[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

What say Ye?

[Poohbah]

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

[GlesenerL]

The current issue of Guns & Ammo (pg. 36) states that between 5 & 7 yards ("A" zone), it's all about the same from 000 buckshot to No. 9 birdshot..."virtually a solid projectile".

This means AIMING IS VERY IMPORTANT!

I don't have any rooms in which I would be situated more than 7 yards from the target!

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

A BARREL FULL OF NICE THIN AMERICAN DIMES WILL DO NICELY IN A PINCH

AND THEY MAKE A WONDERFUL SOUND AS THEY FLY THROUGH THE AIR TO THEIR TARGET !!

[SBprone]

Shotgun fighting is an art, and the guru of the shotgun is a South African fellow named Louis Awerbuck. With a pump shotgun such as the Remington 870 or Mossberg 500 he stresses the importance of being able to used different types of ammo as conditions require. For home defense I would load one or two birdshot rounds on top of a couple of 00 or 000 buckshot rounds. If I lived in SA I would add extra buck and slug shells in a six-round "sidesaddle" carrier mounted on the receiver.

The beauty of this system is that you can just rack the slide and eject a birdshot shell if it seems inappropriate for the moment.

[thorshammer]

Check out www.deltaforce.com and www.firequest.com. Both have great selections of home defense ammo for the 12ga.

[LibWhacker]

Here's my favorite shotgun home defense article, posted a while back by Willie Green. It's an oldie, but goodie.

For me, the ONLY thing that matters is stopping power and not killing my neighbors. IMHO, any damage that might be done to the house while repelling an intruder can be easily fixed and is not terribly important.

[Libloather]

You want it for protection against a perp that wants you dead or are you more concerned about saving the paneling and drywall?

A Mossberg 12 gauge Maverick Security 88 (http://www.mossberg.com/maverick.htm) with pistol grip and 00 buckshot can help save you and your family. Something smaller may end up scratching the paint but cost a funeral - yours...

[Bad~Rodeo]

Texans use a Mossberg 550, Riot gun with sawed off barrel and stock,VEG~

[athiestwithagun]

Use #4 or #6 bird shot in 2 3/4 in hunting loads. Not skeet loads. At home defense ranges (<30 ft) the shot will not spread more to than a few inches in diameter (unless you have an open or spreader choke or something). You don't need the 3 in rounds at close range and the extra round in the mag can make the difference between living and dying.

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

1) Use a pump, I just love the sound. 2) Remove the plug. 3) First two OO buck shot followed by three slugs. 4) Get low and fire upward to prevent shooting those you don't want to in the next room.

[Give Piece A Chance]

Benelli M1/M3 or the Beretta equivalent, alternating 2 rounds of buck (any size will do; I prefer #4) followed by a slug. Use the Federal tactical buck and reduced-velocity/recoil slugs available from either Federal or Remington. Birdshot lacks the stopping power you may need against a heavily clothed intruder, and magnum loads are overpowered and reduce your magazine capacity.

A light mounted on the shotty is also very helpful if you are properly trained in its use. A tactical sling like the Giles is also a must-have.

[ableChair]

12 Gauge, 3" magnum 00 lead buckshot is the best, in my opinion.

[FateAmenableToChange]

Mossberg 590, although make sure that your load will fire a full 9 shells without stopping -- mine has shown some problems feeding Sellier & Belloit shells. If you're just looking for loads, I'm fond of #4 shot -- it tends not to penetrate two layers of drywall. Anything down to #6 will pack a huge punch and tend to remain in a nice group for any kind of home defense distance.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

1-1/4 ounces of #7-1/2 shot turns an intruder's guts into hamburger so that all the King's men won't be abled to put it back together again.

Plus you can use it on any quail that happen to fly through your house.

[Doctor Freeze]

My 12 gauge Mossberg 500 is loaded with Winchester buckshot loads 2 3/4 inches 00 Buck (9 pellets).

[Doctor Freeze]

Just curious... where is the best place to practice shooting a shotgun? Do firing ranges let you shoot shotguns or pistols only? I guess you can always drive out in the "cuntry" and practice.

[rolling_stone]

My vote is for 2 3/4 OO buck or #4, Remington Pump. Longer distance (say over 25 yards)for sure the OO or slugs if you want to try and stop a car or dent a 1/2 steel metal silhouette...

Remember shot and bullets will tend to follow a hard surface like concrete, if you err err on the low side it probably will hit the ground in front of the perp and knock his legs out from under him. If you miss high you miss completely and may also go throught the ceiling, 2nd story then roof... The same goes for shooting at a target next to a hard surface wall, it channels the shot so err on the side next to the wall. I suggest if you have an outdoor range or area, try shooting at the dirt in front of a target that goes from the ground to about 6" the results may surprise you. One of my biggest fears would be walking in a large drainage pipe and get shot at..you don't know whether to stay still and get missed wide or lay down and get hit from a bullet following the ground...it doesn't work like on TV either..just as cardboard boxes and trash cans offer no protection beyond not being able to be seen through, most weapons will cut through them like they were invisible...

Don't be afraid to shoot through a wall or door either, you might want to check your house and practice on some similar materials..the slugs and OO are better for this purpose, so if you figure on putting the first round through your bedroom door to see if someone on the other side is armed, the heavier stuff is better..know your state law and always remember those sneaky burglars know all kitchens have tons of large knives...

AS a side note, I guarantee that the sound of racking a shell into a shotgun is known throught the world and usually is enough to stop a threat. Also don't try smacking someone with the butt of an 870 from the ready position, they aren't that strong and may beak and you may end up with a pistol grip..LOL...

[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

[Cold Heat]

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