Couple of opinions: 1. Birdshot is for birds. It will create a shallow surface wound that will bleed but generally not incapacate, unless fired at contact range and the shot column acts like a single projectile.
2. Mixing loads in a magazine is a very very bad idea. The legal aftermath of any SD shooting does not stop with the criminal investigation, in which the good guy is usally exonerated(if he acted legally and in good faith), but with the civil suit that WILL ensue later. At that point you will be asked about the loads you used, and no matter which load was up first you will have a hard time telling about how birdshot is not as lethal as buckshot, but you used buck nevertheless, or vice versa. That is of course is if you can remember under the stress of an actuasl shooting which round was where in the mag. This is why every major LE agency and the military specifically prohibit mixing of loads in the mag. Some even prohibit the carrying of different loads on the person of the shooter. This is to keep things tidy for the legal aftermath. If a pro carries more than one load (almost always slugs and buckshot) he is very careful not to mix loads in the gun.
The concept of having buck for up close and slugs for use as the range opens is never a good idea for the HD shooter, because if the range is opening, then the danger is almost always diminishing and his right to use lethal force is also diminishing.
As stated above the spread of buck at HD ranges is minimal-this is why you CAN miss with your shotgun! Unless you live in a real mansion, you are never going to get more than a 12-18" spread indoors.
I have used all kinds of buck-including 0000(thats right 4 zeros) in my Browning BPS 10 gauge 3.5" magnum modified for tactical use. I prefer either #4 buck or 00 buck. For indoors I use #4 , inside my boat I use #1 buck, and if outdoors is a consideration it is 00. I would use 0000 buck outdoors in my 10 gauge, but as the gun holds only 4 rounds, and I can usually only get off 2 of them before I chicken out from either recoil or flash, I stick to 12 gauge. I did buy a box of 3.5" magnum slugs, I still have 23 of them left. And I won't be shooting them anytime soon unless I am manning a road block and expecting an armored vehicle.
Think about it, birdshot is intended for critters weighing how much? Buckshot is intended for critters weighing about the same as a human. Expect results accordingly.
2. Mixing loads in a magazine is a very very bad idea. The legal aftermath of any SD shooting does not stop with the criminal investigation, in which the good guy is usally exonerated(if he acted legally and in good faith), but with the civil suit that WILL ensue later. At that point you will be asked about the loads you used, and no matter which load was up first you will have a hard time telling about how birdshot is not as lethal as buckshot, but you used buck nevertheless, or vice versa. That is of course is if you can remember under the stress of an actuasl shooting which round was where in the mag. This is why every major LE agency and the military specifically prohibit mixing of loads in the mag. Some even prohibit the carrying of different loads on the person of the shooter. This is to keep things tidy for the legal aftermath. If a pro carries more than one load (almost always slugs and buckshot) he is very careful not to mix loads in the gun.
The concept of having buck for up close and slugs for use as the range opens is never a good idea for the HD shooter, because if the range is opening, then the danger is almost always diminishing and his right to use lethal force is also diminishing.
As stated above the spread of buck at HD ranges is minimal-this is why you CAN miss with your shotgun! Unless you live in a real mansion, you are never going to get more than a 12-18" spread indoors.
I have used all kinds of buck-including 0000(thats right 4 zeros) in my Browning BPS 10 gauge 3.5" magnum modified for tactical use. I prefer either #4 buck or 00 buck. For indoors I use #4 , inside my boat I use #1 buck, and if outdoors is a consideration it is 00. I would use 0000 buck outdoors in my 10 gauge, but as the gun holds only 4 rounds, and I can usually only get off 2 of them before I chicken out from either recoil or flash, I stick to 12 gauge. I did buy a box of 3.5" magnum slugs, I still have 23 of them left. And I won't be shooting them anytime soon unless I am manning a road block and expecting an armored vehicle.
Think about it, birdshot is intended for critters weighing how much? Buckshot is intended for critters weighing about the same as a human. Expect results accordingly.
