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.

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

What say Ye?

[error99]

I'd go with a Mossburg 500 series.
The 590 is nice.

[gonzo]

Home defence? Bird shot! If you ever have to use it, afterwords, you only have to spaakle and paint.

If you use 00-buck, yer talking about re-building...FRegards

[ABG(anybody but Gore)]

Slugs are out, in my book. They have a bad habit of going through walls and such. I'm sure others have their favorites, but mine has always been 3" XX Buckshot.

[zook]

Get one that makes a nice loud noise when you cock it.

[Nov3]

Bird shot! If you ever have to use it, afterwords, you only have to spaakle and paint.

Urban Myth. Birdshot at close range is like a slug. It will handily penetrate sheetrock like it isn't there.

[ABG(anybody but Gore)]

Remington 870 is best in that department. No burglar can mistake the sound of a shell being cycled into the chamber. Nice, distinctive, and loud.

[Born to Conserve]

I'd go for a light load of bird shot. The shorter the shell, the more rounds you can load.

[cayuga]

A few ammo companies make "tactical" buckshot loads, with reduced recoil. They work for me.

[Nov3]

There is no need for the slugs. At the ranges you use a shotgun indoors it has about a 1.5" pattern max.

Get one with a stock. Most people can't hit squat with a pistol grip and can point naturally with a real shotgun.

[aomagrat]

I have a Mossburg 500 with a 8 round magazine, loaded with squirrel shot.

[Marauder]

My favorite is the Remington 870 slide-action. You can buy mag extensions to up to 10 rounds, counting one in the hole. I sawed mine off to 18" (min. legal barrel length), and added a pistol-grip buttstock. Min legal overall length is 26" overall, so it's well within the limit.

Leave the chamber empty; if you find a burglar busily loading up your stuff, you will have fun watching him load up his pants when you rack the slide. But don't laugh too hard - he may be armed as well, so be ready to introduce him to his Maker.

[Marauder]

My favorite is the Remington 870 slide-action. You can buy mag extensions to up to 10 rounds, counting one in the hole. I sawed mine off to 18" (min. legal barrel length), and added a pistol-grip buttstock. Min legal overall length is 26" overall, so it's well within the limit.

Leave the chamber empty; if you find a burglar busily loading up your stuff, you will have fun watching him load up his pants when you rack the slide. But don't laugh too hard - he may be armed as well, so be ready to introduce him to his Maker.

[porte des morts]

If you live alone;ie:no collateral damage; go with the first two 00buck,slug,slug,slug.

If there are others in the home,with drywall,or paneled walls. Go with all #6 birdshot. No big penetration past what your target is.

Also;if you live alone there is some very nice home defence ammo for scatterguns.(shrapnel rounds,razor rounds,flare rounds,........;)

Also shorten up the barrel(to the legal limit) for ease of movement in hallways etc....

[porte des morts]

If you live alone;ie:no collateral damage; go with the first two 00buck,slug,slug,slug.

If there are others in the home,with drywall,or paneled walls. Go with all #6 birdshot. No big penetration past what your target is.

Also;if you live alone there is some very nice home defence ammo for scatterguns.(shrapnel rounds,razor rounds,flare rounds,........;)

Also shorten up the barrel(to the legal limit) for ease of movement in hallways etc....

[Pern]

Remington 870, about $320. A very reliable and maint. free weapon. Loaded with #1 or #3 buckshot. #00 and #000 has too few pellets. Personally, I have a Remington 1100 loaded with #1 buckshot.

[AppyPappy]

Yup. Seen it done in a demo. Not pretty. Buck shot is worse. Birdshot loses a lot of momentum in a collision where buck shot's weight will carry it farther.

[BigBlueJon]

Slug, buckshot, slug and so on. Drywall is cheap. My family isn't. If the compound is ever invaded, hopefully I can keep my cool enough to aim and hit what I'm looking at. Otherwise, everyone in my family knows how to duck.

[logos]

Rock salt.

At the likely ranges inside a house, it has the same punch as lead or steel bird or buck. At longer ranges it won't kill, but the perp will never, ever forget you shot him, either.

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

[WilliamWallace1999]

Wow, my first post. Howdy all.

IMHO, the best choice is Federal Premium #1 buckshot 2 3/4 inch tactical loads. Forget 3 inch shells. Shot recovery is quicker after the smaller load and you get one extra shot. #1 buckshot is the optimum balance between pellet size and number.

As far as bet gun, HK Bennelli M-1 is the only autoloader to trust with your life. Remington 870 rules as a pump.

WW1999