What Is The Best 12 Gauge Shotgun Load for Home Defense?

Me ^ | November 5, 2001 | NoControlling LegalAuthority

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

I would like opinions on the best shotgun shell load for use in a 12 Gauge Shotgun when being used for home defense. I have heard of using bird shot, buck shot and slugs - standard or magnum loads. I have heard of progressive loading such as first round-bird shot, second round-buckshot, third round-slugs.

Considerations seem to include whether you want to blow the door or wall down in the process of stopping the intruder.

[thorshammer]

12 GA. “Piranha” This 12 GA. round contains dozens of razor sharp steel tacks that blast out at high velocity which virtually guarantees that there will be no response from the perpetrator. Each round is buffed with #12 shot thus creating a double shock to the wound area. Absolutely will not harm your shotgun. To be used no closer than 10 feet and no further than 50 feet. 23/4” round 12 GA. Terminator-X The lethality contained within the hollow core slug of our terminator 12 GA. almost can't be advertised. Upon impact, this slug mushrooms and expands to nearly 2 inches, stopping the slug from totally penetrating your objective. This rapid expansion forces the dozen of tiny pellets to spread through your objective like a cancerous disease, opening an area at the impact point equal to a softball! The cavity created has the shock effect of 95%! That means only 5% of any living being could survive this kind of hit.23/4” round

[SBprone]

An indoor range is nice if they'll allow your shotgun. The lead dust from all those pellet impacts might be more than the range's pollution control system was designed for. Also range employees may bitch about having to sweep up the debris from your cardboard backers. It's great fun if they'll let you in!

[logos]

I guess you missed this part of my comment:

[Only mildly tongue-in-cheek... :-)]

For home defense I wouldn't even think about loading rock salt. However, I do remember my grandfather using just such loads to run off the riff-raff in a time when runnin' off riff-raff was PC. Believe me, no one ever forgot a load of rock salt in his southern end while he was runnin' north!

You're not the only one who's ever loaded his own shotshells, patterned a gun or two, or filled out his limit on Greater Canadas a time or two ... or more. Lighten up a little.

[Adrastus]

Interesting. You both make some good points. I guess in the end it's really something each one has to figure out on his own. Nice to hear that there are others who put some thought into the matter. I just hope I'll never have to find out which one works best in the home. Using a scatter gun in close combat is something else. A definit art form, but as a home defense weapon there are lots of things to consider.

[El Gato]

Do firing ranges let you shoot shotguns or pistols only

It varies. Many, both indoor and outdoor, will let you shoot your defensive shotgun on the pistol range. (Caution, you will not make friends of the pistol shooters in the other lanes, especially indoors). Of course some outdoor ranges have everything. Pistol ranges, rifle ranges and clay target ranges. Some even have machine guns for rent, or will let you shoot your own. Of course, that's only in states that allow you to have them at all.

[toddst]

Interesting that you asked about 12 gauge loads but got many recommendations for gun selection. I assume you already have the gun.

My recommendation would be to take a comprehensive defensive shotgun course and listen carefully to what they suggest is most appropriate for home defense. Gunsite (Arizona) offers a one week course that's excellent. I haven't looked but suspect Thunder Ranch (Texas) offers a similar program. Effective handling of the gun is more important that the specific load used IMHO especially if the confrontation is indoors.

A good common-sense load would be #6 shot, 2 3/4 shell, high brass. Just a good bird round available everywhere and a safe bet. Plenty of power at indoor ranges.

[Don Myers]

b

[El Gato]

However, I do remember my grandfather using just such loads to run off the riff-raff in a time when runnin' off riff-raff was PC. Believe me, no one ever forgot a load of rock salt in his southern end while he was runnin' north!

Indeed. In my home town we had a lady nicknamed Bloody Mary. A relative of some sort on my father's side in fact. She lived alone in a big old house near the edge of town. She had goats and other critters, but no electricity. College and high school kids used to harrass her. She started out using rock salt, and that sufficed for many years, with no harm done, except to few areas of exposed skin, since they never got very close to the house, being stupid but not that stupid. Then the harrassers got bolder, until she put a few rounds of .22 into their cars. That pretty well stopped the harrassment. However by that time she was getting pretty old, and pretty frazzled too. One night a transient decided that old dark house would be a good place to break into, maybe spend the night. Big mistake. She blew his head off as he was coming in the window by the bottom of the stairs. I don't know just what she had loaded in that old double, but I don't think it was rock salt.

[ExSES]

"A good common-sense load would be #6 shot, 2 3/4 shell, high brass. Just a good bird round available everywhere and a safe bet. Plenty of power at indoor ranges."

As good a choice as any (#4 or #6). I haven't seen anyone post another good reason for using "duck loads"..., that is, when you are sued by the perps' survivors, you won't have to face their attorney "grandstanding" for the jury (e.g. "And tell me Mr. Smith, just why did you have X loads (take your pick) in your shotgun? Obviously you were seeking to kill someone weren't you?)! You will be far more sympathetic when you can say you just had some bird hunting shells for your shotgun!

[Cold Heat]

Triple B for me. Its got the range and pattern. Close up it does not matter.

[Shooter 2.5]

Anything from OO buck to #4. Don't consider loading your own ammo or go for anything exotic such as the Dragon's Breath or Fleshettes. It might cause you more trouble in court and using what the police use is very good advice. Don't fall for the old "Racking the Slide" bit because when someone is sneaking around, you have to be as ready as you can. Having only a pistol grip on a shotgun is a terrible idea. You need all the control you can and pistol grips don't do it. Don't forget to call 911 first before you go hunting and be sure you tell them what you're doing. A better plan is just to hold up and let the cops do the work. It depends on the situation. I was checking out my garage after the door sprung open and set the alarm off.

I found out that garage floors are freezing cold when you're in your underwear and looking under the car for an intruder.

[alfie]

any 12 gauge pump shotgun with a legal short barrel. #4 buck shot. no slugs. mine is loaded with both #4 and 00 buck. i don't want to make a mistake and miss a shot if my aim is a tad off in all the excitement.

[stainlessbanner]

Good Site thanks for the link - I read tactical brief #10.

My Remington 870 is loaded w/ Federal Buckshot #1 and and empty chamber. If the pump action (yes it's LOUD) doesn't stop the bad guy, the rounds will.

[Kevin Curry]

I was rummaging around in my in-laws' closet (with their permission, of course) the other day and found a dusty Winchester Model 97 pump action 12 gauge. The serial number ages it to about 1946. Unfortunately, the final inch of the barrel is slightly balooned and puckered--from what exact cause I do not know. Now, I already have a recent vintage Remington Model 870 that I use on pheasant and upland birds. I'm wondering if I can get this Winchester safely reconditioned to keep at home. Anyone know whether a fifty-year old shotgun is up to handling modern high-performance shells?

[Cicero]

If you are attacked by a mob of Muslim fanatics, try salt pork.

[logos]

She blew his head off as he was coming in the window by the bottom of the stairs. I don't know just what she had loaded in that old double, but I don't think it was rock salt.

I don't know about that. I didn't want to dispute wooly mammoth because I've never shot rock salt at plywood or a "good" leather jacket, but I don't see why a properly placed load of rock salt at a range under 10 yards wouldn't either take someone's head off, or come close enough to it for government work. At that range, it's still pretty much in the configuration of a slug.

The reason I say that is because I once shot reflexively at a doe that jumped up right in front of me in a corn field with a load of #6 while pheasant hunting, and dropped her dead in her tracks with a head shot. Not proud of it, and I hasten to add that I reported myself to the local constabulary right after I field dressed her. He was so shocked that I reported myself for a game violation that he didn't even write me up, and let me keep the meat to boot. 'Course, I had to promise I wouldn't go deer hunting during that year's season. :-)

[blackbart.223]

"My personal preference is #4 shot--good tradeoff of lethality and avoiding over-penetration."

The first four rounds in my Remington 870 are #4 buckshot, the last two are oo buck. But I don't live in a situation where a wall in my house will penetrated and wound or kill innocents.

[logos]

Check with some of the "Western-style trick shooters;" they have clubs listed on the Net, I believe. That old Model 97 is in pretty high demand by those folks. I made a real nice trade with the one I had.

[Cacique]

I shot a guy on angeldust 10 years ago almost point blank with birdshot. Seconds prior to the incident I almost loaded it with slugs, in hindsight I am glad I didn't. The birdshot remained in a clump and didn't spread. The guy ended up surviving but they had to take a lot of little pellets out of his abdomen, I doubdt they got them all. He ended up being deported back to Jamaica after he got out of the hospital more than a month later.

The gun was a Remington semi auto.

[deathtoallterrorists]

000 or 00 Buckshot. Most articles written on this subject favors the 00.