Shelf life of ammo and best shotgun to buy.

[Knobster]

I have a Mossburg 500 since I am on a budget (~$200 used). It has an interchangeable barrel so I can shoot skeet, ducks, squirrels, turkey, <insert small varmint here> and with a quick barrel change I can put a slug through it and probably drop anything other than a bear. With #4bk it also makes a nice home invansion prevention tool.

Regarding shelf life of ammo, I'll echo what many others have said: I shot some of my dad's .22LR that had been laying in boxes in the garage since I was in high school (I'm now 38 so this ammo was at least 20 years old) and it worked just fine. For long term put your ammo in ammo cans and your grandchildren will enjoy shooting it.

[miked2345]

I have a Mossburg 500 since I am on a budget (~$200 used). It has an interchangeable barrel so I can shoot skeet, ducks, squirrels, turkey, <insert small varmint here> and with a quick barrel change I can put a slug through it and probably drop anything other than a bear. With #4bk it also makes a nice home invansion prevention tool.

Ok.... I'm about to reveal my shotgun ignorance here, but here goes...
My shotgun experience so far has been skeet shooting with co-workers, with their guns... I did buy a Mossberg Maverick field model (28" barrel) a few weeks ago, but due to my work schedule, I have not gotten out to the range yet.

I'm confused on ammo - I've read here and else where about changing barrels for different kinds of ammo. I was under the impression that I could use several different kinds of shells in this gun, as long as they are 2 3/4 or 3". What's the deal on slugs? do I need a special barrel for slugs?

I've bought an assortment of shells to try, when I DO manage to get out to the range - Game and Target in 7, 6, 4, 2, and BB sizes, and a box of 00 buckshot. Will I be able to use all this with the barrel that came with the gun? Is it only slugs that require a different barrel?

[Matt In Oklahoma]

Ok.... I'm about to reveal my shotgun ignorance here, but here goes...
My shotgun experience so far has been skeet shooting with co-workers, with their guns... I did buy a Mossberg Maverick field model (28" barrel) a few weeks ago, but due to my work schedule, I have not gotten out to the range yet.

I'm confused on ammo - I've read here and else where about changing barrels for different kinds of ammo. I was under the impression that I could use several different kinds of shells in this gun, as long as they are 2 3/4 or 3". What's the deal on slugs? do I need a special barrel for slugs?

I've bought an assortment of shells to try, when I DO manage to get out to the range - Game and Target in 7, 6, 4, 2, and BB sizes, and a box of 00 buckshot. Will I be able to use all this with the barrel that came with the gun? Is it only slugs that require a different barrel?

You don't need a "special" barrel for the slugs. All shot will go thru the barrel you have though the 28inch barrel (not sure what choke) will keep a tight pattern. You can buy a special barrel for the slugs if you want to shoot more accuratly but give it a whirl first

[rice paddy daddy]

Ok.... I'm about to reveal my shotgun ignorance here, but here goes...
My shotgun experience so far has been skeet shooting with co-workers, with their guns... I did buy a Mossberg Maverick field model (28" barrel) a few weeks ago, but due to my work schedule, I have not gotten out to the range yet.

I'm confused on ammo - I've read here and else where about changing barrels for different kinds of ammo. I was under the impression that I could use several different kinds of shells in this gun, as long as they are 2 3/4 or 3". What's the deal on slugs? do I need a special barrel for slugs?

I've bought an assortment of shells to try, when I DO manage to get out to the range - Game and Target in 7, 6, 4, 2, and BB sizes, and a box of 00 buckshot. Will I be able to use all this with the barrel that came with the gun? Is it only slugs that require a different barrel?

The barrel you have on your gun will fire everything you mentioned. When it comes to slugs, just buy Foster type (most often called "rifled"), they are designed for smoothbores, which is what's on your gun. The sabot slug is for rifled barrels. It's real easy to tell the difference - foster slugs will cost around $6 for a box of five. Sabot slugs will run $20+ for a box of five.
A good all around choke is Modified. Most fixed choke guns are modified, those with screw in choke tubes will include a modified as well.
Chokes range from Cylinder (no choke at all), thru Modified, to Full, to Turkey (extra full).
There are other, specialized chokes as well (skeet, improved cylinder, etc) but the basic three - cyl, mod, full, will be good for most every need.
There's a forum you can peruse to glean info, but be aware, they are gun snobs. That's why I read but don't post over there. http://www.shotgunworld.com/

[Matt In Oklahoma]

Ok.... I'm about to reveal my shotgun ignorance here, but here goes...
My shotgun experience so far has been skeet shooting with co-workers, with their guns... I did buy a Mossberg Maverick field model (28" barrel) a few weeks ago, but due to my work schedule, I have not gotten out to the range yet.

I'm confused on ammo - I've read here and else where about changing barrels for different kinds of ammo. I was under the impression that I could use several different kinds of shells in this gun, as long as they are 2 3/4 or 3". What's the deal on slugs? do I need a special barrel for slugs?

I've bought an assortment of shells to try, when I DO manage to get out to the range - Game and Target in 7, 6, 4, 2, and BB sizes, and a box of 00 buckshot. Will I be able to use all this with the barrel that came with the gun? Is it only slugs that require a different barrel?

Maybe this will help some too

[miked2345]

Thanks guys for the info on ammo... For a while there, I was afraid the gun would blow up on me if I tried the wrong ammo!

So let me be sure I understand this... For a smooth bore barrel, like on my shotgun, I would use a rifled slug, right? (That just sounds weird... I would think a rifled slug would go in a rifled barrel..)

Matt - Thanks for those videos... That helped!!

I found a webpage that showed the different shot sizes. I'm thinking the #2 birdshot and the BB shot I bought would be pretty good for inside-the-home defense. As I mentioned elsewhere here, I live in a
suburb and the houses are fairly close together, so I probably won't be using a slug around here anyway. I don't need something going thru a couple walls and hitting a neighbor! (And where I live, I know most of them are able to shoot back, too!)

[Klayton]

@miked2345: rifled slug means the actual slug is rifled (because the barrel lacks rifling). It is the funny looking diagonal cuts in the side of the slug you will see in the photographs. Creates "some" spin which is needed for any shots that are farther than 15yds. Otherwise you would end up with a tumble = less accuracy. Think of it like a football, if you dont add the spin when throwing a football it doesn't go as far and soon tumbles in flight and doesn't go where you want. =)

[rice paddy daddy]

Actually, it's more like a badminton shuttlecock than a football. The Foster slug is nose heavy to provide stability and will not tumble. The diagonal lands are more for maintaining contact with the bore and being able to "squeeze" down when passing thru the choke area.

Miked2345 - if you are not hunting waterfowl, you would be better served using lead shot instead of steel. Lead has a better ability to retain velocity over a longer distance because it's heavier than steel. Steel shot loads use bigger shot at higher initial velocity to make up for being lighter. The ONLY reason steel shot was made to begin with was to comply with the lead pellet ban for waterfowl hunting. By all means, use what you've already bought, don't throw it away,but I don't really put much faith in bird shot for anti-personnel duty.
Have you ever gone to the Box O' Truth website, where various rifle, handgun, and shotgun loads are tested?
If not, go there and look at his birdshot vs. buckshot vs. slug tests.

http://www.theboxotruth.com/

[miked2345]

http://www.theboxotruth.com/[/url]

Hey, Thanks for that link! LOTS of great info there!!