The Shotgun has been an important player in the protection of one's property here in the US since it's very beginning. Of course designs have changed over the years but the Shotgun remains till this day a very popular choice for home owners around the world. The same qualities that makes it such an asset in a bird hunt make the Shotgun such a prime choice for home defense, that is, if loaded with the right type of ammunition.
Many people believe that the only round suitable for the home is 00 Buck. I disagree. 00 Buck is an extremely lethal round especially at in-home distances but its rounds also carry enough kinetic energy to pass right through thin wood and drywall hurting or possibly killing innocent bystanders in the process. The MAIN concern here it distance. Shotgun ammunition isn't known for it's ability to cover vast areas, instead it has become famous for its achievements at close to medium range. Also called a "Scattergun" the shotgun fires not one, but many different and seperate projectiles all at once. Depending on the barrel shape and length these 'shots' or lead pellets will either still relatively close to each other, or fan out wide bettering the odds of scoring a hit on a lone target. These different sized shots are given a number according to size, the higher the number the smaller the pellet size. A #4 shot then is way larger than #8 'Birdshot' for instance.
The shots fired from a Scattergun tend to spread apart wider and wider the further away they go. But at 'in house' distances even the smallest of shot size tends to group tightly, not having the time/distance to spread away from each other. This concentrated shot can cause a surprising amount of damage to flesh and bone.
This is why for me, regular old #6 shot will do for Home Defense. They are too small to carry themselves through walls and are probably the least prone to cause collateral damage while still being able to handle home defense duties. 00 Buck on the other hand DO have the potential of passing through walls and through doors. The 00 Buck is an EXCELLENT field round for a Scattergun and perfect for outdoor use, but for in-home purposes they're simply overkill.
So the question arises: Is the #6 shot capable of outright killing an intruder? Maybe. Perhaps the question should be "Is the #6 capable of STOPPING an intruder in your home?" and to that I say: Absolutely. You see the psychological effect getting shot with a Scattergun has on a person when you see police using non-lethal rounds on criminals on TV. The perps don't KNOW they are being shot with beanbags. The reactions are almost textbook. The first reaction is surprise but that doesn't last more than an instant till the pain registers. You can almost see the energy drain right out of them. They think they were shot dead and give up, at least all the video's I've seen.
The #6 shot has lethal potential at CQB distance, will stop an adversary but NOT at the risk of endangering neighbors and family members in other rooms.
Shotguns have a wide range of available types of Ammunition to choose from, an you could also use a "staggered load" for home defense as another option as well.
Non-Lethal Beanbag as shot one followed by two rounds of #6 shot and capped off with #4 or 00 Buck.
Or 1/2 #6 1/2 00 Buck.
Or whatever combo as you choose. Point being, you don't have to load your Shotgun with only one type of shell.
Many people believe that the only round suitable for the home is 00 Buck. I disagree. 00 Buck is an extremely lethal round especially at in-home distances but its rounds also carry enough kinetic energy to pass right through thin wood and drywall hurting or possibly killing innocent bystanders in the process. The MAIN concern here it distance. Shotgun ammunition isn't known for it's ability to cover vast areas, instead it has become famous for its achievements at close to medium range. Also called a "Scattergun" the shotgun fires not one, but many different and seperate projectiles all at once. Depending on the barrel shape and length these 'shots' or lead pellets will either still relatively close to each other, or fan out wide bettering the odds of scoring a hit on a lone target. These different sized shots are given a number according to size, the higher the number the smaller the pellet size. A #4 shot then is way larger than #8 'Birdshot' for instance.
The shots fired from a Scattergun tend to spread apart wider and wider the further away they go. But at 'in house' distances even the smallest of shot size tends to group tightly, not having the time/distance to spread away from each other. This concentrated shot can cause a surprising amount of damage to flesh and bone.
This is why for me, regular old #6 shot will do for Home Defense. They are too small to carry themselves through walls and are probably the least prone to cause collateral damage while still being able to handle home defense duties. 00 Buck on the other hand DO have the potential of passing through walls and through doors. The 00 Buck is an EXCELLENT field round for a Scattergun and perfect for outdoor use, but for in-home purposes they're simply overkill.
So the question arises: Is the #6 shot capable of outright killing an intruder? Maybe. Perhaps the question should be "Is the #6 capable of STOPPING an intruder in your home?" and to that I say: Absolutely. You see the psychological effect getting shot with a Scattergun has on a person when you see police using non-lethal rounds on criminals on TV. The perps don't KNOW they are being shot with beanbags. The reactions are almost textbook. The first reaction is surprise but that doesn't last more than an instant till the pain registers. You can almost see the energy drain right out of them. They think they were shot dead and give up, at least all the video's I've seen.
The #6 shot has lethal potential at CQB distance, will stop an adversary but NOT at the risk of endangering neighbors and family members in other rooms.
Shotguns have a wide range of available types of Ammunition to choose from, an you could also use a "staggered load" for home defense as another option as well.
Non-Lethal Beanbag as shot one followed by two rounds of #6 shot and capped off with #4 or 00 Buck.
Or 1/2 #6 1/2 00 Buck.
Or whatever combo as you choose. Point being, you don't have to load your Shotgun with only one type of shell.
) Thats the "Judge" right? ( Great name for a gun... gunblast.com did a review on it)