Utility of No. 4 Buckshot

[FPrice]

Most self-defense advice for shotguns seems to recommend either slugs or 00 buckshot. Does No. 4 buckshot figure into the SD equation at all?

[Andrew Wyatt]

number4 buck is just fine for indoor use, but it lacks juju at longer ranges, especially against thick skinned critters.

[dfariswheel]

#4 buckshot was the prefered shotgun ammo of the Vietnam SEALs.

Founding member Chief James "Patches" Watson said in his book "Pointman" that people have told him that #4 wasn't very good, but to quote him: "I never heard any complaints from the people I shot with it".

[Gordon]

Preferred for tunnel clearing . XM27 ammo does not do it over 50 feet on anything without feathers or bigger than a bunny in my 30 years of playing with it. :cool:

[hillbilly]

Unless you live in a palatial mansion, or a 200 foot long chicken house, anything you put in a shotgun is just fine for inside-the-house ranges.

Even #7 birdshot is absolutely devastating on bad guys inside of 15 feet.

I keep Sellier and Bellot 00 3-inch magnum buckshot in my house shotgun.

I use those big buckshot loads because there is a chance I may have to confront a black bear on the back porch.

Plus, if my life really depends on shotting my shotgun, I don't think I'm going to notice the recoil.

clack-clack BOOOOM

hillbilly

[Dave McCracken]

The FBI's duty buck was and perhaps still is #4 buck. I have noted wider dispersion with Winchester #4 than most 00, but my testing was by no means extensive.

I've a sneaky suspicion that 1 buck may possibly be the closest to an all around buck size, but haven't done much shooting with same.

For sporting use, such as deer hunting, I'd want to stick to 00 or 000. Longer ranges mean bigger pellets for retained energy. All else equal, tighter patterns also.

[Mike Irwin]

A load of No. 4 buck weights about 1.5 times that of a load of 00 buck, and carries almost twice the total energy.

In my S&W 3000 I can keep all 27 pellets in a 2 3/4" Remington load inside the chest area of a man-sized target at 12 to 15 yards. Under 10 yards and the pattern gets progressively tighter, to the point where at 3 yards it's pretty much a single hole in the target.

[FPrice]

I appreciate all of the replies. I have a (small) supply of Federal Tactical 00 Buck and some slugs, but every once in a while I read about using no. 4 buck. I guess I will get some and try to pattern it to see how it does.

Unfortunately SG is my weakest firearm. And between family, work, and the lack of a good range to shoot at I don't get much practise. However, the Air Force seems to be intent on working on number two and in a year I may have all the time I need.

Thanks again.

[CWL]

#4 may be a better choice if you live in thin-skinned dwellings like an apartment or condo.