Self Defense loads in shotgun

[shappy0869]

I keep #4 loaded in the magazine with slugs in the shell holder on the gun, LED tac light to illuminate the target area (plus it will temporarily blind anyone looking at it) and a laser zeroed in to about 8 yards (the longest straight line distance in my house). I hope I never take a shot in anger, but am prepared to do so if necessary.

BTW, just read Gabriel Suarez's "The Tactical Shotgun" and found it very interesting and informative. I also watched Lenny Magill's "Mastering The Combat Shotgun." Also a good watch, though I am sure neither is a good replacement for a real shotgun class, which I hope to take this year. Both items I got from Amazon.

 

[jcord]

I have always used Federal premium 3 inch magnum #1 buckshot to hunt deer in the south.

For home defense I opt for the same load in 2 3/4 inch. The shorter shell recoils less and although recoil is not a problem for me , it is if my wife is handling the gun. Alas it is getting harder to find.

This load patterns better than anything I have tried in all of my shotguns. It is common in the south (where deer are hunted with hounds and shotguns) for deer to be killed at ranges far excedding what is commonly expected to be the effective range of a shotgun. I personally have killed deer at greater than fifty yards. This of course is done with longer barrels and modified choke. Full choke generally deforms the pellets and causes flyers opening up the pattern.

 

[M2 Carbine]

Before I lost my shotgun loaders in a fire I use to load "Buck and Ball".
About a 57 cal ball (I think it was) and as many #4 buckshot that would fit.
Very impressive shotgun load.

I thought I was on to an original idea until I found out such smooth bore loads were used back as far as the Civil War and probably before.
They even called it the same name that I thought I had made up, Buck and Ball.

 

[nemoaz]

Before I lost my shotgun loaders in a fire I use to load "Buck and Ball".
About a 57 cal ball (I think it was) and as many #4 buckshot that would fit.
Very impressive shotgun load.

I"ve heard of those too. Called "Rhodesian jungle loads" or just jungle loads also. Many variations, like a few OO or OOO buck surrounded by 4 buck or large birshot. Personally, I would like the OO buck (perhaps 4 of them) and 4 buck (not #4 birdshot, some don't know there is a difference). However, I don't reload myself.

 

[battlehatch]

I will probably get flamed for this but here goes...
I don't keep my spreadgun loaded. I keep three slugs and three #4 buckshot magnums in the sidesaddle. I DO keep my XD45 loaded and ready to play ball. I also have a nervous dog that sleeps really light, creaky floorboards in the house, and a long way to my room from any entrance. I figure if I need quick response, then 13 rounds of hydrashoks should do the trick. If I have time to react, then I'll load the shotgun with either buck, or slugs depending on whether or not my roommate is home and presumably in his room. He too is a fan of firearms and I figure when he hears the slide on my mossberg rack, he'll be cocked, locked and ready to rock.

 

[MRIman]

My house load is #7 shot,and OO buck.
Mag tube has a mix in her(6rds.) ,side saddle(6 rds.,OO buck),
sling has 10rds. of #7, for fun keep 4 slugs in my Speedfeed stock.
I call it my "Everyready gun", It keeps going,and going....

MRI

 

[tellner]

Make sure the last three are silver. If 23 rounds of 12 gauge shot and buck haven't done the job you'll probably need it

 

[Viking88]

I keep my house 870 loaded with Winchester 3"mag #1 buck. Thats 24 .30 cal lead balls per shot! But sheeeeeiitt I'm so tactical I keep a slug gun by the door for the getaway car!

 

[nemoaz]

#7 birdshot won't penetrate some clothing and penetration in an unclothed person is only an inch or two (though it does blow off a huge chunk of flesh at close range). Not a good choice IMO, despite what the cops of the 60s (including my father and some of the older shotgun manual authors) say. Shoot some meat with it some time to verify the results. Why would you use tiny shot that is too small for even a large bird?

 

[ithacalover]

Remington 000 2 3/4" holds a tighter pattern at a distance, but really close up I'd say Winchester Super-X 00 2 3/4. Twelve pellets, and manageable recoil.

 

[556A2]

My 870P is loaded with Federal 2 3/4" Vital-Shok 00 Buckshot while downloaded by 1 for a Speer Lawman Slug.

My wife's 870HD is loaded with Remington Managed-Recoil 00 Buckshot.

No birdshot is loaded in my shotguns if its for HD duty.

 

[____hoot____]

Been robbed twice in the 12 years I have been here, third time caught two punks coming home with a pizza in my hands at midnight. Was able to stop them cold with the threat of a baseball bat I had stashed under the front steps and they were both bigger than me. Was able to get their license plate number before I told them to get the hell out. Didn't do any good cause one was a judge's kin. Would of liked to have used 2s or BB's on them because of the possiblity of inflicting wounds that wouldn't kill but would cause life-long pain.

 

[Robo_Railer]

Would of liked to have used 2s or BB's on them because of the possiblity of inflicting wounds that wouldn't kill but would cause life-long pain.

I wouldn't go there. The small shot could still end up killing someone, and even if it didn't, you could still be in more trouble than they were because you used something that is generally considered deadly force.
I know it's awful tempting to give them a "reminder" that they'll carry much longer than whatever they took, but consider the possibility of losing a court battle over it. "Better tried by twelve than carried by six" is true enough, but it's always better when you look to be 101% right, with no chance of the suspects being portrayed as "victims."

 

[ACP]

#4 Buck, or #1 Buck. NO NO NO to slugs.

 

[Jeff F]

I Keep my HD shot gun loaded with OO buck. Theres a couple of slugs in the butt cuff if needed.

 

[Byron Quick]

I've never known anyone, ever, who has found themselves in a postion where the use of lethal force would have been appropriate.

Sir, you are most fortunate. Count your blessings. I've been in such a situation three times. During one, the assailant realized I was drawing a handgun and dropped his weapon-a hardwood sledgehammer handle. During the other two, my opponent had his hand in his coat pocket, claimed to have a handgun, and threatened to shoot me. I knew one and had never known him to carry a gun. Knife man. I was able to leave both areas. With my hand on my weapon.

In the past twenty-five years, seven friends and relatives of mine have been murdered. Three in metropolitan areas and four in rural areas.

The most heinous crime involved a distant cousin. No firearms were involved. A couple of men abducted him, sodomized him, bound him with his own bootlaces, tied him to a concrete block and threw him into a pond. He, like you, was unarmed by his own choice. In the afterlife, ask him what there is to be afraid of.

Do you have various types of insurance? Why? What are you so afraid of? Same principle, friend.

 

[perpster]

Which of these for the first 2 rounds??

I have a 12 ga. Mossberg 500 with 5-round magazine and 18.5" cylinder bore barrel for home defense (Surefire forend). I want the first 2 rounds to be birdshot. I am aware of all the arguments pro/con but with the circumstances I have to deal with in my home (thin sheetrock walls, close distances, likely firing at BG's with wife and kids present behind those walls, many turns and angles to deal with, etc) I have decided the first 2 rounds will be birdshot, followed by FedTac 00 Buck (9 pellet reduced recoil loads).

My question is this: of the following 3 birdshot loads I have on hand, which is the best for those first 2 rounds? (all are 2 3/4" and low brass)

1. Winchester #6 "Rabbit & Squirrel" 1 oz. shot (25 years old but in good condition. Discontinued).

2. Remington #7 1/2 "Gun Club Target Load, 1200 fps" 1 1/8 oz. Recently purchased new.

3. Remington #8 "Sport Load, 1200 fps" 1 1/8 oz. Recently purchased new.

The Remington website doesn't give much info on either of these except to say that the Gun Club stuff is reloadable and that the Sport Load "perform effectively for skeet, trap and sporting clays, as well as quail, doves, and woodcock". The Gun Club box shows clays, while the Sport Load box shows a bird.

This post is a request for which of these 3 would be best for home defense initial shots, not a debate on whether or not it's a good concept. Thanks.

 

[M2 Carbine]

I have a lot of old ammo that functions fine but I wouldn't depend on it for a defense round, so I'd say don't use the rabbit load.

IMO if you are going to use bird shot, use the biggest pellets. So I'd use the 7.5 or buy a fresh box of #6.

From your barrel the shot should spread out roughly a inch a yard. You should set up some sheetrock, boards, etc to see what your load will do at your HD distance.

 

[perpster]

"Target" Load??

M2 Carbine, My thoughts exactly. But my concern about the 7 1/2" is that it is a "target" load. I can't find any specific info on the pellets inside, so I'm hesitatant to use it. Does being a "target" load make any difference?

 

[M2 Carbine]

I'm not knowledgeable about what's considered a "target", "game load", etc.

I'm sure someone here knows what's the hottest bird shot load.

If you do get a chance to experiment on wall material, you might try #4 bird shot to. Probably better penetration on a heavy coat but still shouldn't go through a wall.


It's really surprising just how little buckshot like #4 buck will penetrate a 2x4 from the longer HD ranges.

 

[db_tanker]

I gave it some thought when I first got my shottie...what should I load it up with in case a BG decides to visit harm on me and my own.


screw the off chance of overpenetration.

5 rounds of Winchester rifled slugs. and two value boxes of extra love in case someone or somthing needs extra ministrations.


MTCW
D

 

[berettashotgun]

Seen the results of #5 turkey rounds in my sisters house. Dad loaded up his shotgun and gave my scatterbrained sister a quick "tutorial" after she saw someone standing outside her window- B-I-L was on the road @ the time. My youngest (2.5 years old) decided to pull the trigger while the shotgun was leaned against the wall. In that wall, out next room wall, thru celing and 8"+ thru roof. Lucky someone wasn't killed, I let her have it. BUT, that convinced me what turkey loads do. #4 hevishot around here.

 

[perpster]

Due to the layout of my house it is quite possible that I would have to shoot at a BG when my kin could be in the line of fire but behind sheetrock walls. I cannot take the chance of overpenetration. If one or two rounds of birdshot don't stop or scare off, then I'll do what I have to do, whether with the FedTac 00 Buck, or my handgun. In the meantime though, I'm still wondering which of the ammon on hand (posted above) I should use for those first 1 or 2 shots.

 

[Long Knife]

I've got 000, 00, and #4 buck. I load #4 buck using Herco.

The other day I shot some 00 Sears shells I bought in the early 70's and they worked just fine. I have some WWI Peter's 00 shells and shot a few but that was a long time ago. The rest I'll just look at.

I have my Model 12 riot gun loaded with Federal's #4 Buck Police Loads and the Maverick is loaded with 00.

 

[M2 Carbine]

perpster,
you might school your kin on hitting the floor.
I don't think you can count on any shot or bullet not go through a wall 100% of the time, especially from close HD distances.

As much as I'm not in favor of using bird shot for HD, in a case like yours you might just use 6 or 7.5 and plan on shooting a fast two or three shots.