My two HD shotguns are full of Federal 2.75” 00 buck- the blue Power Shok stuff, has been for decades.

 

All of mine pattern best with Federal 00 Flitecontrol. I'm burning down 500 rounds of 1325 right now.

 

I just changed to short shells for my 12G cruiser, 00 buck works well and some slugs. I am considering changing to a .410.

 

Joking on the .410?
Friend and I were out his .410 and other things many years ago. He was excited to show off his deer sniper "rifle". Slugs bounced off a piece of 3/4" plywood we were shooting at. We did not expect that. We had some all aluminum "riot control" military shells... they penetrated the plywood. The shot seemed irregular and not really round. It was the slugs that I never forgot.

 

IMHO you have two choices --

Federal Flight control - if you can find them in stock and want to spend somewhere between $1.50 and $2 a round.

Or

Buy some basic OO buckshot and shoot a few test patterns with your gun to test and see what works.

I took the second option - I paid $.65 a round (including tax & shipping) for 25 round boxes of S&B OO buckshot

I am happy with the pattern so that is what I am using.

In my situation I will not be making long shots with my HD shotgun - and if I had to I could always pull a slug or two off the side saddle -

I think any of the loads I tested would get the job done - and when each trigger pull costs me $.65 I don't mind blasting away at the range - for $2 a trigger pull not so much.

Sure someone can say - isn't your life worth a few extra $$?

I would just say I have confidence if I shoot someone inside my home with the S&B OO buckshot they are going to be just as "stop the threat" as if I had shot them with Federal Flight control or any other high end shell.

I think the high end shells have an advantage if you needed to make a shot if someone was holding your wife hostage - so if you are concerned that is a possibility maybe the upgrade would be worth it.

YMMV

 

I would give these a try if I was looking for some buckshot.

https://www.budsgunshop.com/product_info.php/products_id/157899/fiocchi+12ex00bk+high+velocity+12+ga+2.75+9+pellets+00+buck+round+25+bx+10+cs

 

00 Buckshot

 

I patterned my Rem. 870 riot gun ( 20" cyl bore barrel) with old Remington 2.75" OO buckshot. Out to 20 yards all 9 pellets were within a 12"-14" spread. At 30 yards at least 4 out of 9 still hit the target. For my use that's good enough.

 

I've had to put down more than a few sick/old/injured cows. Always used 12 ga 00 buck or slug. Never had to use more than one shot. Always a one shot stop and I don't even remember what brand ammo I use. My point is that if you load up with just about any brand of 12ga slug or 00buck whatever you shoot is going down. If it will drop a 1200-pound cow in its tracks, with barely a single kick it's good to go for me. I guess that's my personal test for 12ga ammo. YMMV but not by much.

 

Federal Reduced Recoil Flight Control 00 Buckshot and Reduced Recoil Truball Slugs. Will handle any self defense needs for the vaerage home.

 

Federal OO Flightcontrol changed the game. Difficult to find a more accurate load 25 yards and in. If you can't find Flightcontrol Hornady Black OO contrats out for the same Flightcontrol wad that Federal does. Yes, I'm saying Federal does not make their own Flightcontrol wad.

I've had the very same results with Hornady Black ad Fed loads in two 1301's, M4, three 870's and a friends Mossy. There is a difference in velocity and recoil. Fed is a lot softer and slower compared to the Hornady.

 

My HD shotgun is loaded with Remington low recoil 00 buck, which is 2.75" 8 pellet load. I’ve seen some testing where #4 buckshot didn’t break ribs or facial/skull bones on a ballistic dummy once the pellets spread out. The 00 buckshot did.

 

If not slugs, which I prefer, buffered full power #1 for me. I'm okay with 00 if I can't find the #1. Federal stopped making #1 FC. 😞

 

I use 6 rounds of 2 3/4” 00 Buck in the magazine and four rounds of 2 3/4” Slugs in the Side Saddle…recommended to me by Louis Awerbuck, himself.

 

I like buckshot and slugs. Federal and Hornady.

As a police officer I always had a slug loaded first, then buckshot next. In the Military I loaded buckshot and had slugs and less lethal ready to load. Hunting hogs, that are lot like humans, only thicker skulls, I like slugs if taking one down, and buckshot if trying to take out a group.

Slugs tended to be more lethal in the shooting I worked as a police officer.

 

I use a mix of Federal LE 00 buck and slugs in both guns. The mags are loaded with 00 as well as 4 out of the 6 slots in my side saddles. The other two slots are slugs for when I want to piss in someone's cheerios should they bust down my door.

 

Federal Power Shok 00 buck for close range and Flight Control for stuff farther out. The Flight Control is a great load but it doesn't spread out very much at in the house ranges. The Power Shok does well at those ranges and patterns a little larger for more potential damage. If I could only get one of the two it would be Flight Control but Power Shok is right there with it. They just pattern a little differently at varying ranges.

I strongly recommend that you pattern your specific gun with different loads. Guns pattern differently for sure.

 

Try this stuff. Not only will it stop a 2 legged animal in its tracks, it will also dislocate your shoulder in the process. Seriously, this stuff is no joke.

NobelSport 12 Gauge Ammunition 2-3/4" 00 Buckshot 12 Pellets - ANS1200BK10

NobelSport 12 Gauge Ammunition 2-3/4" 00 Buckshot 12 Pellets - ANS1200BK10 at Target Sports USA with free shipping available. Enjoy deals on 12 G|^||^|

www.targetsportsusa.com

 

I have a gas operated FNH-SLP loaded with Federal 00 LE flite control, it's dialed in with a CMORE red dot at 16 yards for precision shots, if needed. I haven't tested the Winchester segmented slug, upon impact the slug splits into 3 segments, each creating its own wound channel. I also like hollow point slugs.

 

I'm good with just about any brand of 00 buck...winchester, federal, Remington...etc. Any buckshot load from 00-#4 is fine. No need for expensive flite control buckshot loads unless you plan on using it beyond 25 yards. If you want an ultra tight group across the room just use a slug. Problem solved.

 

I have Rem Express 2 3/4" #1 buckshot in my shotgun right now.
That's 16 .30 pellets @ 1250 fps.

 

These are all good choices noting most people tested their choice for patterning and function. I have the Hornady Critical Defense 00 buck in mine because it patterns (in my gun etc. etc.) tighter than generic 9 ball 00 buck and wider than Federal Flite Control. These patterns work well for distances and layouts in my home and out to the treeline. Anything further is slug or some other tool.

I have some Remington 'slugger' 3" magnum slug bought forever ago. I will break one out if a moose attacks me or in the post-apocalypse if I think I might need to stop a car or a radscorpion from Fallout

 

I moistly use 00, but I have used #1 and 0. Never shot anybody with it, so I just go by what I see on targets and read. I get tactical 00 for free sometimes, so that's what I use, same as a lot of my other ammo.

 

I wish the big manufacturers offered more choices in 0 buckshot or #1 buckshot.
edit on Lucky Gunner’s YouTube channel they have some interesting shotgun home defense type tests involving patterning and penetration.

 

I’m probably not going to change anyone’s mind or influence anybody with this post BUT here is my $.02:

1. Any home invasion/self-defense situation will require nothing more than low brass bird shot.

2. It’s doubtful that anyone on this forum will ever/has ever shot a home intruder. I may be wrong.

 

A 1 oz. load of #8 or 7.5 bird shot would probably act as a single , tight column of 1 oz lead out to about 10 ft. Beyond that or when the pattern enlarged much beyond the diameter of the shotgun shell wad would result in diminished threat stopping ability for bird shot . This might suffice if you lived in a one or two room 750 square foot flat or small apartment for HD . Otherwise , the criteria should be individual pellet penetration of 13” minimum through a denim covered gel block at 7 yards and you are only going to achieve that with #4 buckshot or larger.

 

 

View attachment 1257858

Have you patterned that stuff? Yeh, every guns different but that shot great big circles (no hits in the center of the pattern) out of a couple of my guns over multiple rounds.

If it worked for you, fantastic, I would strongly advise that if someone is going to use it, they should pattern it for sure.