Posted on 06/19/2017 11:02:37 AM PDT by w1n1
Shotguns have been used for home defense for centuries in one form or another. But the real question is, whats the best home defense load for your shotgun? Lets figure it out.
For a thug, nothing can be more terrifying than the sound of a pump action shotgun racking a shell into the chamber for sound deterrent? This will make even the most hardened criminals think twice. Obviously, sheer intimidation will not always solve your big problem. Well what do you feed your shotgun against your home invading foes? Well below are Remington 12 gauge shotgun shells opened up for you to see the actual payload. Impressive, isn't it? Well, each load from size 7.5 on the left to even the mighty shotgun slug on the right has a purpose in home defense.
Birdshot is a favorite of many home defenders. At close range, the blast of these lightweight small pellets hit like a solid fist. The thug in the picture on the right caught a blast at close range. Certainly, this is a postmortem image. Now, a shotgun is called a scattergun by many for a reason. The shot fans out quickly. Read the rest of the home defense shotgun loads story here.
Yes, I hate repairing drywall................
The 12 ga. flare round might be interesting on the receiving end.
That's a philosophy question: Is your goal to scare the intruder away from your home at that moment and solve the immediate issue . . . or to permanently solve the problem? I'd guess a lot of inexperienced home invaders would choose a different career if they survived their first experience with a Remington 870 being racked in response to their presence. I'd also guess that most career criminals will simply hit a different home, possibly only minutes later.
My recent unpleasantness involved intruders leaving my property (details omitted) and then being arrested 20 minutes later when the police finally arrived - and the criminals were preparing to attack the home of a neighbor who was home alone except for her young children. Would a strategy on my part that permanently ended the thugs' criminal career have been preferable? I don't know that answer. I would not have liked shooting them, but I also would not have liked if the police took 30 minutes instead of 20 and they had broken into a friend's home.
I have several different barrels for my 1100. Could I use the slug barrel with shot?
I hate repairing my neighbor’s drywall.
That’s the nice thing about shotguns - you don’t have to kill your sleeping children while defending yourself. Two layers of drywall can stop excess damage.
LOL!...My neighbor’s and I all have brick homes, so we don’t have that problem!..................
If your nearest neighbor is a half mile away. It your walls are old fashioned slotted lumber on both sides. If there are bears, wild dogs, hogs, etc. nearby, it all impacts what you choose.
I have outlived most of my family and there is no one else in my home most of the time.
Different situations might call for different choices.
If your nearest neighbor is a half mile away. It your walls are old fashioned slotted lumber on both sides. If there are bears, wild dogs, hogs, etc. nearby, it all impacts what you choose.
I have outlived most of my family and there is no one else in my home most of the time.
Different situations might call for different choices.
1-1/2 oz. #4 Turkey load.
Mine is a 20 gauge Ithica double with 3 buck. My belief is at close range, under 20 feet, little difference than a 12 gauge, two triggers, and my wife could handle the 20 if need be. I don’t plan on shooting anyone fleeing out the house, don’t want the hassle albeit someone did just that in my county a few months ago. The sheriff when pressed about the legality said: you got to know if you are a burglar most of the people in this county are armed.
The homeowner in that instance had a poster on is wall that said we believe in two things in this house, God and Guns and we use both.
Centurion
One large ball surrounded by a bunch smaller
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_F_KuFzjOGA
The school shooter at SPU in Seattle from a couple of years ago. Hits a girl full in the chest from about 10 to 15 feet. She walks away. In testimony she said it felt like a big “push” - she didn’t realize what had happened. Then realized her shirt was wet.
Thank God the guy was an idiot and using birdshot.
It had killed a boy prior to going into the building - but the killer put it to the base of his head. He would have graduated with my son last week. RIP Paul.
No one ever mentions hearing protection. Discharging a weapon within a house can cause permanent hearing damage.
Me either i always keep one chambered and then load another in the bull pen
What ?????
When my mom was a trauma room nurse (I was a teen), they brought in a guy that was peppered from knee caps to hair line with #9 bird shot. Took the guy about a week to die from the blood poisoning.
I prefer Federal Premium Vital-Shok, 12 Gauge, 2 3/4”. There will be a lot of cleanup and some drywall repair needed. They may be hauling the perp’s liquified remains to the coroner in a bucket instead of a body bag.
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