Shotgun Load for Home Defense

[Beecher Tool]

I just got the paperwork back on what is about to become my new "home defense go to gun"......replacing a Winchester 2100 Police Special 18" barrel 12 gauge I have had for twenty years...always kept it loaded with 00 buck which is what I used with the prior shotgun which was an Ithaca 37. The new shotgun is a bit fancier...its a Benelli M3 which is a convertible semi-auto or pump that holds 7 rounds. Went through the NFA process to set it up as an SBS with a 14.5" barrel....it ought be a real monster. Based upon a bunch of discussions and research, I am debating switching my primary defense round to 3" magnum #4 steel jacketed shot as it puts out 40+ pellets.....may not have the penetration power of #00 but, the reading I have done suggests it produces a much more devastating wound track.

Any thoughts.

 

[rep308]

I use 3" #4 buck 41 .32 cal pellets to get their attention, then a low recoil slug. Buck, slug, buck slug....

 

[Beecher Tool]

I used to load one salt...2 #00 buck, and then switch to rifled slugs...at this point I am thinking #4 in 3" the whole way out..but I had never really thought of #4 over #00....can't wait to see what the recoil is like out of a shorty.

 

[mark056]

FWIW Jeff Cooper advocated #4 buck.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Palladin]

I like the #4's

 

[fubar]

Matter of what you think is ... Fun , I think.

Because , seriously - are you actually concerned about shooting a bad guy that is going to live through a couple rounds of boring old fashioned 00B ?

 

[Beecher Tool]

I wouldn't call it fun...my own preference would be to nail him with my SCAR 17 but that has penetration issues.

 

[fubar]

I used to word. " fun" referring to the research and range time associated with the options listed.

I relegated the AR15 carbine for that job , myself.

 

[ShadeWPI]

If you can find #1 Buckshot, it's a great balance between #00 and #4. At one time I had some combination loads that had 3x #00 + 9x #1 + 18x #4 - The combination provided 30 total pellets with a wide range of penetration, but I haven't seen anyone loading them any more, so you'd have to custom load them at a home press these days.

If you're hesitating on the #4 Buckshot because you're concerned about the lose of penetration, check out Hevi-Shot's "Dead Coyote" brand #4 Buckshot in 3" magnum shells. Using a heavier and harder tungsten-bismouth alloy they offer deeper penetration than standard #4 lead with much higher pellet counts than #00 Buck.

Also, keep in mind, that for almost 50 years, #4 Buckshot was the police shotgun load of choice.

 

[Beecher Tool]

TY

 

[Billy2]

I run the federal reduced recoil 00 buck with the flight control wad. Wont make you blind deaf and dumb like a 3inch mag and still keeps all 9 pellets on the paper at 50 yards from a 14 inch mossberg. Then again mine is not just for indoor work. Ymmv.

 

[ShadeWPI]

Here's a link to Cheaper Than Dirt's listing of the 3" #4 Buckshot "Dead Coyote"

12 Gauge Hevi-Shot Dead Coyote 3" Lead Free #4 Buck Shot 1-1/2 Ounce 1300 fps 10 Round Box 42049

 

[GunGrey]

just rack the slide

 

[Colt 700]

Federal Flite Control #1 Buckshot. 00 it too much penetration with family around in an urban or suburban environment. The flite control wad gives nice tight patterns for indoor use. 15 pellets at 1,100 FPS.

 

[JPERE22620]

You could always use bird shot on a extra full choke. If this is for home protection you'll be shooting at a max of what, 20ft? You should be able to do some real damage with that #6 shot without any penetration issues.

 

[ChevyGuy91]

You could always use bird shot on a extra full choke. If this is for home protection you'll be shooting at a max of what, 20ft? You should be able to do some real damage with that #6 shot without any penetration issues.

Yeah, but without penetration there is no fun.

 

[Coyote33]

Any of the buckshots smaller than 00 I would think.

Here's a link to some charts of the various sizes of shotgun loads:

CLICK HERE

Here's a link to Cheaper Than Dirt's listing of the 3" #4 Buckshot "Dead Coyote"

12 Gauge Hevi-Shot Dead Coyote 3" Lead Free #4 Buck Shot 1-1/2 Ounce 1300 fps 10 Round Box 42049

I have been looking EVERYWHERE for that in 2 3/4" size. That, or F, T, or BBB. Can't find any anywhere.

 

[derektrance]

Mine is 8 rounds of 4 buck.

 

[CTpatriot]

run slugs in semiauto mode, unless your lines of fire have over penetration issues. one slug hit will be devastating.

 

[CTpatriot]

at least keep a slug as shot number 2 or 3 in case your guests are wearing vests.

 

[FSTC]

Why do people do the slug buck slug buck thing? That doesnt make any sense. Would you load ball, hp, ball, hp?
As for the birdshot crew, birdshot = pissed off, buckshot = dead.

 

[eo1bart]

While on the subject of Shotguns, I have a Remington 870 with a 20" slug barrel that I'd like to use for home defense. I've been trying to find definitive information on the Mass laws regarding extended magazines on shotguns. Am I allowed to add an extended magazine? If so, how many rounds? I bought the gun in 1975, it hold 2 3/4" shells only (no 3" magnums)

 

[atmay]

Why do people do the slug buck slug buck thing? That doesnt make any sense. Would you load ball, hp, ball, hp?
As for the birdshot crew, birdshot = pissed off, buckshot = dead.

Let's not forget that Dick Cheney shot a mofo IN THE FACE, and didn't do much more than piss him off.

If you're going to use a shotgun for home defense, you need to use a load that will put down a human being. If you wouldn't use it on a deer, it's no good for humans.

 

[Coyote33]

The Shotgun Meets the Box O' Truth

 

[MisterHappy]

While on the subject of Shotguns, I have a Remington 870 with a 20" slug barrel that I'd like to use for home defense. I've been trying to find definitive information on the Mass laws regarding extended magazines on shotguns. Am I allowed to add an extended magazine? If so, how many rounds? I bought the gun in 1975, it hold 2 3/4" shells only (no 3" magnums)

It's not a semi-auto; do what you like.

 

[FSTC]

Let's not forget that Dick Cheney shot a mofo IN THE FACE, and didn't do much more than piss him off.

If you're going to use a shotgun for home defense, you need to use a load that will put down a human being. If you wouldn't use it on a deer, it's no good for humans.

It's not a semi-auto; do what you like.

QFTMFT

 

[ChevyGuy91]

While on the subject of Shotguns, I have a Remington 870 with a 20" slug barrel that I'd like to use for home defense. I've been trying to find definitive information on the Mass laws regarding extended magazines on shotguns. Am I allowed to add an extended magazine? If so, how many rounds? I bought the gun in 1975, it hold 2 3/4" shells only (no 3" magnums)

It's not a semi-auto; do what you like.

QFTMFT

While I certainly did what I wanted wrt magazine extensions while living in MA, and encourage people I care about to do the same, trying to comprehend MA law wrt to shotgun feeding devices is like trying to figure out how to divide by 0. There is a thread somewhere that LenS spelled out the opinion of that douche Glidden that states tube magazines on shotguns can be extended, if that puts your mind at ease.

 

[mikem317]

Federal and Remmington 00 buck, 9 pellet loads here.

 

[knoxy]

Another vote for #4 Buck.

 

[JPERE22620]

Why do people do the slug buck slug buck thing? That doesnt make any sense. Would you load ball, hp, ball, hp?
As for the birdshot crew, birdshot = pissed off, buckshot = dead.

Birdshot through an extra full choke at close range is more than enough to do the job....I've seen it firsthand