Opinions wanted: What is the "best [birdshot]survival load" in these SG gauges?

[Couger]

I have my own ideas, but wanted to toss this topic out there ......

What do folks think would be the "best" load in a .410 shotshell?  (what length - 2 1/2 inch? or 3inch? , and what size of shot?)

In a 20 gauge shell?

In a 12 gauge shell?



Consider that these choices would be for a survival stiuation and each cartridge is worth its weight in gold!

In a .410 I'd probably choose 7 1/2's, and quite possibly in a 2 1/2incher - if it patterns better than the 3incher in whatever gun I was packing (10in contender or 26in singleshot).

In a 20gagger I'd probably be carrying 2 3/4in fooder - 1oz loads in both 7 1/2 and #6 shot.

In a 12 gauge I have data to reload two-inch shells - with again 7 1/2's or 6's.  12ga gun would likely be an NEF 'Survivor' cut down to 18inches with it's funky "survivor" stock and store-arm.

Scenario I invision is walking out of disaster situation, or trying to cover "some country" after a SHTF event.  Small game and grouse-like birds or (possibly) ducks would be what the shotshells were for.  In the 20 and 12 gauges I'd also have a couple slugs and buck shot.

Comments and opinions please?  Thanks!

[Graybeard]

My opinion is you are kidding yourself. You'd be far better off with a .22LR in the situation you describe. A shotgun for gathering food in a SHTF situation is not a wise use of resources. Walking away from home with a shotgun and whatever ammo you can carry to hopefully find a better place to be is again in my opinion not a wise course of action unless you live in a big city and if so even then it doesn't seem that smart to me if you've not been hit by a nuke and if you have ya ain't walking nowhere.

Roving gangs will take you out long before you get out of town. Hole up, hide out and try to survive. If you've waited until it happens to prepare for it then yer not gonna survive anyway.

[243dave]

While I agree with GB, if I had only a shotgun for small game I,d chose 6 shot for all game. Of course 4 shot would be better at longer distance and bigger game such as geese and turkey. 7 1/2 shot in my opinion is best for dove and that type of small game. When you move up to 6 shot game such as squirrels are killed much more reliably and at a greater distance. As for the gauge, I'm not a fan of the 410, but I have a soft spot for the 20 gauge. At average ranges it kills much better than the 410 and about as well as a 12 with much less meat loss. Don't get me wrong when I'm turkey hunting I grab my 12 and stuff it with 4 shot. But for rabbit, squirrel and the likes I grab a 20 with 6 shot. A case can be made for each gauge. For a SHTF situation I lean towards snare wire, a 22, and a 223 with high capacity mags.  Dave

[Couger]

   

[Couger]

Sorry in my introductory post I didn't use perfect terms or vocabulary!

Instead of being in a hard core life or death survival scenario, if one had a "camp gun" or "trail gun" and was in a subsistance situation, for those of who have NOT commented yet ......

What kind of shotshell load would you choose in a .410 shotshell?

Or 20 gauge?

or 12 gauge?

And please, for the sake of this topic - please assume you didn't have time to pick a "perfect survival firearm" ahead of time, and had to be satisfied using only a shotgun.

BTW, conventional thinking "might say" 7 1/2's are only for smallish birds ..... and such and such a size was for "geese, turkeys, or whatever ..... "

but in a round like a .410 a pellet size like 7 1/2 gives a much denser pattern than 6's or bigger.  In a larger gauge the #6's could indeed be a better all-around pellet size.  Likely game would be grouse-size birds and hares or bunnies, or similar critters.

Thanks ahead of time for your input.

Added:   Anyone who thinks packing a .22 rimfire in black bear or grizzly country as their sole weapon is nuts in my opinion.  I didn't specify in my introductory post that a 20 or 12 gauge could be used for a degree of protection against bears (with the right loads), but then this thread was to ask about small game shotshell "survival" loads.

[spooked]

Welp hyars my 2 cents:

410--21/2--1/2 0z#6 shot
20ga.-23/4-7/8 oz #6shot
12ga-23/4-1oz--#6 shot
Reasoning: This is what has worked great for me since I got out of high school in 1965..Although I once used a minimum amount of 8's an 71/2's fer quail..For over 40 years experience the 6's have done the job. Squirrel, rabbit, turkey, quail, and the various farm varmints the 6's never let me down..About 35 years ago I started testing shotguns with #6's when I acquired them, if they didn't pattern and kill small game well with the 6's they were traded or set back in favor of those which did..
 Light load 16 ga. 6's were my favorite for years, have an ole 16ga. stevens that has taken ever thing that is legal in Mo., it filled the pot quite often when the kids were still at home.

[rio grande]

Sounds like spooked knows what he's talking about!

[Couger]

Thank you, Spooked! 

That's the kind of experience and insight I was looking for.   

[billy_56081]

And if you make a cut shell out of them they will work for big game just like a slug.

[mannyrock]

Answer:

   #6
   #6
   #6

   Done.

Mannyrock

[Couger]

And if you make a cut shell out of them they will work for big game just like a slug.

Huh?   

Could you elaborate on what you mean by a cut shell?  Thanks!

[hunt-m-up]

4's in 3" 410
5's or 6's in the others

[Elijah Gunn]

Yeah, what is a "cut shell"?

[billy_56081]

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,178695.msg1098901683.html#msg1098901683


Here is a thread about them.

[Swampman]

In FL you almost never get a shot on small game that is sitting still.  Combine that with dense foilage that never falls and with a .22 you'd go hungry.  In the 20 I prefer #5s and in the 12 I prefer #4s.  The 20 gauge NW Trade Gun conquered this country and a 20 is still a great choice.  With slugs It can harvest almost anything & with shot it's great for small game.  My personal choice is the NEF Pardner Youth Model with an adult length buttstock.

To each his own!

NW FL is the one place that Daniel Boone got lost.  He also said that it was the only place he'd ever been where it was possible to starve to death in the woods.  Large shot pass thru and you don't have to spit them out after dinner.

I would avoid a semi-auto of any kind for many reasons.

[Victor3]

 50/50 mix, 1.5oz of 6 & 9 in 3" 12 ga.

 Maybe three 00 pellets in the bottom of the wad, just in case 

[WD45]

Well if I had no other choice than a shotgun it would be my double 20 with an assortment of #6, #4 and some slugs and if I was limited to one size shot it would be #6. If this is for a survival situation where every one else on the planet is trying to do the same I would be way more worried about the 2 legged critters roaming around than any dangerous game.

[SmokeEater2]

My first firearm was a .22/410 Savage O/U that dad bought for me when I was 6. I tried different shot sizes in it and decided that #6 shot in the 2 3/4 in. (they were a little cheaper than 3in.) was the best all around choice for the squirrels,rabbit,quail etc. I hunted here in the wilds of Arkansas. I still have the gun and still squirrel hunt with it now and again with #6's.
 A few years ago I decided that a Savage in .22/20 gauge would be the perfect truck/camping etc. gun and I set out to find one. I never came across a .22/20 but I did find a .22 magnum over 20 gauge and it's lived behind the seat of the truck ever since. I have an old vest I keep with it that has #6,#4,buckshot and a couple of slug loads and a box of .22 mag in the pockets. If I'm out in the woods and want to do a little squirrel or rabbit huntin' the #6's work great. The .22 mag while not perfect will do for head shots too. The #4 shot would work for turkey and the buckshot or slugs will take deer,bear or hawg.
 If I were in the position to need to subsistence hunt I think the 20 gauge would be my pick out of all gauges available as the best all around choice. Just my humble opinion a'course.