Best 12 Gauge Shotgun Load For Home Defense

[conchmariner]

Thanks.

 

[conchmariner]

Thanks.

 

[IndianaDave]

The accumulated wisdom says either a load of #00 or #1 buckshot is the best.

 

[conchmariner]

Any brand or pellet count preferences?

 

[handejector]

#4 Buck is my favorite. High pellet count with a .27" diameter.
Many LEA's go with it, and have for decades.
00 is .33", but the pellet count is significantly lower- like 1/3 of #4 Buck in many shells.

 

[walnutred]

I buy either #3 buck or #4 buck. Years ago I assisted with an evaluation to help determine if our guards were better served carrying 12ga, folding stock, 870's or M3 Grease Guns. 35 gallon grease drums were used as targets from 10 to 100 yards. You would be surprised how many pellets will still penetrate a steel drum at 80 yds.

Right now my house guns is a 20 gauge. My wife and daughter find it less intimidating to use than a 12 gauge and I don't think there is any practice difference at house ranges. My longest possible in-house shot is 28', and most realistic is 8'-12'. In those ranges the shot column does not open too much at all.

 

[pps]

I have #4 and #1 buck loaded in mine, though my first round is a 3 1/2" bb in lead (goose load). My kids rooms are across the house and over penetration is not acceptable.

If the first warning shot (to the face) doesn't elicit compliance then I want the buckshot.

 

[GC]

#4 Buck is my favorite. High pellet count with a .27" diameter.

No. Four Buck is actually .24" diameter...

 

[zercool]

Originally posted by conchmariner:
Any brand or pellet count preferences?

Any load of buckshot in 12- or 20-ga is pretty good. Pattern your gun so you know what shoots best, but if you find a good deal on something, might want to grab it.

I picked up a case of Wolf #00 12ga for a song last year, and got my wife a half-case of Federal #4 20ga for a song with a tune.

Two mistakes people make with defensive loads:
1) Birdshot. Yes, it can be lethal, but will often lack penetration at any more than conversational distance. Use slugs or buckshot.

2) Loading multiple types of ammo. Some folks will do buck-buck-slug-buck ... etc. Pick one load, fill the mag tube with it, and if you want options, put them on a sidesaddle or butt-cuff. I don't want to wonder what the next shell in my gun is.

 

[GC]

zercool,
Given my other post above, this is going to sound nit picky, but I have never seen a .20 gauge load of No. Four Buck. I've seen No. Three Buck and even No. Two Buck loaded in the .20 gauge, but never No. Four Buck. Which load from Federal did you find loaded with No. Four Buckshot?

I ask because I do a lot of coyote hunting with my .12 gauges with No. Four Buck and recently my wife has become interested in hunting with me. She has a .20 gauge and I have been considering which loads I am going to pattern for her hunting.

 

[Guest]

Originally posted by handejector:
#4 Buck is my favorite. High pellet count with a .27" diameter.
Many LEA's go with it, and have for decades.
00 is .33", but the pellet count is significantly lower- like 1/3 of #4 Buck in many shells.

Plus 100 in my mind but I've changed over from a pump gun to a Remington 11-87 because it's proven to be just as reliable and it is much easier to practice with.

 

[zercool]

Originally posted by GC:
zercool,
Given my other post above, this is going to sound nit picky, but I have never seen a .20 gauge load of No. Four Buck. I've seen No. Three Buck and even No. Two Buck loaded in the .20 gauge, but never No. Four Buck. Which load from Federal did you find loaded with No. Four Buckshot?

I ask because I do a lot of coyote hunting with my .12 gauges with No. Four Buck and recently my wife has become interested in hunting with me. She has a .20 gauge and I have been considering which loads I am going to pattern for her hunting.

I stand corrected. I would've sworn up and down it was #4, but just went and checked - it is #3.

I reckon 20 #3 pellets would do a fair job on a 'yote, though...

 

[GatorFarmer]

I always liked Winchester OOO buck whenever I could find it. As I recall, I'd lose one pellet compared to OO, but they'd be bigger.

 

[Guest]

Back in the '70s I know that either Remington or Winchester - maybe both - were offering a #4 Buck loading in their 20ga line up but this may have only been offered to Law Enforcement.

I know there was a point in time that several Agencies around the Country were considering having 20ga guns in place of the 12ga because many of the female and for that matter the smaller male applicants weren't able to "qualify" with the 12ga. In the '60s many Departments still had height and sex requirements. I knew several old timers who fired their "Qualification" rounds with one hand. I know that there was a time when most departments in this area simply dropped the "Qualification" requirements for the shotgun all together.

 

[Spotteddog]

Lee got the pellet count vs. the caliber transposed is all. The #4 Buck count in most 2 3/4" is 27. While the 00 is typically 9. Personally, I run the #4 Buck in the house.

 

[conchmariner]

Originally posted by zercool:

Originally posted by conchmariner:
Any brand or pellet count preferences?

Any load of buckshot in 12- or 20-ga is pretty good. Pattern your gun so you know what shoots best, but if you find a good deal on something, might want to grab it.

Thanks. I'll probably stick to 00 buckshot in 2 3/4 nine pellet count since there seem to be a lot of options there. Have you tried Remington Reduced Recoil loads?

 

[940lvr]

The Remington Reduced Recoil rounds amazed me the first time I shot them out of an 870. The recoil was very light and they patterned very well. I was shooting the 8 pellet 00 buckshot load. I have been using this load in my 870 for close to 10 years now. They do have problems in some semi auto shotguns though. I think they are a very good option if you are not using a semi auto.

 

[johnkn]

For an 'in house' gun I use #4 shot (not buckshot) loaded in the mag and an additional 6 00 buckshot in a holder attached to the stock of an 18" barrel Mossberg 500. Top in-house range seldom exceeds 20 feet, #4 shot is a formatible stopper at that range and lessens the danger of over penetration and going through interior walls endangering other family members. If I have to reload (improbable) in an in-house situation, my preference would then be the 00 buckshot on the stock.

 

[Firehouse]

I've heard birdshot does well for home defense. Fewer problems with over penetration through sheet rock. Don't won't to hit any innocents.

 

[Guest]

Originally posted by Firehouse Firearms: I've heard birdshot does well for home defense...

I've seen more than one failure to stop occur when someone wearing heavy winter clothing was hit with a full load of Bird Shot. The individual pellets simply don't carry enough energy and what little they do carry goes away very quickly. Buck Shot as in "00" just carries too much energy for use inside a house. That's why I choose to use the #4 Buck, a compromise but a good one in my mind.