Quote:
Don't for a moment thing that a shotgun doesn't need skill to shoot. Even with a shotgun with a cylinder or improved cylinder bore (basically, no choke down of the end of the barrel), your pattern at 25 yards is still only a few inches across. You need to shoot it at some cardboard or something where you can see the shot pattern. You'll be amazed at how tight it generally is. Short of slugs, you're not going to get long range out of it, which is one of the bonuses too. Choose your shell wisely as well. #4 buckshot in a 2 3/4" shell is a good compromise between pellet size/lethality of both two and four legged predators and safety. If you shoot an interior wall of a house, you generally won't penetrate both sides of the wall with #4 while larger shot usually will.
Personally, I would avoid less-than-lethal solutions. Leave those to police riot squads. When dealing with angry critters, a less than lethal solution (except for trapping) is just as likely to make them mad - kinda' like shooting a guy on PCP with a beanbag gun. Dispatch the critter quickly and humanely and dispose of the remains before the game warden finds out. Just my take...
Big Charlie
Don't for a moment thing that a shotgun doesn't need skill to shoot. Even with a shotgun with a cylinder or improved cylinder bore (basically, no choke down of the end of the barrel), your pattern at 25 yards is still only a few inches across. You need to shoot it at some cardboard or something where you can see the shot pattern. You'll be amazed at how tight it generally is. Short of slugs, you're not going to get long range out of it, which is one of the bonuses too. Choose your shell wisely as well. #4 buckshot in a 2 3/4" shell is a good compromise between pellet size/lethality of both two and four legged predators and safety. If you shoot an interior wall of a house, you generally won't penetrate both sides of the wall with #4 while larger shot usually will.
Personally, I would avoid less-than-lethal solutions. Leave those to police riot squads. When dealing with angry critters, a less than lethal solution (except for trapping) is just as likely to make them mad - kinda' like shooting a guy on PCP with a beanbag gun. Dispatch the critter quickly and humanely and dispose of the remains before the game warden finds out. Just my take...
Big Charlie