Top three Home Defensive loads

[Wargarden]

Hello,

I was reading through the stickied thread, but I just wanted to see if people would mind listing out their top three choices for home defense. I got a birthday present and I want to see what people who know are saying.

Types of loads and brands. I know sometimes manufacture makes a difference to people.

Appreciate the input. Feel free to expound on your choices or just list. (I know how much you all hate discussing this kind of thing. )


(Also, apologies if this would fit into the above thread, feel free to close and clip if need be. Thanks!)

 

[Dave McCracken]

"Old" Estate R/R 00. If I ever run out, I'll get some Fed Flight Control stuff....

 

[CoRoMo]

Federal 00 buck
Brenneke slugs
Federal slugs

 

[CountryUgly]

#8 shot is first 2nd would be #6 and 3rd is #4.....

 

[Creature]

"Old" Estate R/R 00.

That's what I use too. Good stuff. I also keep R/R slugs handy as well...

 

[C0untZer0]

International Wound Ballistics Association advocates #1 Buck

http://www.firearmstactical.com/briefs10.htm

On the issue of what size shot, The Firearms Tactical Institute report recommends #1 Buck

For personal defense and law enforcement applications, the International Wound Ballistics Association advocates number 1 buckshot as being superior to all other buckshot sizes.

Number 1 buck is the smallest diameter shot that reliably and consistently penetrates more than 12 inches of standard ordnance gelatin when fired at typical shotgun engagement distances.

A standard 2 ¾-inch 12 gauge shotshell contains 16 pellets of #1 buck. The total combined cross sectional area of the 16 pellets is 1.13 square inches. Compared to the total combined cross sectional area of the nine pellets in a standard #00 (double-aught) buck shotshell (0.77 square inches), the # 1 buck shotshell has the capacity to produce over 30 percent more potentially effective wound trauma. In all shotshell loads, number 1 buckshot produces more potentially effective wound trauma than either #00 or #000 buck. In addition, number 1 buck is less likely to over-penetrate and exit an attacker's body.

Actually the article lists their top 5 choices although 1,2,and 3 are standard #1 Buck just from different mfgs:

For home defense applications a standard velocity 2 ¾-inch #1 buck shotshell (16 pellet payload) from Federal, Remington or Winchester is your best choice. We feel the Federal Classic 2 ¾-inch #1 buck load (F127) is slightly better than the same loads offered by Remington and Winchester. The Federal shotshell uses both a plastic shot cup and granulated plastic shot buffer to minimize post-ignition pellet deformation, whereas the Remington and Winchester loads do not.

Second best choice is Winchester's 2 ¾-inch Magnum #1 buck shotshell, which is loaded with 20 pieces of copper-plated, buffered, hardened lead #1 buckshot. For those of you who are concerned about a tight shot pattern, this shotshell will probably give you the best patterning results in number 1 buck. This load may not be a good choice for those who are recoil sensitive.

Third choice is any standard or reduced recoil 2 ¾-inch #00 lead buckshot load from Winchester, Remington or Federal.

^ this article was written before Federal came out with FLITECONTROL in #1 Buck

 

[foghornl]

I have 2 rounds i use..

Rem #4 Buck, and PMC 1-oz rifled slug.

Those are the 2 that work best in MY HomeLand Security shotgun (Maverick 88).

A few years back, I paterned various brands/sizes of buckshot untill I thought my arms were gonna fall off...how I picked the Rem #4Buck load. Same with slugs, but over a few weekends, and MUCH later.

 

[NYShooter]

Federal LE132 1B
Federal LE132 00
Federal LE127 LRS (slug)

 

[Dr.Rob]

#1 12 ga. 2&3/4 Winchester Super X unplated 00 buckshot (9 pellets) (This is the civilian version of WW military buckshot)

#2 12 ga 2 & 3/4 Remington Express 00 Buckshot (9 pellets)

#3 Slugs: if I deemed a slug necessary for my HD shotgun I have plenty of Winchester Super X 2 & 3/4 1 ounce max dram slugs that shoot very well in my shotgun as it's set up.

Found a great price here: http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/57931-5.html

My only complaint about #1 and #4 buck is that they are hard to find in bulk to practice with in my area. 00 is usually even stocked at Walmart and big box stores.

Federal makes good stuff I just get sick of that white shot buffer they use getting all over the place.

 

[Waywatcher]

#1 Federal Power Shok 00 Buck 9 pellet, 1325fps. Chrono'ed 15 rounds and it averaged just above 1300. Cut one open and they have a nice plastic shot cup and buffering. With an IC choke, I get 7/9 pellets on a 8.5x11" piece of paper at 20 yards. Price is simply outstanding and makes it the best bang for the buck when bought in bulk like at sgammo.com (Winchester's competitive load does not have a shot cup which smears lead down the bore and blows patterns. Haven't tried Remington's...)

#2 The new Federal Tactical 15 pellet 1 Buck Flite-Control Load. If money and availability were not issues, this is simply the best of all worlds.

#3 Federal Tactical 8 Pellet reduced recoil 00 Buck Flite-Control load. A consistent and reliable good performer, from all the tests I have seen.

I have only personally patterned and shot #1 and #3. I hope to try some of the new Federal 1 buck load.

 

[reckless carolinian]

Federal 00 Buck, Remington 00 buck, more Federal 00, perhaps a stray box of Winchester 00, more Federal 00, get the idea?

 

[Gordon]

If you live rural or in a concrete walled house I like straight Remington Managed recoil slugs in a well sighted in short gun. 1 oz of butter soft flatnosed lead at 1200 FPS is pretty final and they are head sized accurate to 50 yards. I have seen the LEO certified ones give about 14-16" of penetration and flatten to 1" thru any clothes in gelatin. Was told by the outfits that use them in 14" guns they usually barely go thru and don't have much of a rear exit threat on a torso or head shot.
Inside a house #4 or larger bird or buck works pretty darn well and only an over 21 foot hostage shot gets problematic with its use indoors. Reduced Recoil Buck works well up to about 50 feet, but normal power 2 3/4 00 , like Dave's beloved Estate is the way to go. yes tight patterns with flite control is better.
If I ever had to torch a shottie off in apartment I would NOT want bigger than # 2 high brass loads and #4 or #6 would better.When I went to ITTS training staying in sleazy motels in LA the shottie was loaded with the #6 training loads we used as about optimun for room invaders, just saying.

 

[The-Reaver]

1. Remington 12 Gauge #4 Buck 3" Magnum. ( Myself )
2. 230 Gr. PDX1 45 ACP ( Myself )
3. Hornady 115Gr 9mm ( Wife )

 

[Skribs]

1) #1 buck
2) 00 buck
3) #4 buck

That's my vote, anyway.

 

[The-Reaver]

Man, I feel like a turd. I didn't realize this was in the shotgun thread I added pistol calibers.

For shotguns everything is loaded with #4 buck 3" magnum. I hunt with it, stock it, store it, Its my favorite round. I don't really buy anything else but bird shot for busting clays.

 

[Tony617]

I had my shotgun loaded with either
Federal LE 132 or Federal LE 8 pellet 133. I was able to obtain the new Federal LE #1 buckshot and I fired 5 rounds at 7 yards and shot pattern is very tight. 7 yards represents the longest distance of my hallway from the bedroom. I did take picture of the target but I didn't have my phone and so I had to take the picture at home.



I'm keeping my shotgun loaded with Federal #1 buckshot with flitecontrol now.

 

[briansmithwins]

Federal reduced recoil 00 buck.
Federal #4 buck.
Brenneke reduced recoil slugs.

All function perfectly in the Benelli and the Feds pattern well.

BSW

 

[Striker]

Federal LE132 00 (In the tube)
Federal LE127 LRS (slug) (In the buttcuff)
Hi base #6 (In the buttcuff), used for rabid critters about the property.

 

[kcshooter]

#1 buck
#4 buck
00 buck

For me. Slugs are too much for my location.

Also, note that there is a big difference between #4 buck and #4 shot. Common mistake.
Shot is for birds (or small critters). Very poor decision for a defensive load.

 

[longstandingletdown]

In order of mag tube arrangement:

1) 7 1/2 bird
2) 4 buck
3) 5/8 oz foster slug

 

[CharlieDeltaJuliet]

Federal 00 Buck, and Hornady Critical Defense as my side arm load. My wife also uses Critical Defense in her SD pistols.

 

[NYShooter]

A couple of points, based on ballistic testing:
1. Birdshot is for the birds. Unless you are being invaded by a flock of zombie ducks, birdshot is ineffective for HD
2. #4 buck is only borderline effective for HD and is, IMO, also not a good option.
3. The most effective load for HD is #1 buck (that's right, better than 00 buck)

 

[kcshooter]

#4 buck is only borderline effective for HD and is, IMO, also not a good option.

This depends. For those worried about overpenetration, this may be the best option. With a nice tight pattern, I have no worries about the effectiveness of #4.

 

[NYShooter]

This depends. For those worried about overpenetration, this may be the best option. With a nice tight pattern, I have no worries about the effectiveness of #4.

You should be worried. The primary objective is to stop an assailant and #4 buck, under the best of conditions, is only marginal in this respect because it does not provide optimal penetration.

 

[kcshooter]

You should be worried.

I'm not.
It provides sufficent penetration. It comes in on the low end of penetration tests, but it still penetrates well enough to stop without issue.
There's not much risk of a threat not being stopped by #4 and the reduced mass means if your neighbors are close, you're in a less liable position.
It is a valid option for many people for in-home defense distances.

But to each their own. This is a horse that has been beat to death, resurrected, and beat a few more times.
If you are so worried about #4, then don't use it. Others may have different situations, requirements, and views.

Besides, I don't use long guns for home defense anyway.