FYI, as I see & ask this question periodically.
Q: What happens when you fire bird/buckshot through a rifled bore?
A: Very rapid shot dispersal, about 1.5" for each foot of distance.
Just tried it with #8 shot in a 24" rifled 12 guage:
Distance -> spread
1 yard -> 6"
2 yds -> 9"
3 yds -> 13"
4 yds -> 18"
5 yds -> 23"
00 buck spread about 16" at 5 yards.
Comparitively, in a smooth-bore 20" 12-guage at 5 yards, birdshot spread about 9" and 00 buck spread 3.25".
Q: What happens when you fire bird/buckshot through a rifled bore?
A: Very rapid shot dispersal, about 1.5" for each foot of distance.
Just tried it with #8 shot in a 24" rifled 12 guage:
Distance -> spread
1 yard -> 6"
2 yds -> 9"
3 yds -> 13"
4 yds -> 18"
5 yds -> 23"
00 buck spread about 16" at 5 yards.
Comparitively, in a smooth-bore 20" 12-guage at 5 yards, birdshot spread about 9" and 00 buck spread 3.25".