Shotgun newbie - some ammo questions etc.

[YVK]

I've just picked up my first shotgun, a slightly used Vang 870 Police Magnum, and, naturally, have a few questions. I have zero experience with shotguns.

I did not use search function. I went over all 25 or so pages of this subforum.

Q#1: Self/home defence ammo. Consensus appears to be Federal Flightcontrol or Hornady Tap 00 buckshot. There is some noise on the web about FlightControl not giving much of advantage in Vang'ed barrels, or Vang barrels making regular loads perform equally to flightcontrol. Hornady appears tough to get. So, if FlightControl turns out not worth the premium (I will get some and pattern it), and Hornady is unobtainable, what other loads are recommended?

Q#2: What's shotgun training ammo? I assume birdshot of some kind, but I am not sure.

Q#3: For both serious use and training ammo, what is a reasonable price range?

Q#4: Good, reputable online ammo vendors?

Q#5: Does Rob Haught have training class schedule or website? Googled, got only one class through 10-8.

Thanks in advance.

[cfrazier]

I've just picked up my first shotgun, a slightly used Vang 870 Police Magnum, and, naturally, have a few questions. I have zero experience with shotguns.

I did not use search function. I went over all 25 or so pages of this subforum.

Q#1: Self/home defence ammo. Consensus appears to be Federall Flightcontrol or Hornady Tap 00 buckshot. There is some noise on the web about FlightControl not giving much of advantage in Vang'ed barrels, or Vang barrels making regular loads perform equally to flightcontrol. Hornady appears tough to get. So, if FlightControl turns out not worth the premium (I will get some and pattern it), and Hornady is unobtainable, what other loads are recommended?

Q#2: What's shotgun training ammo? I assume birdshot of some kind, but I am not sure.

Q#3: For both serious use and training ammo, what is a reasonable price range?

Q#4: Good, reputable online ammo vendors?

Q#5: Does Rob Haught has training class schedule or website?

Thanks in advance.

In ref. to other ammo, a SG is like a rifle some ammo just shoots better. I would buy different brands 9 or 12 pellet and pattern them.

Anything from 71/2 to 00 buck, mainly 71/2 or 6 shot

Prices range a great deal. A good place to check is ammotogo.com. Have ordered ammo from them several times and have not been disappointed

[PRGGodfather]

Yes, the Vang barrel does some amazing things, but all things being equal, the Federal is the way to go. It's more than just the wad -- each pellet is selected for shape. It's all about the Quality Control.

I cannot recommend the Federal with Flight Control Wad highly enough. The density of their pattern is truly amazing. The old adage of 1 inch spread for every yard does not apply to these shells. They pattern at approximately 9 inches at 25 yards!

There is no comparison, and simply, you would be wasting your money by patterning others. I've shot virtually all brands of 00 buck over the last three decades, and I assure you the Federal with Flight Control is #1 with nothing else really coming close.

I do not work for Federal/ATK.

Both Pat Aherne and DocGKR will confirm how amazing the Federal shells pattern and perform.

[RWK]

Q#1: Self/home defence ammo. Consensus appears to be Federal Flightcontrol or Hornady Tap 00 buckshot.

Hornady licenses the FliteControl technology from Federal. You'd be paying a premium for the "privilege" of owning Hornady by buying Hornady instead of Federal. There is no performance difference between the Hornady and Federal loads.

Q#2: What's shotgun training ammo? I assume birdshot of some kind, but I am not sure.

#7-1/2 or #8 target loads are a good choice. Winchester AA is the gold standard but, you'll pay a premium for it. If you have a Dick's Sporting Goods in your area, you can probably buy it by the case there.

Q#4: Good, reputable online ammo vendors?

ammunitiontogo.com. They very often have the Federal tactical loads.

[DBR]

My Vang comp 870 likes the older Fed Tac without the FC wad better. I get more uniform pellet distribution from the older loads.

Also try Winchester 2 3/4 16 pellet #1 Buckshot. My gun patterns these in about 12" at 25yds.

[TOrrock]

The Federal Flite Control LE stuff makes standard shotgun barrels shoot like a Vang.

As others have suggested, get some different 2 3/4" 9 pellet 00 buck loads and pattern them in your gun and see what shoots best.

I use standard 1 oz "Dove" loads, usually #7, #7 1/2, or #8 shot for practice.

Ammunitiontogo.com is my go-to place for most ammo needs, especially defensive shotgun ammo or rifle ammo.

[Moose-Knuckle]

For your practice shells you can't beat Wal-Mart. They sell 100 round value packs of Remington and Winchester bird shot. You can also pick up 15 round value packs of 1oz slugs and 00 Buck on the cheap side to help you pattern and become familiar with the operation and recoil. Good shooting...

[blade_68]

You may want to think about the walls too in choice of ammo selection, over pentration of buck/ slug could be a problem. I have a brick walls house and load #6 and/ or #4s as load and have 00 buck, slugs. Buck and slugs may over pentrate wall(s) and could be a problem. so as DBR stated #1 buck maybe applicably as a risk managment and pattern. in a colder climate OO Buck maybe the choice rnd. #6 or #4 at close range can be very effective at one stop shots plus reduced recoil. Is the SG to be primary HD weapon, and for just you? Some of the LEOs here have a more rounded experence W/ Shotguns than the Mil side Military experence is mainly OO Buck, Door Breach rnds, and finaly Less lethal stuff in last 10 Years or so.

[Redline]

Interesting discussion. I am fairly new to shotguns. I am sold on the Federal LE Tactical Flight Control based on what I read here and because of the reviews at Ammunitiontogo.com. The question I have is which one of the 3 diff types at Ammunitiontogo.com should I get? They have the 8 pellet 1145 fps, the 9 pellet full power 1325 fps, or the low recoil 9 pellet 1145 fps. Any preferences here?

I don't think I need to worry about wall penetration. And I have an 870 tactical with Knoxx blackhawk stock. The stock actually absorbs some of the recoil by letting the shotgun move back a little over an inch when fired. I also just picked up a Mossberg 930 field/home combo with 28" and 18.5" barrels. Thanks.

[RWK]

The question I have is which one of the 3 diff types at Ammunitiontogo.com should I get? They have the 8 pellet 1145 fps, the 9 pellet full power 1325 fps, or the low recoil 9 pellet 1145 fps. Any preferences here?

I prefer the 9-pellet low-recoil (LE132). The pattern density is more uniform than the 9-pellet full-power loads.