If you keep a shotgun for home defense, what shot size do you keep in it? At one time, I kept mine loaded with 00 buckshot, 9 pellets in a 2 3/4" shell. After conducting some penetration tests, I find that 00 has too much penetration for use in the house. My shotgun is now loaded with 1 oz of soft #4 shot, and a cylinder choke. This gives me about a 12" spread at 20'.