#4 Buckshot Effective?

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I never cared much for Number 4 buck for deer hunting, but have no real basis for that opinion. I always used Number 1 myself. I thought it was the best compromise between pellet size (.30) and number of pellets (18-24) depending on the load. I used 3" most of the time. It always served me well.

Number 4 for home defense? I see no reason why it wouldn't work, but I'm not sure I'd want to use it in an apartment. Those apartment wall aren't the thickest walls in the world. Just too many people too darn close for me.

By the way. I believe Capstick said he used British SG buckshot, which he compared to American Number 1. I remember that because being a wise man, he agreed with me.
 
Leon tP said:
It wasn't until this thread that I gave too much thought to the issue. I always figured that 4 Buck pellets would hit like 22 Short rounds. So to give myself a little perspective, I decided to compare the two side by side.
One round of this,
index.php

(According to the OP)

Versus 27 rounds of this,
View attachment 1025925

Well, the 4 Buck pellets are .24 caliber ~ 20.71 grains each at a listed 1325 fps (80.74 ft-lbs and 27.44 PF) each. (1.25 ounce load)

The .22 Shorts are 29 grains each at a listed 710 fps (32.46 ft-lbs and 20.59 PF each)

Multiply both by 27 and we get 2180 ft-lbs for the 12 guage load and 876 for the cluster of .22 Shorts.
Well, the 12 certainly has more potential to do a lot of damage but the .22 Shorts can potentially be placed with more precision. If I had to chose between the two for HD (at close range), I wouldn't hesitate to pick the 12 guage loaded with 4 Buck (as shown in the picture above).
Is any round guaranteed? I don't think so, but unless you're only choice is a single shot, it's my guess you can always just rack again/pull the trigger again and repeat.
Click to expand...





The hi speed .22 Shorts are listed at 29 grains for solid point at 1150 FPS bringing each very close to an individual #4 SG projectile energy wise. The .22 short retains the velocity much better than the #4 buckshot as range increases to 50 yards+ . Your comparison is NOT accurate until the #4 Buck shot is out past 90 yards.
 
I have only ever shot or stocked 00 9 pellet buck and a stash of 15 pellet 00 magnums, and I KNOW they will do the job and then some, kind of the standard load for all, hunting, self defense.... I started seeing alot of folks mention #4 buck, never shot it and never seen it in stores either but in my casual reading I've found alot of people favor it for indoor bad breath distance application but when I went to order some to shoot a lil and just kind of futz around with it it was like $2-$3 more per box, wth is that about? Is there a 4 buck fad catching on or something? I got no problem sticking with the ol' 00 2¾ 9 pellet but I did want to shoot some 4buck for s&g's but not at $8.99-$9.99/5rd box......
 
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Don't have a clue about #4 buck and won't comment on its use... I do know exactly how basic 00buck works - and that's what I'll be using. I don't live in an apartment and I was well trained in shoot/ no shoot situations with a good eye for what's behind a target.
 
I load and use #4 buckshot in my house 12 and 16 gage guns. Though I have never had to shoot anyone, my Dad and I used it exclusively for deer in the thick cedar swamps of Northern Michigan, and it worked beautifully. It’s the only thing I buy for reloading.
 
entropy said:
I see #4, #4 Buck and 4 Buck thrown around here willy nilly.

# 4 is birdshot.

No. 4 Buck and 4 Buck are two names for the same thing.

As you can see below, #4 birdshot is .13", 4 Buck is .24"

They are not the same shot.

Plan accordingly.

View attachment 1023081

With my limited experience with both, either would work in an apartment. I would (and did, when I lived in them) choose a pistol with Glasers and one Hydra-Shock as the last round.
Click to expand...
I think every shotgunned knows the difference, but maybe some of the newbies need to see it to understand it. Good charts. Too bad they didn’t include the weight of each so that how many of what size was needed for 1 1/8th or 1 1/2 oz of shot. That’s labeled on my loader just as a reminder to people I’m teaching.
 
Beck said:
Good reminder for those who might get them confused.

Thant being said, #, NO., or just the number are correct as long as it's labeled Buck or Buckshot
All of the above have been used in official nomenclature and casual conversation since I can remember. The OP established the context, so I think it's safe to say everyone knows we're talking about Buck.... hopefully...

View attachment 1023165
Click to expand...
That’s exactly what I use.
 
tactikel said:
IMHO for the SHORT range SD/HD you specified a pellet of 4 buck acts as a .22 LR. Being hit with a load of 4 buck is is like being hit with a .22 LR- 27 times. 3 shots rapid fire can put 81 pellets in in an intruder.
Anything over 20 yards mandates larger shot ( 0, 00, 000).
Click to expand...
I have killed deer at 40+ yards using #4 buck. It’s a good load that patterns very well in my 870,
 
PapaG said:
Peter Hathaway Chapstick considered it good enough for following up lion and leopard in the brush. Good enough for me.
Click to expand...
I have every book Capstick ever wrote, and several that he personally signed at SCI. One thing you should know is that he wrote himself in as the primary character in many instances where other hunters were the actual principal. But, that said I still bought the books and loved the stories. Good author for his genre. But, if it’s true I still have reservations about that claim. His characteristic “two rounds between his fingers, even in camp, “wouldn’t hardly hold 12 gage shells”. Kudos to you for a good post.
 
Absolutely #4 buck will work. I've chosen #1 buck for my needs, but any "buckshot" will do the trick. I have yet to read any verifiable account of a human taking a load of #4 buck to center mass at close range and continue the fight. Stories? Yes, we've all heard stories. The guy who took a .30-06 square between the eyes and continue fighting with half his head missing or the guy who was hit by a .45acp on the tip of his thumb that caused him to flip backwards and land 10 feet from where he was.

How about events that can be vetted and detailed for all to see? Not yet, at least not for me. Most would bet their lives on #4 buck and many do. I only chose #1 buck (Winchester XB121) as over penetration isn't as much of a concern where I live and though I fully respect 00 buck, I feel #1 buck offers good penetration and with a few extra buckshot per shell to boot (typically 16 pellets of #1 buckshot vs the 9 pellet 00 buck load in the same 2 3/4" hull).

Edited to add: I see I've already responded to this thread. o_O I'm gettin' old.
 
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I keep mine loaded with #4 buckshot but I’m planning as much for possums, armadillos, and coyote as well as an intruder.

I also have more than one gun at the ready.

imo, #4 buck is fine, bigger will be better, but it likely want make any difference in the event of actual use.
 
My wife’s 20 gauge is loaded with #4. 00 in my 12.
 
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I wouldn't use #4 buckshot for deer hunting. But for home defense inside a close distance (15 yards) I would trust it. I have multiple different loads on my HD shotgun including slugs, #4, and 00 buck in a saddle carrier. Mini shells in the magazine which use a combination of #1 and #4 buckshot.
 
My opinion, based on reading and watching YouTube penetration tests, is that #4 Buck is ideal for close range defensive use and that a high speed fragmenting rifle round is safer with regards to overpenetration concerns when talking firearms. If farther than the door, use 00 Buck, if farther than the car, use slugs, if farther than that, evaluate if running shoes to get to the car or rifle is the best option.

In an apartment, I tend to see the sword as the safest, fastest, quietest, very deadly option.

My girlfriend is even more dangerous, because unlike my sword, she is sharp, but she is much less quiet.
 

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It kills deer very well at 30 yds and under. Penetration to the off side hide is typical on a broadside shot. Seems like that penetration would be sufficient.

Seems like Paul Harrell did a vid on typical home wall penetration and it showed no 4 and 3 to not penetrate walls very well but still adequately penetrated the meat target enough to be effective.
 
PapaG said:
Peter Hathaway Capstick considered it good enough for following up lion and leopard in the brush. Good enough for me.
Click to expand...

He grew up in the town where I lived, Hathaway La., Capstick Rd. We used #4 buck in our 870's when on the job.
 
Frostbite said:
In an apartment, I tend to see the sword as the safest, fastest, quietest, very deadly option
Click to expand...

I worked with a guy that was very proficient with a “ Tactical tomahawk.” Even two handed, it was quiet impressive really.

He told me once, “just imagine, you break into a house and see your buddy get shot, yeah you are probably in a hurry to leave…. Now imagine you kick the door in and your buddy takes a tomahawk to the chest! You know you’ve broken into the wrong house and you’ll get a gear you didn’t know existed.”

Just the kind of guy he was, he had plenty of handguns, was a big Glock guy. But if you broke in his house you better be ready for a madman with a tomahawk coming at you.

Me, I’ll just keep the gun, but I wouldn’t advise breaking in his house either.
 
Home defense is a close range proposition- I suggest you go shoot some out of YOUR GUN at the range at 10,20, and 25-40 feet and make a judgement for yourself.... Personally I load #4 buck in my bedroom shotgun-
 
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