[Catbird]

I'm not very familiar with shotgun ammo and its terminal effects, therefore I need some help.

I purchased a new Remington 870 w/ an 18" bbl. today, primarily for HD.

I happen to have a few different types/loads on hand that I used to use many years ago for hunting. Following, is from my personal inventory; what do you recommend for single-family home defense?

This is what I have, already:
A. Fed. 2 3/4" magnum 00 buckshot (12 pellets)
B. Fed. 3" magnum #4 buckshot
C. Fed. 3" magnum #6 (1 5/8 oz.)
D. Rem. 3" magnum 4x6 duplex loads.

I also have some dove/quail shells that are probably too light for HD.

What are your suggestions/recommendations? TIA. :)

[Pheonix]

Any buckshot in 2 3/4" will do you fine. Mags (3") is more than you will need.

[gearbox]

I would go for reduced recoil #4 or larger shot, especially 00 buck.
The reduced recoil makes quite a bit of difference, and a slightly faster follow-up shot, but that's just me and my 110 pound body.

[sm]

The gun will tell you by using a pattern board as to what patterns best. IME I have always used nothing but 2 3/4 " shells. I don't own anything but 2 3/4 chambers EXCEPT in a 410...and I usually don't use 3" in that either.

Personally IME the best all around load that seems to work in the most guns has been the Win. XB 120025 (25 rd box) or XB 1200 (5 pk). 9 buffered pellets seem to pattern better for me than 12. Granted the Fed, or Rem, or another brand may pattern better in a particular gun...just the above mentioned Win load best overall. So I bought 25 rd boxes by the case.

Not spent much time with reduce recoil, or some of the newer stuff. When I find what works, I stick with it. I hate changing up stuff.

This is 00, pattern and see at the distance expected range for use will be...plus a tad more. Same Idea applies to other shot sizes and applications.

This will also tell you POA/POI for gun and gun and given load. Pay attention to the former, has effect on later. Fringes of pattern not what you want in a HD situation. POA/POI can be remedied.

good luck.

[Badger Arms]

12 pellet loads. That's all I use for HD. Will penetrate anything up here and I get an extra shot in my tube because of it.

[Mike Irwin]

I use No. 4 buckshot, 2 3/4".

27 pellets, over 1.5X the payload weight and considerably more total energy than 9 to 12 pellets of 00 buck.

I do keep 5 S&B 12-pellet 2 3/4" rounds in a buttstock carrier in case I need something heavier.

[Badger Arms]

Mike has a point. You have to translate Alaskan to "Lesser-48-speak" when you read my posts. I am just as likely to dispatch an angry moose or surprised Brownie as I am to have to shoot the two-legged threat. I don't know about you, but I like all the penetration I can get in those situations. While No.4 shot is perfectly fine for 99% of lesser-48 situations, I don't think it's adviseable to use it up here for anything.

[Dave McCracken]

Catbird, PLEASE do not use all that 3" mag ammo until you've run some lighter stuff through your new 870 and worked on your form. Trust me, the mag stuff will tear you a new one unless your form is good.

The databases say, one hit,one stop for shotguns regardless of ammo choice.

Those dove/quail shells will work for this. In fact, they probably will work fine for HD also. Shotguns have so MUCH energy that they really do qualify as Overkill.

I'm no math whiz, but when BIL ran the numbers and told me that a standard field load delivering ALL its pellets into a target had about the same energy as a mid sized car does when hitting a solid wall at 40MPH, I believed him.

Still, most folks knowing something about this use buck. I like the Estate 00, the Reduced Recoil stuff. Patterns tightest for me.YMMV.

Once used to your shotgun, buy some 5 packs of varied brands and do some patterning. Go with what spreads least.

[Mike Irwin]

Badger, I think in your situation I'd keep a pack or two of the Winchester Sabot Slugs around.

Even from a smoothbore (vs. a rifled barrel) at close range they penetrate all to hell and back.

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

Actually---I'm using dove loads in my Marine Magnum and don't feel the least bit handicapped.

At the ranges presented indoors----those dove loads will "rip a new one" to any intruder shot with it.

[cslinger]

Personally I like Federal reduced recoil or standard recoil 00 buck for my HD shottys.

I do not know much about the energy transfer of buckshot but through various research I have found that 00 buck seems to work on two legged critters extremely well and will induce quite a bit of shock to the target on contact.

I still have a hard time understanding how those little balls manage to hit so hard. I guess bullets I can understand because of HP designs and hydrastatic shock etc. but I just can't seem to get my mind around why a shotgun is so effective.....although it certainly seems to be.

Chris

[Bowlcut]

well little balls....but considering in a house you may not be more than 25 feet from someone at that distance alot of shot shell will not really have much spread. so thats a HUGE chunk of lead coming at ya surrounded in plastic. After that, think of getting hit with 10+ .22's really well grouped :D

[Dave McCracken]

At close range, it's not a shotgun, it's a 73 caliber carbine firing a super colossal Glaser Safety Slug.

A few Forensic pics I looked at back in the day were attention getting and appetite banishing. I'm sparing you the details, but NONE of those folks could have continued offensive or defensive action. In one case, death occured in microseconds.

[Mike Irwin]

I've probably paged through most of those pictures, while eating chili...

[Catbird]

appetite banishing :uhoh:

eating chili :barf:

[sm]

Chili is not bad.
I used to work in an OR, just got good an started on my spagehetti with meatballs...GSW comes in, don't let anyone tell you .410 skeet loads are wimpy, this guy had a bellyfull...well reheated my supper after they took the old boy to the morgue...one gets used to it...pass the parmesean...

[Catbird]

http://www.eat.com/images/home_glamshot.jpg

Mmmm...mmmm, good! :what:

[Moparmike]

Personally, I use #8 Federal from a 100rd value pack. I have 2 2.75in 1oz slugs, 2 2.75in 00buck, and 1 3in 00buck on a buttcuff on the shotgun.

I need more practice, and to teach myself that the gun goes higher than I think it does so my arm will stop hurting after 3 shots.

(Notice I said arm, and not sholder. I fired once correctly with proper placement on sholder, I barely felt it.)

[Onslaught]

I am just as likely to dispatch an angry moose or surprised Brownie....

OK, the moose, I get... but the second one? My GOSH man, she just wanted to sell you some cookies! A dirty look would work just as well... :)