Shotgun Ammo

Picked up a 12 GA. over the weekend primarily for to use as my home protection gun. For the shotgun folks, what is your opinion on the best ammo for home protection? I see so much back and forth on buck shot vs. bird shot with a lot of people saying bird shot isn't enough, but great if you live in an apartment where over penetration is a concern. I live in a house so I'm thinking buck shot, but not sure which one? 00 Buck, #4 buck, etc... I'm leaning toward #4 buck. Curious if anyone has any other opinions/suggestions?

One oz and one quarter of 4 or 5 bird shot. Buck shot is good for long distant the bird shot stays a ball of lead for the distant within the room. If you want to shoot some one running away jumping over your wall buck shot is good,

It depends on how far you are shooting. With bird shot anything less than 50 feet will cut someone in half. Over 50 feet some 4 buck, but you have to worry about someone in the next room getting hurt.

For my use I would pick bird shot. More wound making possibilities.

I have always said the .410 / .45 judge revolver is the best home defense.....load 2 .410 birdshot and then 2 .45

If you don't get the message with the 1st two shots, God help ya cuz you will with the next two

That being said, not a fan of the average Joe using a gun for home self defense...too many ways for things to go wrong....

I keep a big can of self defense spray, 100ft range, on my nightstand....easier to clean out of the carpets than blood and you get a do-over if you shoot someone you know

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Originally Posted by J F T

I have always said the .410 / .45 judge revolver is the best home defense.....load 2 .410 birdshot and then 2 .45

If you don't get the message with the 1st two shots, God help ya cuz you will with the next two

That being said, not a fan of the average Joe using a gun for home self defense...too many ways for things to go wrong....

I keep a big can of self defense spray, 100ft range, on my nightstand....easier to clean out of the carpets than blood and you get a do-over if you shoot someone you know

Sent from my SM-G920R6 using Tapatalk

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over penetration for sure with the 45 long colt and the .410 over with bird shot not much good over 10 feet
I would think long and hard before going that route

We have always had a loaded pump shot gun in every bedroom. Instructions: If some one is in the house cycle the shot gun and wait 10 seconds. If the kids or wife believe that the person has not left shoot a wall and get ready for battle.

Bird shot will not penetrate enough. Like #7 or 8 shot will hit hard at super close range but anyone who has dove hunted with an idiot like me knows at say 50 feet there is no penetration and you just get peppered and it stings like hell on bare skin but carhart overalls will stop it all. 50 feet is farther than self defense but if one has to shoot from say the back of your house to the front, it will loose enough velocity and spread out enough where it will not kill you invader. Bird shot is made for BIRDS and meant not to destroy them. Dove and quail shot will probably not kill at close range in 90% of situations it tends to blast meat but not kill. A druggy hopped up on meth or such will still fight back.

I prefer tactical buck or like a winchester PDX self defense round. It has less pellets and less powder. WHAT. less power and projectiles!? you say. Well OO buck will go through sheetrock like it is not there. Tactical buck gives you less penetration but still 9 pellets on target. way faster follow up shots as recoil is reduced.

I watched a ton of vids on youtube trying to figure out the best. i found from down a hallway at say 40 feet bird shot is not effective. (Unless you go with high brass mag load with say #2 shot which kick HELLA HARD) And I already said big buck over penetrates. Smaller buck does pretty well though.

If you want maximum safety go with a #4 duck/goose load. it will penetrate bare gel at about 12 inches. a heavy coat will reduce that a lot.


CALIBERS -- FBI Ballistic Test Protocol

check out at 5 minutes for legality in test. Bird shot is negligible at best and if they have on a heavy jacket it will not put them down.

https://youtu.be/rhZf_x8Esms

Thanks for the replies everyone! I'm a research nerd when it comes to this kind of stuff, so it looks like I've definitely got my work cut out for me lol. I've got a pretty long range from the back of my house to the front down a really long hallway, which is one of the reasons I was thinking about possibly going with buck. Still have some figuring to do.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrM5U2kGQCc

good vid dirt warrior. it does have a great pattern, while buckshot over penetrates, bird shot under penetrates.

3rd rule of firearms: Know your target and what is beyond.

Easy to do in your home. practice taking defensive positions in your home where a bad guy could make ingress and see what would be behind him. I would rather over penetrate than under.

Heck a 9mm will go through walls better than 00 buck. of course it is 1 projectile. That is why tactical buck is good. Lower velocity means less penetration but designed specifically to kill a human, not a deer.

honestly depends on your surroundings...you have to consider what it will go through if you miss. Personally I keep slugs in the chamber and double OO on the stock. I'm also a dam good shot with hit so someone is going to get a hole in them. Bird shot is pretty weak but going to hurt like a sum'***** but if your in an apartment it might be the better choice.

.308 AR SBR :)

I have about a hundred buckshot reloads that i have load in my boomsticks. 870 catwalk guns. Im sure it will suffice.

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Originally Posted by 6p6

honestly depends on your surroundings...you have to consider what it will go through if you miss. Personally I keep slugs in the chamber and double OO on the stock. I'm also a dam good shot with hit so someone is going to get a hole in them. Bird shot is pretty weak but going to hurt like a sum'***** but if your in an apartment it might be the better choice.

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slugs are great if you have no one around you but man they will go through a bad guys then sheetrock and 2x4s and barely slow. ever seen what OOO buck can do? It is nasty.

Really IMO the best home defense weapon is an AR 15. super accurate, easy to maneuver at close range, 30 rounds with fast reloads, light 5.56 hollow points tend to loose energy fast and fragment once they hit something solid so over penetration is vastly reduced. I hear a lot of guys say "but you do not have to aim a shotgun" which is nonsense at close range.

But my #2 would be a shotty for sure.