Urban Myth. Birdshot at close range is like a slug. It will handily penetrate sheetrock like it isn't there.
Of course it will, pal, but I don't intend to be 'at close range'! If anyone gets to the bedroom door, I'll be unloading six rounds at 30 feet, and I'll probably kill the TV, but nobody's getting in that room, Nov3!
When I drop the Mossberg, I'll pick-up the M-9 Barretta, and check for survivors, when the smoke clears. Stay well and vigilant, pal...FRegards
I knew a guy who took a good half of a guy's face off with birdshot and left part of it on the wall. The slimey creep still managed to get outside and collapse in a neighbors front yard. He died later. This guy was a real piece of work. He would sneak into a house, sometimes repeatedly, and open up a bunch of escape routes. He would then molest females of any age in the house. After his third or fourth visit my acquaintance waited up for him. Anyone from Bucks County PA might remember this creep. He was active in the very early 70s.
Mossberg posted an article in their magazine about the diff. shells for home defense. They did differant tests with each shell, and at 10 feet away, bird shot will NOT penetrate 2” of flesh. This means bird shot does not pack enough punch to hit the vital organs to shut down the body. The preffered shell is buck shot.