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12 Gauge Federal Flightcontrol Review

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Shotguns … I do love them and I’m always on the lookout to find new ammo. The versatility of shotgun ammo is one of the best things about this platform. You can swap between buckshot, slugs, and bird, as well as specialty ammo that’s both effective and fun. I always like to experiment with different types to serve different purposes.

Today we are looking at Federal Tactical 12 gauge, with their flight control wad.

This particular ammo is designed to have a tight pattern. The purpose for tight patterning buckshot, at least for me, is to get a round that can reach out and touch a target beyond normal buckshot range. In certain roles I want the effectiveness of buckshot without the risks of slugs.

Slugs tend to penetrate quite a bit, and sometimes I want lower penetration along with the spread buckshot offers. Will the Federal Tactical 12 gauge with Flightcontrol be that round? Let’s find out —

The Federal Tactical 12 Gauge Specs

There are several Federal Tactical 12 gauge rounds, but this particular load is the affordable and easy to find 00 buckshot. I understand they also produce a Number 1 buck that I’d love to try. The 00 Buckshot is 2 ¾ inches, and packs nine pellets and has a velocity of 1145 feet per second. In bulk I can purchase the ammo for a little over 50 cents a round, so for shotgun ammo, it is affordable.

The idea behind this ammo is simple: Increase the effective range of buckshot without the need for chokes. Most police and tactical shotguns come with a cylinder bore choke and barrels from 14 to 20 inches in length.

This is an affordable alternative for Law enforcement, especially if slugs are not permitted for duty use. The Federal Tactical 12 gauge line is widely available and from a trusted ammunition company.

Patterning

To keep things simple I used a Cobra Tac 2 with an 18.5-inch barrel and a cylinder bore choke. I moved from 10 to 15 to 20, and finally 25 yards with the ammo to see how it patterned. I can tell you about it, but I’d rather show you.

At 10 Yards

What a Punch to the Mouth

At 15 Yards

Still a nice, tight and devastating pattern.

At 20 Yards.

We are starting to open up a bit, and the wad did a lot of damage to the target, but the pellets landed.

At 25 Yards

We are finally starting to see the ammo open up, but the pattern is still impressive.

At 50 Yards!

So I didn’t pattern the Federal Tactical 12 gauge at 50 yards. Instead, I used a steel target and shot a little video. 2 out of 3 rounds struck the tiny steel popper at 50 yards.

Are you Not Impressed?

I am very impressed by the Federal Tactical 12 gauge. It certainly fulfills my requirement for a mid-range round for my shotgun. Outside of patterning well, they are also very pleasant to shoot. The reduced recoil design makes them very easy to use and handle.

When it comes to rapid fire, the rounds make the shotgun very easy and downright pleasant to shoot. The muzzle rise is insignificant as well, and even after firing dozens of shots it was still comfortable. I remained unbruised and unbeaten.

The Federal Tactical 12 gauge with Flitecontrol wad is an impressive 12 gauge load and delivers what it promises. I have confidence that I could hit a man sized target out to 50 yards with at least a few pellets.

Shotshell Reloading Equipment

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Shotgun Reloading:

The purpose of this guide is for all those who would like to start reloading for their shotguns either for economy or better selection of shot and wad, that don’t know where to start when buying reloading equipment. This guide will show you everything that you need to start reloading your own top quality shotshells.

The first press is one that I recommend to all that aren’t sure if they really want to reload their own shotshells, but it is one that will last a lifetime for the average shotshell reloader wanting to save money in both finished quality reloaded shotshells and equipment expenditures.

Lee Load-All Reloader
The Lee Load-All (pictured above) loads shotgun shells that look and shoot like new – without a big investment. You can load just as fast as other reloaders and still get all the velocity and uniform patterns. Twenty-four of Lee’s famously accurate, molded shot and powder bushings are included.

Features include: built-in spent primer catcher with easy-empty door; recesses at every station for speedy shell positioning; easy and economical gauge conversion; and receptacle for primer feed.

Available for: 12, 16 and 20 gauge.

Recommended add on – The Lee Primer Feed will provide faster, more convenient reloading. Transfers primers directly from box to feeder. The advantage of this add on is quite simple if you handle primers with your fingers it is possible to contaminate the primer with the oil from your skin causing your loaded shotshell to possible hang-fire or not fire at all. The above press and add-on cost less than $80.00.

The shotshell presses below are very good at loading shotshells in volume, and are excellent upgrades from a starter press.

The MEC 600 Jr. Mark 5 can load eight to ten boxes per hour, and can be upgraded at a later date with the 285 CA primer feed. The press is adjustable for 3″ shells, and is available in 10, 12 16, 20, 28 gauge and .410 bore.
Die sets are available in all gauges.

Note: MEC’s best selling press.

The MEC 650N works on six shells at once. With every stroke, a reloaded shell is completed. The MEC 650N does not resize except as a separate operation. This is the ideal press for the person who wishes to resize and inspect their shells as a separate operation.

The MEC SuperSizer is recommended for your resizing needs. The Automatic Primer feed is standard. Available in 12, 16, 20, 28 gauge, and .410 bore.

Die sets are not available.

MEC 9000GN High-speed, high-volume reloading plus automatic indexing and finished-shell ejection for quicker and easier reloading. The Auto-Dex™ automatically moves the shells through each reloading stage by simply returning the handle to the top of its stroke. Accurately resized shells are achieved with each stroke. Finished shells are automatically ejected from the shell carrier after final crimping. Finished shells with every stroke. Available in 12, 16, 20, 28 gauge and .410 bore.
Die sets are not available.

MEC 9000E Combines speedy 9000GN with innovative Auto-Mate. With push-button simplicity, shells are produced with unmatched consistency. New MEC Progressive Primer Feed included. Finished shells are ejected and slide into your container where they can be boxed simply by pushing a button.
Available: 12 gauge.

Here are some other shotgun resources:

Steel VS Lead

How to Pattern a Shotgun

Choke Tube Selection

Shotgun Recoil Calculator

 

Turkey Shotgun Guide

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turkey shotgun

Turkey Shotguns:

Turkey hunting in the U.S.A. is rapidly becoming a national favorite past-time sport and of course the gun of choice is the shotgun. Shot, choke and patterning a shotgun is absolutely critical for turkey hunting and for tight patterns good optics or sights are a must. With that said lets get on to what makes a great shotgun for turkey hunting. Turkey Shotgun, Camouflage:

There is nothing that will put a turkey to flight faster than a flash of light from a bright polished shotgun. Camo is an absolute must for your turkey hunting shotgun, there are two ways of doing this, either buy a shotgun already factory camouflaged or you’ll have to do this yourself.

Buy camo paint and paint your shotgun, buy a camo sock for your shotgun or use camo tape. Any of the above will work fine.

Turkey Shotgun, Gauge:

The 20 gauge with a 3 inch chamber is the smallest gauge that should be used with a limit of 30 yards due to small shot pay-load of 1 1/4 ounce of shot which is plenty with high velocity #6 lead shot. The 12 gauge is like the gold standard for turkey shotguns with chamber lengths of 2 3/4 inch, 3 inch and 3 1/2 inch. The gauge and chamber length are the regulating factors here for shot-load sizes up to 2 1/4 ounce of turkey pattern filling larger #4 lead shot. The 16 gauge will work as well as the 10 gauge, they are just not as popular as the 12 gauge. Most turkey shotgun manufacturers favor 20 gauge and 12 gauge shotguns for their turkey shotgun manufacturing

Turkey Shotgun, Barrel Length:

The turkey hunters best chance of shotgun maneuverability comes with a much shorter barrel for the shotgun because of obstructions that may be in front of you when turkey hunting, from a ground blind natural or otherwise. Shorter barrels from 22 inches to 26 inches in length work best without sacrificing velocity loss of the shot.

Turkey Shotgun, Barrel Choke:

This is probably the most mis-understood part of a turkey shotgun and that is choke selection with a lot of focus placed on after-market super small, constricted choke tube diameters. Most good turkey hunters will call in birds close and the correct choke for short range turkey hunting is a modified choke. The full choke shotgun for turkey hunting is probably the most popular as it has range out to about 35 yards. Shotguns that have a fixed choke or choke tube of modified or tighter are good choices for turkey hunting.

Turkey Shotgun, Action Type:

The pump action or slide action is the most popular action type for turkey hunting shotguns as it offers 2nd and 3rd fast follow up shots if and when needed. The Remington Model 870 pump action shotgun is by far the most popular of pump action shotguns. Single shot shotguns, double barrel shotguns and semi-auto shotguns are all good choices for turkey shotguns. Action types are more of a personal preference for turkey hunters as all turkey hunters are looking for, is the one good head and neck shot.

Turkey Shotgun, Slings:

Because of where a turkey may be located sometimes a long trek through the woods is going to happen. In these situations one of the most desirable features on a turkey shotgun is a good sling by which to carry it to various locations when turkey hunting.

Turkey Shotgun, Safeties:

This is one of those little features on a turkey shotgun that gets little attention until that one shot presents itself and you have a hard time getting the safety of or a loud audible click happens and the next thing is; mister long-beard turkey is in flight.

Turkey Shotgun, Sights:

Fiber optic sights have just about made standard gold or white bead sights on turkey hunting shotguns obsolete. The TruGlo extreme light gathering fiber optic sighting system started the trend. Early morning low light or middle of the afternoon bright light, these sights work extremely well for turkey hunting.

Today many turkey hunters are topping their shotgun hunting rigs with high quality shotgun scopes. The reasons are simple, you don’t have to worry about blotting out a turkey’s head and or neck with a front sight or bead, you can quickly identify a big gobbler with a long beard and you have pin point accuracy for extremely tight shot patterns that are accomplished with modern turkey shotgun choke tubes.

Shotgun Game Guide

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shotgun game guide
Random 20 and 12 gauge shells.

The shotgun is very popular for upland game hunting with bird hunting the most popular. A shotgun hunter must pay close attention to the type of shot used in shotshells and correct choke selection to ensure an effective and humane kill shot on wild game.

The shotgun will place 70% of shotshell shot in a 30″ circle at various yardages and this is the idealistic pattern kill zone, no wounding, no over-kill which destroys the usable meat, this means the 30″ circular pattern will cleanly kill anything in this 30″ zone. The shotgun achieves this for the hunter with the following choke selection and yardages:

  • Full Choke, 30″ kill zone at 40 yards.
  • Modified Choke, 30″ kill zone at 35 yards.
  • Improved Cylinder Choke, 30″ kill zone at 30 yards.
  • Cylinder Bore, 30″ kill zone at 25 yards.

Below is a list of game that can be hunted with the shotgun along with recommendations as to proper shot and choke tube selection for various ranges for humane hunting practices with shotgun use.

shotgun shell

For Doves & Pigeon Hunting:
Use #6, #7 1/2, #8 & #9 Lead Shot.
For normal ranges, use #7 1/2 or #8 lead shot for light shooting.
For longer ranges, use heavier loads of larger shot.
Modified Choke is the most effective.

For Ducks & Geese Hunting:
Use T, BBB, BB, #1, #2, #3, #4 & #6 Steel Shot.
For ducks at normal ranges #2 and #4 steel shot are the most popular. BBB steel shot is the most effective for geese.
Improved Cylinder Choke, for small ducks up to 45 yds.
Modified Choke, for medium and large ducks.
Full Choke, for geese and large ducks beyond 45 yds.

For Fox & Predator Hunting:
Use BB & #2 Lead Shot.
Full Choke is the most effective.

For Grouse & Partridge Hunting:
Use #5, #6, #7 1/2 & #8 Lead Shot.
On smaller grouse or partridge, use the smaller shot.
Use larger size shot for heavier ounce loads and larger birds.
Improved Cylinder Choke or Modified Choke, for brush.
Full Choke, for open ranges.

For Pheasant Hunting:
Use #4, #5 & #6 Lead Shot.
Use #4 Lead Shot, for field shooting where long shots are typical.
Use #5 Lead Shot, for over dogs shooting.
Use #6 Lead Shot for average hunting conditions.
Improved Cylinder Choke, for close cover.
Modified or Full Choke for long field shots.

For Quail Hunting:
Use #7 1/2, #8 & #9 Lead Shot.
For early season shooting on small quail, use #9 Lead Shot.
Larger Quail and longer shots, use #7 1/2 or #8 Lead Shot.
Improved Cylinder Choke or Modified Choke are the most effective.

For Rabbit Hunting:
Use #4, #5 & #6 Lead Shot.
Improved Cylinder Choke or Modified Choke, for brush.
Full Choke, for long, open shots.

For Squirrel Hunting:
Use #4, #5, #6 & #7 1/2 Lead Shot.
Modified Choke is most effective and least destructive.

For Turkey Hunting:
Use #2, #4, #5 & #6 Lead Shot.
The longer the range, use heavier ounce and larger shot size loads.
Full Choke – Super Full Choke are the most effective.

For Woodcock Hunting:
Use #7 1/2, #8 & #9 Lead Shot.
Use Improved Cylinder Choke in heavy brushy areas.
Use Modified Choke in more open woods cover.

Lead And Steel Shot Ballistics:

Relevant Lead Shot to Steel Shot Shotgun Ammunition Ballistic Equivalency Conversion Chart For Small Game Hunting Applications:
Steel
Size
# 6
# 4
# 3
# 2		 Shot Count
1 1/8 oz.
335
212
175
141		 Energy 40 yds.
1350 f.p.s.
1.3 ft.lbs.
2.4 ft.lbs.
3.4 ft.lbs.
4.0 ft.lbs.		 Lead
Size
# 7 1/2
# 6
# 5
# 4		 Shot Count
1 oz.
350
225
170
135		 Energy 40 yds.
1350 f.p.s.
1.3 ft.lbs.
2.3 ft.lbs.
3.5 ft.lbs.
4.0 ft.lbs.
Steel
Size
BB		 Shot Count
1 1/8 oz.
80		 Energy 60 yds.
1350 f.p.s.
5.6 ft.lbs.		 Lead
Size
# 2		 Shot Count
1 oz.
87		 Energy 60 yds.
1350 f.p.s.
4.9 ft.lbs.

Slugs, Choke & Game Guide:

The smooth-bore shotgun can be used quite successfully when hunting larger animals such as deer. A little knowledge goes a long way here. Most smooth-bore shotguns using full-bore lead slugs will group shots, at 50 yards, under 4 inches, which is good enough for deer hunting in thick or heavy cover.

Shotgun lead slugs are big and heavy, not very conducive for flat trajectories, however, at only 800 foot pounds of slug energy when it makes contact with a deer, yields very good tasting venison.The following retailers have decent selection in terms of choke and shotshell selection:

For Whitetail Deer Hunting:

Use Improved Cylinder, Modified, Improved Modified or Full Choke.

Rifled slugs can be somewhat difficult at times to gain accuracy, usually, by trying various choke tubes good, reliable accuracy can be achieved. It is not unusual for rifled slugs to produce groups under 2″ at 50 yards by simply finding the right choke tube.

The smooth-bore shotgun will shoot with reasonable accuracy different saboted slugs with the use of a rifled choke tube, however, by adding full-length, full-bore rifling in the barrel, accuracy is better and useable slug distance is greater for deer hunting.

12 Gauge Rifled Slug Ballistics:
Shell Manufacturer: Remington.
Shell ID: RL12RS, Managed Recoil.
Shell Length: 2.75″
Slug Weight: 1 Ounce.
Muzzle Velocity: 1,200 FPS.
Muzzle Energy: 1,397 FT.LBS.
Slug
@		 Velocity
/ FPS.		 Energy
/ FT.LBS.		 Trajectory
/ IN.
50 yds. 988 948 0
100 yds. 873 739 – 7.4
Abbreviations:
/ FPS. = Feet Per Second.
/ FT.LBS. = Foot Pounds.
/ IN. = Inches.
12 Gauge Rifled Slug Ballistics:
Shell Manufacturer: Remington.
Shell ID: SP12RS, Slugger.
Shell Length: 2.75″
Slug Weight: 1 Ounce.
Muzzle Velocity: 1,560 FPS.
Muzzle Energy: 2,361 FT.LBS.
Slug
@		 Velocity
/ FPS.		 Energy
/ FT.LBS.		 Trajectory
/ IN.
50 yds. 1,175 1,340 0
100 yds. 977 926 – 4.8
Abbreviations:
/ FPS. = Feet Per Second.
/ FT.LBS. = Foot Pounds.
/ IN. = Inches.
12 Gauge Rifled Slug Ballistics:
Shell Manufacturer: Remington.
Shell ID: S12SRS, Slugger.
Shell Length: 2.75″
Slug Weight: 1 Ounce.
Muzzle Velocity: 1,680 FPS.
Muzzle Energy: 2,738 FT.LBS.
Slug
@		 Velocity
/ FPS.		 Energy
/ FT.LBS.		 Trajectory
/ IN.
50 yds. 1,285 1,605 0
100 yds. 1,045 1,059 – 3.8
Abbreviations:
/ FPS. = Feet Per Second.
/ FT.LBS. = Foot Pounds.
/ IN. = Inches.
12 Gauge Rifled Slug Ballistics:
Shell Manufacturer: Remington.
Shell ID: SPHV12RS, Slugger High Velocity.
Shell Length: 2.75″
Slug Weight: 7/8 Ounce.
Muzzle Velocity: 1,800 FPS.
Muzzle Energy: 2,751 FT.LBS.
Slug
@		 Velocity
/ FPS.		 Energy
/ FT.LBS.		 Trajectory
/ IN.
50 yds. 1,252 1,442 0
100 yds. 978 813 – 4.1
Abbreviations:
/ FPS. = Feet Per Second.
/ FT.LBS. = Foot Pounds.
/ IN. = Inches.
12 Gauge Rifled Slug Ballistics:
Shell Manufacturer: Remington.
Shell ID: S12MRS, Slugger.
Shell Length: 3.00″
Slug Weight: 1 Ounce.
Muzzle Velocity: 1,760 FPS.
Muzzle Energy: 3,005 FT.LBS.
Slug
@		 Velocity
/ FPS.		 Energy
/ FT.LBS.		 Trajectory
/ IN.
50 yds. 1,345 1,753 0
100 yds. 1,075 1,121 – 3.4
Abbreviations:
/ FPS. = Feet Per Second.
/ FT.LBS. = Foot Pounds.
/ IN. = Inches.
12 Gauge Rifled Slug Ballistics:
Shell Manufacturer: Remington.
Shell ID: SPHV12MRS, Slugger High Velocity.
Shell Length: 3.00″
Slug Weight: 7/8 Ounce.
Muzzle Velocity: 1,875 FPS.
Muzzle Energy: 2,989 FT.LBS.
Slug
@		 Velocity
/ FPS.		 Energy
/ FT.LBS.		 Trajectory
/ IN.
50 yds. 1,302 1,517 0
100 yds. 998 847 – 3.7
Abbreviations:
/ FPS. = Feet Per Second.
/ FT.LBS. = Foot Pounds.
/ IN. = Inches.
20 Gauge Rifled Slug Ballistics:
Shell Manufacturer: Remington.
Shell ID: SP20RS, Slugger.
Shell Length: 2.75″
Slug Weight: 5/8 Ounce.
Muzzle Velocity: 1,580 FPS.
Muzzle Energy: 1,513 FT.LBS.
Slug
@		 Velocity
/ FPS.		 Energy
/ FT.LBS.		 Trajectory
/ IN.
50 yds. 1,240 931 0
100 yds. 1,034 648 – 4.2
Abbreviations:
/ FPS. = Feet Per Second.
/ FT.LBS. = Foot Pounds.
/ IN. = Inches.
20 Gauge Rifled Slug Ballistics:
Shell Manufacturer: Remington.
Shell ID: SPHV20RS, Slugger High Velocity.
Shell Length: 2.75″
Slug Weight: 1/2 Ounce.
Muzzle Velocity: 1,800 FPS.
Muzzle Energy: 1,575 FT.LBS.
Slug
@		 Velocity
/ FPS.		 Energy
/ FT.LBS.		 Trajectory
/ IN.
50 yds. 1,321 848 0
100 yds. 1,037 523 – 3.6
Abbreviations:
/ FPS. = Feet Per Second.
/ FT.LBS. = Foot Pounds.
/ IN. = Inches.
16 Gauge Rifled Slug Ballistics:
Shell Manufacturer: Remington.
Shell ID: SP16RS, Slugger.
Shell Length: 2.75″
Slug Weight: 4/5 Ounce.
Muzzle Velocity: 1,600 FPS.
Muzzle Energy: 1,989 FT.LBS.
Slug
@		 Velocity
/ FPS.		 Energy
/ FT.LBS.		 Trajectory
/ IN.
50 yds. 1,175 1,072 0
100 yds. 965 724 – 4.8
Abbreviations:
/ FPS. = Feet Per Second.
/ FT.LBS. = Foot Pounds.
/ IN. = Inches.
.410 Rifled Slug Ballistics:
Shell Manufacturer: Remington.
Shell ID: SP41RS, Slugger.
Shell Length: 2.50″
Slug Weight: 1/5 Ounce.
Muzzle Velocity: 1,830 FPS.
Muzzle Energy: 654 FT.LBS.
Slug
@		 Velocity
/ FPS.		 Energy
/ FT.LBS.		 Trajectory
/ IN.
50 yds. 1,335 348 0
100 yds. 1,040 211 – 3.5
Abbreviations:
/ FPS. = Feet Per Second.
/ FT.LBS. = Foot Pounds.
/ IN. = Inches.

The smooth-bore shotgun will shoot with reasonable accuracy different saboted slugs with the use of a rifled choke tube, however, by adding full-length, full-bore rifling in the barrel, accuracy is better and useable slug distance is greater for deer hunting.

12 Gauge Saboted Slug Ballistics:
Shell Manufacturer: Remington.
Shell ID: PRA12, Premier AccuTip.
Shell Length: 2.75″
Slug Weight: 385 Grain.
Muzzle Velocity: 1,850 FPS.
Muzzle Energy: 2,925 FT.LBS.
Slug
@		 Velocity
/ FPS.		 Energy
/ FT.LBS.		 Trajectory
/ IN.
50 yds. 1,611 2,019 0
100 yds. 1,401 1,678 – 1.9
150 yds. 1,227 1,286 – 8.2
Abbreviations:
/ FPS. = Feet Per Second.
/ FT.LBS. = Foot Pounds.
/ IN. = Inches.
12 Gauge Saboted Slug Ballistics:
Shell Manufacturer: Remington.
Shell ID: PRA12M, Premier AccuTip.
Shell Length: 3.00″
Slug Weight: 385 Grain.
Muzzle Velocity: 1,900 FPS.
Muzzle Energy: 3,086 FT.LBS.
Slug
@		 Velocity
/ FPS.		 Energy
/ FT.LBS.		 Trajectory
/ IN.
50 yds. 1,656 2,344 0
100 yds. 1,440 1,772 – 1.7
150 yds. 1,258 1,352 – 7.6
Abbreviations:
/ FPS. = Feet Per Second.
/ FT.LBS. = Foot Pounds.
/ IN. = Inches.
20 Gauge Saboted Slug Ballistics:
Shell Manufacturer: Remington.
Shell ID: PRA20, Premier AccuTip.
Shell Length: 2.75″
Slug Weight: 260 Grains.
Muzzle Velocity: 1,850 FPS.
Muzzle Energy: 1,976 FT.LBS.
Slug
@		 Velocity
/ FPS.		 Energy
/ FT.LBS.		 Trajectory
/ IN.
50 yds. 1,609 1,495 0
100 yds. 1,398 1,129 – 1.9
150 yds. 1,224 864 – 8.2
Abbreviations:
/ FPS. = Feet Per Second.
/ FT.LBS. = Foot Pounds.
/ IN. = Inches.
20 Gauge Saboted Slug Ballistics:
Shell Manufacturer: Remington.
Shell ID: PRA20M, Premier AccuTip.
Shell Length: 3.00″
Slug Weight: 260 Grains.
Muzzle Velocity: 1,900 FPS.
Muzzle Energy: 2,084 FT.LBS.
Slug
@		 Velocity
/ FPS.		 Energy
/ FT.LBS.		 Trajectory
/ IN.
50 yds. 1,654 1,580 0
100 yds. 1,437 1,192 – 1.7
150 yds. 1,254 908 – 7.6
Abbreviations:
/ FPS. = Feet Per Second.
/ FT.LBS. = Foot Pounds.
/ IN. = Inches.

For our how to pattern a shotgun guide, click that link. For more information on steel vs lead shot, click that link. Also check out our in depth shotgun guide. Finally, for more info on how much shot drops, click that link.

Shotgun Forcing Cones

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The forcing cone in a shotgun barrel forces the shot charge or shot column down in diameter in transition from the shotgun chamber to enter the bore and then to enter the parallel section of the choke. The one we will concern ourselves with here is the chamber to bore forcing cone the other is contained within the choke or choke tube.

Short Factory Chamber To Bore Forcing Cone:

Lengthened Chamber To Bore Forcing Cone:

There has been a lot written on the subject of chamber to bore forcing cones, some good, some bad. The most experienced and authoritative goes to the late Ralph T. Walker. This appears to have been his life work. His book Gun Digest Book of Shotgun Gunsmithing is highly recommended to all who want the maximum from their shotguns. This is where I started my research as a gunsmith seeking out the ultimate in shot patterns, and it is here where the issue of forcing cones came into light for me.

Chamber forcing cones vary in length from 1/2″ to 2-1/2″ with many saying that this length or that length is perfect.

This is what I found after many hours at the lathe, chronograph, and patterning boards–1-1/2″ length will give you the best shot pattern performance, but, there is a catch to this and one that I did not see in any writings anywhere that really addressed this one issue: it is the amount of finish that you put on that 1-1/2″ forcing cone.

This is the one thing that makes or breaks successful shot pattern gains in lengthening a forcing cone, if the forcing cone is cut with a reamer of high quality the shot pattern may actually decrease if not honed some to remove the reamer ridges, if you proceed to hone the ridges then a pattern increase will start to come forward. The more you smooth out this area the more the pattern increases.

Most Important:

The end result to this is simple, cut with a reamer the forcing cone length to 1-1/2 inches, hone, polish the forcing cone, then when it is glass smooth, burnish it. This will seal the metal and a substantial gain in pattern density and evenness will be yours.

Can a longer forcing cone reduce recoil?

Simply put, the law of physics says for every action there is an opposite reaction. In a shotgun, you detonate powder which creates expanding gases that push to escape. In other words if you are pushing an object that weighs 1 ounce at a given velocity of say 1,200 feet per second in one direction the push factor in the opposite direction is exactly the same.

Felt recoil can be adjusted to give different effects by altering time frames to reach a given high point in recoil and by doing so you get more of a push effect than a punch effect at your shoulder.

Once a powder charge is ignited, it starts to push. In a barrel with a short forcing cone, the shot column that has to move is met with resistance from a steep, angled forcing cone trying to squeeze the shot column down to fit in the bore. Therefore, more pressure is needed to start moving it.

With a long forcing cone the shot column will instantly start moving freely into the bore requiring less force to move it because it is met with less resistance. As you can visualize here we just altered the time frame for the felt recoil from a punch to a push.

In both cases the shot column will accelerate until all powder is burned, giving us a desired amount of power from the expanding gases.

Can a longer forcing cone increase pattern density?

Simply put, yes. The reason that longer forcing cones give increased pattern density is that less pellets are being crushed at the back of the shot column. The reason for this is simple–the pellets in the back of the shot column have two forces working against them.

The expanding gases are trying to push them forward and the weight of all the pellets in the shot column are acting as a wall preventing them from moving forward.

In a short forcing cone the push to start moving all pellets forward is a sudden burst of pressure and the longer forcing cone allows the pellets to enter the bore in a slower push with less pressure thus not crushing the pellets and keeping more of the pellets in the pattern due to a lack of flier pellets with flat spots on them.

Shotgun Choke Tubes Interchangeability

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shotgun choke tube interchangeability

A choke tube is a removable interior tube at the end of a shotgun barrel that controls shot dispersion. Choke tubes typically come in cylinder, improved cylinder, modified, improved modified, full, and extra full. A cylinder choke tube produces a very wide shot dispersion, whereas an extra full choke tube will provide a much tighter shot pattern. Different chokes are used for skeet, trap, and sporting clays.

In hunting, the type of game and conditions will determine choke tube type.

The current system of screw in choke tubes was introduced in 1959 by Winchester with its model 59 semi-automatic shotgun.

They discontinued the model 59 in 1965 to make way for their new line of shotguns: The Model 1400 semi-automatic and the Model 1200 pump. They were introduced as fixed choke guns and it wasn’t until around 1970 they had worked out some problems with their screw in choke system they then offered this in the 1400 and 1200 model shotguns they named their new choke tube system winchoke.

In 1978 the Mossberg 500 was first seen sporting the new choke tube system they named their new system accuchoke.

In 1982 Weatherby introduced the model 82 with the new screw in choke system they named their new choke tube system multichoke.

After this, all the shotgun manufacturers introduced their own versions and systems of screw in choke tubes.

Choke tube selection is a confusing issue among a lot of shotgunners but one that is easily explained. Everyone knows how to pattern a shotgun and what they are looking for, which is the ultimate full choke pattern at 40 yards, which is a 70% shot pattern, it is this area where it all gets fuzzy and needs explaining.

The reason for placing 70% of the shot in a 30″ circle at 40 yards for a full choke is this, the minimum – maximum pattern kill zone, this means the pattern will cleanly kill anything in this circular zone.

Selecting the correct choke tube is nothing more than moving that same exact pattern to different yardages in other words if you want to shoot at a target 20 yards away then select a choke tube that gives you 70% of the pattern in a 30″ circle at 20 yards, if shooting at a target that is 45 yards away then select a choke tube that will give you 70% of the pattern in a 30″ circle at 45 yards.

Extra Full Choke Tube delivers a 70% pattern at 45 yds.
Full Choke Tube delivers a 70% pattern at 40 yds.
Modified Choke Tube delivers a 70% pattern at 35 yds.
Improved Cylinder Choke Tube delivers a 70% pattern at 30 yds.
Cylinder Choke Tube delivers a 70% pattern at 25 yds.

Click here for shotgun pattern improvement. 

Choke Tubes And Thread Specifications:
Manufacturer And Type Gauge Diameter Threads Per Inch
Winchester Win-choke
Browning Invector
Mossberg Accu-choke
Weatherby IMC
Savage		 12 .812 32
Winchester Win-choke
Browning Invector
Mossberg Accu-choke
Weatherby IMC
Savage		 20 .687 32
Remington Rem-choke 10 .871 32
Remington Rem-choke 12 .812 32
Remington Rem-choke 20 .697 32
Browning Invector plus 12 .820 32
Beretta
Benelli
Krieghoff		 12 .810 1mm
Hastings choke II barrels 12 .817 1mm
Mossberg Ulti-Mag 12 .874 32
Tru-Choke 10 .865 44
Tru-Choke 12 .795 44
Tru-Choke 16 .718 44
Tru-Choke 20 .675 44
Tru-Choke 28 .613 44
Tru-Choke .410 .478 44
Tru-Choke thinwall 12 .774 44
Choke Tube Interchange Guide:
American Arms Interchanges with Fausti/Traditions shotguns style choke tubes
Austin & Halleck Black Powder Shotgun Interchanges with Winchester, Moss. 500 choke tubes
Baikal/European American Arms Interchanges with Standard Tru Choke style choke tubes
Benelli (Current production-square choke tubes) Interchanges with Beretta style choke tubes
Benelli Crio Interchanges with Sport II and SuperSport and Cordoba Produced prior to 2006
Benelli Crio Plus Interchanges with Super Black Eagle 2, M-2, Ultra Light and current Sport II, Super Sport & Cordoba
Benelli M-4 Interchanges with Ber/Ben standard choke tubes
Beretta (Current Production) Interchanges with Beretta style choke tubes
Beretta Optima Interchanges with Optima choke tubes (Models 391A Extrema & 12ga. 391 Teknys) Silver Pigeon II & III
Beretta Optima Plus Interchanges with Optima Plus choke tubes (Models 391A Extrema and 12ga. 391 Teknys)
Black Diamond 12ga Interchanges with Ber/Ben standard choke tubes
Browning Invector Interchanges with Winchester, Moss 500, Weatherby, Maverick 88, S&W and Savage Guns style choke tubes
Browning Invector Plus Interchanges with Browning Invector Plus, Winchester Super X2 and Winchester Supreme style choke tubes
BSA Interchanges with Beretta/Benelli choke tubes
BSA 20ga Silver Eagle Interchanges with Serial #201836 or higher is Ber/Ben if serial number is below, Huglu choke tubes
Caeser Guerini Interchanges with Fab Arms
Century Arms/Kahn Centurion & Arthemis 12ga Interchanges with Berretta/Benelli
Century Arms/Kahn Centurion & Arthemis 20ga Interchanges with Huglu style choke tubes
Charles Daly Current Production Pumps, semi-autos, & Model 206 Interchanges with Remington Style choke tubes
Charles Daly Current Production O/U Interchanges with Winchester style choke tubes
Charles Daly S/S Field II, Model 306, & Model 106 Interchanges with Beretta/Benelli style choke tubes
Churchhill 12ga Interchanges with Fabarm style choke tubes, some models American Arms Style choke tubes
CZ USA 12ga Interchanges with standard Beretta/Benelli choke tubes
CZ USA 20ga Interchanges with Huglu style choke tubes
DeHaans 12ga Interchanges with Ber/Ben style choke tubes
DeHaans 20ga Interchanges with Huglu style choke tubes
Fabarm 12ga Interchanges with Fabarm style choke tubes
F.A.I.R. (I Rizzini) Interchanges with Verona LX choke tubes
Franchi (Current production-square choke tubes) Interchanges with Beretta/Benelli style choke tubes
Franchi (Old Style-v choke tubes) Pre 1999 Models Interchanges with Fran Choke style choke tubes
H&R 1871/N.E.F. 12ga & 20ga Interchanges with Winchester, Moss 500 etc. choke tubes
H&R Pardner Pump Interchanges with Winchester, Moss 500 etc. choke tubes
H&R Excell Auto 5 Interchanges with Verona SX choke tubes
Hastings Choke Tube 1 (Old Style) Interchanges with Tru-Choke
Huglu 12ga Interchanges with Beretta/Benelli style choke tubes
Huglu 20ga Interchanges with Huglu
Ithaca (Old Style-Fine choke tubes) Interchanges with Tru-Choke style choke tubes
Ithaca (New Style 12ga.) Interchanges with Winchester style choke tubes
Ithaca (All New Style 20ga.) Interchanges with Tru Choke style choke tubes
Lanber 12ga Interchanges with Lanber style choke tubes
Lanber Imported by American Arms Interchanges with American Arms style choke tubes
Laurona (O/U) Interchanges with American Arms style choke tubes
LC Smith 20ga (Marlin) Interchanges with Fran Choke choke tubes
Legacy Sports Escort & Pointer 12ga Interchanges with Ber/Ben standard choke tubes
Legacy Sports Escort 20ga Interchanges with Huglu style choke tubes
Marrochi Golden Snip Field O/U Interchanges with Browning Invector Plus style choke tubes
Maverick Model 88 Interchanges with Mossberg 500, Winchester, and Browning Invector style choke tubes
Miroku Interchanges with Winchester style choke tubes
Mossberg 500 & 535 Interchanges with Winchester, Weatherby, Browning Invector
Mossberg 835, 935 & 9200 Interchanges with 835 Mossberg style choke tubes
Mossberg Silver Reserve 12ga Interchanges with Ben/Ber choke tubes
Mossberg Silver Reserve 20ga Interchanges with Huglu style choke tubes
New England Interchanges with Winchester, Weatherby, Browning Invector & Mossberg 500 style choke tubes
Remington Interchanges with Remington style choke tubes
Remington Pro Bore Interchanges with Model 105CTi, All Parker Models, New 1100 Competition, & Premier O/U
Remington Spartan Interchanges with Tru-Choke choke tubes
Rizzini USA, (B) & (I) Interchanges with Verona LX Style choke tubes
Ruger Older Models Pre 1992 Interchanges with Winchester style choke tubes (Short chokes)
Ruger SC Newer Models Interchanges with Ruger SC style choke tubes (Long chokes)
Sako/Tikka 12ga Some Interchanges with Invector Plus and some with Valmet choke tubes
Savage Interchanges with Winchester and Mossberg 500 style choke tubes
Savage 411 Interchanges with Tru Choke style choke tubes
Savage 512 Interchanges with Ber/Ben standard choke tubes
SIG Arms (Aurora) Interchanges with Verona LX
SKB Short Style Interchanges with Winchester and Mossberg 500 style choke tubes
SKB Competition Interchanges with SKB Competition style chokes
Smith and Wesson Old Version Interchanges with Winchester, Mossberg 500 and Browning Invector style choke tubes
Smith and Wesson Current version 2007 Interchanges with Ber/Ben standard choke tubes
Stevens and Savage Model 411 Interchanges with Tru-Choke or Baikal style choke tubes
Stoeger 2000 Semi Auto & P-350 Pump Interchanges with Beretta/Benelli choke tubes
Stoeger 2000 Condor (O/U) Interchanges with Winchester style choke tubes
Stoeger Luger (O/U) Interchanges with American Arms style choke tubes
Stoeger Uplander (Side by Side) Interchanges with Winchester style choke tubes
Traditions Semi-Auto AIS2100 12 gauge Interchanges with Beretta style choke tubes
Thompson Center Interchanges with Winchester style choke tubes
Tri-Star Phantom 411 and TR11 Interchanges with Rizzini style choke tubes
Tri-Star Phantom Field & Model 380D Interchanges with Beretta style choke tubes
Tri-Star Silver Series Interchanges with American Arms, Serial#4687037 or larger is Beretta/Benelli choke tubes
Tri-Star Current 3 1/2 Semi Auto Interchanges with Crio Plus system
Valmet Interchanges with Valmet choke tubes
Verona LX O/U Interchanges with Verona LX choke tubes
Verona SX Semi Auto Models Interchanges with Verona SX choke tubes
Weatherby Interchanges with Winchester, Mossberg 500 and Weatherby style choke tubes
Winchester Interchanges with Winchester, Mossberg 500 Weatherby and Browning Invector style choke tubes
Winchester Select Energy Interchanges with Browning Invector Plus
Winchester Super X2 and Supreme Interchanges with Browning Invector Plus style choke tubes

 

Steel Shot VS Lead Shot for Shotguns

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12 gauge shot shells
These are two lead shot shells.

There are two very important factors that you have to understand and consider when properly switching from lead shot to steel shot.

(1) Steel shot is harder than lead shot; (Advantage).

(2) Steel shot is lighter than lead shot; (Disadvantage).

(1) Steel shot is 3 times harder than lead shot:

Let’s first examine the steel shot advantage by firing a shell and observe all that takes place within the barrel of a shotgun. Upon ignition the shot pellets are compressed against each other deforming some lead pellets this does not happen with steel shot. Next, the shot enters the forcing cone, compression takes place, further deforming more lead pellets, again this does not happen with hard steel shot pellets. The next compression takes place in the choke or choke tube further deforming more lead pellets, again this does not happen with hard steel shot pellets.

Steel shot is very hard so it stays round and flies truer to the target. At 40 yards, a much higher percentage of steel pellets will be on target than lead shot loads. At 60 yards, steel shot will yield an even higher pattern percentage as well.

Lead shot, which is easily deformed upon firing, develops a relatively long, large-diameter shot string. Steel shot however because it is three times harder than lead, stays round, and develops a shot string that is 50-60% shorter and 60-70% narrower than lead.

The reason that most lead shot hunting game loads average around 1,350 feet per second on the high velocity side down to 1,150 feet per second on the low velocity side is the fact that lead shot will deform easily and blow patterns.

Steel shot has a very distinct advantage here, it is very hard and the pellets or shot will not deform at all, so the velocity can increase without shot deformation and blowing patterns. Steel shot hunting loads average 1,500 feet per second on the high velocity side and down to 1,265 feet per second on the low velocity side.

Overview:

Steel shot does not deform from the time ignition starts in a shotshell until all the shot has come to rest in a piece of game, therefore steel shot (as a whole in percentage) penetrates deeper than lead shot. Penetration factor is based on the remaining round pellets that are left which will penetrate deeper than dented or deformed lead pellets.

(2) Steel shot is lighter than lead shot:

Because all shot sizes are determined by the pellet diameter and not by weight, steel shot is disadvantaged in down range performance when compared to lead shot of the same size designation and diameter.

To convert to steel shot you must make the conversion in pellet weight and not in size. If you take two pellets of the same weight and fire them downrange there is no difference in their energy levels until they reach 60 – 75 yards, then the larger diameter will start to give way to its smaller diameter counterpart and this is clearly maximum effective hunting distance.

Shot size in diameter measure in steel and lead are the same and steel weighs less than lead, so, it takes more steel pellets to make up a charge weight equal to lead pellets of the same shot size.

Relevant Lead Shot to Steel Shot Shotgun Ammunition Ballistic Equivalency Conversion Chart For Small Game Hunting Applications:
Steel
Size
# 6
# 4
# 3
# 2		 Shot Count
1 1/8 oz.
335
212
175
141		 Energy 40 yds.
1350 f.p.s.
1.3 ft.lbs.
2.4 ft.lbs.
3.4 ft.lbs.
4.0 ft.lbs.		 Lead
Size
# 7 1/2
# 6
# 5
# 4		 Shot Count
1 oz.
350
225
170
135		 Energy 40 yds.
1350 f.p.s.
1.3 ft.lbs.
2.3 ft.lbs.
3.5 ft.lbs.
4.0 ft.lbs.
Steel
Size
BB		 Shot Count
1 1/8 oz.
80		 Energy 60 yds.
1350 f.p.s.
5.6 ft.lbs.		 Lead
Size
# 2		 Shot Count
1 oz.
87		 Energy 60 yds.
1350 f.p.s.
4.9 ft.lbs.
#4 Steel Shot, Pellet Weight 2.278 Grains, Velocity 1,375 FPS.
Pellet Down Range
20 yds.
30 yds.
40 yds.
50 yds.
60 yds.
Velocity / FPS.:
935
785
675
590
515
Energy / FT. LBS.:
4.71
3.32
2.46
1.88
1.43
Time Of Flight / SEC.:
.0517
.0869
.1283
.1761
.2307
#6 Lead Shot, Pellet Weight 1.947 Grains, Velocity 1,330 FPS.
Pellet Down Range
20 yds.
30 yds.
40 yds.
50 yds.
60 yds.
Velocity / FPS.:
940
800
700
620
550
Energy / FT. LBS.:
3.81
2.76
2.11
1.66
1.30
Time Of Flight / SEC.:
.0529
.0876
.1278
.1736
.2252
#2 Steel Shot, Pellet Weight 3.509 Grains, Velocity 1,375 FPS.
Pellet Down Range
20 yds.
30 yds.
40 yds.
50 yds.
60 yds.
Velocity / FPS.:
965
815
710
625
555
Energy / FT. LBS.:
7.64
5.45
4.14
3.21
2.53
Time Of Flight / SEC.:
.0510
.0849
.1244
.1695
.2205
#4 Lead Shot, Pellet Weight 3.248 Grains, Velocity 1,330 FPS.
Pellet Down Range
20 yds.
30 yds.
40 yds.
50 yds.
60 yds.
Velocity / FPS.:
970
840
740
660
590
Energy / FT. LBS.:
6.72
5.04
3.91
3.11
2.49
Time Of Flight / SEC.:
.0519
.0852
.1235
.1666
.2147

Choke tubes and ounces of shot have to be adjusted as well, if a steel shot pattern is 60% to 70% narrower, then this automatically tells you the pattern is too tight so the logical choice is lower ounces of shot and a more open choke are needed. The most effective combinations of choke and ounces of shot in all our tests revealed that 1 and 1/8 ounces of smaller shot (BB and down) fired at 1,350 feet per second velocity through a stainless steel improved cylinder choke gave well above standard hunting pattern percentages.

Overview:

Steel shot has proven to us that when the conversion is made right, that it is more than acceptable for field hunting use out to and beyond 40 yards. Tom Roster, working in conjunction with the Cooperative Nontoxic Shot Education Program (CONSEP) has put together a database on the performance of lead shot vs. steel shot. In this study is an X-ray analysis of over 16,000 ducks and geese.

A fact revealed by this study was that a steel pellet with an energy level equivalent to that of a lead pellet, provides 5% to 10% deeper penetration, thus increasing shotshell lethality on wild game.

Both steel and lead shot shells can be found at these fine retailers:


Online Shotgun Guide

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An example of a “not a shotgun, shotgun” Tac 14s and Shockwaves are still chambered in Shotgun gauges. They are technically “firearms” not shotguns.

In this online shotgun guide you will find various articles and technical information on shotguns including; shotgun shells, shotshell reloading, shotgun gunsmithing, shotgun shooting, shotgun hunting, game and choke guides, shotgun buying guide, shotgun versatility and much more.

Shotgun Definition:
Our modern definition of a shotgun is: A shoulder fired firearm with a smooth bore, designed to fire small metallic pellets, shot, or rifled slugs, either muzzle-loaded by use of gunpowder, wad, shot and over-shot wad or breech-loaded by use of modern primer center-fire shotgun shell, a gun with no grooves in its barrel.

Determining Shotgun Gauges:
Determining the gauge of a shotgun was simply how many pure lead round balls of its bore diameter would it take to consume a pound of lead. This was a simplistic approach and rather effective as shotguns could be loaded with lead round ball or lead shot making for great versatility and used for a wide variety of tasks.

Shotgun Bore Diameters:

  • 10 Gauge = Bore Diameter of .775 inches.
  • 12 Gauge = Bore Diameter of .729 inches.
  • 16 Gauge = Bore Diameter of .662 inches.
  • 20 Gauge = Bore Diameter of .615 inches.
  • 28 Gauge = Bore Diameter of .550 inches.
  • .410 Bore = Bore Diameter of .410 inches.

Shotgun Chambers:
Around 1930 standards were finally set worldwide on chamber dimensions for all shotgun gauges, up to this point chamber dimensions varied greatly between countries and manufacturers so care should be taken when firing any shotgun manufactured prior to 1930. Many of these shotguns will have short chambers and when fired using today’s more powerful ammunition extreme pressures will be exerted on the chamber area do to the fact that the shotshell crimp will actually be opening into the forcing cone area and not before it. Shotgun barrel forcing cones force the shot charge or shot column down in diameter to enter the bore.

Shotgun Chamber Lengths:

  • 10 Gauge = Chamber Length of 2 7/8″.
  • 10 Gauge = Chamber Length of 3 1/2″.
  • 12 Gauge = Chamber Length of 2 3/4″.
  • 12 Gauge = Chamber Length of 3″.
  • 12 Gauge = Chamber Length of 3 1/2″.
  • 16 Gauge = Chamber Length of 2 3/4″.
  • 20 Gauge = Chamber Length of 2 3/4″.
  • 20 Gauge = Chamber Length of 3″.
  • 28 Gauge = Chamber Length of 2 3/4″.
  • .410″ Bore = Chamber Length of 2 1/2″.
  • .410″ Bore = Chamber Length of 3″.

Shotgun Chamber Diameter Rear And Front:

  • 10 Gauge = Chamber Length of 2 7/8″,
    .8550″ Rear And .8410″ Front Chamber Diameter.
  • 10 Gauge = Chamber Length of 3 1/2″,
    .8581″ Rear And .8410″ Front Chamber Diameter.
  • 12 Gauge = Chamber Length of 2 3/4″,
    .8100″ Rear And .7980″ Front Chamber Diameter.
  • 12 Gauge = Chamber Length of 3″,
    .8111″ Rear And .7980″ Front Chamber Diameter.
  • 12 Gauge = Chamber Length of 3 1/2″,
    .8111″ Rear And .7980″ Front Chamber Diameter.
  • 16 Gauge = Chamber Length of 2 3/4″,
    .7450″ Rear And .7320″ Front Chamber Diameter.
  • 20 Gauge = Chamber Length of 2 3/4″,
    .6980″ Rear And .6850″ Front Chamber Diameter.
  • 20 Gauge = Chamber Length of 3″,
    .6992″ Rear And .6850″ Front Chamber Diameter.
  • 28 Gauge = Chamber Length of 2 3/4″,
    .6270″ Rear And .6140″ Front Chamber Diameter.
  • .410″ Bore = Chamber Length of 2 1/2″,
    .4780″ Rear And .4630″ Front Chamber Diameter.
  • .410″ Bore = Chamber Length of 3″,
    .4811″ Rear And .4630″ Front Chamber Diameter.

Shotgun Chamber To Bore Forcing Cone Lengths:

  • 10 Gauge Forcing Cone Length = .3772 inches.
  • 12 Gauge Forcing Cone Length = .4172 inches.
  • 16 Gauge Forcing Cone Length = .3829 inches.
  • 20 Gauge Forcing Cone Length = .4001 inches.
  • 28 Gauge Forcing Cone Length = .3943 inches.
  • .410″ Bore Forcing Cone Length = .3029 inches.

Shotgun Actions And Types:

  • Bolt-Action Shotgun; A shotgun, that is manually loaded, cocked, and unloaded by pulling a bolt mechanism up and back to eject a spent cartridge and load another.
  • Combination Shotgun-Rifle; A shotgun with 2 or more barrels, normally a rifled rifle barrel over top of the shotgun barrel and a break open design like a single shot.
  • Double-Barrel Over and Under Break Action Shotgun; A shotgun with two barrels, one above the other.
  • Double-Barrel Side-by-Side Break Action Shotgun; A shotgun with two barrels, one beside the other.
  • Lever Action, Shotgun; A shotgun, that is loaded, cocked, and unloaded by an external lever usually located below the receiver.
  • Pump Action or Slide-Action, Shotgun; A shotgun that features a movable forearm that is manually actuated to chamber a round, eject the casing, and put another round in position to fire.
  • Semi-Automatic, Shotgun; A shotgun in which each pull of the trigger results in a complete firing cycle, from discharge through reloading. It is necessary that the trigger be released and pulled for each cycle. These firearms are also called autoloaders or self-loaders. The discharge and chambering of a round is either blowback operated, recoil operated, or gas operated.
  • Single-Shot, Shotgun; A shotgun in which only one shell can be loaded and fired at a time.

Shotgun Chokes:

The one distinction that earns the shot-gun name, putting some form of choke to the inside of the barrel giving that gun barrel a specific job to do, shoot shot only. Once you put a choke inside of a gun barrel you then have determined a specific use for that gun barrel, the purpose of that choke is to shoot shot, hence shotgun.

The purpose of a shotgun having choke is to extend the distance at which you can effectively shoot shot and cleanly break targets or harvest game. As the addition of rifling to a musket bore extended the accurate distance of a single projectile clearly defining (a rifle), choke boring of a musket bore extended the distance of multiple projectiles (shot) clearly defining (a shotgun).

Fred Kimble in 1868 heavily promoted the fixed-choke, choke-bore shotgun barrel that would forever separate muskets from shotguns and help revolutionize the shotgun with one of the greatest of all barrel inventions, the shotgun fixed-choke.

Kimble started experimenting with musket barrels left over from the Civil War, as they were heavy and would stand boring. After repeated attempts to get the correct angles inside the bore he finally came up with a 6-bore or 6 gauge that had a .925″ bore diameter that would drop birds at 80 yards. This shotgun would shoot #3 shot through a one-inch board at 40 yards.

Kimble began challenging anyone and everyone at live pigeons with his 6-bore, 36-inch barrel, muzzle-loaded shotgun. The inferior guns of Kimble’s competitors were no match for Kimble’s choke-bored fixed-choke single shot shotgun. He won match after match and soon, everyone wanted a choked shotgun, and Kimble began to procure regulation double guns and bore them to his new shotgun bore dimensions with choke.

Kimble was not the first person to try his hand at putting some form of choke in a barrel, he did however get the choke-bore procedure correct and promoted this idea with his exploits as a shooter.

When a shotshell is fired from a shotgun, the pellets leave the barrel and begin to spread apart. The farther the pellets travel, the greater the spread of the pellets. Choke is the degree of narrowing or constriction measured in thousandths of an inch at the muzzle end of the shotgun barrel that controls the spread of shot pellets.

.035″ Constriction = Full Choke.

.020″ Constriction = Modified Choke.

.010″ Constriction = Improved Cylinder Choke.

.000″ Constriction = Cylinder Bore.

The purpose of the shotgun choke is to control shot dispersion. In a fixed choke shotgun the following results can be expected. The full choked shotgun will place all of its shot within a 40 inch circle at 40 yards. The modified choked shotgun will place all of its shot within a 40 inch circle at 35 yards. The improved cylinder choked shotgun will place all of its shot within a 40 inch circle circle at 30 yards. The cylinder bore shotgun will place all of its shot within a 40 inch circle at 25 yards.

Even though all of the shot can be contained within a 40 inch circle with various chokes at various distances only 70% of that shot pattern is effective for use in the field for hunting. In a fixed choke shotgun the following results can be expected.

The Full Choked Shotgun,
will place 70% of its shot within a 30 inch circle at 40 yards.

The Modified Choked Shotgun,
will place 70% of its shot within a 30 inch circle at 35 yards.

The Improved Cylinder Choked Shotgun,
will place 70% of its shot within a 30 inch circle at 30 yards.

The Cylinder Bore Shotgun,
will place 70% of its shot within a 30 inch circle at 25 yards.

My Custom Tac 14 – Improving a Firearm

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custom tac 14

I’ve owned my totally not a shotgun, pump action, 12 gauge Tac 14 for a year now, and in that short period of time, it’s become a favorite of mine. Being built on a Remington 870 means I have tons of choices for upgrading and modernizing the platform. One golden rule about customizing this gun is simple, and the result must be over 26 inches overall. My custom Tac 14 is well over 26 inches OAL and is now easier to shoot faster, straighter, and over long distances. It also looks much cooler.

Brace Adapter – Ergo 870 Adapter

The first thing you likely notice is that this custom Tac 14 is now wearing a brace instead of a bird’s head grip. The bird’s head grip is excellent, but it does have its own set of limitations. The addition of a brace makes the gun much easier to handle. To start this custom gun I needed an AR buffer tube adapter, and Ergo’s 870 adapters came to the rescue. This simple piece replaced my Raptor grip and provided me a point of contact for both a AR-15 grip and buffer tube thread.

Brace – Gear Head Works Tailhook Mod 2

My brace of choice is the Tailhook Mod 2 from Gear Head Works. This brace is made from hard polymer and makes handling the hard recoiling Tac 14 much more comfortable. It grants the user a third point of contact and helps balance the gun for rapid follow up shots. It’s much easier to aim and take more precise shots with the Tail Hook Mod 2 brace. This model was originally on my 80 percent lower build, but I felt the design was much better for a heavier recoiling gun. 

Th best part about this brace is the fact it has four different positions of adjustment. It’s like a carbine stock in that regard, but does use a proprietary tube that a stock cannot attach to. This keeps any ideas of constructive possession from being tied to the design.

Pistol Grip – Ergo Sure Grip (flat top)

The Ergo Sure Grip was chosen because of its somewhat soft design that helps dampen the effects of recoil on your hand. I like the Suregrip, and the flat top designs allow it to attach to the adapter effortlessly. It has some finger humps which is something I usually dislike, but they didn’t bother me here. The grip is comfortable and fills the hand. My hand didn’t get tired or start to feel cramped in any way.

Pump – Surefire DSF 870

A home defense weapon needs a white light, right? My Custom Tac 14 is my home defense weapon, and I knew I needed a view of some kind. While researching the idea, the Surefire Model quickly became the only choice I saw worthy. It’s rugged, reliable, and made by a company I’d trust with my life. The DSF 870 gives me a high 600 lumens, and low 200 lumens beam as an option for momentary on and off. The controls are ambidextrous and very easy to reach. This is by far the best light option for any shotgun.

Shell Carrier – Archangel 7 Round Sidesaddle

Extra ammo is always a must-have for shotgun use, and the Archangel side saddle gives me an impressive seven additional rounds. That allows me to keep the gun in the fight for an extended period of time. Of all the side saddle choices, the Archangel drew me in due to the ability to tighten the carriers individual slots. The ability to increase and decrease tension for each shell could be valuable if you decided to run slugs or an alternative load upside down. This was the first touch for my custom Tac 14, and it seems to be working very well.

My Ammo Of Choice – Federal Flight Control

The long name for this ammo is Federal Flight Control Law Enforcement ammo is a reduced recoil brand that gives shooters a very tight pattern over extended distances. This ammo also recoils lightly and is quite affordable.

So there we have it, my Custom Tac 14 is totally not a shotgun firearm. It’s a short, lightweight, but powerful weapon for home defense, or just for fun. It defies expectations, as well as the NFA. What was once a niche weapon and a range toy is now a handy close quarter fighting weapon. All with a little help from my friends.

Lead Poisoning and Hunting Game

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lead shot
1-1/4 oz Lead shot from a 7.5 shot shell.

Lead Poisoning:

All shotgun hunters need to be aware of making sure that all lead pellets are removed from game animals and or birds before consumption because lead is hazardous to your health. The biologic fate of inorganic lead in the human body is well known. Inorganic lead is not metabolized but is directly absorbed, distributed, and excreted.

Once in the blood, lead is distributed primarily among three compartments, (one) blood, (two) soft tissue – kidney, bone marrow, liver, and brain, and (three) mineralizing tissue – bones and teeth.

Mineralizing tissue contains about 95% of the total body burden of lead in adults (ATSDR, 1990).

In blood, 99% of the lead is associated with erythrocytes while the remaining 1% is in the plasma and is available for transport to the tissues.

In single-exposure studies with adults, lead has a half life in blood of approximately 25 days, in soft tissue about 40 days, and in the non-labile portion of bone more than 25 years.

In bone there is both a labile component, which readily exchanges lead with the blood and an inert pool.

Lead in the inert pool poses a special risk because it is a potential endogenous source of lead. Because of these mobile lead stores, a person’s PbB level can take several months or sometimes years to drop significantly, even after complete removal from the source of lead exposure (ATSDR, 1990).

Lead exposure is one of the most common preventable poisonings of childhood. It is estimated that one out of every six children in the United States, or a total of over three million children, have blood levels in the toxic range.

Lead is a potent poison that can affect individuals at any age. Children with developing bodies are especially vulnerable because their rapidly developing nervous systems are particularly sensitive to the effects of lead.

Almost all children in the United States are exposed to lead. Common sources include lead paint and lead contained in water and soil. Over 50 million homes, including a majority of those built before 1980, contain lead-based paint.

Exposure to lead can have a wide range of effects on a child’s development and behavior. Even when exposed to small amounts of lead levels, children may appear inattentive, hyperactive, and irritable. Children with greater lead levels may also have problems with learning and reading, delayed growth, and hearing loss. At higher levels, lead can cause permanent brain damage and even death.

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