Following the 12 g. HD thread

The Hornady SST is not a rifled slug; it is a sabot bullet similar to the Remington and is designed to be shot with a rifled barrel. As shown in the article, the sabot & bullet spin in the rifled barrel and the sabot separates from the bullet after exiting the muzzle. The spin stabilizes the bullet just like rifling in a center fire rifle stabilizes the bullet, thus making the bullet more accurate.
 
1Hobie, glad you made a decision. Now go to the shotgun forum and get advise on a good shotgun.

My only input would be that shotgun shooting sports are real fun, so getting a shotgun that you can use in the field as well as at home is a good idea.
 
If you decide on an auto, I can personally recommend the Mossberg 930 SPX as has been mentioned. It's my personal HD shotgun, when I'm at the north house. I keep it loaded with 00 buck, as I can't seem to find #1 buck anywhere. 00 buck in Rem/Win flavor is everywhere for 5 bucks or less, and they're great accurate loads in the SPX. It's action tames the recoil quite a bit, so quick follow-up shots are the norm. The stock is also adjustable for fit. You can also get longer 930 barrels for it, in case you want to play, and they are cheaper than other makes. It's quite a bargain.

In pumps, I would recommend the Remington 870 or the Mossberg 500. I don't have either, but their reputation is stellar.
 
A Remington 870 with a standard size magazine loaded with 00, 1, or 4 buckshot will do an excellent job of covering the stairs. The idea (in my case anyway) is to protect my family. I'll do that by ensuring that anyone who breaks in downstairs doesn't make their way up to us. I'm not about to go down there if I think someone may be waiting.

We have cell phones and are willing to wait for the Sheriff's dept to come and root out anybody that needs rooting out.
 
I have seen high brass number six kill plenty of deer.

I have heard alot of people say they prefer a shotgun over rifle for HD because of the wide spread of the shot gives you greater hit probability.

Every time I have shot buckshot or birds hot within ten yards it looks like one big hole with maybe a couple stray pellets a inch or so away.
 
Yes, you better duck Chad. I am curious about these two statements in your post:

"the wide spread of the shot gives you greater hit probability."

and

"Every time I have shot buckshot or birds hot within ten yards it looks like one big hole with maybe a couple stray pellets a inch or so away."

Pick a shot distance - any shot distance - only one of those statements can be correct at any specific distance, be it 5 feet, 5 yards, 30 yards, or whatever.

So, which of your two statements is true?

If #6 birdshot is a good deer load, why do hunters find #6 shot still inside small targets such as squirrels, rabbits, pheasants, ducks, etc? How can I expect a #6 shot pellet to go through both lungs of a deer if that same pellet won't go through a squirrel, rabbit, pheasant or duck?
 
my personal HD shotgun is an 870 w/standard magazine. Loaded with either #1 buckshot or 00. I definately agree with the no warning shot policy. If I was in a situation that escalated to "condition red" I feel the threat needs to be neutralized immediately to protect myself and family.

While I've got nothing against autoloaders, I like the pump action as I believe
the sound of a round being chambered to be psychologically crippling to many would-be BG's, it would also serve as a first and only warning.
 
In a 12-gauge, I'd go with #1 buckshot indoors. Slightly more pellets per round (.30 vs. .33 cal). This helps increase your ability to make hits. #00 buck will obviously work.

For a 20-gauge, your choices are more limited. I've found some #2 and #3 buckshot - Winchester - and that is what my 20-ga 870. In both, the last round is a slug. The extra recoil lets me know it's time to reload.

I wouldn't place too much faith in the concept that the sound of a pump shotgun will cause an intruder to get religious. It can also serve as a warning that someone is awake and give him time to prepare.

Also, think about your bedroom door (and possibly the doorways of your children). Do all of them allow you to fire from a strong-hand position (i.e. right handed shooters stand to the left of the door frame). If not, how good will you be shooting with your weak hand?

Training and practice are essential to success.
 
I too seriously doubt that on the balance the racking of a shell has any benefit intimidation-wise--might even be a negative in terms of giving you away.

Which to me raises an HD readiness question. Do you keep a shell chambered and safety on, or unchambered but safety off, or unchambered and safety on? My understanding is that most shotguns can AD/ND with a simple "falling over" or jarring since the safety engages nothing more than the trigger.
 
While I've got nothing against autoloaders, I like the pump action as I believe the sound of a round being chambered to be psychologically crippling to many would-be BG's, it would also serve as a first and only warning.
Click to expand...

The only warning someone in my house might hear before I fire is me pushing the safety off.

Long before that they will hear me declare that the law is being notified and they'd best be making their exit.
 
chadstrickland said:
...I have heard alot of people say they prefer a shotgun over rifle for HD because of the wide spread of the shot gives you greater hit probability.

Every time I have shot buckshot or birds hot within ten yards it looks like one big hole with maybe a couple stray pellets a inch or so away.
Click to expand...
Chad is correct. His point is that at "across the room" distances a shotgun pattern is still very small. You still need to be able to shoot it accurately and not rely on a shot patter to guarantee you a hit.
 
Of course shot patterns start at bore diameter and increase in diameter (and length) down range. I may have misunderstood his intent in his statement that many people prefer a shotgun for HD because the wide spread of the shot gives you greater hit probability. Nevertheless, I do believe #6 shot is a poor choice for a self defense load even in an apartment.
 
I don't think a human skull or throat would react any differently than what you've described happening to the deer.

It's more how #6 - even high brass loads, are going to react when hitting a leather jacket, a sweater, a few inches of fat and an inch or so of muscle...

Is it going to get all the way back to vital tissue?



It might, against some people it might. But probably #6 is not going to reach the vital tissue consistently, and not against a large percentage of the population.

If I knew that the only people who were going to break into my house were scrawny characters 10" from front to back, and that they were only going to be wearing T-shirts, and I absolutely could accurately put my shot right where their heart was...

I'd still use #1 Buck :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top