Shotgun ammo for home defense

[InTheSwamp]

#4 Buck

Same

 

[toivo]

This stuff, to mitigate overpenetration:

 

[bubbatime]

In a 12 gauge, #4 buck is the most devastating load you can buy at home defense distances plus has smaller shot that is safer for neighbors.

 

[L-2]

I was issued and used some variety of 00buck and 1 ounce rifled slugs, all in 2 3/4".
The brands I was issued was either Winchester (red hull) or Remington (green hull).

Now retired from LE, I heard my department has gone to the Federal 00buck using the FliteControl wad.
Before retiring, I'd already bought some LE13200 Federal for my personal use and appreciated its tighter pattern.

I'd also tried some Brenneke brand slugs (don't remember which model right now, but black hull/red slug). Do be certain to shoot some if you do as the Brenneke slugs I'd bought did impact lower than the issued stuff.

edited to add some info:
Winchester

https://winchesterle.com/Ammunition/Products/Shotshell?filters=%7B%22ids%22%3A%5B%22%23b-76%22%5D%7D

https://winchesterle.com/Ammunition/Products/Shotshell/Super-X/X12RS15

Remington

Buy Express Magnum Buckshot for USD 13.99 | Remington

Shopping for the Express Magnum Buckshot - Learn more about the latest Shotshell and other hunting or shooting gear at Remington.

www.remington.com

Buy Slugger Rifled Slug for USD 8.99 | Remington

Shopping for the Slugger Rifled Slug - Learn more about the latest Slugger Rifled Slug and other hunting or shooting gear at Remington.

www.remington.com

Brenneke

SFSM® - Special Forces Short Magnum | Brenneke - Ammunition

www.brennekeusa.com

These brands may have similar or possibly the same loadings in different packaging or model names. There may be models with more or less velocity, too, if that's of interest.

 

[dranrab]

It doesn't matter. Whatever you hit someone with at household ranges is highly likely to take the fight out of them immediately. I don't like slugs for my purposes.

 

[Oninotaki]

I like Remington Ultimate Home Defense 3" shell with 5 pellets of 000 Buck for my .410 home defense shotgun. Since over penetration is not a concern for my particular living situation I am comfortable with factory loaded 000. If it was a concern I would investigate loading smaller buckshot, or try out the ATI BBB factory loads.

Anyway the Remington Ultimate Home Defense .410 loads pattern nicely at under 20 yards, has very mild recoil, is relatively quiet (I believe the pellets are traveling at under 1100 fps leaving my Eternal Rev 410 shotgun, so sub sonic) and delivers what I feel is an excellent blend of lead on target, with respectable power balanced with ease of handling and low chance to cause disorientation at night from noise and flash.

 

[W.E.G.]

I stagger 00 and 1oz slugs every other round. Penetration isn't much of a concern here.

That strategy is what is known as "candy-striping."
In a firefight, you will lose track of which is which.

Not that it really matters at 10 feet.

But if you have to fire more than three shots in firefight, the average normal person won't keep track of how many shots fired. And if you can't know how many shots you fired, how do you know whether the candy is white or red?

Best practice if you think multiple types of ammo are appropriate is one type in gun, the second type OFF THE GUN.
Either in a magazine or some sort of carrier.

I carry expensive ammo in the gun. I carry cheap ammo (FMJ's,... Mexican Slugs,... or whatever) off the gun.
If some "target of opportunity" presents, no need for me to burn my hard-to-replace rounds. Just burn the cheap stuff on skunks or such.

 

[W.E.G.]

I can put 162 pellets down range in 2 seconds.

That would change a fella's mind about mischief

 

[Oninotaki]

I’m running #6 shot in my Winny 1300.

Birdshot #6-#4 are to my understanding excellent options when over penetration is a major concern (kids/multiple occupied bedrooms, apartment living, etc) and distances are very short. Honestly I would like to see more testing videos of heavier birdshot loads across the gauges to see if the are interesting sweet spot combination of shot size, load weight, and gauge to be found.

 

[Oninotaki]

#1 buck

Just curious what gauge are you using that #1 buck out of?

 

[12Bravo20]

I like Remington Ultimate Home Defense 3" shell with 5 pellets of 000 Buck for my .410 home defense shotgun. Since over penetration is not a concern for my particular living situation I am comfortable with factory loaded 000. If it was a concern I would investigate loading smaller buckshot, or try out the ATI BBB factory loads.

Anyway the Remington Ultimate Home Defense .410 loads pattern nicely at under 20 yards, has very mild recoil, is relatively quiet (I believe the pellets are traveling at under 1100 fps leaving my Eternal Rev 410 shotgun, so sub sonic) and delivers what I feel is an excellent blend of lead on target, with respectable power balanced with ease of handling and low chance to cause disorientation at night from noise and flash.

I'm glad to see commercially available 410 3" 000 buckshot loads. I've been loading my own 3" 000 buckshot loads and they keep a nice tight pattern out of my Mossberg 500 with 18.5" cylinder bore barrel and my Mossberg Shockwave with 14" cylinder bore barrel. The pattern opens up to 12-14 inches at 25 yards. Burried somewhere in the shotgun section is a thread I did posting photos of my results.

 

[Savage30L]

Buckshot will shoot through drywall and framing lumber. I'd suggest any birdshot load out of a shotgun. Inside of a home, a range of greater than 20 feet would be unlikely. Anything coming out of a shotgun at that range will be deadly.

 

[mljdeckard]

I have run #4 a lot, but lately I just use 00. I run the Federal stuff, I am interested to try the Wolf 00, see how well it runs in my VR80. If it works well, I may bulk up on it.

 

[Glockpride]

Federal 12ga 2.75” Flight Control 00 buck.

Bird shot is for birds.

 

[Gun-Reck]

Federal Flight Control #1 Buckshot (LE132-1B)

​

 

[BushMaster-15]

I don't know, the Isuzu Impulse turbo is pretty quick.

1987 - Isuzu - Speeding Bullet (with Joe Isuzu) Commercial

Automotive pitchman Joe Isuzu fires a gun to illustrate the speed of the Isuzu Impulse Turbo. Isuzu goes on to effortlessly outrun the very same shot before ...

www.youtube.com

Math doesn't lie 3100 Fps = 2113.64 miles per hour , and it's 1.12 miles of straight road either way to our house and we're on a Butte . Think again

 

[huntersdog]

I like #4 buckshot for the interior of a home. Ample penetration, without over-penetration that you may experience from 00 or slugs.
Outside of the home 00 or slugs where shots are most likely farther.

#4 buckshot inside 20 yards is devastating.

 

[GRIZ22]

I bought a quantity of Herters short shells. They are a bit longer than the Aquila and don't require an adapter. They have 6 pellets of 00 buck and 100% reliable in any pump to my experience.

I think anything hit with 6 00 buck will swear they were hit by 9

 

[lemaymiami]

My preference always is basic 00buck in 2.75" rounds. It's universally available worldwide, and very effective for that one heart-stopping moment.

NO, I won't be shooting if that round is likely to miss - and I'm pointing towards bedrooms or other places where folks in my family are likely to be... You still must line up your target and take them down - that will never change (I'm not opposed to scaring an opponent but a good center of mass hit is a much better solution when it's all on the line). I do keep rifled slugs and flite control rounds as well -but they're for greater distances and/or barricaded type situations (in a bandoleer that I can toss over my shoulder as I pick up that shotgun...

My days of chasing on foot, and over obstacles, - all the things that a cop will have to do on the street, shotgun in hand, are long gone (and I'm too old anyway...). Home defense is a different matter entirely - in my opinion best done at the entrance point than some other portion of a dwelling. The basic idea is to stop the threat - sooner rather than later, period. No need for flite control or rifled slugs in that situation (unless that's what your shotgun is loaded with at that particular moment...). One other thought about defending home with a shotgun (or other weapon).... Like police work - I hope it will never be needed at all...

 

[old fart]

I use low recoil slugs, either 1oz or 7/8oz in my 12 gauge. The 7/8oz are the red 3 gun Jerry Miculek brand by Fiochii. I don't have real close neighbors, the nearest is about 200-300 yards, if I had close one's then I would use buckshot.

 

[Space Ghost]

Federal 12ga 2.75” Flight Control 00 buck.

Bird shot is for birds.

This. I'd like to have more #1 or #4 buck, however, they are always more expensive and hard to find due to the popularity of the 00 loads.

 

[Shawn Dodson]

Hornady Heavy Magnum Coyote BB

-or-

Hornady Varmint Express #4 Buckshot

 

[25-5]

870 with 00. In my environment concealment penetration is a plus.

 

[conan32120]

I favor a nice heavy turkey load myself. No need for much more when distance is 20' max

 

[Steve in NC]

This stuff, to mitigate overpenetration:

View attachment 1177772

I'm surprised of all the birds hots mentioned already and no mention of this Win loading in 20 & 12ga until now!

Magtech also makes a TTT load in 20ga that patterns well for inside the home distances