slug / shot double loading shotgun

[P95loser]

I have a friend who used to work with me who was a MP in the army. One day in conversation he mentioned when he carried his shotgun, he would cycle rounds... one slug, one buck shot, one slug, one buck shot and so forth. He said the reason he did this was in case shtf and he clipped someone w/ shot, he could peg them with a slug, or blow a door w/ a slug, and spray the room...

This seems like a pretty good idea, would it be good to keep your shotgun loaded in a like manner for home? That way whether it be dogs, a snake, or home intruder... you would be prepared within 2 shots for the situation.

Just an idea... let me know.

 

[dfariswheel]

This is an old idea know as "Dutch loading".

You load the magazine with loads that might meet special circumstances.

As example, for road block duty, the first two rounds would be slugs to penetrate and stop the car.
The next two would be perhaps #1 buckshot to shoot as the bad guys bail out of the car, and the last rounds would be #00 as the fight moves away from the car to greater distances.

 

[Dave McCracken]

dfaris, as usual, nailed it. Some rangers handling nuisance bears on our national parks use pump shotguns loaded alternately with slugs and buck as life insurance.

Some HD shotguns are loaded with a birdshot load up first, then buck. The paradigm here is that after a shot or two one may have to shoot through the refrigerator or something.

Lots of birdhunters will have the first shot at a pheasant or quail be small shot, backed by something heavier for longer distance.

Part of the appeal of shotguns is one can tailor the ammo to the situation....

 

[Preacherman]

Lots of birdhunters will have the first shot at a pheasant or quail be small shot, backed by something heavier for longer distance.

Dave, I have visions of SM launching a round of #7's at a dove, followed by a slug...

 

[TrapperReady]

Lots of birdhunters will have the first shot at a pheasant or quail be small shot, backed by something heavier for longer distance.

Nah. Just run a bit more choke in your second barrel.

 

[scbair]

Dave is (naturally) correct.

A slight variation has been used with doubles, too. When hunting, my father, older brother and I typically carry a "low brass" load of #7-1/2 or #8 in the modified barrel, backed by a "high brass" charge of #4 in the full choke barrel. This allows an appropriate response to a close-flushing quail or bunny, as well as a longer shot at a bunny or squirrel.

I usually try to steer clear of complicated systems in the field, but this one has worked well over the years.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Yes, Preacherman, and chances are he'd hit it. Twice.

TR, kindly show me the second barrel on my shotguns, or on thy Model 12...

scbair, Pop's method was just that, with 6s or 5s for the second shot in his O/U. First was oft cheap 8s, or later a trap load of 7 1/2s. With a two triggered shotgun, selection was fast and certain.

 

[Fred Fuller]

I don't do that, tho I have seen it done. I load 00 in the magazine and keep slugs in the SideSaddle.

Why?

Because I know that I am not going to be cool/calm/collected enough in the midst of whatever causes me to deploy the ol' smokepole to remember what I shot when, if I skip- load. I do want to know what is coming out of the pipe when I pull the trigger, so I segregate buckshot and slugs rather than mixing them in the magazine. That's just me, YMMV.

lpl/nc