Best 12ga HD load? Search not working...

[B yond]

I'm the only person in the world who doesn't use 00 buck for HD.

I keep it on the side-saddle in case I need it, along with a slug or two.

I keep the mag loaded with #6 shot. Big enough to do a lot of damage at indoor ranges, but not big enough to do much damage after passing through drywall. I just feel safer with #6 because even at indoor ranges I can't guarantee that every piece of lead would go into a BG and not around or through him with 00 buckshot. I'd hate to endanger my family while trying to protect them.

I'm sure I'll hear about how wrong I am.

 

[Audie]

00 reduced recoil buck, and you shouldn't shoot if you will miss...but if (god forbid) a situation comes up, you may indeed miss unless you have been trained in stressful situations. I think the best you can do is find a fall back position while waiting for the cavalry to come and know ahead of time what is behind your target area...this way if you miss, you won't hurt anyone else...if you cannot find this "perfect" position, I would invest in some other protection device, like a doberman.

 

[Gunner23]

If you cannot find this "perfect" position, I would invest in some other protection device, like a doberman.

Or an X23 Taser

One of those are on my wanted list, but for $1000 bucks I'd rather have a Kimber TLE/RL II. I'm going to have to do some patterning experimentation with different loads and see what works out the best for me. I do appreciate all of the recommendations so far though...it definetly narrows the field for me quite a bit. Federal ammo seems to be pretty high on everyone's recommendation list, so that seems like a good place to start.

 

[B yond]

the pattern my scattergun throws out with it's short barrel makes it tough to keep all the pellets on a man-sized target at 5 yards and up. that's why I'm afraid of the 00.
In a HD situation once I'd gathered the family and barricaded a room I'd start feeding the buckshot into the mag. Until that point I'm going to have to stick to #6 for safety.

I would invest in some other protection device, like a doberman.

I do have a tactical attact cat in urban camo that's well trained in biological warfare (farts like a grown man).

 

[Fred Fuller]

Try some of the Hornady TAP (red hull for full house load, blue for reduced recoil) or the newer Federal offerings in their Premium or law enforcement lines that feature FliteControl wads. That stuff flat works, even in open choke guns... tried a new Colonial external knurled ImpCyl choke tube (see there, sm? Some of us listen) the other day in my 18" 870 with TAP, at 25 yards it put 6 of 8 pellets into about 3" and all eight into 6", right at point of aim. Good stuff, any load with FliteControl...

lpl/nc (the Kent/Brenneke KOs shot where they were supposed to as well)

 

[Snarlingiron]

What Dave McCracken said. I recently completed a 3 day Primary Defensive Shotgun course at Tac Pro Shooting Center. One of the best excersizes we did was to start with two shooters on plate racks with empty guns, and see who can load and shoot down 6 plates first. Fun and a good skill builder. Hint: learn the "Load One, Shoot One" technique.

Pattern your gun at varying distances and with whatever different ammunition you are considering. Chart the results. Your choice will become evident pretty quickly.

Practice, know your weapon and your ammunition, and there are not many weapons that are legal that are more formidable than a properly manned and properly loaded shotgun.

The reason that the Germans hanged enemy troops armed with shotguns was that the wounds inflicted were so deadly. In short, WWI was fought mostly in trenches, and the shotgun was just too effective in close quarters. On Sept. 19, 1918, the German government formally claimed that the use of the shotgun in warfare was illegal.

In terms of firepower, think of placing 9 9mm rounds down range every 2 seconds, sustained for say 60 seconds. Can you fire and reload your 9mm 270 times in 1 minute? You would be hard pressed do it with a sub gun.

When push comes to shove, it is the 870 that will be in my hands.

 

[JShirley]

I use Remington Reduced Recoil slugs.

I plan one day to use saboted .45 JHP @ maybe 1500 fps...

 

[Panthera Tigris]

I use Brenneke 1 oz. home defense shells.

 

[AStone]

What do you guys have loaded in your guns for HD?

Shotgun: three 00 RR in the magazine, 1 in the chamber.
9mm: 6 147 gr in the mag, 1 in the chamber.
.38: 5 135 gr.

Nearest neighbor at night: > 1/2 mile.

 

[cloudcroft]

Besides, the usual #00 Buck and slugs, I also have some home-made (I reload) "exotic SD" ammo: A .690 lead (musket) ball.

At close ranges, it is accurate enough!

And getting hit with that (about 475 grains if made of wheelweights, 495 grains if pure lead) going about 1200 fps attention-getting at least.

-- John D.