HD ammo for a 12 Gauge

JohnnieB

JohnnieB

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I just added a Mossberg/Maverick 88 w/18.5" barrel to my arsenal and knowing next to nothing about shotguns and shotgunning (yet), I'm wondering what ammo others keep in their HD 12 gauge pumps.

Only SWMBO and me (plus two cats) in a big old house with plaster and wood lathe walls, steel siding and closest neighbor is over 50 yards away, so over-penetration is a concern, but not a major one.

BTW - The M88 wasn't my first choice on a HD shotgun, but somebody made me an offer I couldn't refuse. ;)

John
 
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At almost all inside-the-house, across-the-room ranges, nearly anything in 12 ga can be a fight stopper. Not "blow-the-BG-all-to-pieces" deadly, but a faceful of #4 birdshot tends to take the aggressiveness out of one.

My preference is #1-4 buck inside. Lots of pellets to ensure hits yet not so penetrating. For outside I'd step up to 0 or 00.
 
I got the same Maverick last year with the pistol grip, and it's Bad ***, kicks like a mule! (Especially 3" shells) They make lower velocity HD rounds with a combo of shot sizes that are much more controllable. However, anything with "HD" on the label seems to double the price. With plaster/lathe, ya can't go wrong with 00 buck...
 
A lot of people love 00 buckshot or #1 buckshot {I have a case of 00 buck on hand} But in the home when penitration is a issue I'd say you'd be fine with a load of #4-#6 bird shot at close range. I have a few case's of Winchester's low report low recoil load's left over from my cowboy action shooting day's and I think they'd be o/k in the house also. I've seen what a load of bird shot will do at short range with a cylinder bore at 25-30 feet it is still a pretty tight pattern.
 
I use #4 Buck -- I'd never go smaller than BBs. To me, the biggest potential problem with a defensive shotgun is lack of penetration.
 
sureshotbob said:
A lot of people love 00 buckshot or #1 buckshot {I have a case of 00 buck on hand} But in the home when penitration is a issue I'd say you'd be fine with a load of #4-#6 bird shot at close range. I have a few case's of Winchester's low report low recoil load's left over from my cowboy action shooting day's and I think they'd be o/k in the house also. I've seen what a load of bird shot will do at short range with a cylinder bore at 25-30 feet it is still a pretty tight pattern.
Click to expand...

BB or #2 copper plated or nickle plated shot. It will penetrate a goose from one side to under the skin on the other.....thats enough penetration for me especially when you consider the BG will be getting a face full of it.

3 1/4-1 1/4-(shot size) or one can go the Magnum loadings!
 
Bird shot is for birds, the ammunition manufactures know what they are doing.

I load mine with 00 Buck, and Slugs in the side saddle, for home or camp.

Emory
 
The range at which birdshot is lethal is closer than you want the bad guys to get. The ammo manufacturers recommendations for deer are a good guide.

My preference is tactical/low recoil buckshot but #1 standard buckshot actually throws the greatest weight of shot.
 
Thanks for the info.

Looks like I've got some learning to do about shot size. :)

When the range drys out enough to hang some targets without getting mud up to my knees, I'll do some testing with various sized shot.
In the interim, I'm stoking it with #4 and carrying either 00 or PDX1 for reloads, those being the 3 flavors I have on hand.

Considering how #4 "Pheasant" loads kick this tired old body around, I'll probably end up using a low recoil/tactical load of some kind. If 2,625gr of lead shot (1oz X 6) at 800 or 900fps doesn't change someones mind, I not sure if speeding it up another 300 or 400fps would be much more persuasive. :eek:

John
 
SMSgt said:
At almost all inside-the-house, across-the-room ranges, nearly anything in 12 ga can be a fight stopper. Not "blow-the-BG-all-to-pieces" deadly, but a faceful of #4 birdshot tends to take the aggressiveness out of one.

My preference is #1-4 buck inside. Lots of pellets to ensure hits yet not so penetrating. For outside I'd step up to 0 or 00.
Click to expand...

Same here. #4 buck. One in each barrel. #1 buck as backup. If needed. :D
 
I have a Remington 870 with a 20" barrel.. For HD it is loaded with the first two rounds of 1 1/4 oz of #4 steel shot, followed by three rounds of #4 Buckshot. At inside the house ranges, #4 steel shot is awesome, More than two shots and I roll out the "big" stuff..

JMHO

Dave
 
WR Moore said:
The range at which birdshot is lethal is closer than you want the bad guys to get. The ammo manufacturers recommendations for deer are a good guide.

My preference is tactical/low recoil buckshot but #1 standard buckshot actually throws the greatest weight of shot.
Click to expand...

But hang on a second newt.. Ive stood at the 16 yd line enough times to break targets that by the time I got on them were a total of 30 YARDS away from me.... A 12 gauge will shoot a 36 inch diameter pattern that that distance ( some will do a 48 inch sized one) so how many houses ( thats what the man was alluding to...not hog hunting in the wild) can give you a CLEAR SHOT 90 FEET away at a BG??? Ive never been in that Taj Mahal that would allow that ! Out of doors is a different matter of course.

My wife's 20 gauge S/S double will shoot a 36 inch pattern at 30 yds using 3" mag number 4 buckshot. She likes it because of the auto safety on it..??
 
I would recommend one of the Low Recoil 00 Buck, like the Federal Tactical or the Remington Low Recoil.
 
Wow - Do I have a lot to learn. :o

I sorta-kinda knew shot was made from different materials such as lead, steel, copper, rock salt and mystery metals and came in different sizes (the larger the number the smaller the shot size), but now it appears that there is a #4 Buck-shot, #4 Bird-shot, #4 Turkey-shot and I have a box of #4 Pheasant-shot. :confused::confused::confused:

I have no plans or desires to add shotgun shells to my reloading addiction, so I really don't want to buy a bunch of reloading manuals for them, but would like to gain more basic knowledge about them. Are there any good web-sites that explain the fundamentals and decode the intricacies of the various shells shotguns shoot?
 
Hornaday makes a 8 pellet low recoil 00 buckshot load, use it.

Remember what happened when Chaney shot that lawyer with birdshot? Not much.

Use 00 buck and learn what it will do. Over penetration is over hyped, it isn't a problem in the real world.
 
JohnnieB said:
Wow - Do I have a lot to learn. :o

I sorta-kinda knew shot was made from different materials such as lead, steel, copper, rock salt and mystery metals and came in different sizes (the larger the number the smaller the shot size), but now it appears that there is a #4 Buck-shot, #4 Bird-shot, #4 Turkey-shot and I have a box of #4 Pheasant-shot. :confused::confused::confused:

I have no plans or desires to add shotgun shells to my reloading addiction, so I really don't want to buy a bunch of reloading manuals for them, but would like to gain more basic knowledge about them. Are there any good web-sites that explain the fundamentals and decode the intricacies of the various shells shotguns shoot?
Click to expand...

you have 2 categorys. You have BUCKshot....and you have SHOT. (Bird; Turkey; Pheasant) The differences in "shot" are how they are treated for each's application. Some is soft; some is hardened; some is copper plated and some is even nickle plated because of the individual velocity's they are fired at.
 
Since, in fact, you are defending your life, use the right tool for the job. Any load that is suitable for deer or bear will work against a human. That said, you need to practice and find a load that patterns best in your new shotgun. I can appreciate concern for over-penetration and where any errant pellets may end up. But remember this, aim at the threat and place all your pellets low center mass.
 
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