[clinttho]

I keep federal tactical 00 buck in my 18" Remington 870. It patterns tightly and really extends the useful range of buckshot IMO. Traditional Winchester military or ranger 00 buck has a wider pattern but should still be extremely effective in a HD setting. 000 and 1 buck should be just as effective. I've heard both positive and negative things about number 4 buck but have not shot it. I feel best with 9 00 pellets per shell in my gun. YMMV


Outdoor Hub mobile, the outdoor information engine

[GlockPistola]

Originally Posted by RWBlue

OP, This is important. Describe Home Defense?

If Home includes shooting cars or people in cars the advise would be different than is home is an apartment with the longest shot being 10 feet (with neighbors just on the other side of the wall).

Here is a link to some good info.
http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=109958

Note that #4 can be buck or #4 shot. Shot is for birds and rabbits. Buck is fine for people not behind heavy cover.

If you are thinking people in cars or behind cover you are now talking about 00 or 000.


Brenneke yes, your specific load, maybe not. Find out what groups best with your shotgun.

IMHO, do NOT go for reduced power loads. Look at the gel tests. Learn how to shoot full power loads if at all possible. I have seen a light weight girl do it. The only question is 2.75 or 3 inch. I have some of both. My load up would be different depending on the plan.

BTW, you might want to look into wax slugs. If done right I think they could be a good cost savings venture for you as you learn your gun.

BTW2, Don't do cut slugs.

I live in a house. Definitely no bird shots, buck only and no reduced recoil loads.

[unit1069]

Originally Posted by SCmasterblaster

I like the OOO buck load - it is the same as hitting someone with eight 9mm bullets at once. Ouch!!!

And #4 buckshot is the equivalent of shooting someone with 35 rounds of .22lr. The trick here is that with buckshot it's not necessary to conduct a caliber war that so often happens with handguns. It's a matter of considering a single shotgun blast's potential to stop a deadly human threat and the total area shredded by the blast.

From a purely self-defense perspective I don't think there's a cheaper or more effective system than a shotgun/buckshot combination. It's only up to the individual to determine which load fits the particular circumstances he/she thinks best. From 000 to #4 they'll all work.

[clinttho]

Do the federal tactical and Winchester ranger reduced recoil 00 buck really have insufficient penetration? From my understanding they meet the FBI penetration minums. I could be misinformed though. They only move a couple hundred fps slower than the full power loads in the same brand don't they?

posted using Outdoor Hub Campfire

[fredj338]

Any buckshot will do but before buying bulk, I recommend you pattern your SG @ something like 30ft & see how it shoots. Some loads will shoot high/low or left/right of POA, some pattern like crap. So test a box of 5 first. I prefer #4 buck for the house backed up w/ low recoil #00.
As noted, birdhsot is for birds. The avg riot choked 12ga spreads 1" per yard, so across a room, you get a 5-6" spread & the indiviual pellets alck enough penetration to guarantee vitals. A heavy leather jacket would absorb bout 50% of the pellets in #6 & smaller shot. FUll choked guns, diff story, but then an AR is a better tool than a FC 12ga IMO.

[fredj338]

Originally Posted by SCmasterblaster

I use OOO buckshot - 8 pellets per shell - .36 caliber pellets.

Well, more like (8) 380, 36cal but lighter wt.

[Texas357]

Reduced recoil #4 buckshot. Test some on a silhouette.

[digilo]

00 buckshot. Anything smaller isn't heavy enough for reliable penetration to 12".

[glockman99]

I have my Remington 870 loaded with 6 Remington 2 & 3/4" 00 buckshot, backed up with 3 rounds of Remington 3" magnum 00 buckshot, and 3 rounds of Federal 3" magnum HP slugs.

[Bren]

Go to Walmart and buy any 0 or 00 buckshot they have on sale. That's all you need.

No, you don't need slugs - especially if you have other people living in your house or nearby. Slugs have a LOT of penetration (FBI says they will penetrate a car from trunk lengthwise to engine block, 100% of the time).

[RWBlue]

Originally Posted by Bren

No, you don't need slugs for in the house- especially if you have other people living in your house or nearby. Slugs have a LOT of penetration (FBI says they will penetrate a car from trunk lengthwise to engine block, 100% of the time).

But they are nice when the inside fight is an outside fight.

[robrides85]

Originally Posted by JackMac

Number 1 Buck Shot is good as each shot pellet is 30 caliber and there are more pellets than in a 00 Buck load.

+1 here too.

[SCmasterblaster]

Originally Posted by unit1069

And #4 buckshot is the equivalent of shooting someone with 35 rounds of .22lr. The trick here is that with buckshot it's not necessary to conduct a caliber war that so often happens with handguns. It's a matter of considering a single shotgun blast's potential to stop a deadly human threat and the total area shredded by the blast.

From a purely self-defense perspective I don't think there's a cheaper or more effective system than a shotgun/buckshot combination. It's only up to the individual to determine which load fits the particular circumstances he/she thinks best. From 000 to #4 they'll all work.

That's correct - they all work on persons not behind hard cover.

[FireForged]

after checking the pattern on several different 12ga loads and ranges, I decided to go with #1 buck (16 pellets) for home defense. Try it out at your next range session, I think you will like it.

[I'M Glockamolie]

Originally Posted by Glockdude1

http://www.sgammo.com/product/12-gau...et-oo-buckshot

Saw a ton of that at Academy today for $4.99 a box. I hadn't seen it before, so I picked up a couple of boxes.

[unit1069]

What distinguishes "military grade" from any other shotgun shell?

[unit1069]

deleted

[SCmasterblaster]

We are blessed with such a wide selection of quality buckshot loads.

[kmrcstintn]

I don't have a dedicated defense shotgun anymore, but what I do have was built up over several years and includes: buckshot...Winchester Ranger #OO buck, Remington #4 buck, Remington #00 buck, and more recently Remington Managed Recoil #00 buck; slugs...Brenneke K.O. 2 3/4" 1 oz, Brenneke Tactical Reduced Recoil 2 3/4" 1 oz, and a few Federal Truball Reduced Recoil 2 3/4" 1 oz...

being a 'hunting' shotgun I also keep around various Federal #7 1/2 & #8 lead birdshot, Remington 3" Nitro Turkey #5, Kent 3" 'Multi Purpose' #2 & #BB steel shot loads...

if I had to use it for defensive work I would start with the reduced recoil #00 buckshot, regular #00 buckshot, and then #4 buckshot; the slugs were bought to use for deer hunting if my primary rifle ever had a failure...

[SCmasterblaster]

I'll be getting my Mossberg M500 back soon. I'll load it with OOO buckshot.

[Jeff82]

http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=109958

[Jeff82]

Originally Posted by SCmasterblaster

I'll be getting my Mossberg M500 back soon. I'll load it with OOO buckshot.

So you can have less wounding potential and more over-penetration. Good call.

[SCmasterblaster]

Originally Posted by Jeff82

So you can have less wounding potential and more over-penetration. Good call.

Less wounding potential? With 8 .36cal projectiles @1350 FPS?

[GlockPistola]

I ended up getting some Hornady TAP low velocity 00 Buckshots, Federal low recoil H132 00 buckshots and some Winchester #1 Buckshots XB121.

[purrrfect 10]

Originally Posted by SCmasterblaster

I like the OOO buck load - it is the same as hitting someone with eight 9mm bullets at once. Ouch!!!

How is it they can fit 9 - 115gr bullets is a 12guage case. Man that's a lot of cramming.