Anyone else prefer #1 buckshot?

The smaller BS fills that cases better, so the throw weight is higher. I would use No. 1 buck if I didn't have so much OOO on hand.

I like #1 better than 00 but around the house I keep my 870 loaded with #4 buckshot.

I concur with the other poster with no.4 buck.

That is what I used many years ago.

A chest full of #4 is going to probably hurt pretty bad. I am not a real shotgunner, but I like the advantage given by a shotgun. My load is mil surplus 00 with 8 pellets.

SDGlock23 said:

I like #1 better than 00 but around the house I keep my 870 loaded with #4 buckshot.

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SDG23, if you get into casting, this is for you,

http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item/0000690028/18-Cavity-#4-Buckshot-Mould-point240-Diameter-

:wavey:

I'm not sure about home defense, since I have never shot anyone, but for smaller vermin, #4 is the way to go.

I used to shoot a lot of ***** for a rancher friend of mine, and I tried just about everything. Triple aught buck was the worst and double aught buck sucked as well. But when I hit them with a load of #4 buck, it was all over with one shot.

I was trained and used 00 buck for 30 years, whenever I carried a shotgun. I have seen many suspects and victims shot with it and believe in it completely. Their was a time in the 1980s where LASD used #4 buck and never had a failure to stop with a good hit but they did have a number of failure to KILL. One of those that I was part of was a borderline search team. It was for a documented Cop Killer. The #4 buck that the Sheriffs used stopped the susp but he lived to stand trial and was sentenced to life but I would have preferred if the hit that disabled this cretin would have killed him. 00 buckshot would have done a better job at probably killing the suspect IMO.

A little extra penetration is fine by me, especially if I might have to shoot into a vehicle!!

#1 Buck for me. More wounding potential and adequate penetration. Best of both worlds.

For inside ones home, stopping an attack is probably more important than whether the perp dies or not. I do back up my #4 buck loads with #00 in my spare ammo carrier, just in case. I don't have to worry about cars but furniture may be an issue.

Trigger Finger said:

I was trained and used 00 buck for 30 years, whenever I carried a shotgun. I have seen many suspects and victims shot with it and believe in it completely. Their was a time in the 1980s where LASD used #4 buck and never had a failure to stop with a good hit but they did have a number of failure to KILL. One of those that I was part of was a borderline search team. It was for a documented Cop Killer. The #4 buck that the Sheriffs used stopped the susp but he lived to stand trial and was sentenced to life but I would have preferred if the hit that disabled this cretin would have killed him. 00 buckshot would have done a better job at probably killing the suspect IMO.

A little extra penetration is fine by me, especially if I might have to shoot into a vehicle!!

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What you say is true, that is why I use #0 buckshot because it offers size and penetration similar to #00 but has 12 pellets instead of the 9 that #00 has. It is the perfect compromise between #00 and #1 offering the advantages of both. Truth be told someone shot with ANYTHING out of a 12GA. shotgun is going to have a very bad day and could be easily be distracted from doing harm!

JimIsland said:

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.

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My experience also. When I lived in VA, we had to use buckshot. When I hit deer w/#1 buck, they dropped like a bag of hammers. I'd rather have a few more .30 cal balls, rather than less .36 cal ones.

Railsplitter said:

What you say is true, that is why I use #0 buckshot because it offers size and penetration similar to #00 but has 12 pellets instead of the 9 that #00 has. It is the perfect compromise between #00 and #1 offering the advantages of both. Truth be told someone shot with ANYTHING out of a 12GA. shotgun is going to have a very bad day and could be easily be distracted from doing harm!

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I don't see 0 or 1 on any shelves. It always seems to be seasonal (deer season, I believe), and flies off the shelves (if it hits them at all). I've had to order my 1 buckshot online, and I have no problem with 1, 0, or 00. I do wish I could find those old 15 pellet 00 standard pressure loads.

Trigger Finger said:

A little extra penetration is fine by me, especially if I might have to shoot into a vehicle!!

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I use #4 buck for the home protection with slugs in the elastic thingee on the stock for longer range shooting.

I have doubts about whether any 00 buck would seriously impress an auto or a pickup truck.

Your experience may tell you otherwise.

RichardB said:

I use #4 buck for the home protection with slugs in the elastic thingee on the stock for longer range shooting.

I have doubts about whether any 00 buck would seriously impress an auto or a pickup truck.

Your experience may tell you otherwise.

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Actually, today's cars, #00 buck works pretty well, #000 even better, but slugs are pretty much the way to go for barriers. I keep a pair in one side of my speed-feed stock.:supergrin:

Personally, #1 & #4 Buckshot loads are pretty much all that I use these days. The current crop of Buckshot is much improved over what was available jut 20 or so years ago. The Federal (ATK) #1 Buck load ( LE132 1B ) is probably one of, if not the best avaiable for close to close mid-range defensive use, IMO. I als have a small stash of the old US Treasury loads of Win. #4 Buck, with the hardened pellets. They are mk'd XM257. Nice loads for close in perimeter / indoors use. Please don't get me wrong, the good, old fashioned OO Buck load is still very much in the game, BUT, be aware that there are better alteratives, in my opinion anyway. Do remember if using OO Buck, always use the standard 9 pellet loads, AND always use the plated pellets. That's my .02 cents !

Best, dpast 32

For A HD shotgun i'm not picky, but I do have #1, and 00 loaded in the shotguns. Lots of good info on selecting shotgun ammo for home defense can be found on the link below. Although this is dated '98, i wouldn't think that much has changed in that span of time.

http://www.firearmstactical.com/briefs10.htm

One type of 12 Gauge shotgun shell that has always impressed me is the "Buck and Ball" load.

This is one 60 caliber lead Ball loaded with 6 #1 Buck pellets. The little testing I have done with this load showed it to be favorable in clay, wet newspaper and wood.

I have never been permitted to carry this load when I was on duty (not sure I would want to) but I do keep my kitchen shotgun loaded with it!

Does anyone else have any experience with this loading?

:50cal:

Big buck for penetration

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

how to make them

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

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

Trigger Finger said:

One type of 12 Gauge shotgun shell that has always impressed me is the "Buck and Ball" load.

This is one 60 caliber lead Ball loaded with 6 #1 Buck pellets. The little testing I have done with this load showed it to be favorable in clay, wet newspaper and wood.

I have never been permitted to carry this load when I was on duty (not sure I would want to) but I do keep my kitchen shotgun loaded with it!

Does anyone else have any experience with this loading?

:50cal:

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Here is a bad ars version of buck and ball load

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/sho...ories-Blazing-Buck-amp-Ball-or-Buck-amp-Slugs

happie2shoot said:

what is your load,:wavey:

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I have a number of #1 and #1.5 buck loads, depending on use.

One of my favorites low recoil SD load is Remington STS hull, SP12 wad, 12 - #1 Nickel plated Buckshot (4 rows of 3), W209 and 25.0gr of Unique. I get about 1240 fps out of my 18" barrel, a little less out of my 28" Beretta A400 Unico. In this style, International is a great powder as well.

For the big boy loads, I prefer Longshot and Pro-Reach.