12 Gauge Home Defense Loads

[Guns&Religion]

Which do you prefer (and why) for a 12 Gauge home defense load?

a) 00 Buck

b) #4 Buck

c) Slugs

d) Other


Specifically, which type would you keep loaded and ready for when trouble first happens?

 

[The-Reaver]

B # 4 all the way. Its also my swamp and hunting load. In 3" magnum you get 41 pellets.

that is a lot of chances to hit something vital.

 

[allaroundhunter]

When I am using a shotgun for HD, it is when out at the farm. When that is the case, I use 00 buck (Hornady Critical Defense) with Brenneke slugs in the side saddle.

I don't bother with #4 buck because over-penetration is not an issue, and I have had good performance from 00 buck for what I use it for.

 

[Guns&Religion]

Thanks for the info guys.

I have a 1911 that I go to first if I think there's trouble, but I also have a Maverick 88 that I keep if I need something more.

In the past I've kept a few boxes of 00 on the shelf, but maybe I'll get some #4. (I live in the suburbs, and I suppose if I did have to defend myself with a shotgun, it would be at very close range).

I hope I don't encounter that kind of trouble, but if I do, I'd like to know what I'm doing.

 

[snooperman]

I keep my home defense shotguns..

loaded with "OO" buckshot, and the farm shotguns in the barn and feed shed loaded with "OO" buckshot alternating with slugs for all kinds of nuisance animals that visit the place frequently.

 

[snooperman]

If you are concerned with overpenetration

then #2 birdshot or #4 buck is fine. I like to also keep one in the shed with #4 birdshot for crows etc.

 

[Fred Fuller]

Tight patterning 00 buck (Federal LE127 00) in the magazine, with Brenneke KO slugs in the Sidesaddle.

http://www.sgammo.com/product/federal/250-federal-le12700-buck-shot-high-power-ammo

http://www.gandermountain.com/modpe...lugs-12-Gauge-2-3/4&i=444988&r=view&from=grid

Why? I like buckshot that will keep all its pellets on a sheet of notebook paper at 25 yards, and this load delivers those patterns easily, even out of a CYL bore barrel. And in case more range or penetration is needed, there are slugs at the ready - hard lead alloy slugs that will do what shotgun slugs are supposed to do, penetrate.

We live in a rural area and overpenetration is not an issue here, but it could be for other people in other situations. Shotguns are go-to long guns here and may have to serve at ranges out to 100 yards. Match your ammo choices to your individual circumstances...

 

[Rail Driver]

Right now all I've got is a double barrel 12ga (my AR-15 is my dedicated home defense weapon). I keep it handy though, and loaded with slugs when I'm working out in the yard or sitting outside late at night because there's an aged black bear roaming my neighborhood lately.

For defense against 2 legged critters, I have Winchester PDX1 (slug and shot) loads.

 

[pps]

Whatever buckshot is available at wally world. Right now that's Rem high brass. I still have some low brass S&B with 12 pellets of 2 3/4 12 ga...it spreads more than the remington but that's ok for indoors.

 

[beatledog7]

Mil-Spec (probably Winchester) 00 buck, 7+1 and five more on the stock.

 

[T Bran]

I didnt have a lot of faith in #4 buck till I shot a 250lb boar hog with it at 40yards or so it is truly devastating. In my HD loads 3'' #4 is all I load these days. Nothing like an autopsy to change your way of thinking.
T

 

[Guns&Religion]

Good information, thanks guys.

So as far as slugs go, it looks like Brenneke is the way to go. I'll have to get a few of those and try them out at the range.

 

[Waywatcher]

00 buckshot, currently Federal Power-Shok that comes in the 175rd can. Traditional, proven, affordable. Nothing tricky, gimmicky, or meant for birds. There might be something marginally better, but I don't really care.

 

[Tony617]

d) Other - Federal LE 15 pellet #1 Buckshot with FLITECONTROL

I was keeping my shotgun loaded with OO buckshot for quite sometime. I was loading Power Shok H127, LE 132, or LE 133 with 8 pellets. I recently purchased a case of Federal LE 15 pellet #1 Buckshot with FLITECONTROL and had a chance to fire a box. I put the target at 7 yards which is the longest length in my hallway.

I did not have my cell phone to take the picture so I took it at home.

 

[Levan9X19]

a do use slugs most of the time, since I think the stopping power of a buckshot is much overrated. However due to the place where I live an possibility of very close encounter I have 4 buckshots in my 590, followed by 4 magnum slugs. I keep one place in magazine free because wild dogs an even coyotes are everywhere around my place and I would like to have an option to quickly load neede type of ammo from speed feed stock or side saddle. I have 3 spare buckshots an 3 slugs in side saddle and 4 rounds of birdshot in speed feed stock. If something happens outside (i live outside the city, basically in forested hills) I will run out with my shotgun and will have plenty of ammo on it and in it for every situation I might encounter. I used to have two less lethal rounds in side saddle but now they are no more available.

ps
for practice I use inexpensive reloads or cheap italian, hungarian or turkish ammo. However my HD shotgun is always loaded with premium american manufactured ammo which is very very expensive here.

 

[Retcop]

I Load my 18" double Barrel 12 ga with # 1 Buckshot.

(The following is from an article on Home defense ammo for a shotgun)
The# 1 buck shotshell has the capacity to produce over 30 percent more potentially effective wound trauma.
In all shotshell loads, number 1 buckshot produces more potentially effective wound trauma than either #00 or #000 buck. In addition, number 1 buck is less likely to over-penetrate and exit an attacker's body.
For home defense applications a standard velocity 2 ¾-inch #1 buck shotshell (16 pellet payload) from Federal, Remington or Winchester is your best choice.

 

[Jeff F]

I was keeping my shotgun loaded with OO buckshot for quite sometime. I was loading Power Shok H127, LE 132, or LE 133 with 8 pellets. I recently purchased a case of Federal LE 15 pellet #1 Buckshot with FLITECONTROL and had a chance to fire a box. I put the target at 7 yards which is the longest length in my hallway.

I did not have my cell phone to take the picture so I took it at home.

Where did you get that at? I have been on the hunt for some good #1 buck for years but have never been able to get any in hand. I even had a couple of local dealers try and order it but they never could get any.

 

[wwwprof]

00 buck because of penetration.

 

[MtnSpur]

I've always had my HD shotguns loaded with 00 after a good friend that was LE "highly recommended" it's ballistic capabilities in home defense situations. One isn't going to encounter a bad guy at 60 feet as much as he will at 12-20 feet. Home defense means just that and not many of us have looooong hallways

 

[elrowe]

Thanks for the info guys.

I have a 1911 that I go to first if I think there's trouble, but I also have a Maverick 88 that I keep if I need something more.

In the past I've kept a few boxes of 00 on the shelf, but maybe I'll get some #4. (I live in the suburbs, and I suppose if I did have to defend myself with a shotgun, it would be at very close range).

I hope I don't encounter that kind of trouble, but if I do, I'd like to know what I'm doing.

I say got to the scattergun first if you have both options. Nine or more hits with the first trigger pull make a very distinct point to the socially deprived, misunderstood guy that simply wants to rape your wife. Plus you have the advantage of being able to club the sixth or seventh one with it if you run dry and things are really bad.

As far as the intial question, Capstick makes a good case for single O (vs. OO) in his section on hunting leopards in Death in the Long Grass. Big cats tend to be more dedicated than the average person, so I like his suggestion.

 

[Tony617]

Where did you get that at? I have been on the hunt for some good #1 buck for years but have never been able to get any in hand. I even had a couple of local dealers try and order it but they never could get any.

I found some online at Ammoman.com. Other people said that they were out now so I'm not sure when anyone will have it again.

 

[lemaymiami]

For close quarters work (under 25 meters) it would be tough to beat an ordinary 2 3/4 00 buck round from an improved cylinder bore, 18 to 20" barrel.

I have had hard practical experience with that setup and to this day still have total confidence in its man-killing capability. Yes, you can load with mixes of this or that and some may need it to perform at greater distances, but for close quarters work that ordinary 2 3/4 round will do terrible damage.... It was the weapon and ammo of choice on the street for this retired cop all those years ago and will still do all you need when the moment arises at close quarters.

All that's needed is to pattern your gun with that load, work to build up skill and confidence then bring it to the party... All the testing we did with 18" barrel police shotguns showed one inch dispersion per meter from the muzzle. At 7 meters the pattern was 7", at 20 meters 20"....

 

[Rampant_Colt]

I use number 4 buck only because I haven't gotten my hands on any of the Federal Tactical FC no. 1 buck.. yet..

Thanks for posting that pic, Tony617

 

[allaroundhunter]

ammoman.com does have some Federal LE #1 buck in stock....but unless you buy your buckshot by the case you will want to look elsewhere

 

[bubba in ca]

In the 12 gauge I have Federal low recoil OO. As I rotate it out in practice I will probably buy and pattern the cheapest name brand OO I can find locally because at the size of the rooms in my house there is no pattern so it all doesn`t matter. On a bigger property/outside, I would stay with the Federal low recoil in OO or 1 buck.

On my 20 gauge, I have 2 buck.