I know we will both take a lot of heat for this but I disagree on 00 buck shot, the cartridge costs to much.
Number 6 shot at about 10 feet will just about vaporize any thing smaller than a ten pound coon.
I still have that army mentality of overkill I suppose. You’re right though, #6 works well for many applications. Truth be told, I have to learn to be more economical, money doesn’t grow on trees.