So I broke in my new shottie this morning and was surprised that the most affordable ammo performed the best! I tried 8 different loads (all 00 buckshot) and by far the 'best' performer was the Estate 00 Buckshot.
While the Remington LE Reduced Recoil pattern was the smallest overall, there was at least 1 flyer for each shot which knocked it out of contention for my go-to HD load. On the other hand, while the Estate shells patterned slightly wider the patterns were very symmetric and circular (surprising for unbuffered shot).
I plan on testing the Federal Flight Control as soon as I get some, and will try different chokes, but for now this is what I found. The results are the average of 3 different pattern tests (24 total shots):
* All 2 3/4" shells, 00 Buckshot
** All loads shot using the "black" ring piston.
10 Yards, Improved Cylinder choke (Invector)
1. Remington Express 00 (9 pellet): 5.5" with flyers & stringing
2. Federal Low Recoil (9 pellet): 7", stringing
3. Federal Classic (9 pellet): 7", stringing
4. Remington Managed Recoil (8 pellet): 5", stringing
5: Estate (9 pellet): 5", circular
6. Remington TAC 8: 7", stringing
7. Remington LE Reduced Recoil: 4.5", circular but with flyers (1 FTE)
8. Hornady TAP: 6.5" stringing
While the Remington LE Reduced Recoil pattern was the smallest overall, there was at least 1 flyer for each shot which knocked it out of contention for my go-to HD load. On the other hand, while the Estate shells patterned slightly wider the patterns were very symmetric and circular (surprising for unbuffered shot).
I plan on testing the Federal Flight Control as soon as I get some, and will try different chokes, but for now this is what I found. The results are the average of 3 different pattern tests (24 total shots):
* All 2 3/4" shells, 00 Buckshot
** All loads shot using the "black" ring piston.
10 Yards, Improved Cylinder choke (Invector)
1. Remington Express 00 (9 pellet): 5.5" with flyers & stringing
2. Federal Low Recoil (9 pellet): 7", stringing
3. Federal Classic (9 pellet): 7", stringing
4. Remington Managed Recoil (8 pellet): 5", stringing
5: Estate (9 pellet): 5", circular
6. Remington TAC 8: 7", stringing
7. Remington LE Reduced Recoil: 4.5", circular but with flyers (1 FTE)
8. Hornady TAP: 6.5" stringing