Slugs for defense

B

buckstopshere

New member
New to shotguns. Bought Rem. 870 Magnum HD. Will any slug do for Defense or should I get something like Federal HydraShok or Hornady? Already have Hornady TAP 00 Buck, but what about getting out there reachin' somebody if necessary?
 
I'm no expert, but I'd really be concerned with over penetration with a slug. If large buck shot will not stop the threat, I'm not sure what will. If your concerned about distance, is it really self defense?
 
Go with the 00 Buck or 4 Buck for home use. The slugs will penetrate too much, into other rooms too easily..........hpg
 
my queston for slugs was somewhat hypothetical. What if I needed slug power, then what slug? Plan on livin' in the country someday (after grad school when I can afford to buy a little spread) and for some reason SHTF. Of course my AR would be nice, but all I have access to is the ol' shotgun. Now would someone just answer the question instead of going off on tangents, thanks.:confused:
 
For me it was pretty simple, I use a 45 LC with some fairly hot loads. The will pennetrate most things, it is easily concealable and has the power to trrminate a situation. I also don't have a barrel out in front of me giving away my position, which would be typically on the floor where I am NOT expected to be. Walls don't stop the slugs from bad guys, the floor is a reasonably good defensive position as they expect you to be standing and sooner or later visible. I also don't expect someone breaking in to my home to really try to defend their position when they can flee. Most BG don't want confrontation,, just your goods most all will leave when they know they are discovered.
 
Hornady Sells a REALLY mean looking defense slug, its pointed and the tip of the slug is red, its some mean stuff. It says for rifled barrels but dont worry it shoots outta smooth boore barrels just as well atleast it does for me. and the thing is its for defense. If Hornady TAP FPD makes it then its good. Comes in 3" and 2 3/4. You should move to Oklahoma lotta cheap land here. not much anywhere else.

Hope that helps? let me know if you need anything else.
 
slug

Any slug will do.

I load 2 00 shells followed by 2 slugs.

My reasoning is 00 will kill inside the home and outside the home without over penetrating, the slugs are for penetration into vehicle or through walls/ doors if I need penetration (someone hiding or using as a shield or using a vehicle as a weapon)
 
but what about getting out there reachin' somebody if necessary?
Click to expand...

If you're serious about "reaching out to touch someone", a rifle will beat a shotgun every time. The only thing I know slugs are used for around here is deer hunting, and only because it's been legislated that they're the only thing we can use. They're really only good out to 50yds, and pretty much dead by 100yds.

For HD, buckshot is probably better if all you have is a shottie, and I'm partial to #4 12-gauge Magnum buck. Think of it as 27 .22s going off all at once!
 
I saw these really cool looking slugs called Terminator X. They aren't cheap but I think they would be the best slug for HD use ever invented. They are HP slugs and are extremly deep cavity HP and it says in the description of the slugs that they expand to almost 2 inches. That would probly help to eliminate too much over penetration.

Another thing to keep in mind is that most HD situations don't take place at medium to long ranges. They are close range. At close range, birdshot would do pretty much the same thing as a slug. Birdshot at close range is still just a big ball of lead.
 
I load 2 00 shells followed by 2 slugs.

My reasoning is 00 will kill inside the home and outside the home without over penetrating, the slugs are for penetration into vehicle or through walls/ doors if I need penetration (someone hiding or using as a shield or using a vehicle as a weapon)
Click to expand...
There was a Texas shooting covered in the Ayoob files in which the defender (gun shop owner) loaded his shotgun in exactly the manner you do and with the same reasoning.

He succeeded against two armed robbers, so it's hard to argue with his tactics & planning, but it is interesting to note that he didn't get a "stopping" hit until a slug round came up. The robber used a counter for cover/concealment and the buckshot wasn't working well against it. Fortunately the accomplice stayed out of it once the shotgun came up.
 
A typical basic slug is 70 caliber and has a muzzel velocity of between 1400 and 1600 FPS. You can pick whatever slug makes you happy. It won't make a difference.

00 buck is like shooting someone with 9 pistol bullets, all at the same time.

Either way, it aught to get the job done.

I tend to think that for close range, the 00 buck is the better choice and the slugs are for anything beyond 25 yards when you don't have a rifle available.

But to answer your question, on two legged targets, any slug will do.
 
"There was a Texas shooting covered in the Ayoob files in which the defender (gun shop owner) loaded his shotgun in exactly the manner you do and with the same reasoning.

He succeeded against two armed robbers"

:eek: Rob a gun shop...
 
the slugs are for penetration into vehicle or through walls/ doors if I need penetration (someone hiding or using as a shield or using a vehicle as a weapon)
Click to expand...
If the BG is outside, hiding behind a car, is it self defense?
 
Whip1, think of it as "taking cover" behind a car, not "hiding". :)

I'm partial to two brands of slugs - KO slugs (Brenneke slugs loaded in America) and the 15 packs of Winchester as sold by Wally World. I've killed critters with both, like the KOs for hogs.

Best bet is to get several five packs of different brands and see what your shotgun likes. Be aware that some (many?) shotguns will print the buck and slugs somewhat off from each other. May not be a concern if your using a bead sight.
 
Like Al said, get several brands and try them out. Each shotgun is a beast unto itself, and finding the right round can make all the difference. That is true, BTW of both slugs and shot. I'm very comfortable engaging man-size targets at 100 yards with the right load, but others are much more problematic.
 
If you're serious about "reaching out to touch someone", a rifle will beat a shotgun every time. The only thing I know slugs are used for around here is deer hunting, and only because it's been legislated that they're the only thing we can use. They're really only good out to 50yds, and pretty much dead by 100yds.
Click to expand...

A rifle is more accurate and has longer range, depending on the rifle, caliber and shooter of course but that's not really relevant to the OP's question. After all, an artillery barrage or air strikes have much longer range than rifles. As for the rest... HUH?

I've dropped deer at 140+ yards with a 12ga slug out of a Rem870 with 18” and 20" barrels and rifle or red dot sights several times. The slug has always gone through and through. In fact the only deer I ever shot that a 12ga slug did not completely pass through was a close to head on shot at 70 yards where the slug passed diagonally from front right shoulder and lodged in the left ham after smashing through the hip joint. That buck went down like a house fell on him. I think you are seriously underestimating the range and accuracy of properly set up slug guns.
 
I'd like to 'third' the advice to try out different slugs, and not just to see what your gun likes. You need to see which ones you prefer to shoot. My 11-87 smoothbore likes several slugs, but i like federal pow-r-ball reduced recoil because it doesn't kill on both ends so much.

Methinks if someone comes in with lvl IIIa armor and a trauma plate, you have other issues, cause they are probably carrying more than a saturday night special.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top