Thoughts/Opinions on 0 buck for HD

[_N4Z_]

I have typically kept 12ga. 00 buck and slugs on hand for HD purposes. I was at Academy sports the other day though and found some Remington single 0 buck (2-3/4" shells - 12 pellets each), and bought a few boxes for testing.

I shot a few patterns with it today out of my 870 with the 20" improved cylinder, and at 10 yards I hit poa with about an 8 inch spread - all pellets. Repeated this several times with identical results.

I am thinking this is a viable HD load. Penetration should still be more than adequate, and the pellet count is higher (12) than the 9 of the 00.

Guess I am curious what others may think about this. Seems like I see a lot posted about 00 and #1 buck, but very little concerning 0 buck.

 

[Narwhal]

1 buck is actually recommended by some ballistics experts as the ideal 2 & 3/4" shotgun payload for use against humans; 0 buck should be fine. I guess 8" is a bit of a big spread at 10 yards but not too bad. I see no problem with it.

 

[Fred Fuller]

If you find the pattern acceptable and the range within your property's limits, there's no reason not to use it. Penetration should be adequate at a minimum, I would think.

 

[nathan]

Even the no 4 bk is considered highly for self defense inside the house.

 

[Loosedhorse]

Sounds fine to me.

Be sure (as it seems you already have) to pattern your gun at the longest distance you think you'd use buckshot fo HD--usually the longest line-of-sight in your home.

I found 00 a bit sparse in my gun. 1 buck seemed great. I never tried 0 buck, but, I'd expect its pattern to be between 00 and 1!

Be aware that you can also get 15 pellets of 00 in a 3-inch shell; and some specialty ammo loaders like Paraklese load the same in a 2 3/4 inch shell.

 

[Bob M.]

0 Buck

I have about 500 rounds of this myself. The size of the pellets is about .30 cal each vs. about .33 cal for the 00 buck. Having 12 pellets is sort of like firing 12 M1 carbines at the same time.

I'd say that'll work for HD/SD purposes.

 

[btg3]

9 pellets vs 12 pellets... I guess that's 3 extra, just in case they don't feel the other 9

I'd go with whichever has the better pattern.

 

[Skribs]

Different experts say #1 buck or #4 buck is the minimum. I have #4, but I'm considering changing to 00 simply because it's a lot more common.

The important thing to remember is that you don't pick a load based on "I want to reduce overpenetration through walls", because if it can go through a person (which it should for HD), it can go through walls.

 

[Youngster]

Much of the 00 sold today is actually closer to 0 in size in order to fit three across in a shotcup, if there is one, so you're not really losing much with 0 on a per pellet basis.

OTOH you're not losing all that much with a 12 pellet 0 load with regards to recoil compared to a typical 12 pellet 00 Magnum load.

 

[chrome_austex]

Now try it with a modified choke !

 

[Strykervet]

#4 is good stuff, 1 is recommended by some as ideal, so 0 would be right there in the running.

HOWEVER. You mention 12 pellets. Go try the Federal Power Shok first, the 00 2.75" mags. Those have 12 pellets of 00 if I'm not mistaken. BIG difference there. Looks small, but big. Those shells have some heavy recoil though, be forewarned. Their 3" shells have 15 pellets, but those are brutal, particularly for defense.

I'd like to mention you try the Hornady TAP FPD. I haven't found a better one yet, and I tested a BUNCH of different buck loads against each other. The TAP FPD had the tightest and most uniform groups in my M500, but I've heard this from a lot of folks using a myriad of weapons. It has to do with the wad they use I think. Anyway, you get 8 pellets, but at 1600fps. 1600fps is over 300fps faster than most buckshot. That isn't anything to sneeze at, that will do more damage per pellet, and considering they have tea saucer to dessert plate sized groups up to 25m, that is some serious damage. Try 'em out, they are all I use now. They may not be the coolest or whatever, but they perform the best for me and I like tight patterns.

Whatever you do, stay away from the buck and ball. The idea is GREAT, but in practice I haven't found one that does it right. The cheaper stuff seems to work best though. The new Winchester PDX is the worst by far. They put the pellets on top of the slug, guess what that does? It throws the pattern so wide that you are guaranteed fliers at even modest distances.

 

[lemaymiami]

An 8" spread at 10 yards ... I'd be very happy with that. I was taught to use a standard police shotgun with 18" barrel many years ago and you could count on 1" dispersion per meter from the muzzle. 7 meters, 7" spread, 10 meters, 10" spread... Whatever ammo you choose for HD purposes you ought to remember that the standard for police outfits was an ordinary 2 3/4" 12 guage round with OO buck for years and years. Every time I read about something more or less powerful, it's a bit like adding bells and whistles to something that's been proven to work over and over. That basic loading will do everything you'd ever need in close quarters work - where a 12 guage has no equal. If you're worried about over-penetration inside a structure you can go to something less effective - but nothing beats a standard OO buck round in it's basic loading. At 30 to 40 feet you ought to be able to place all nine pellets in your opponent's chest cavity just about every time....

 

[_N4Z_]

Thanks everyone for all the responses. As I stated, I am/was just curious what others here think about "0" as an HD load.

The only penetration concern I have is that there will be enough of it with any given load. Pellet count was mentioned as I have read some bits that refer to -"The more lead (mass) smacking the target, the better the effect." Simple physics that makes sense to me.

So, looking back at targets I have patterned in the past it does appear that the "00" buck does hold a tighter pattern than the "0". But the "0" is acceptable in my circumstances, and will be added to the mix of "00" and slugs already on hand.

Thanks again to all you guys for the input. Appreciate it.