When I lived in VA, I had to use buckshot. My preferred load was the Winchester 3" 00 plated load with 15 pellets. out of my 870. It patterned best with the modified choke tube, about an 8" pattern at 25 yards, Wouldn't hesitate out to 40. My longest shot was 30 yards, it was a bang-flop. Never lost a deer I shot at, but was careful with my shots. I sometimes referred to it as my loud bow, because I placed the same limitations on its use.
Old70
