This round will provide fight-stopping capabilities that are effective at both close and extended shotgun ranges. With all that said, modern ammo technology is a marvelous thing. The 243 simply does not have enough kinetic energy or penetration to harvest these larger animals consistently and humanely. Messages. Goes boom, ejects, and cycles as it is supposed. A wildcatter is someone who makes custom cartridges that are not commercially available to achieve a specific purpose. This is most likely due to the lower felt recoil experienced when shooting 243 as shooters can focus more on the fundamentals of shooting without worrying about an offensive kick to the shoulder. Best Regardless of your selected load of 12-gauge ammo, it is prudent that you practice and familiarize yourself with how it behaves with your specific firearm. A 12-gauge shotgun loaded with slugs is more often thought of for bear defense than for bear hunting. 12 Gauge Trip Wire Alarm 4 Way Trip Quad Perimeter Defense Gen 3.0 by Trip Alarm Co. for Camping and Security (Black) ST Action Pro Pack Of 20 Inert 12 GA 12GA Gauge Shotgun Orange Safety Trainer Cartridge Dummy Ammunition Ammo Shell Rounds with Brass Case. For the cheap, practice ammo, like Federal 243 Power-Shok, you should be paying around $1.50 per round while the premium hunting ammo will run you about $2-3 per round or more. The 150 grain bullet for 270 is where it separates itself from 243 in terms of SD. The second group are those who always opt for the lowest recoiling cartridge they can find for the job. $35.00 $ 35. This works in smooth bore, rifled choke tubes or fully rifled barrels. If youre looking for a sweet .444 rifle, Marlin is chambering their 150th Anniversary Model 1895 for this classic cartridge in 2020. Can you do it? When we boil defensive shooting down to pure biology, if slugs are effective for deer, they should be just as effective on nefarious bad guys. While a rifle will always be ballistically superior to even the most cutting-edge shotgun load, slugs do have a place in the hunting world. For example, common2 -inch shells of 00 buck are typically loaded with eight .330-inch diameter projectiles. Regardless of your intended use, you are getting 25 versatile rounds with consistent patterning and velocities. If you live out in the western Great Plains and plan to hunt muleys, pronghorn, or mountain sheep up to 500 yards, then the 270 is the clear choice with its higher Ballistic Coefficient (resists wind drift) and ability to maintain 1,000+ ft-lbs of energy at that range. As the 270 fires heavier bullets and has a larger case capacity, it will generally impart more felt recoil into the shoulder of the shooter. 12 Gauge Ammo Based on the ballistic tables below, a 100 grain 243 bullet will be able to maintain 1,000 ft-lbs of energy up to 250-300 yards. 12 The contents of the shell vary depending on the design. Birdshot pellets are smaller than buckshot pellets, meaning more pellets can be loaded into a shell. While the two types of loads are both good for self-defense, they achieve their performance in very different ways. Gun haters always want to forget the Warsaw Ghetto uprising, which is a perfect example of how a ragtag, half-starved group of Jews took 10 handguns and made asses out of the Nazis.Theodore Haas, Disarmament palsies the hand and brutalizes the mind; an habitual disuse of physical force totally destroys the moral; and men lose at once the power of protecting themselves, and of discerning the cause of their oppression.Joel Barlow, The more corrupt the state, the more numerous the laws.Tacitus. In fact, Mossberg makes a 20ga ammo shotgun specifically designed for home defense. 4 buckshot 27 Remington Express No. At bear-baiting distances, the Wilson Combat 300 HAMR will do anything the .30/30 Winchester will, and from a lighter package that holds more ammunition. Join our email list for the best deals! Also, because slug velocity and power peter out past 200 yards, slugs are a safer option than a rifle when hunting in populated areas. The .410 is a smaller cartridge, has less velocity and less energy. I'm looking to get my first and long-awaited over/under shotgun. The projectile of this load also benefits from a high velocity due to the inclusion of a compression-style wad. Shop now and get Free Value Shipping on most orders over $49 to the I received my order precisely as advertised. Also, ballistics can vary from lot to lot with the same brand and type load. Buy a box of shotgun ammo or in bulk today! Black bears are fatty, hard-boned creatures. I keep a custom takedown Marlin 336 in .35 Remington behind my truck seat. These Hornady slugs are packed with a serrated, hollow-point 325-grain InterLock projectile that promotes consistent expansion and effect on target. Shooting. Touted as one of the most popular calibers for whitetail deer hunting, the 243 is here to stay as its popularity is not expected to wane anytime soon. Many ammunition manufacturers makes specialty target rounds including Winchester, Remington, and Federal. Fired 1 box so far from my Mossberg 500. The actual ballistics obtained with your firearm can vary considerably from the advertised ballistics. Designed for smoothbore scatterguns, the TruBall system features a plastic ball positioned between the wad and the slug. Best Ammo Reloading Kits.Complete Ammo Reloading Kits This Critical Defense option is designed to function reliably in semi-automatic and pump-action shotguns alike, making this 12-gauge ammo viable for home defense regardless of your shotgun model. Certain loadings feature wad technology and plated projectiles that further aid in keeping the pattern tight during flight. I own 4 pistols in 9mm and 45 ACP and plan to continue to use your service to my advantage. Almost forgotten, the .35 Remington is a favorite of hunters who chase black bears with dogs. Learn More. Double Barreled 12 Gauge Shotgun Pistol Review - THE DIABLO Best Gifts For Hunters Buy A 12 Gauge Termo Bottle Here. Sign Up today for our FREE Newsletter and get the latest articles and news delivered right to your inbox. What is the best 12-gauge ammo for bear-defense? As you probably already know, early firearms fired balls, not modern cartridges. This 300-grain slug option from Federal Premium boasts the highest advertised velocity of the options on this list. Low-recoil options designed specifically for competition will help increase accuracy and speed up your shot times. Normally found as #3 steel shot, each projectile has a diameter of .14 inch and 154 pellets fit in a 10 ounce round. This versatility and low recoil impulse made the 243 extremely popular with newer and experienced shooters alike as it offered a flat trajectory without the punishing recoil of something heavier like a 300 Win Mag. The 243 Win operates under the principle of shooting lighter projectiles at extremely high velocity (FPS), utilizing hydrostatic shock to incapacitate the target. And those rifleslike the Marlin 1894 or Ruger 77/44are lightweight, compact, and ideal for hound hunting. Shop 12 gauge shotgun ammo, and 12 gauge shells from brands like Remington, and Browning. After the Spanish-American War, the United States Military began the process of creating a new cartridge after seeing the deadly efficiency of the 7x57mm Mauser round in the hands of Spanish troops. 12 ga ammo for hogs document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2022 Recoil Magazine A shotgun is primarily purchased for close-range home defense, and you might be surprised to learn that 20 gauge ammo is just about as effective as the 12 gauge, particularly for people who have difficulty managing the recoil of 20 gauge specialty ammo. You dont need premium bullets for black bear, but you do need an expanding bullet thatll hold together and drive deep. 12ga ammo for hunting, practice, and self defense. Join our email list for the best deals! FMJ bullets work great on paper and steel, not so much on critters. MSRP: $25.95 per 25-rnd. The Woodcock comes with ejectors in 12/20-gauge and extractors in 28/.410. Federals FLITECONTROL FLEX wad will aid in the projectiles flying in a consistent and tight pattern when paired with standard or ported waterfowl chokes. The specific factors of ones home environment, such as potential engagement distances, will impact whether or not slugs, buckshot or something else entirely will be the safest and smartest choice. 20 gauge began life as a muzzleloader with a 0.615-inch diameter bore. You have allowed me to continue with a sport and pastime I love that helps protect myself and family. Top 5 Upland Loads 12 Gauge Ammo While the larger round may be more popular overall, the 20 gauge is used by many and is often the first shotgun many people shot. contiguous 48 states, DC and to all U.S. Military APO/FPO/DPO addresses. Whether youre looking for a weapon for a young person, a woman, a diminutive gentleman, or just someone with shoulder issues, 20 gauge shotgun shells can step in and get the job done when the recoil of a 12 gauge is too much. Both camps of hunters and marksmen staunchly defend their rifle caliber of choice, refusing to budge even an inch or entertain the possibility that the other cartridge has some merit. Stephen W.Your website, pricing and service was superb, especially in these trying times. There are a number AR-15-compatible cartridges that you can hunt bears with, but this is my top choice. The rifled slugs defining feature is a set of exterior grooves that resemble barrel rifling. If youve ever wanted to stir up a hornets nest, all you need to do is go onto any hunting forum and pose the question, Which is better, 270 or 243? Then just sit back and watch the fireworks like its the 4th of July. Remingtons initial design called for a 1:12 rifling twist rate for the new 244 Rem cartridge. This decision by Winchester meant that the 270 Win was not an immediate commercial powerhouse like the 30-06 and lived in relative obscurity for many years. You must have JavaScript enabled in your browser to utilize the functionality of this website. For example, a Mossberg 590A1 features a fixed-cylinder bore while a Benelli Montefeltro comes with a set of Crio improved cylinder, modified, and full chokes. Thats a pretty dramatic difference. Today, they are a specialty item in the military, primarily used by hunters and skeet shooters, as well as police and those seeking protection. If you were to shoot similar factory loads for each cartridge side-by-side, you could likely tell a world of difference between the two. The slug works best in a smoothbore and leaves the muzzle at a healthy 1300 feet per second. A cylinder choke will produce the widest dispersion of projectiles as the bore diameter is not tightened in any way. Granulated polymer is packed into the case to prevent deformation of the 41 pellets during flight and ensures the patterns tightness as it proceeds downrange. Policy. Products Shop By Department. Make sure you select a tough bullet that will hold up to rifle velocities. Full chokes feature the tightest bore diameter, conducive to ensuring that the projectiles maintain as concentrated of a pattern as possible during flight. Because the load has extra pellets, it is still possible (at least theoretically) to hit the target even if the slug misses. The 243 Winchester and 270 Winchester are two centerfire rifle cartridges that shooters predominantly use for varmint hunting or whitetail, antelope, or mule deer. The author took this 355-pound Newfoundland black bear with a 6.5 Creedmoor. Between improved cylinder and full chokes are modified chokes, providing a middle-ground option when it comes to pattern tightness. Some hunters have found varmint bullets instantly lethal on deer. The 243 is available in a wide range of bullet weights ranging from 55 grains up to 100 grains. Black bears are not that hard to kill. Toll-Free: +1-800-504-5897 The 270 is a powerful rifle cartridge that can shoot heavier bullets compared to the 243. The added case capacity will be needed to get the heavier bullets fire by the 270 up to speed for long-range shooting. Guns. However, the 243 lacks the stopping power to humanely harvest larger game like elk and black bear. Email: sales@opticsplanet.com, 9AM-7PM CT Mon-Fri RCBS RCBS is also part of the big names in the reloading world. This versatile gauge has also been making headway into the self-defense market with new specialty ammunition designed for personal protection. Ammo engineers are constantly pushing the envelope when it comes to defensive ammo, and a few companies offer shotgun slugs designed specifically for defensive shooting. Thats why, in general, orders placed before 3:00pm Eastern on a weekday will ship same day. (29) (Save 12%) Best Rated. On the other hand, the 243 will generally have less recoil, making it easier for many shooters to shoot accurately. Founded in 1876, Fiocchi has a wealth of experience in ammo manufacturing. Policy. The .308 fits in compact rifles of all action types. CMG West, LLC Toll-Free: +1-800-504-5897 Live Chat Help Center Check Order Status Blog. Shop products from small business brands sold in Amazons store. Its not a special shotgun shell, but it might be just what youre looking for. If you need to stretch the effective range of your shotgun, this is the way to do it. If you find that the recoil from 12 gauge has your shoulder sore or think it might have you missing your shots, give a 20 gauge a try. Best COYOTE SHOTGUN LOADS 12-Gauge, 2 3/4-inch Load Size Pellets Winchester Super-X No. The recoil of the 20 gauge is described by many shooters as about 50 percent of a 12 gauge when fired out of a shotgun of the same type. Boots & Shoes. Shotguns can work great for bear, but load them with slugs, not buckshot. Sadly, there is no singular caliber that is exceptional at harvesting every type of game animal. The benefit of the higher velocity possessed by slugs is evident in its effect on the target and its efficient fight-stopping capabilities. This makes for less accurate shooting, so power is not the only consideration when choosing a shotgun, especially for home defense. However, in general, you should expect to pay $700+ for the premium rifles listed above. Match one with a great .44 Magnum load and youll drop bears stone dead, no matter how tall the tree he climbed into is. Multiple grain weights are available in both calibers to let you customize your ammo to the target game youre looking to hunt. Firearms & Survivalists Lifestyle Rifle Ammo.223 Remington 224 Valkyrie 243 Winchester 12 Gauge 20 Gauge Ammunition by Application Big Game Defense Hunting Match Target Waterfowl. And in this class of gun, the 12-gauge reigns supreme. In stock now, 74 Affordable stuff though and prob great for home defense with little recoil. So should you. These days, most 12-gauge shotguns come with at least a 3-inch chamber, but double-check before trying to jam anything larger than a standard 2 -inch shell into it. #8 Shot (Lead) Ammunition, Winchester 20 Gauge Ammo - 5 Rounds of #3 Buck Ammunition. Shotgun Ammo 10 Gauge 12 Gauge 16 Gauge 20 Gauge 28 Gauge 410 Bore. With the ability to shoot lighter bullets from 100-120gr for small game up to a heavier bullet at 150gr for large game, the 270 allows you to have ammo versatility that other cartridges only dream about. Best 12 Gauge Shotgun Shells For Duck Hunting | Experts Choice Regardless of their reasoning, it wasnt until after WWII that Jack OConnor began to expound upon his unabashed love affair with the 270 in Outdoor Life magazine that the cartridge started to see its popularity grow. In stock now. While you can opt for any configuration, many ammunition manufacturers produce specialty defensive rounds including Federal, Hornady, and Remington. They also feature a radiused crimp for super-fast reloads. Forest camping among their top products is the aluminum and steel-made Shotshell Reloading Crimp 12 gauge. I have killed a bunch with 2 3/4 inch 00 buck, I prefer the 12 pellet copper plated load, I have used Remington, Federal, and Winchester ammo and couldn't tell any difference in performance, never really felt the need for the extra recoil of the 3" and of course it slows up the follow up shot if multiple pigs are present as well., .The Winchester hull stands up better to After the slug exits the barrel, the sleeve falls away, but the projectile continues to spin like a football, which results in better in-flight stability. On impact, the slug separates into three segments to compensate for aiming errors and maximize internal damage. Further aiding its popularity, the wide variety of 12-gauge ammo available today for nearly any application. These babies are tough enough for the biggest-bodied whitetails in North America. Marlins big .444 will for sure kill a deer, but given its ballistics its an outstanding choice for black bear in a wide range of hunting conditions. Best Shotguns for Grouse Hunting Many shotguns feature barrels with internal threads that accommodate a variety of chokes, making them tunable by the end user to match their chosen loads and needs. Budget options like the Savage Axis, Ruger American, and Mossberg Patriot can typically be had for under $500 at the time of writing. 12 GAUGE SHOTGUN AMMO; 16 GAUGE SHOTGUN AMMO; 20 GAUGE SHOTGUN AMMO; Shop All SHOTGUN AMMO; 410 BORE 3" AMMO; Best Selling In 410 GAUGE SHOTGUN AMMO. .44 Magnum load and youll drop bears stone dead, Hunting Black Bears with Hounds in the Famed Bruin Swamps of North Carolina, Carp and Bears: A Twist on the Classic Cast-and-Blast Adventure, Winchester Expedition Long Range Accubond, The 6 Best Big-Game Loads for the .308 Winchester, Remington introduced their Model 700 Rifle, Muzzle Velocity: 1,600 fps (rifle); 1,300 fps (pistol), Muzzle Energy: 1,364 ft/lbs (rifle); 901 ft/lbs (pistol). To fire 3 -inch shells, one will usually have to go out of their way to find a shotgun with a chamber that can accommodate them. The touted velocity of 2,000 fps paired with the sabot properties of the projectile is conducive to an accurate and hard-hitting load. With all that said, modern ammo technology is a marvelous thing. When comparing the 243 Win and 270 Win in terms of SD, its important to consider bullet selection as lighter varmint rounds (55-70 gr) for 243 will typically have lower SD than the heavier 80-100 gr deer loads (0.14 vs 0.24, respectively). But some hunters want to whack a black bear hard enough to rattle his claws. This is the largest pellet size buckshot I have found for a 20 ga, but its only between #2 and #1 buck. But what it lacks in power, the .410 makes up for in manageability, as the round has little recoil and is easy for most shooters to handle. 9AM-5PM CT Sat 12 Gauge Ammo The Best Places to Buy Cheap, High-Quality 12 Gauge Ammunition. With two bullets of equal weight traveling at different velocities, the one with the higher velocity will penetrate deeper. The first thing you should note is that both rifle cartridges are different calibers. Top Load: Hornady Dangerous Game Superformance Interlock SP. WINCHESTER 12 Gauge Shells Rounds Per Box: 5. But this begs the question, Is bigger actually better?. In fact, several Midwest states limit deer season to shotguns only for that very reason. Learn how your comment data is processed. Load it with the latest .45/70 ammo, and it will provide all the short-range bear-busting muscle youll ever need. Brennecke's hefty slugs have notched ribs and a lead point to guarantee seamless passage through your shotgun choke. This offering from Winchester is a great choice for those who want a reliable upland hunting load that lets them clip wings at longer distances. On average, they go under 250 pounds. The 12 gauge round is significantly larger than the 20 gauge. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. On average, the 270 has a BC of around 0.44 while the 243 registers an average BC of 0.34. The inclusion of the 00 Buck projectiles allows for a form of insurance of sorts when it comes to hitting your designated target. In stock now, 4 All rights reserved. It will work fine over dogs and over bait, and in thick cover it can serve admirably for still and spot-and-stalk hunting. However, theres a lot more going on with this powerful little round than just a shotgun for the kiddies. Sign up for the Field & Stream newsletter and get the latest intelligence straight to your inbox. I would recommend Deer Season XP, | If you plan to use your 12-gauge to punch big game tags this hunting season, here are some of the best options on the market. Caribou Media West, LLC However, there are a lot more factors to consider in a home defense scenario than basic biology. sandhill crane hunting- choke With all things being equal, you should see no difference in accuracy as both the 243 and 270 can easily obtain sub-MOA accuracy with handloads or match-grade factory loads from Hornady, Barnes, Nosler, or Sierra. Sectional density is calculated by comparing the bullet weight and the bullet diameter, the higher the number the more effective it will be at penetrating a target. This is where the real debate likes for 270 vs 243, as hunters have extremely polarized views of each cartridge based on their own experience or what they read in amazingly detailed articles like this one! If for any Make sure your training regimen includes a healthy dose of range time and Ill see you in the woods!