What is the best 12 gauge round for HD

[gym]

I have Winchester 2 3/4" 00 buck, but just saw a tube video with a half dozen different choices. What are you guys using?

 

[GarySTL]

00 buck

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[btg3]

The consensus was previously established as 2 3/4" 00 buck.
Let the re-hash begin.

 

[Hypnogator]

I would go with #4 Buck, especially if excessive penetration was an issue. At accross-the-room distances, the shot column is practically a slug anyway.

 

[steveno]

here we go again

 

[M2 Carbine]

I favor 00 Buck.
A LOT of 00 Buck.

 

[nathan]

Gold standard is ....whats mentioned above.

 

[donato]

I like Remington Express (2 3/4" Magnum) #1 Buckshot.

 

[beatledog7]

00 buck, 2-3/4.

 

[TarDevil]

2 3/4 00 buck

 

[P5 Guy]

#4 buckshot 12 gauge 2 3/4.
That is like 20 0.220" balls at 1400 fps. OO buckshot is 9 0.355 balls.

 

[Shawn Dodson]

Federal #1 buckshot - http://www.gtdist.com/ProductDetail.aspx?PartNumber=FC-LE1321B

It damages more tissue than 00 buckshot and reliably achieves adequate penetration (better than #4 buckshot) to reach and damage vitals.

 

[M2 Carbine]

HD can mean different things for different people.

Across an average room any Buckshot will do a good job.

My personal HD is out to 35 yards or a little more. So I favor the bigger 00 Buckshot, up to 12 ball Sellier & Bellot 2 3/4 inch shells.

 

[russ69]

I'll add to the fun. High base buckshot loads are a solid load with a lot of recoil. It will get the job done and a little bit more. I'm not too keen on the giant blast these loads produce. For distances inside the house any load is going to be one solid clump of lead pellets, it takes a few yards for the pattern to spread. With that being said, any load with say number 4 pellets and up is going to be a serious blast of lead. Personally I'd shoot some number 4 2-3/4 loads and be satisfied.

 

[LeonCarr]

Federal Flitecontrol 00 Buckshot is what I use.

The Winchester 00 Buckshot you are currently using will work just fine for Home Defense.

I do recommend pattern testing different loads in your shotgun at the max range a shot may be possible in your home, to make sure you have a load that will keep all of the pellets inside the upper torso at that range.

I do not recommend birdshot for self defense or home defense under ANY circumstances. It does not reliably penetrate deep enough to stop a human being.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[Rob0321]

I use the Federal LE #1 Buck, at 15 yards it is still one ragged hole out of my 870.

 

[ugaarguy]

Find some buckshot that's #4 size or larger which patterns well in your gun at the max distance you need it to shoot. Everything else is going to be splitting hairs.

 

[Hangingrock]

LeonCarr: I do not recommend birdshot for self defense or home defense under ANY circumstances. It does not reliably penetrate deep enough to stop a human being.

With out being argumentative I'll ask this question for my own edification. Is this statement based on personal experience/experimentation or a documented study?

 

[Ohen Cepel]

I go with #4 since I'm looking at indoor use only and worry some about over penetration.

 

[RMc]

Yea, I must agree Fowl Shot 'tis far too feeble beyond the muzzle.

Any Hail Shot will do within the confines of my humble cottage.

Best reserve my 22 gauge buckshot pellets for deer and boar.

 

[SlowFuse]

Another vote for Federal #1 buck.

But I think anything between #4 buck down to 00 would do just fine as long as its on paper at ten or so yards.

 

[Fred Fuller]

Federal LE127-00 (9-pellet loads at 1325fps, in FliteControl wads), with Brenneke KOs on the side.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S546W_L0tFo&feature=youtu.be

Can't necessarily say it's "the best," but it's what suits me.

 

[C0untZer0]

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.

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



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[Louca]

OK, the OP has asked two questions. The first one in the subject line, "what is the best 12 ga round for HD?" is practically impossible to answer universally (although we all think we can); the second one, "what are you guys using?" is much easier to answer and can be 100% factual.

I use 2 3/4 inch #2 buckshot.

 

[gym]

Thanks for your responses