Anyone have an opinion on 12ga home defense loads?

[scotjute]

Another vote for # 1 Buckshot, 12 gage, 2 3/4".

 

[TimSr]

For inside the home, I think anything between #4 and #1 is best.

I'd tend to agree, unless you have a REALLY big house. My house is small and the longest possible, albeit unlikely indoor shot might be 20 feet. The idea that somebody will take a blast of #6 center mass at 20 feet, and will be "angry" and continue an attack brings me a chuckle.

Police choose ammo in preparation for scenarios with distances beyond the length of your hallway.

 

[TruthTellers]

I'd tend to agree, unless you have a REALLY big house. My house is small and the longest possible, albeit unlikely indoor shot might be 20 feet. The idea that somebody will take a blast of #6 center mass at 20 feet, and will be "angry" and continue an attack brings me a chuckle.

Police choose ammo in preparation for scenarios with distances beyond the length of your hallway.

Police also use ammo not to kill an attacker or suspect, but to subdue them. That's why they always used #4 buck: it didn't penetrate deep enough to kill, but it did enough to stop or slow them.

Problem with that thinking is when too few pellets hit the suspect, it didn't do much to stop them while even a pellet of 00 hitting the perp will penetrate deep enough to be damaging.

This is another reason #1 buck is the best of both worlds.

 

[CaptTripps]

Where did you read that #4 won't penetrate enough to kill? That is a big old load of horse-pucky. "They" use it because it only penetrates enough to subdue an opponent but not kill? Seriously? Come on now.

 

[Nicky Santoro]

Federal 132 1B.
Lots of pellets with sufficient cross sectional density to go deep and reduced recoil for a faster follow-up shot.

 

[TruthTellers]

Where did you read that #4 won't penetrate enough to kill? That is a big old load of horse-pucky. "They" use it because it only penetrates enough to subdue an opponent but not kill? Seriously? Come on now.

Sorry, you're right. I meant to say it doesn't penetrate the 12" FBI minimum, so it's less likely to kill than larger buckshot.

 

[Gun Master]

12 Gauge HD Loads

I agree with most of the others with #4 Buck all the way down to 00 Buck (with a preference for the latter). Each can give his/her own justifications for any of them, but generally, all would be OK. There are so many different situations that might be possible, that you couldn't cover them all.

A slug is powerful, but in this case, you need a spread pattern.
It hits one spot, and makes your shotgun become a smooth bore rifle.

Shotgun slug loads are used to control black bears in the US Nat'l parks.
This is the only home invasion load (if you live in a Nat'l park), that I'd approve for shotgun slugs.

 

[LeonCarr]

TruthTellers,

In 24 years of working in the Criminal Justice System I have NEVER seen a law enforcement shotgun loaded with #4 Buckshot.

It has always been 00 Buckshot or Slugs.

Police ammunition is chosen to stop a threat, not subdue it.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[lemaymiami]

That was my experience as well.... We were only issued 00buck rounds (usually the cheapest going) for our beat up old shotguns. I doubt that most who've posted here have any practical experience with their shotguns.... when everything's on the line and you're scared to death nothing beats simple 2 3/4" 00 buck for close quarters work.

Learn to use it properly and it won't ever let you down... If you believe you're facing an armored opponent aim a bit low right about 3" below his belt buckle.

 

[Gun Master]

The Above Posting....Continued

.......and you'd probably hurt his feelings !

 

[larbear]

Number 4 buck. lots of ball to screw the bad guys and reduced chance of over penetration.

just saying

 

[strambo]

Here is a great page I just found: http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2010/02/robert-farago/shotgun-penetration-with-various-rounds/

#4 buck penetrated avg. of 14.5" in gel and #1 16.5". 00 is penetrating to 20" and over-penetration according to the FBI 12-18 spec. BB averaged about 11" and would be minimally acceptable to me if I lived in an apartment maybe.

They tested slugs, but not expanding slugs so they all way over-penetrated. An expanding slug that doesn't over-penetrate would be devastating of course.

 

[DougW]

Reduced recoil 00 buck, with a couple if reduced recoil slugs in the shell holder.

 

[TruthTellers]

^ I fully agree with reduced recoil loads in shotguns. I don't think and extra 50-100 fps is going to make that much a difference in stopping power.

 

[pearsonm]

One of the better articles floating around out there:

http://www.gundigest.com/tactical-gear/tactical-guns/buckshot-overkill-for-the-home-defense-shotgun

 

[Stevie-Ray]

#1 Buck is generally considered best, followed by 00 Buck, both in 2 3/4". Since #1 buck is as common as hen's teeth here, I've settled on 00 Buck, which my shotgun shoots very well, and I can find everywhere, all the time. I do have a large supply of it and also #4 Buck, which rates fairly high, also.

 

[browningguy]

I bought up a bunch of Hornady Low Recoil 00 buckshot on sale a year or two ago, my Benelli really likes it. The Fiocchi Extrema shoots really well but is a pretty stout load, too much for me for HD.

 

[psyopspec]

00 buck for being plentiful, affordable for practice, and available. Side saddle with four more of the same, and two slugs should any work past 25ish yards be required.