[ShotgunPro]

I'm new to shotguns, I'm looking for real self-defense ammo. The Winchester site lists Super-X steel shot as self defense ammo but i'm not sure about it. It also listed Xpert as a self defense round but there are birds and clays on the box. I want buckshot but not 00 yet, i wanna try number 4 shot i've read good things about it. More pellets, nice spread size, thats what i'm looking for. so what should i look for?

 

[ShotgunPro]

00 buck is the only thing I would recommend for SD. Forget about spread you need to have a tight group of lead in order to penetrate deep enough.

 

[ShotgunPro]

I use these..
12 ga. 2-3/4" Ranger 00 Buckshot

http://www.winchester.com/products/le/shotshell-ammunition/ranger/ranger-buckshot/Pages/RA12005.aspx

 

[ShotgunPro]

I like #4 Buck 27 pellets in 2.3/4 shell. hard to find though

 

[ShotgunPro]

For home defence the majority of people I have read say 00 buck is the best.

I also read one persons opinion to put a "less than lethal" 00 rubber pellet buck as the first round followed by one birdshot. Everything after that was 00.

With a SG I would like to think that if the trigger is pulled the first round does the job. If you are in the situation where you have to use it, make it count.

 

[ShotgunPro]

For home defence the majority of people I have read say 00 buck is the best.

I also read one persons opinion to put a "less than lethal" 00 rubber pellet buck as the first round followed by one birdshot. Everything after that was 00.

With a SG I would like to think that if the trigger is pulled the first round does the job. If you are in the situation where you have to use it, make it count.

That is the stupidest thing I've ever hear. This person needs to consider using something other than a firearm for selfdefense.

 

[ShotgunPro]

I don't see any reason to use steel birdshot (#4 etc). Steel is expensive and weighs less than lead, meaning lower penetration (penetration is a good thing). Lead buckshot and/or slugs would be fine.


Some folks live in apartments and don't like slugs. I like slugs and don't like apartments.

 

[ShotgunPro]

I use #4 buck, but wouldn't hesitate to use 00 either.
I would never ever ever use rubber buck or birdshot in a self defense situation

 

[ShotgunPro]

I use these..
12 ga. 2-3/4" Ranger 00 Buckshot

http://www.winchester.com/products/le/shotshell-ammunition/ranger/ranger-buckshot/Pages/RA12005.aspx

How did you get in my ammo closet?!?

 

[ShotgunPro]

For home defence the majority of people I have read say 00 buck is the best.

I also read one persons opinion to put a "less than lethal" 00 rubber pellet buck as the first round followed by one birdshot. Everything after that was 00.

With a SG I would like to think that if the trigger is pulled the first round does the job. If you are in the situation where you have to use it, make it count.

That is the stupidest thing I've ever hear. This person needs to consider using something other than a firearm for selfdefense.

Agreed with Agalindo, and if I may add--if you pull the trigger on a firearm, you're using lethal force, regardless of what's loaded--blank, rubber, or lead, legally it's all the same.

And, for the OP--as I stated above, low-recoil 00 is, imho, one of the best choices for an inside the home shotgun defensive load.

And birdshot should only be used on mammals weighing less than ten pounds--rabbits, squirrels, and little yappy dogs. For anything larger, use buck.

 

[ShotgunPro]

Buckshot is similar to but larger than birdshot, and was originally designed for hunting larger game, such as deer (hence the name). While the advent of new, more accurate slug technologies is making buckshot less attractive for hunting, it is still the most common choice for police, military, and home defense uses. Like birdshot, buckshot is described by pellet size, with larger numbers indicating smaller shot. From the smallest to the largest, buckshot sizes are: #4, (called "number four"), #1, 0 ("one-aught"), 00 ("double-aught"), 000 ("triple-aught") and 0000 ("four-aught"). A typical round for defensive use would be a 12 gauge 2 3/4" (7 cm) length 00 buck shell, which contains 9 pellets roughly 8.4 mm (.33 inch) in diameter, each comparable to a .38 Special bullet in damage potential. New "tactical" buckshot rounds, designed specifically for defensive use, use slightly fewer shot at lower velocity to reduce recoil and increase controllability of the shotgun. There are some shotgun rounds designed specifically for police use that shoot effectively from 50 yards (46 m) with a 20" diameter grouping of the balls.

For SD i wouldn't use anything smaller than the #4 shot. I have #4 and 00 here at home for my defense puropses.

 

[ShotgunPro]

Terminal ballistics experts recommend nothing smaller than 00.

 

[ShotgunPro]

And birdshot should only be used on mammals weighing less than ten pounds ....

How about birds? :twisted:

 

[ShotgunPro]

I really like the tight pattern of the Hornady TAP/FPD 2 3/4" 00 buckshot, but I'm having a hard time finding it locally. I've only really compared the Hornady TAP, Winchester PDX-12 (slug with 3 00 buck pellets out front), and the Winchester Military Grade 00 buckshot. The PDX-12 is WICKED, but I'm not convinced with using a slug indoors (would be great for outdoor zombie riot situations and thats why I keep some on hand ). The Hornady TAP provides a much tighter pattern than the military grade, but the military grade is cheaper.

 

[ShotgunPro]

How about birds? :twisted:

As birds are not mammals, it would be appropriate, one would think.

 

[ShotgunPro]

As birds are not mammals, it would be appropriate, one would think.

It seemed as though you were saying it could be used ONLY on small mammals. :lol:

 

[ShotgunPro]

Terminal ballistics experts recommend nothing smaller than 00.

Well I use #1buck. It is the smallest buckshot that meets penetration minimums in gello, not that that matters to me..... The overall surface area of 16 #1 pellets is 30% more than 9 OO buck pellets. More wound surface area combined with more than enough penetration works great for me and it fills the pattern in with less voids.

I bet it penetrates less wall board too. #4 buck to me is too small and I have seen it get less than expected penetration on critters. #1 seems about perfect to me........

 

[ShotgunPro]

i use 00buck if that helps

 

[ShotgunPro]

Well I use #1buck. It is the smallest buckshot that meets penetration minimums in gello, not that that matters to me..... The overall surface area of 16 #1 pellets is 30% more than 9 OO buck pellets. More wound surface area combined with more than enough penetration works great for me and it fills the pattern in with less voids.

I bet it penetrates less wall board too. #4 buck to me is too small and I have seen it get less than expected penetration on critters. #1 seems about perfect to me........

Source for #1 buck?

 

[ShotgunPro]

I really like the tight pattern of the Hornady TAP/FPD 2 3/4" 00 buckshot, but I'm having a hard time finding it locally.

Try the Federal 00 buck with the Flite Control wad. Patterns great out of my 18.5 inch Remington, and if you look hard enough, you can get it for less than $.80 a round.