[Tamren]

I'm sure this has been asked before, for which I apologise but I seem to having some trouble with the THR archive...

I should have a brand new Mossberg 590 within a week or two, and I've been trying to decide what put in it as a HD shell.

1. It needs to be able to reliable drop a BG (or perchance, zombie :p) in one or two hits.

2. I want something that won't punch throught the exterior walls a house or apartment with enough force to take out a neighbor.

3. And, I'd like something that's manageable in case my girlfriends needs it when I'm out.

I've been looking at the Federal Power Shok low recoil shells. www.northwestshootersupply.com (http://www.northwestshootersupply.com/federalpowershoklowrecoil00buckshot5rds.aspx)

Any thoughts or suggestions? Or better yet, what do you use?

[proud2deviate]

You're on the right track. Pretty much any sort of buckshot size #4 or larger will do the job.

I keep my 870 stoked with Federal Tactical buckshot (Link. (http://ammunitiontogo.com/catalog1/product_info.php?pName=25rds-12-ga-federal-le-tactical-low-recoil-9-pell-oo-buck&cName=12-gauge-buckshot)) It has a flight control wad that makes for really good patterns.

Best advice is to buy a bunch of varieties and see how they pattern from your gun. Measure the longest distance in your house, add a yard for good measure, and see how your gun shoots at that range.

Reduced recoil is fine for HD, so that might be better for the girlfriend.

EDIT: I just read your concerns about over penetration. Frankly, if a load is going to have decent penetration on a bad guy, it'll punch through walls too. Unless your house has brick or cinder block walls, it'll be a concern.The Box o' Truth (http://www.theboxotruth.com/) will provide a general idea of what you're looking at, penetration-wise.

[john1911]

Any type of reduced recoil buckshot should do what you want. Buy several different brands and see what patterns the best in your 500.

[Dave McCracken]

There's tons of input in the Archives on this and plenty of divergent opinions.

00 is a common choice. While it may penetrate more than smaller shot, it has an excellent record.

I use Estate R/R 00 and Federal Classic 00, after extensive testing.

[wnycollector]

The FFL transfer dealer I use is also a gun writer for gunweek magazine. I was picking up a pistol from him and we got talking about HD shotguns. He had just finished an article on the subject. http://www.gunweek.com/2007/feature0815.html

I have purchased some of the centurion multidefense ammo in the article. My experience has been that it opened up to ~8" as opposed to the 3" stated in the above referenced article.

[Moonclip]

I load the 1st one or two to fire as birdshot, maybe 7 1/2. I know it still penetrates more than one thinks thru walls and such but I feel it's somewhat safer for my neighbors plus I live in a warm climate where most intruders wont be wearing cold weather gear. I like the rest of the magazine filled with #1buck.

16 .30cal pellets makes a lot of sense I feel.