Posted on 08/20/2016 12:44:29 PM PDT by w1n1
Modern 12-gauge Shotgun Slugs Can Be An Excellent Choice For Self-Defense Distances And Beyond
Shotguns are a perennial home defense favorite. They are generally inexpensive, very common and perceived as being simple to operate. Nearly every gun-owning household has at least one smoothbore. But, since research and anecdotal evidence point towards the relative ineffectiveness of birdshot against large intruders, buckshot is typically used to deliver multiple simultaneous impacts while adding some margin for aiming error.
Buckshot, from .35 caliber 000 to .24 caliber No. 4, works fairly well on opponents up close and in the open, but doesn’t penetrate cover well. For people who want the ability to get through furniture, walls or auto glass, slugs provide another option. The same applies to rural residents who worry less about overpenetration but may have to fire in self-defense at longer ranges where buckshot spreads too much, and individual pellets lack adequate penetration.
Large-bore smoothbores and rifles have long been the first choice of dangerous game hunters. A typical musket was around .70 caliber, and black powder rifles varied from .70 to .45, with long conical bullets providing necessary penetration on ornery creatures like Cape buffalo or grizzly. Jacketed bullets developed by the 1890s and monolithic solids introduced in the second half of the 20th century continued this trend. Read the rest of the story here.
Bookmarked.
So hitting someone in the face with 6 shot isn’t enough to get their attention?
I hadn’t seen much from Oleg in a while. Is he still doing all the cool, great 2A photography / messages?
I load my 12 Gauge with Fiocchi #4 buck.
I’m happy with it.
Up close, it probably doesn’t matter what shot you use. Still just in case, double ought buck shot, tho again any size buck would be fine.
I have an 18 inch barrel Winchester Defender next to my bed, loaded with 7 rounds of 00 buck. Despite the fact that I probably could not do better, I really would like an Italian Lupara.
They can be made very short overall as the action is short. Only two shots before reloading but that would probably be enough.
Number 4 for anything small. I found that Speer has released a 38/357 birdshot round. It has a 5 - 10 yd range. It looks very effective as a snake round. To see it in action go to Gunblast.com.
If mama might be using it stick with 2 3/4. The 3” might be a bit too much recoil for a follow-up shot.
IF I didn’t get their attention before I pulled the trigger then I want more than their attention when I do.
00 or 000 buckshot works just fine for that application.
The only advantage a slug has over big buckshot is range and penetration of over 24 inches of muscle and bone.
No. six shot also works wonders on wasps nests up in a tree twenty or thirty feet away that you can’t reach to spray otherwise. The first round takes out the nest and the second for whatever buzzes around shocked afterwards (they hung in a cloud when the nest was gone)
Or, if you ever have the inclination or need to shoot clear through a 10 inch diameter fir tree.
“I found that Speer has released a 38/357 birdshot round. It has a 5 - 10 yd range.”
You will be hard pressed to kill a snake much past 5 feet with those rounds. 15 to 30 feet is wishful thinking.
I use 2 3/4 for defense mainly because it allows a couple more rounds. Different brands of shells vary a bit in overall length. Enough that I have noticed my shotgun will take 7 of most brands but some it will only take 6.
With 3 inch it will only hold 5 in the mag. The only advantage of the 3 or 2 1/2 inch shells is pattern density. At 6 feet the advantage is moot.
12 gauge, double ought, police loads.
“Take that sh*t further out. To the suburbs, burn they sh*t down.” Yes please, bring out here.
I keep #2 shot in my “house” shotgun. I used to keep lead BB size in it, but can’t find that any more. I suppose the larger sizes of steel shot would be OK, too. At most ranges a shotgun might be used inside the home, even those #6 will be nearly a solid mass.
If there is only one target. And you dont count the first shot as a throwaway.
So whats best load to cover a door way in the home from say a distance of looking down the cellar stairs.
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