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12 Guage for Home Defense?
- Thread starter Usertag
- Start date
IshootThings
Inactive
As Discern said above, I think that's pretty much what most people will agree with. As you saw in my thread, the 590 is pretty popular. I'm going that route.
TheKlawMan
Moderator
"I know for sure I'm going to buy (#4 00 Buckshot) in 2 3/4. But the question is, What is the absolute BEST brand to buy it in? "
#4 and 00 are different sizes of buckshot; 00 being much larger than #4. Perhaps you meant that you are going to buy both sizes. As to the best brand, someone else will have to advise you.
#4 and 00 are different sizes of buckshot; 00 being much larger than #4. Perhaps you meant that you are going to buy both sizes. As to the best brand, someone else will have to advise you.
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customaquatics
New member
i use the 3" 00 an 3" 000 magnum buckshot in the remington loads an never had a problem with em.
Buck shot can be had at $4.00-$6.00 a box of 5...spend $20 buying different rounds and take them to the range. The targets should make the choice for you.
Over the past 40 years or so, I've used both Federal and Remington buck shot on deer...never had a problem with either load. It's funny how much discussion there is on this, when the far majority of us will never fire a round in defense.
Either a Mossberg or Remington pump will fit the bill for you.
Over the past 40 years or so, I've used both Federal and Remington buck shot on deer...never had a problem with either load. It's funny how much discussion there is on this, when the far majority of us will never fire a round in defense.
Either a Mossberg or Remington pump will fit the bill for you.
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Shotgun693
New member
The shotgun, nearly any, is a good choice. The shell, that kinda depends on where you live, if you have family and where they might be and how close your neighbors are. For inside a house, ranges in feet, a heavy load of bird shot works as well as anything without going through walls to endanger others.
StuntManMike
New member
Federal Flitecontol 4BK FTW
The above post is the worst one I have ever seen on this topic.
And most of the posts here aren't even answering his question. He is asking about best brand for ammo, not what gun he should buy.
As already said #4 and 00 are two different things, the 00 being much bigger projectiles, and less of them. Conversely the #4 is smaller projectiles, and more of them.
As was also already said buy Remington, Federal, Winchester, etc and shoot them all at a sheet of plywood and see how they "pattern" in your gun. Meaning see what the pattern on the paper produced by the projectiles is. There is no BEST brand per se. They are all so similar (in the same loads) it is just finding what shoots the best in your gun. I would shoot the different loads a few times at varying distances to see how the load acts as you shoot across your bedroom, down the hallway, etc. Figure out distances in your home you'd be likely to shoot and pattern your loads at those distances.
And most of the posts here aren't even answering his question. He is asking about best brand for ammo, not what gun he should buy.
As already said #4 and 00 are two different things, the 00 being much bigger projectiles, and less of them. Conversely the #4 is smaller projectiles, and more of them.
As was also already said buy Remington, Federal, Winchester, etc and shoot them all at a sheet of plywood and see how they "pattern" in your gun. Meaning see what the pattern on the paper produced by the projectiles is. There is no BEST brand per se. They are all so similar (in the same loads) it is just finding what shoots the best in your gun. I would shoot the different loads a few times at varying distances to see how the load acts as you shoot across your bedroom, down the hallway, etc. Figure out distances in your home you'd be likely to shoot and pattern your loads at those distances.
Bird shot does the job.
...on birds.
I dont doubt that birdshot at room distance will make an ugly wound. Personally I want to be reasonably assured that if I have to use a shotgun load for self defense, the BG will be STOPPED. I trust 00 buck to do that. I am not so sure about birdshot as is talked about in the box-o-truth test:
http://theboxotruth.com/docs/bot3.htm
excerpt from page three:
http://theboxotruth.com/docs/bot3.htm
excerpt from page three:
Birdshot as a Defense Load
I have had a lot of questions, summed up as follows: How effective is birdshot (#4, #6, #8, etc.) as a defense load?
We have done tests with various birdshot loads. Birdshot penetrated through two pieces of drywall (representing one wall) and was stopped in the paper on the front of the second wall. The problem with birdshot is that it does not penetrate enough to be effective as a defense round. Birdshot is designed to bring down little birds.
A policeman told of seeing a guy shot at close range with a load of 12 gauge birdshot, and was not even knocked down. He was still walking around when the EMTs got there. It was an ugly, shallow wound, but did not STOP the guy. And that is what we want... to STOP the bad guy from whatever he is doing. To do this, you must have a load that will reach the vitals of the bad guy. Birdshot will not do this.
In fact, tests have shown that even #4 Buckshot lacks the necessary penetration to reach the vital organs. Only 0 Buck, 00 Buck, and 000 Buck penetrate enough to reach the vital organs.
Unless you expect to be attacked by little birds, do not use birdshot. Use 00 Buck. It will do the job.
As has been said, no one can advise you as to what the best brand of ammo is for your particular gun. Shotguns can be very funny about what they like and don't like. For example, my dad has a Remington 870 Wingmaster 20ga with a smoothbore slug barrel. As far as plain foster slugs are concerned, it shoots Winchester the best, Remington OK, and won't shoot Federal worth a darn. I, on the other hand, have a Remington 870 Express 12ga that shoots Federal the best, Winchester OK, the Remington the worst. Patterning buckshot is just as complicated, if not more so, than how accurately a gun will shoot slugs. As several others have noted, the only way to find the answer to your question is to buy a variety of ammo and see what patterns the best. I personally have had good luck with Winchester 3" #1 Buck and Remington 3" #4 Buck, but that's in my gun and not yours.
As to birdshot vs. buckshot: I have no doubt that, at very close range, birdshot can be quite effective because the pattern has not dispersed much and basically acts as one large mass. However, birdshot patterns typically disperse and shed velocity fairly quickly, especially from the IC or cylinder bore chokes of most HD-oriented shotguns. When the distance is measured in yards rather than feet, the small pellets of birdshot do not penetrate particularly deeply and are more apt to cause a gruesome-looking but superficial wound. The larger pellets of buckshot still have enough mass to penetrate adequately even after the pattern has dispersed quite a bit. My personal preference for HD ammo in a shotgun is BB at the finest (and then only in my 10ga) and #1 Buck at the coarsest. While 00 Buck seems to be the most popular loading, I prefer the the slightly finer shot because it gives me a greater payload of pellets.
As to birdshot vs. buckshot: I have no doubt that, at very close range, birdshot can be quite effective because the pattern has not dispersed much and basically acts as one large mass. However, birdshot patterns typically disperse and shed velocity fairly quickly, especially from the IC or cylinder bore chokes of most HD-oriented shotguns. When the distance is measured in yards rather than feet, the small pellets of birdshot do not penetrate particularly deeply and are more apt to cause a gruesome-looking but superficial wound. The larger pellets of buckshot still have enough mass to penetrate adequately even after the pattern has dispersed quite a bit. My personal preference for HD ammo in a shotgun is BB at the finest (and then only in my 10ga) and #1 Buck at the coarsest. While 00 Buck seems to be the most popular loading, I prefer the the slightly finer shot because it gives me a greater payload of pellets.
TheKlawMan
Moderator
How is bird shot going to do if an intruder is wearing a leather jacket over a sweatshirt? If you have to shoot through a heavy upended table?
columbia_shotguneer
New member
Reading through the Boxoftruth paragraph, I disagree on #4 buck not being enough to reach vitals on a human at HD ranges. Of course disregarding an obstructed path(door, wall, chair) between the good guy and bad guy. With that said even then I think it's got spunk.In fact, tests have shown that even #4 Buckshot lacks the necessary penetration to reach the vital organs. Only 0 Buck, 00 Buck, and 000 Buck penetrate enough to reach the vital organs.
Probably the best thread ever on the subject. From shotgunworld.com: http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=109958
Excerpt:
Excerpt:
Small sized birdshot such as this #4 heavy dove load is a poor choice for deployment with a tactical shotgun. Wounds inflicted from birdshot tend to be gruesome yet shallow as they lack the penetration required to reach vital cardiovascular or central nervous system structures.
Standard style stock and foregrip on a Mossberg 500 is my "ideal"... Ammo will be the "run of the mill" double ought buck shot...
Since I prefer the most versatility from my gun, I do not allow pistol grip only (PGO) nor the AR/AK type stock with drop down "detached" pistol grip.
Both of these severely limit the number of bonafide holds and "mounts" as well as firing positions.
On top of this, the pistol grip equipped guns are easier to take from the shooter in up close and personal contact that can occur in a CQB situation as is found in home defense quite often...
Brent
Since I prefer the most versatility from my gun, I do not allow pistol grip only (PGO) nor the AR/AK type stock with drop down "detached" pistol grip.
Both of these severely limit the number of bonafide holds and "mounts" as well as firing positions.
On top of this, the pistol grip equipped guns are easier to take from the shooter in up close and personal contact that can occur in a CQB situation as is found in home defense quite often...
Brent