I've used less than lethal 12ga rounds in Iraq.
1. I'm impressed. They provide REALLY good effects on target! At least long enough to restrain your target, provided you act aggressively.
2. Your target doesn't die, requires less medical attention, and might give up useful info later. Or in a home setting they live to see trial.... and in a liberal sense they live to see the error of their ways.
Unfortunately, these things don't just knock someone out like popular knowledge would have us believe (albeit they hurt.... ALOT.... A LOT LOT).
CONS:
- Your target doesn't fall like with 00buck. I've seen guys recover from getting hit with these within seconds, or guys requiring MULTIPLE shots for a good effect on target. Again it's more of a stun technique than an incapacitating one.
- You ARE going to put yourself into greater danger because YOU STILL HAVE TO RESTRAIN this cat, and he's gonna be MAD! Just because he's hurt doesn't at all take the fight out of him! Might even put more in him!
- Unless you load some lethals into the end of your tube, there is no surefire way to stop the "charging rhino" short of beating him down.
- Restraint works best with a partner who can put another gun on the target, and/or help you cuff him. This partner had damn well better be ready to jump in and assist in any physical altercations that ensue.
- Implied task above is ensuring you know how to properly and EFFECTIVELY handcuff or flex-cuff someone.
- ALWAYS be prepared for a physical hand to hand confrontation following a less than lethal shot. ALWAYS.
These are SERIOUS liabilities, some legally (god forbid this guy sues you: Are you TRAINED to use these? Did you shoot him in a proper location? Did you shoot him too many times? Does your restraint constitute a wrongful imprisonment? etc.), and others present physical safety liabilities (see above cons list). When done correctly, these are effective means for subduing someone long enough to quickly cuff them (They HURT. ALOT.). When done incorrectly, or without proper planning, training, practice, and employment, they can VERY quickly lead to a BAD situation for the shooter.
I put this as a good idea on paper, bad idea in practice. They will probably be effective in stopping the kid stealing your TV. An actual home invader though, I wouldn't really trust them.