a_canadian
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- Joined
- Oct 18, 2015
- Messages
- 189
... the exception being, in my opinion, when that birdshot becomes a temporary slug, capable of 12" of penetration by at least 50% of its 1oz mass as the wax comes apart in the target.
Shotgun ammo for home defense
- Thread starter alanwk
- Start date
entropy
Member
At that point, it behaves as a frangible.
Savage30L
Member
I'm surprised at the responses here. For in-home defense, I'd want an ounce of birdshot. Overpenetration of an interior wall is a consideration, and at a range of 3 yards, an ounce of birdshot would be more than sufficiently deadly.
entropy
Member
Less so than one would think. Individual pellet terminal ballistics for say #8 shot is abysmal. I keep Win. PDX-12 in the chamber, followed by Rem. "0" Buck. Of course, I live in a 1920's plaster & lath walled house, so I don't worry as much about overpenetration.
A guy that graduated the same year as me, at a different, school (My family moved away before high school) decided he'd peaked at graduation, and chose a Trap load from an 870 for self-termination. Put the muzzle under his chin, and lived for two more terminally agonizing weeks without a face before succumbing to his injuries. If isn't going to do the job at contact distance, I prefer either buck or slug (and in the PDX round, both), both proven shells, to stake my life on.
I will add the standard "birdshot is better than nothing" disclaimer here, but for HD, I try to plan ahead enough to have the right kind of ammo for the job.
A guy that graduated the same year as me, at a different, school (My family moved away before high school) decided he'd peaked at graduation, and chose a Trap load from an 870 for self-termination. Put the muzzle under his chin, and lived for two more terminally agonizing weeks without a face before succumbing to his injuries. If isn't going to do the job at contact distance, I prefer either buck or slug (and in the PDX round, both), both proven shells, to stake my life on.
I will add the standard "birdshot is better than nothing" disclaimer here, but for HD, I try to plan ahead enough to have the right kind of ammo for the job.
Savage30L
Member
And I talked to a fellow who killed a deer at 10 yards by shooting it in the face with birdshot. Your results may vary.
Edited to add: a perpendicular shot into the head or heart area, is not the same scenario as you describe above.
sparkyv
Member
#1 Buckshot at this time, but switching to #4 Buckshot when I place my next SGAmmo order. Plus I'm moving away from the S&G "European" roll crimp to the more common fold crimp shells.
357smallbore
Member
#1 Buck for home defense. Will leave a bad stain if the trigger has to be pulled.
I use #4 Hornady Varmint buck shot with the versa wad (same as fight control). I used 00 buck in Iraq in 2003/04 with good results. For those using birdshot, the good news is if it doesn’t penetrate….. rack the slide and whomp them again. You will be just fine.
mljdeckard
Member
I run a VR80 with 10 rd magazines, my normal is Federal #4, but I have a lot of 00 kicking around. I want to sample some Wolf 00, see how it runs, if it's good I might bulk up on it.
jdh
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- Joined
- Jan 5, 2008
- Messages
- 1,375
The outside gun is a 24" barrel with turkey extra full loaded with 3.5" 00 with a 2000 lumen red LED light. Coyotes are common and some big cats have been seen int the area (Including a black panther, well puma probably).
The bedside gun is a 20" Cyl choke with 2 3/4" 1 buck with a 500 lumen white LED.
The bedside gun is a 20" Cyl choke with 2 3/4" 1 buck with a 500 lumen white LED.
Bearcat1982
Member
- Joined
- Mar 3, 2023
- Messages
- 194
Currently I have an open box of BB shot.
Mannlicher
Member
old age and bad shoulders pretty much prevent me from using a stout 12 GA load these days. I have switched to a 20GA with either #3 or #2 Buck.
dawei
Member
Me too!
fallout mike
Member
00 with slugs handy also
DustyGmt
Member
A few different shotguns with a few different loads, 21 pellet Buckshot, 00 bk, a few 1 oz slugs and even some #6 birdshot.