12 Gauge Buckshot

[fortyofforty]

Out of the myriad choices of buckshot available in 12 gauge 2 3/4 inch, I imagine that most prefer 00 buck for home defense. But, there are also 0 buck, and 1 buck. You can even find 00 buckshot in 8 pellet, 9 pellet and 12 pellet shells. Right now, if price were no object, I would lean towards having more pellets in 1 buck over fewer in 00 buck. What do you guys prefer and why?

[SCmasterblaster]

Out of the myriad choices of buckshot available in 12 gauge 2 3/4 inch, I imagine that most prefer 00 buck for home defense. But, there are also 0 buck, and 1 buck. You can even find 00 buckshot in 8 pellet, 9 pellet and 12 pellet shells. Right now, if price were no object, I would lean towards having more pellets in 1 buck over fewer in 00 buck. What do you guys prefer and why?

I prefer the No. 1 buckshot. It is harder to find, but it is a treasure. A whole lot of pellets due to better volume concentration. 16 big 0.30-inch No. 1 buckshot pellets in the 2-3/4-inch loads. That is a LOT of hitting power. :cool:

[fredj338]

What ever you choose, pattern the load @ your chosen distance. It's amazing how diff they can be. I like the idea of #1 buck, but my 870 won't patterne well @ 45ft w/ it. Most reduced recoil #00 shoots sell, but my fav indoor rounds is just about any brand #4 buck. My sg prints dead ctr, nice round patterns w/ all 27 of the 24cal pellets staying on an 11x17 target @ 45ft, about as long as hot as I would ever have to make.

[Little Joe]

Have you read this?

http://www.chuckhawks.com/home_defense_shotgun_ammo.htm

[fortyofforty]

Have you read this?

http://www.chuckhawks.com/home_defense_shotgun_ammo.htm

Yes, a while ago. That's what probably planted the idea of using #1 buckshot in my mind. Thanks.

[Crosshair_84]

I have often wondered how the 12 pellet loads compare with the 9 pellet loads? Penetration. Velocity. Spread. Recoil. etc.

[Tiro Fijo]

I prefer the No. 1 buckshot. It is harder to find, but it is a treasure. A whole lot of pellets due to better volume concentration. 16 big 0.30-inch No. 1 buckshot pellets in the 2-3/4-inch loads. That is a LOT of hitting power. :cool:


This.

[dp2002813]

Is there any reason #4 buck would not be decent?

[wtf0ver]

i use #4 in my mossberg. patterns well

[fortyofforty]

Only in terms of penetration, larger pellets might be preferable. At room-clearing distances, it's probably just fine, of course.

[fredj338]

Is there any reason #4 buck would not be decent?
Penetration w/ #4buck is quite good in soft tissue. It would be lacking as distance increases or against bone, well maybe large bones. This was a beef rib shot @ 12yds, riot choke 870. Left was #4buck, right was #6 birdshot. Why one does NOT use any size birdshot IMO. Note none of the birdhsot went thru.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v703/fredj338/ribs-1.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v703/fredj338/ribs-2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v703/fredj338/4buck.jpg

[David_Ely]

Mas Ayoob also recommends #1 Buck for defense. I'm going to stick with the best patterning 00 Buck I can find. Right now I'm shooting Fiocchi 9 pellet nickel plated buck because I bought 150 rounds of it cheap.

[fortyofforty]

I actually considered this, but using a buckshot that patterns too tightly somewhat defeats the purpose of using buckshot. One such load is Federal Flite Control. The patterning is awesome. However, at within-the-home distances, I might not be too concerned about a tight-patterning load, and might want a little spread to allow for imprecise aiming or target movement.

[Manolito1]

I am no balistics expert and I have yet to find a good read on steel shot but with 1556 FPS the shot I use on Geese is also loaded in my home defense short shotgun.
The pattern is great and the penetration is great. We have no neighbors and just the wife and I but if I have a BG on the other side of a wall I own him with this load.

[purrrfect 10]

Have you read this?

http://www.chuckhawks.com/home_defense_shotgun_ammo.htm

Little Joe Thank you for that info. I have a shot gun my Dad bought me for deer hunting 45 year ago. It's a Deer slayer 12 gauge w/ 21" barrel. never really crossed my mind to buy # 1 or 00 for it for SD. On another thread someone was talking about using rubber buck I thought WTF if i were to use my shot gun I have it loaded with slugs. I daily carry a g20 as my prime CCW.

I will be buying some #1 and 00 to see how they perform at a close range with my short barrel, should I ever need it in a home defense situation

Thanks again

[David_Ely]

I am no balistics expert and I have yet to find a good read on steel shot but with 1556 FPS the shot I use on Geese is also loaded in my home defense short shotgun.
The pattern is great and the penetration is great. We have no neighbors and just the wife and I but if I have a BG on the other side of a wall I own him with this load.

I would save "bird shot" for the birds and get yourself some buckshot. Steel pellets are very light weight and will not retain energy for long and will have a very difficult time penetrating enough to be effective. People are not geese. But if that's what you're comfortable with protecting yourself and your wife, then so be it.

[phonejack]

+1 for #1 buck

[9mm +p+]

00 for me, I run 12 pellet 2 3/4 or 15 pellet 3" loads our of my 590. Winchester or Federal both seem to pattern well our of mine.

[TheLawRB]

Found this some time ago on the Federal Buckshot with Flight Control
http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot45.htm

[PlasticGuy]

My preference is for #4 buckshot. Penetration is adequate, and it has so many pellets that it literally chews up targets within normal home defense ranges. Gelatin testing looks really nasty, and it has a great record with departments that issue it.

[my762buzz]

#4 Buck is great for defensive use.


41 pellets of buckshot is pretty convincing medicine.

[ULVER]

Think this might be much for home defence>? :supergrin:

benelli nova with dixi tri balls GV - YouTube

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k178/ulver_2006/1126091301a.jpg

[DonGlock26]

I use the same load that I have in my PD shotgun- Federal Tactical 00 Buck. It has slightly less recoil for fast follow-up shots and groups tightly.