home defense ammo (bird shot)

i have seen this video before, in a similar thread. i think it's cool video, that touches on some good points. i think a lot of people will be surprised at the results of the .223. but this video still doesn't convince me to put birdshot in my shotgun. i think at the end of the video he sums it perfectly. you need to understand what your choice of ammo will do if you miss your intended target.
 
I will watch the video later but here is what Box O Truth did with a shotgun and two types of shot. Good demonstration of penetration.
 
I keep birdshot in my shotgun just because it's all I have on hand, I have thought about getting 00 buck but now I am kind of re-considering. I am still pretty sure that my Remington 870 magnum express is going to put a badguy down for the count even with target loads. I sure as hell don't want to be on the other end of that thing.
 
I've said it before and I'll say it again. From what I have seen birdshot do at the range of ten yards and less, I have zero doubt that it would be extremely effective on a person at in-house distances. The bigger the shot, the better. Some #2 turkey loads would be downright nasty, but even #8 would be pretty messy.

Do I carry birdshot in my shotgun for defense? No. But it would do the trick at very short distances. As distance from the target increases, you start asking for trouble though. Buckshot is obviously better.
 
very good video

home defense ammo (bird shot)

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i know this subject has been probably debated to death, but i found this video on the Outdoor Channel.

http://www.outdoorchannel.com/Shows/...sFSRbAcZjIb5Sx
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Yesterday, 10:43 PM
 
I'm not so sure, especially in winter when a thick leather coat may be worn with more layers under. It won't bounce off, but it may do shockingly little. If you don't want 00 buck pellets, at least move up to a goose load.

Bird shot is a great way to emasculate a shotgun. In my opinion.
 
Having once discharged a 12ga shotgun, loaded with #6 birdshot, inside my house - I can give direct observation that it worked perfectly.

While most of the errant pellets did penetrate two interior plaster/wood lath partition walls, they ended up lodged inside an exterior wall w/o exiting my house.

.
 
There is no question you can kill someone with birdshot. How effectively can you kill someone with birdshot though? Can you reliably put lead into vital organs? There is no question you can with buckshot. I have 00 buck loaded in my 870.
 
I still wouldn't risk it, I only have .45 avoid carry guns, and my HD shotgun is loaded with two shots #4 buck, and seven 00 buck.

When it comes to my families safety, there is no such thing as overkill, there is only one way in or out of my house, unless they use a ladder, and even if my shot missed and over penetrates it wouldn't be a danger to any of my neighbours.
 
If birdshot were for self defense they would of called it manshot.
Click to expand...

Well said.

Why would anyone assume an 8 foot shot? What happens if the BG with the gun is down the hall 30 or more feet. I doubt birdshot would be very effective at that range.

If you are that concerned with hurting an innocent victim, don't go from buckshot to birdshot. Go to high power 4 shot.
 
3" 15 pellet 00 buck. I'll take the extra recoil to get the extra 6 pellets for my family's safety. My house can have the heavier ammo too(unlike an apt as much for example). I hope to not shoot someone with the shotgun, but I assure you I'll be using deadly force if it ever comes to that.
 
You guys with the 3" mag 00 loads.....

Try something. Have someone time you while you fire off a three shot series of your barnburners.

Then, do the same series using some 8 pellet R/R loads.

Note the time difference.

Those howitzer loads will certainly put a hurting, but so will the light loads and do so with less trauma in back and much faster non first hits.

Thanks.....
 
"pour some wax in that bird shot............takes on a whole new meaning. Hits as a solid mass."

I am not to sure this is a safe thing to do. It increases the weight of the payload along with the chamber pressure.
 
There's all kinds of legal implications to non-lethally assaulting them with a firearm, even if its 100% by the book self defense.

Shoot to kill, that means don't shoot bird shot.
 
I dont know why you would want to put wax in a birdshot load as at close range it going to act like a slug anyways. As for the box o truth vid all they proved there is bird shot sucks at non close range, we already know that.
 
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