Thoughts on home defense shot gun ammo
- Thread starter Jerry N.
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Jerry N.
Member
That's a Winchester PDX1. I was surprised at how consistently it makes that triangle with the 00 buck. I'm having a hard time seeing the point though given the size of that slug. At room range, they don't spread enough (at 15 feet, if you miss with the slug, you're likely to miss with all but one of the buck - if that). Still pretty cool, but I'm leaning toward the Federal PD132. Certainly appreciate the discussion.
Really? Someone breaks into your house and your concern is "damage to the woodwork"?
That sounds a bit materialistic. I'd be more concerned about cleaning up his blood stains afterwards.
I have patterned Federal 00 buck with the Flite Control wad and the only way I can describe the results is unbelievable. At 25 yards, the entire group can be covered with my hand and outstretched fingers (fired from my 20" 870 and cylinder bore choke). I think the catalog number is LE13200.
I have patterned a good bit of buckshot, factory and handloads, over the years and came to expect mediocre performance. That is no longer true. Aim carefully.
I have patterned a good bit of buckshot, factory and handloads, over the years and came to expect mediocre performance. That is no longer true. Aim carefully.
mkk41
US Veteran
Mehhh! Blood can be mopped up off the tile floors and the throw rugs can be replaced cheaply enough. But the 100yr old tongue & groove knotty pine is worth more than some scumbags life. With 25ft the furthest possible shot inside the house , it's a 1 1/4oz load of hi-brass 2s for him!
Or Glaser Safety Slugs outta the .45!
troutjunkie
Member
I keep 00 buck in mine. I have a buddy who accidentally shot himself in the back of the head with a 12 gauge while bird hunting ( only he could pull that off) and lived after a few days in the hospital. Has a 2 inch wide strip from base of head to the top where he will never hair again. The birdshot, mostly due to the angle I suppose took all the skin off and fractured his skull, but that was it. None penetrated the skull.
The new Federal LE 1 Buck with flight control is also, by all tests, superb.
This man has already done the testing for you:
The Box O' Truth #3 - The Shotgun Meets the Box O' Truth - Page 1
The Box O' Truth #3 - The Shotgun Meets the Box O' Truth - Page 1
So what's the point, that if I put a slug on target, it will bring down an intruder? If I get a pattern big enough to fire inaccurately and still hit the target, it won't have enough force or penetration to bring down an intruder? I've only been shot at once with a shotgun, the goof was twenty feet from me and missed, (with #6) but blew out a left side rear window. I'm grateful he was a bad shot.
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I have yet to have to use it. But it looks good on a 4x8 sheet of 3/4 plywood. #6 shot repacked with hot glue out of an 870 sure does make a pile of kindling quick. Just make sure you end up with the same over all weight when making them up. Can get a hole box of 25 for $15. Another $2 worth of hot glue and an hour of spare time. Nice cheap hillbilly home defense round. Several vids on youtube demonstrating how its done and what it does.
szuppo
US Veteran
I really have never understood all the hype surrounding over-penetration blah blah blah..... I could give a rats but if it goes through the bad guy, two walls and a door.
I know, I know....what about the neighbors or others in the house.....Never once have a heard a "true" documented story where this has ever happened other than on Firearm Forum about a friend of a friend of another friend........
Guess my neighbors are in for it if my M14 over penetrates.
Train more, worry less.
I know, I know....what about the neighbors or others in the house.....Never once have a heard a "true" documented story where this has ever happened other than on Firearm Forum about a friend of a friend of another friend........
Guess my neighbors are in for it if my M14 over penetrates.
Train more, worry less.
Ballistically, there are advantages to a round that's more apt to stay inside the target, shred, tumble, etc., versus make a quick open-and-close pass through.
That being said, penetration is still king, indeed...
tacman605
Member
Personally I use standard 00 buck in the tube with slugs in a separate side saddle or magazine, I prefer Saiga 12's.
Avoid trying to stack the mag tube with alternating slugs and buckshot. You will never keep track in the heat of the moment and you will always have the wrong one under the hammer.
The general rule of thumb with a shotgun is 1" of spread for every yard traveled out of a cylinder bore barrel. Now this can go up or down a little depending on the round, barrel length and the use of choke tubes.
In regards to using bird shot in the house there are a couple of things that you have to consider. Incapacitation and lethality. Now would/could a load of #6 shot stop or kill an intruder? Sure but lets say that you get a less than optimal hit or due to the intruders clothing, say a heavy leather bikers jacket, as stated it may not penetrate far enough to do either.
In household distances using the general rule I spoke of lets say the bedroom distance it 15 feet. At that distance the pattern is only going to be roughly 5 inches so any misalignment of the sights or firing from the hip may cause bad shot placement. If the intruder at this point is not incapacitated he can do a lot of damage in the time it takes for you to get off a second shot.
In regards to the over penetration issue. Shot loads like #6's while they do mean things to the body do even stranger things to solid objects. Again using the general rule of one inch of pattern per yard traveled. At the 15 foot range the pattern is still pretty tightly clustered and about 5 inches in diameter.
Upon striking a hard object. like sheetrock, the leading portion of the shot tends to break through whatever barrier it hits or causes substantial damage which allows the trailing shot to pass through the hole/damaged portion into whatever is behind it.
Just something to think about.
Avoid trying to stack the mag tube with alternating slugs and buckshot. You will never keep track in the heat of the moment and you will always have the wrong one under the hammer.
The general rule of thumb with a shotgun is 1" of spread for every yard traveled out of a cylinder bore barrel. Now this can go up or down a little depending on the round, barrel length and the use of choke tubes.
In regards to using bird shot in the house there are a couple of things that you have to consider. Incapacitation and lethality. Now would/could a load of #6 shot stop or kill an intruder? Sure but lets say that you get a less than optimal hit or due to the intruders clothing, say a heavy leather bikers jacket, as stated it may not penetrate far enough to do either.
In household distances using the general rule I spoke of lets say the bedroom distance it 15 feet. At that distance the pattern is only going to be roughly 5 inches so any misalignment of the sights or firing from the hip may cause bad shot placement. If the intruder at this point is not incapacitated he can do a lot of damage in the time it takes for you to get off a second shot.
In regards to the over penetration issue. Shot loads like #6's while they do mean things to the body do even stranger things to solid objects. Again using the general rule of one inch of pattern per yard traveled. At the 15 foot range the pattern is still pretty tightly clustered and about 5 inches in diameter.
Upon striking a hard object. like sheetrock, the leading portion of the shot tends to break through whatever barrier it hits or causes substantial damage which allows the trailing shot to pass through the hole/damaged portion into whatever is behind it.
Just something to think about.
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