Anyone else prefer #1 buckshot?

I did a lot of research on this topic and decided to go with #4 buck for home defense.

My hunting buddy has killed many a Deer with #1. Swears by it. He says warm up the Gravy when he shoots #1. I know I'm talking Deer but what he likes is having a few more pellets. Should work great for self/home defense.

I use something similar for home defense: Remington 20 gauge Youth model full of Federal #2 buck 3". 18 pellets @ 1250 FPS will get it done.

A friend here at work deer hunts with 20 gage #2 buck and he harvested a fair sized doe last year at 40 yards (he stepped it off). About seven shot struck the doe full in the side, and the doe was DRT when she hit the ground. When processed, the buck had broken some ribs in the OPPOSITE side after transversing the body and one or two balls were just under the skin just outside the broken ribs. That kind of gave me a little of r/l perspective on what even small buck (think wooden pencil eraser size) could do. At forty yards. Step forty yards off sometime or have someone stand at that distance away.

Not too shabby....

"We don't hold grudges. We remember the facts."

Gray_Rider

cbird77 said:

I did a lot of research on this topic and decided to go with #4 buck for home defense.

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^^^This. I go with 2 3/4 #4 at home. I stay away from magnum rounds as well. Always shoot some and see how they feel. That made the decision form me.

I went with the Remington Express Buckshot 12B0 (1275 fps, 12 pellets #0 Buck) after reading this article from Randy Wakeman.

It shoots great. I'm happy with it.

http://www.chuckhawks.com/home_defense_shotgun_ammo.htm

I prefer #0 buckshot, with 12 .32in diameter pellets it offers a good balance of pellet size, quantity and penetration!

Can't find it, or I'd have it in my 590 right now.

If they pattern in your sg. Also low recoil is not available in #1, may or may not be an issue. I actually like #4 buck inside the house, 27/24 cal landing at once, ouch.

fortyofforty said:

I have no problem using 00 buckshot for self-defense, but if I had my way I'd use #1 buckshot instead. It gives a few more pellets per shot, and they are just a tad smaller in diameter. I used to see 15 pellet 00 non-magnum loads, but don't see them any more. So, I will use #1 when I can get it, but 00 when I can't (and not lose sleep in either case).

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I think that #1 buckshot is a pretty good option that gives nearly 00 buckshot performance with a few extra pellets for good measure.

I think #1 is the best. That's what the math says...comparing typical payloads you get the best combination of total wound area (area of all pellets combined) and penetration.

Federal LE132-1B is where it's at IMO (unless you need/want more recoil impulse to operate a semi)

Any buckshot that is reliable in your gun and goes where you aim it would surely be fine though. The other factors are all more important.

Warp said:

Any buckshot that is reliable in your gun and goes where you aim it would surely be fine though. The other factors are all more important.

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Very true, but how many actually pattern their sg?? I found some sg very finicky, moving POI 3-4" @ just 15yds. Now some would say who cares, my living room is only 20ft, but it could matter. Also, some loads will print nice tight patterns, some throw pellets all over. So while checking for reliability, throw up a 11x17 sheet of paper at the distance you choose & put an aiming point in the middle & pattern your buck loads. A decent load should spread no more than 1" per yard in a riot choked bore.

fredj338 said:

Very true, but how many actually pattern their sg?? I found some sg very finicky, moving POI 3-4" @ just 15yds. Now some would say who cares, my living room is only 20ft, but it could matter. Also, some loads will print nice tight patterns, some throw pellets all over. So while checking for reliability, throw up a 11x17 sheet of paper at the distance you choose & put an aiming point in the middle & pattern your buck loads. A decent load should spread no more than 1" per yard in a riot choked bore.

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Hopefully the kinds of people who frequent a forum like this will pattern...but that may be wishful thinking.

In mine (18" 870 open cylinder) the LE132-1B put 14 of 15 pellets on the torso of a 'standard' silhouette, aiming just above the nipple line, at 25 yards.

At 7 yards it and similar loads like the LE127-00 and LE132-00 and the Hornady TAP often put all 8-9 pellets through one hole, POA=POI. So for me it's easy with nothing to remember now that I verified.

I use OOO buck in my Mossberg 500.

I prefer a high brass max powder charge of 27 #4 pellets.

#1 sure stacks nicely in a conventional wad cup like a WAAF114 Nice little overlapping rows of three...

WeeWilly said:

#1 sure stacks nicely in a conventional wad cup like a WAAF114 Nice little overlapping rows of three...

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what is your load,:wavey:

for the serious ball loads.

http://www.israelmilitary.net/showthread.php?t=11631

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?38546-Tri-ball

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?47198-Tri-Ball-Revisited!

my home is just not that big for it to matter. I don't have any straight away shots that exceed 30 feet, and at that distance I don't get enough spread for extra pellets to matter.

Its not a one size fits all thing. #4 buck is perfect for MY home.