Home Defense Round: Bird Shot?

[dewey]

I have .44SPLs around the house and have the first round up bird shot over 8.5 of unique, PLENTY of go-power. The next 5 are Cor-Bon 180s(?), I think they are no longer made.

I figured that at night in the dark the bird shot MIGHT be the way to go as a few 'shot' that hits the BG would give me time to adjust. What do ya'll think ? Thanks-Dan

 

[cmort666]

Don't waste your time on something that's likely to not immediately incapacitate. At home defense distances, you're not going to benefit much if any from the alleged spread of the pattern.

You've got at most six shots before you have to reload. Why waste one of them?

For home defense in my 4" 29-2, I use Speer 200g. Gold Dot .44 Specials.

 

[straightshooter1]

With respect, I think you are very wrong in your choice of the first shot.

Yes, birdshot may discourage a burglar or home invader, but it may not. Shot in the face or eye, perhaps, even probably, but you're talking about correcting for the second shot or even subsequent shots.

I think the first shot, if it needs to be fired at all, should be one that will probably stop if placed in the right spot. Remember, the burglar may be armed and firing, too.

Make the first one a round that will, if placed properly, end the affair.

Bob

 

[ogilvyspecial]

Having been shot with birdshot myself, low base load out of a 12 gauge, like the others have said, I think it would be a waste of a round.

A friend of mine was also hit with birdshot and while I wasn't there at the time, I had the honor of digging it out of him with tweezers later that night. What are friends for eh?

 

[dewey]

Thanks for the advice. I hope others have input as well although I'm pretty well shot down so far...dan

 

[ogilvyspecial]

Thanks for the advice. I hope others have input as well although I'm pretty well shot down so far...dan

Better to be shot down than shot, even with birdshot.

Take my word for it.........

 

[Ironhand]

Keep in mind that if you shoot an intruder with handloaded ammo, it may become an issue if/when the perp decides to sue you. This is especially true if you blind him/her with a blast of birdshot to the face, something that is very likely.

I wouldn't keep birdshot in my 12 gauge as a home defense round, much less in a handgun.

 

[zonker5]

IMHO your first round should be a stopper. With muzzle flash in a dark house you may not get a second shot.

 

[venomballistics]

what your trying to afford with a rat shot load just isnt in the budget.
the time between contact and your second shot (because your first was useless) just gave your adversary time to show you how its done properly with two where your vital organs used to be.
warning shots, spoilers, and anything making an attempt to "soften" rather than flatten a target are just a waste of ammo capacity that you might need, particularly if he brought friends, which is often the case lately

 

[gunblade]

I figured that at night in the dark the bird shot MIGHT be the way to go as a few 'shot' that hits the BG would give me time to adjust.

Adjust?

 

[cshoff]

It generally takes a very major trauma to stop an aggressive, determined, and very possibly drunk or high, human being. Think about the very nature of someone who has forcefully and unlawfully entered your home. This person has already made the decision to enter YOUR space, perhaps knowing full well that you and/or your loved ones are at home. And you'd better believe this person has at least made some cognizant evaluation of the potential consequences for the act he is perpetrating. It's very likely that this person does not fear you or your gun at all. This person is counting on his aggressive and very violent nature to force you and your family to submit to his invasion of your space.

With some basic understanding of the kind of threat we are dealing with here, we can now make a reasonable estimate of what it might take to neutralize a person in this psychological/physiological state. I don't think I would rely on a load of birdshot to get the job done.

 

[dewey]

YOU ARE ALL CORRECT

the bird shot comes out Now. Thanks To All.

 

[mtheo]

When I was 12 years old I learned about the ineffectiveness of birdshot. My Mom and Dad owned a business property on the outskirts of a small town. Part of that business was a coin operated car wash. It was about one o'clock in the morning when I was awoken by loud noises coming from the direction of the carwash. Dad and I discovered two reprobates with a sledge hammer trying to bust the coin box out of the wall. Dad kept them cornered while mom called the Sheriff's Department. Rural county...small town...wee hours of the morning...after several calls no one showed up. The miscreants were building up their courage and threatening my dad who was holding a pump .22 rifle on them. Dad finally backed off and told them to leave. The rifle was loaded with .22 birdshot and he realized he was under gunned.

He used to sing the praises of how .22 birdshot was the perfect self defense round. You could stop people from doing bad things without killing them. After that incident the gun at the ready was a J.C. Higgins pump 12 gauge loaded with 00 buck. I guess he just moved up to shot for bigger birds.

 

[Gulfecho]

Dewy

Don't do it! Birdshot is for the air. Buckshot is for the ground.

 

[RobzGuns]

This is over three Years old... I hope the OP has made his decision by now!!!
Gulfecho... How did you find this Zombie thread???

 

[Gulfecho]

RobzGuns

It's still relevant. I hate to hear of good folks making mistakes. By the way, how did you find this thread sir?

 

[RobzGuns]

It's still relevant. I hate to hear of good folks making mistakes.

Be That As It May...That still doesn't say how you found it. Google search?

By the way, how did you find this thread sir?

It was at the top of the 'unread' list, because someone dug through 3Y/O subject lines and decided it needed to be resurrected.

 

[Gulfecho]

RobzGuns

I am not that sophisticated but thanks for your comments sir!

 

[RobzGuns]

I am not that sophisticated but thanks for your comments sir!

and you STILL haven't said what you went through to dig this out of the graveyard.
I'd truly like to know.

 

[one eye joe]

Don't waste your time on something that's likely to not immediately incapacitate. At home defense distances, you're not going to benefit much if any from the alleged spread of the pattern.

You've got at most six shots before you have to reload. Why waste one of them?

For home defense in my 4" 29-2, I use Speer 200g. Gold Dot .44 Specials.

NOW THAT RIGHT THERE IS A SENSIBLE PLAN ! ! !