Fiocchi low recoil buck. I don't care for the Flight cup idea as I count on the shot to spread/open as quickly as possible in 25'. Most reason, the wife liked it. We only keep 3 in the tube, chamber empty. It compliments the other guns in the bedroom.
Do you use slugs or buck for home defense?
- Thread starter SnakeLogan
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8 rounds Winlite reduced recoil 00 Buck in the tube, 4 more in the speedfeed stock.
As the handle indicates, I'm new to this, and given my lack of experience (I have, however, received sufficient training to feel comfortable with the weapon), I don't think I'd want to be trying to choose what type of shell to chamber or trying to remember what's next in line during what would be the most stressful moment in my life.
I figure 00 Buck is a "one size fits all" kind of round - if the 00 Buck won't take the target down, I don't know that a slug will have much more hope.
I live in a small home, and if I'm shooting at a target it is likely to be a distance of less than 15 feet (and probably less than 10 feet) anyways. I have no need for the long range of a slug, and catching 9 pellets of Buck ought to be enough to make anyone reconsider their decision to enter my home.
As the handle indicates, I'm new to this, and given my lack of experience (I have, however, received sufficient training to feel comfortable with the weapon), I don't think I'd want to be trying to choose what type of shell to chamber or trying to remember what's next in line during what would be the most stressful moment in my life.
I figure 00 Buck is a "one size fits all" kind of round - if the 00 Buck won't take the target down, I don't know that a slug will have much more hope.
I live in a small home, and if I'm shooting at a target it is likely to be a distance of less than 15 feet (and probably less than 10 feet) anyways. I have no need for the long range of a slug, and catching 9 pellets of Buck ought to be enough to make anyone reconsider their decision to enter my home.
I am surprised that no one has the guts to say that they use bird shot. 9 rounds in my M2, no chance of penetration of anything, and I would make a bet that after the first three shots the intruder is not getting up. (I am realistic and give myself 3 chances to actually start aiming and hit the head)
Just my humble opinion, I know people usually opt for the takedown power, but I live in an urban house, and I like my neighbors the way they are.
Just my humble opinion, I know people usually opt for the takedown power, but I live in an urban house, and I like my neighbors the way they are.
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chuckusaret
member
I have my shotgun loaded with a BB in the chamber plus seven rifled slugs in the magazine.
"Birdshot is for the birds, 00 buck is for the buck and slugs for the thugs"
"Birdshot is for the birds, 00 buck is for the buck and slugs for the thugs"
CoRoMo
Member
Option #3... Both.
#4 shot (shot, not buck) in my own reloads. I melt high temp wax and pour it down into the shot cup to hold the lead together. It hits with one hole about the size of a small plum and then just sort of explodes. Very easy round to make and they're pretty impressive on farm produce.
richard
richard
sohcgt2
Member
I'd love to see the home you guys live in. The longest shot I'd try in my house with a shotgun and the way my gun patterns I'm pretty sure the wad will follow the #4 bird shot for a couple of inches of penetration on a soft target.
Thing is, if you're at very close range, even with buckshot, you still have to aim. After seeing the effects buck did and didn't have on game I've shot, I've gone to slugs. I trust any decent shot with a 12 gauge slug. Shot? Not so much.
J
J
Gordon
Member
Mr Shirley and I AGREE, what a surprise!Thing is on humans you don't need those "manly slugs" the wimpy ones actually are better for HD!
King G,
I have had a "failure to stop" on a squirrel with 00 buck. Not even an especially large squirrel at that. Yeah, it was "only" one pellet, but I'm pretty darn sure a 9mm bullet in the same spot would have taken Rocky out. Al Thompson has gone to only using slugs against game after disappointing performance with #1 buck against a smallish hog. I was there that day.
When you combine sometimes disappointing performance with the liability of multiple shots spreading at distance, and the built-in range limitations- and also happen to know that slugs aren't the over-penetrators "common knowledge" says- it kinda makes the choice easy.
John
I have had a "failure to stop" on a squirrel with 00 buck. Not even an especially large squirrel at that. Yeah, it was "only" one pellet, but I'm pretty darn sure a 9mm bullet in the same spot would have taken Rocky out. Al Thompson has gone to only using slugs against game after disappointing performance with #1 buck against a smallish hog. I was there that day.
When you combine sometimes disappointing performance with the liability of multiple shots spreading at distance, and the built-in range limitations- and also happen to know that slugs aren't the over-penetrators "common knowledge" says- it kinda makes the choice easy.
John
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OH, I see. You're attempting reductio ad absurdum. Good luck with that. Maybe you missed (or are ignoring) the parts where I said my decision is partially based on seeing performance on targets, some of them live. Do what you want. The truth is, most of the time, just having a firearm may be enough. Of the times the firearm comes into play, most of the time, any caliber will do.
It's the exceptions that get you...but, overall, your risk is low. Do what you want. It's just better to have an intelligent process to get to what you decide to do.
J
It's the exceptions that get you...but, overall, your risk is low. Do what you want. It's just better to have an intelligent process to get to what you decide to do.
J
Slugs for me. Penetration is necessary to reach the vetebrae for not just stopping power but mortal injury as well.
AImpoint site to assist targeting dark enemy intruder.
Slugs may not penetrate body armor but the human body on the other side of the Kevlar will be mortally broken unless the wearer had ceramic composite plate.
12 gauge 440 grain slug has Taylor KO factor of 70.
Compare to 14 with a typical 45 auto.
18 with a .308 fmj.
I haven't used a slug on deer but I have on other animals and its devestating. I can remember taking a groundhog out with a slug once. "ouch"
Sabot slugs are not going to give you the KO score that full bore slugs will give you.
AImpoint site to assist targeting dark enemy intruder.
Slugs may not penetrate body armor but the human body on the other side of the Kevlar will be mortally broken unless the wearer had ceramic composite plate.
12 gauge 440 grain slug has Taylor KO factor of 70.
Compare to 14 with a typical 45 auto.
18 with a .308 fmj.
I haven't used a slug on deer but I have on other animals and its devestating. I can remember taking a groundhog out with a slug once. "ouch"
Sabot slugs are not going to give you the KO score that full bore slugs will give you.
Guns and more
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I just advised a woman co-worker of mine who was buying a HD weapon to go for the Mossy 20 ga. Youth model. So after the purchase, I went online to tell her where to buy buckshot. Seems like the entire country is sold out.
Al Thompson
Moderator Emeritus
Guns, around my neck of the woods, Wal-Mart usually has 20 ga buck and slugs. Another option is Sportsman's Warehouse if you have one near.
possum
Member
i use buckshot, the loads i have tested and use for my shotgun are best from 0-15yds, anything past that i use slugs, and since there is no way that there 15yds + distance in my house, i don't see the need for slugs.
Dirty Bob
Member
Buckshot. I use a 20ga. with Winchester #3 Buck (largest pellet for the 20ga. I've found locally). There are 20 pellets in the 2-3/4" shell, and I can keep almost all of them on a paper plate at 15 yards. Recoil in my somewhat heavy 20ga. is not a problem.
Regards,
Dirty Bob
Regards,
Dirty Bob
If that was to me, JS....if not, 'scuse me.
Wax rounds aren't new. We were using them in the south as long as I've been shooting. It's a cheapo way of getting a full choke/buck/slug effect from a 100 year old single shot with a sawed off barrel. When all you could afford was one box of shells, you made do. Accuracy is about as good as any other full choke round, just there's more of a solid clump in the middle and a few stray pellets. I in no way claim the invention of these....it was my uncle that taught me. At one time, they were the original breaching rounds, I've been told.
Slice off the crimp of a split edge hull (I hate wasting hulls, harks back to my younger days) and slice off the base, too. Slide your shotcup/wad down into that and use it as your form. Measure out your shot, I use 1 oz of shot and load it like a 1 1/8 load, and then add your wax. If it cools too fast and won't go all the way down, you can slip that hull/former bottom in a plastic sandwich baggy and dip it into some boiling water for a minute or two and that will melt it all the way down. Use a bit more wax than your shotcup can hold....and once cool, you push it back up from the bottom of the hull/former. Trim the wax even with your shotcup's petals, weigh it and load accordingly.
Shoot them out of a cylinder bore or IC for the best range and effect. I wouldn't try anything beyond a modified, though. They're not unsafe....they compress more than a Foster will so they fit out a choked bore np....but they fall apart if compressed much and all you get is a tighter choked spread of shot.
It's easy to mold these as hollow points....but there's just really no need. They tumble in flight and fragment upon impact no matter what shape they are.
richard
Thanks for the reply, Richard. I'd really like to do that with BBs, and then test penetration in water and perhaps through heavy clothing.
One day, I'd actually like to make some specialty 12 ga rounds for sale, including:
bear defense;
low-recoil slug;
multiple accurate long-range shot (yes, I think I know a way to make reliably accurate multiple hits out to at least 60 meters, which is much further than I would try with 00, if it somehow wandered into my shotgun.)
John
I'd really like to do that with BBs, and then test penetration in water and perhaps through heavy clothing.One day, I'd actually like to make some specialty 12 ga rounds for sale, including:
bear defense;
low-recoil slug;
multiple accurate long-range shot (yes, I think I know a way to make reliably accurate multiple hits out to at least 60 meters, which is much further than I would try with 00, if it somehow wandered into my shotgun.
)John
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