Buckshot or slug for home defence?

Buckshot or slug for HD?

  • buckshot

    Votes: 96 97.0%

  • slug

    Votes: 3 3.0%
  • Total voters
    99
Thanks for all the comments. I'm somewhat new to shotguns so this has been very informative for me. I guessed that the poll would lean more toward buckshot but I didn't think it would be almost unanimous. I guess 00 buck it is.
Thanks
 
B. Lahey: out of a stock mossberg 500 with 20" barrel and 000 shot, I get a shot column of about 1-2 inches at 10-12 feet. At 20 feet it goes up to approx 2.5-3 inches.

That's the distance that I would consider for a HD situation (in my case), and was a bit of a surprise to me as I always thought that the shot would spread out quite a bit. Have adapted my training to actually aim properly now.
 
i voted slugs, but my situation isa little different. my nweighbors as well as us live on 1 acre lots, and have adobe fences seperating the yard, i also live ina 2.5 story house (split level) and my room is on the bottom floor. since i doubt ill be fighting ninjas crawling on my ceiling i dont have to worry about slugs ripping through the ceiling and flooring above.
 
Does it really matter? You get a smoldering hole with either one.
Click to expand...

Might matter that the slug can penetrate the walls of your home and most of your neighbors as well.

Interesting that soft Foster type slugs, as commonly used by LE, do not tend to over penetrate human targets. This from a Fed LE Instructor, who was quite familiar with the slugged shotgun in his line of work.
 
Maybe

The first couple full of rock salt, then a couple of buckshot then a slug for good measure..... depending if the encounter needs to escalate to lethal. If it goes to lethal right away, pump out the first two (quickly) :eek::D
 
"The first couple full of rock salt, then a couple of buckshot then a slug for good measure..... depending if the encounter needs to escalate to lethal."


The second a weapon comes out the encounter is automatically of the lethal variety.

Rock salt shells make sense ONLY if you want to A) make believe that shooting someone with a shell so loaded constitutes non-lethal force, B) want to end up in jail, and C) want to give away everything you own when the person you shot sues you.
 
I have Centurian Multi-Defense loaded in my Mossberg 500A. I sure wouldn't want to be on the recieving end of it.
 

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Buck shot will go through the wall and into anyone in the other rooms so if overpenitration is a concern, and it should be if you live with anyone else in your house then go with a smaller shot. #4 is pleanty lethal and will not overpenitrate. Personally i dont like to go lighter then #4 but even #8 will take a guys head off under 10yards.

It is also easier on the recoil which is good if your wife of kids have to use the gun. it wont blow them on their behind like 00 will.
 
I still don't quite get the choice of a big bore rifle for home defense,

which is basically what a 12 gauge shotgun loaded with slugs is, heck if that's your reasoning, why not opt for a 45/70 and call it a day.
 
I have always heard this saying when there was talk about shot preference; Birdshot is for the birds, buckshot is for the bucks and slugs are for the thugs. I have my 12 ga loaded with BB followed by seven (7) rifled slugs.
 
Did any of you guys see the episode of The Best Defense wherein they tested wall penetration of various rounds?

I sticking with #7 birdshot, thank you very much. I can not foresee any human being withstanding a shot of ANYTHING from a shotgun at close (inside the home) range, never mind the 4 shells behind that first one.
 
Regarding wall penetration, even small buckshot will sail through drywall very handily.

I'm fortunate, though, that the dividing walls between my townhome and my neighbors are core filled cement block, so I don't have to worry about over penetration. And, the exterior shell is brick clad.

I'm also single, so I don't need to worry about interior overpenetration. As long as I know where my dog is, I have clear fire lanes for whatever load I choose to use, but I still choose No. 4 buckshot as my primary load out with a 5 rounds of S&B 00 buck in a buttstock carrier.
 
I would go with fine shot. Up close it is just like a slug, with a little distance you dont need to be super acccurate, and it wont penatrate a bunch of walls where people would be. When something happens fast people even well trained dont do very good at aiming and hitting. Then throw low light into it, and you have another problem. I dont think everyone would aggree with this just my thoughts on it.
 
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