Well - I have always been a bit of a Rebel -
I don't 'believe' everything I read - I suggest folks understand and apply this to things I type or say as well.
NILO did testing as I mentioned. I respect Olin, Brister,Baker, others...I personally listen to and respect their findings.
I also know ME - I had to test some stuff for myself. I was curious and was part of MY learning curve. I learned early that what is on paper does not always apply to real world. We didn't have many folks doing gelatin testing either. I shot Dirt , Mud and Critters....I still do.
So...I shot Critters , be it hunting, Critter control , or defense - like a 80# rabid dog. You know a 80 # rabid dog will continue his attack after being shot with 2 rounds of 00 buck? He will. A 60# dog will continue as well with "homemade steel buckshot loads too spitting out at ~ 1300 fps), I literally dropped the shotgun and went with 45ACP FMJ ....I had an Immediate threat to stop and the steel wasn't working. 230 gr between the eyes - DRT. Real Happy I learned to shoot on my back , because I had 80# of mean and ugly taking a leap at me....shoot, hit roll and shoot to make sure. Get the heart rate a bit.
Critters and varmits ( no matter how many legs) Don't KNOW they are "supposed" to react a certain way when shot with ammo. No matter what the box , the magazine, gun writer said....it don't always work as "written".
I forgot to empty a coat pocket once. Yes 00 buck will stop a Greenhead DRT at 25 yds over dekes. A slug will DRT one that turned on afterburners AFTER taking two hits of Steel Shot. I was the guy whose duty it was to back up folks....oops. Well a slug works at 37 steps. [ Boom, Plop, damn]. Well ...at least the third shell in my gun was ...err..."correct".
I go for reliability , POA/ POI , shot placement for everything, no matter the platform. I gripe about gun fit to shooter, basics and fundamentals. I make a fuss over not reading what a Shotgun bbl or choke is marked - but What it ACTUALLY does by testing.
I have some Buckshot loads around here.
I perhaps am one of a few that thinks a Shotgun loaded with nothing but Slugs for serious situations, hunting critters and varmits is the best set-up.
I can use these from contact to "out yonder". I don't have to transition loads and take a chance on operator error. If I need to shoot through a windshield, provide cover fire "out yonder" I can....
I have responsibilites - To make a ethical clean kill on deer and such, to stop and immediate threat if I or someone else is "in fear of life".
A Crazed BG high on dope, drunk, looking at 12 bore and keeps coming....that critter rabid or has the abilty to do me physical harm [ or say like H&H encounters] needs to be put down - NOW.
I don't want to get shot with any loading...not even from a BB Gun....If I'm behind the gun, I shoot for ethics, or "in fear of" .
Told you I was a rebel.