more powerful loads and more advanced shot materials [and sabot slugs etc] one can never be too safe.
while this may not be in keeping with the thread of the post, the bottom line is that you simply, and for the sake of safety, ought not to underestimate the capability of any firearm, especially the shotgun, since it fires multiple projectiles.
 
would probably skip the 12 and just get a 10 guage would also go with a longer barrel if at all possible while I do alot of turkey hunting with 3 inch 4 shot and pretty much limit my shots to 40 yards maybe a little further if there flying as they are easy to knock down. if I was handicap and had to hunt from a mule my first choice would probably be a rifle, but if I had to use shotgun it would be a 10 guage.
turkeys have great eyes and im not sure you will have much luck on calling one in that close without great camofluage.
im sure many people have been sprinkled with shot from someone shooting a shotgun in the air, so they can go 200-300 yards but at that point theyve really lost most all there energy and unless its buckshot or a slug I dont consider it a serious threat.
 
Zippy is right on the safety range - and we should always understand the angle of our gun and where that shot might land. Getting hit in a parking lot / a couple hundred yards away from falling shot when the wind shifts on a sporting clays course is not fun / and hard on windshields and paint. Depending on the size of shot falling - it can hurt.

But there is a difference between the safety fall zone vs the potential effective kill range on a bird or clay target / so I guess I'm not sure what you were asking about / but maybe you have both perspectives now.
 
There's no need for a 10GA when you can buy a Mossberg 835 instead. It will shoot just as good since it has the same size backbore .775 barrel. I too shoot 4 shot, but I can tell you turkeys aren't easily knocked down when they fly or at least not to the ground dead where they hit from my findings. My recommendations is not to shoot flying turkeys due that most will get crippled and die. I know that from personal experience.

The guy said he was handicapped, so he wants a gun that is lighter. I'm not big on a short barrel for a turkey gun. I have a Rem 870 Express 21" turkey gun, and the barrel is too short in my opinion. I prefer a 26" barrel at least and a 28" I like even more. My findings from shooting a short barrel gun vs a longer barrel one to a point is that the longer barrel ones will have a tendency to shoot a little better. Now that is not my opinion, but my findings from comparing different guns on cardboard shot at various distances and with different brands of factory turkey loads with various size loads and shot sizes and that is including choke tubes as well. I have done a lot of trurkey load testing over the years and can tell you what works and what doesn't. I'm not claiming to be an expert, but just sharing actual knowledge of testing I have done.
 
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All this information about maximum range does not address the original question, "what is the effective range of a 12 ga shotgun".

Several folks have beat around the bush IMO. The maximum effective range of any weapon has to do with how far you can reliably hit a target of a given size. So it really depends a lot on what you are shooting. Deer? Maybe out to 70 yds with buckshot. Ducks? About 50 yds with #2 shot. Quail? About 30-40 yds with 7-1/2s. Turkeys? No experience here, but most turkey hunters are trying to pattern the bird's head, so to me that means unless you have a ultra-tight choke, probably 40-50 yds with 5s or 6s will be the limit. Could you sneak a pellet into one farther than that and drop it? Sure. Reliably? No.

As far as 2-3/4" vs 3" vs 3-1/2", I just shoot 2-3/4" any more. I have never seen an advantage in the 3" shells, and 3-1/2" shells will make you cry like a baby, not just because of the recoil but also because of $3-$4 a shot price tag.
 
Effective range for most good shooting 3" turkey guns that have a good turkey choke screwed in to the barrel that is capable of shooting at least 80% patterns in a 30" circle on carboard would be 40yds. A lot of guns with a good shooting choke tube of the correct constriction in relation to the backbore of the actual barrel will shoot patterns closer to the 90% range. If you have a turkey gun that will shoot close to 90% patterns at 40yds, then you should be able to consistently take turkeys at 45-50yds. Now those are based on #5 and #6 shot turkey loads of 2oz or 2 and 1/4oz. If you have a gun that will consistently shoot 90% patterns at 40yds with #4 shot(which by the way very few manufactured barrels with a .730 back bore will do that) from 2 and 1/4oz turkey loads then you can take turkeys consistently at 55yds. I have killed a gobbler at 53yds with my Mossberg 835 and a Undertaker .695 choke tube using Winchester Supreme 3.5" 2 and 1/4oz loads and another jake at 59yds. Both birds went straight to the ground. This combination I mentioned will consistently shoot 90% patterns at 40yds. 4 shot just effectively kills turkeys better than the other size shot at 50yds or farther from my findings. Past 50yds, you can forget about how many #6 shot you can hit in a certain size circle. The difference between killing a turkey consistently at this distance is night and day difference. 6 shot just simply put doesn't kill effectively at that distance or beyond from my experience.
 
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I don't make it a habit to shoot turkey out past 50yds just so you know. But I am a firm believer in consistency and what actually works. In a perfect world you shouldn't ever have to shoot a gobbler at 50yds or farther, but we don't live in a perfect world. Why let a big, hung up gobbler walk at 50yds to see another day or possibly over the shoulder of another hunter when all a hunter would have to do is change guns and turkey loads and maybe shot size to what will kill that bird today? ;)
 
Also if you can't stand heavy recoil from a large turkey load, I don't recommend you to shoot the 2 and 1/4oz turkey loads then because the recoil is harder than a 458 Win Mag. Each shot hits the shooters shoulder with 72lbs of force. The 458 Win Mag has 60lbs of shoulder force in comparison.

It doesn't bother me in the slightest when I'm shooting a turkey with these heavy turkey loads. I know it's going to kick. ;)
 
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brad I would have to agree with you. I own a 458 lott and i cannot shoot 5 shoots in 15 minutes. The only way i can tame the beast is with 150 lbs of lead shot.
 
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