For PD shotguns what is the current shot preference?

[Rule3]

For LEO's what shot are you using in 12 gauge? Seems I hear more about #4 Buck rather than 00 buck. Does it really matter?

Suppose this could be a ammo section but they get so ballistic over there.

 

[Goldstar225]

My agency issues Remington 00 buck (full velocity) and reduced recoil rifled slugs.

 

[Lt JL]

We use Federal high brass 00 and slugs. LEB127 RS and LE127 00.

 

[old bear]

Its' been years, but we were issued 00 buck and slugs.

 

[jbull380]

We use Federal Tactical 00 Buck and Remington slugs.

 

[sigp220.45]

Still 00 buck and slugs - we can load with either.

 

[Jellybean]

My last dept used 00Buck and Slugs too. I could have changed that, and would have gone to #1 buck and slugs, but had to stay within the Winchester ammo list our LE supplier carried and #1 wasn't on it. I could have gone with #4, but it's not what all the "experts" think it is.

 

[Rule3]

So it seems 00 is still the "shot du jour"

Yanks!

 

[thomasinaz]

We mostly use slugs any more. If someone insists on multi projectile, they get 00 buck. Federal's "tactical" stuff shoots tight patterns, that's what we issue.

 

[Faulkner]

I just received a couple of cases of Remington Reduced Recoil LE 00 buckshot. Seems it is 8 pellet rather than 9.

 

[sipowicz]

We use a more friendly 4 buck. We also have slugs but they aren't allowed to be kept in the gun.

 

[jkc]

The Federal LE "Flite-Control" wads with 00 are awesome, giving fist-sized groups at 20 yards or more from Remington 18" cylinder bore barrels. Any agency not using these is missing the boat, and maybe the target...

 

[jbull380]

The Federal LE "Flite-Control" wads with 00 are awesome, giving fist-sized groups at 20 yards or more from Remington 18" cylinder bore barrels. Any agency not using these is missing the boat, and maybe the target...

This is what we use and they are awsome! Groups so tight it almost defeats the purpose of double 00 buck. Great choice for the LE shotgun!

 

[LVSteve]

There are theories that say #4 is better because it has more penetration than 00 buck and the larger number of pellets plus the added penetration means quicker blood loss leading to compliance or death. I have yet to read any credible back-to-back tests against a crack-crazed 350lb hood so who knows.

 

[squidsix]

We use 00 buck, and slugs are rare (in the military anyway). The 00 rounds we use are not great, getting about 30" patterns at 25 yards. Keep in mind that our shotguns are 14.5" barrel cylinder bore M500s.

 

[jbcap]

00 buck and slugs, Rem 870 14" barrels. 00 buck at 25 yds, all pellets still staying on a B27 target.

 

[Sebago Son]

In my experience, the best 12 ga Buckshot round going is the Federal Catalog No. P156 00. This a 2 3/4" shell with a 12 pellet payload instead of the typical 8 or 9. Velocity is still a respectable 1290 fps. (compared to 1325 for the 8 pellet load).

A little harder to find, and more expensive when you do, but well worth it. This is premium, buffered ammo at at 20 paces my 20" Improved 870 will keep all pellets from 5 rounds in the black on a B27 target.

 

[M29since14]

There are theories that say #4 is better because it has more penetration than 00 buck and the larger number of pellets plus the added penetration means quicker blood loss leading to compliance or death. I have yet to read any credible back-to-back tests against a crack-crazed 350lb hood so who knows.

I am just curious. I have never heard #4 buck has better penetration until now. Is there pretty conclusive evidence of this? I would have expected the greater mass of 00 pellets to carry the day in penetration, and for that reason I have always bought #4 buck for my shotgun at home. Does anyone have any reliable info on this?

The OP's second question ("Does it matter?") seems pretty much to the point. Are there any cases where the smaller pellets in #4 buck weren't effective against a human target?

 

[Sebago Son]

I think that the rationale is that the No.4 buck has a longer shot column and that repetitive hits in the same spot as pellets cascade into the target will yield more penetration.

Long ago I tested this with premium "BB" duck loads compared to OO buck. At short ranges "BB"'s tore a larger, more ragged hole in a heavy truck door when OO would deform or penetrate only in singles. As the ranges increased this phenom seemed to diminish. Not sure why, could be that the pattern size increase with the BB's reduced pattern density and therefore repeat hits, or if the lighter BB's lost their momentum (and therefore impact energy) more quickly.

Drew

 

[M29since14]

That's interesting. Thanks for that info. Thinking of it that way, I can see how the dynamics of the thing would change as range increases and the pattern opens up. I suppose, at the typical distances inside a home, the effect of any 12-gauge load is going to be pretty gruesome.