[thinktwice]

My main defense load for my shotgun (18.5" barrel) is 2 3/4 inch buckshot (nine pellets) a friend of mine say's I should use 3 inch magnum shells. I understand the magnum shells have somewhat more power, but I think regular 2 3/4 inch will get the job done just as good, and with less recoil. I would like to hear what you guys think.

[Joenpb]

2 3/4 00 buck will work just fine, and like you said they have less recoil. Police officers who are more likely to encounter multiple perpetrators at further ranges than home defense might like them, although many officers use the 2 3/4" size too.

[Ferdinandd]

I won't use 3 inch again in my 500 or 870 - way too much recoil for me. Plus, I load my own BK and can load 12x00 bk over Blue Dot that is somewhere in between commercial 2.75v and 3 inch ammo - if I want. I've been moving towards 8 or 9 pellet 00 rounds with good velocity and tight patterns.

[method]

3" shells will also cost you a shell's worth of capacity in a tube magazine.

[aippi]

Regular ass buckshot is fine, however, in my early years our department load was 2 3/4" magnum 00 buck which has 12 pellets. I'm used to it and still use it. Don't need it for HD but I have a gun shop on my property and should there be a problem it is mostlikely going to be out side. With that in mind I like the extra lead.

[David Armstrong]

IME there are very few PDs that use the magnum loads for general use, and even fewer trainers that recommend them. For the usual scenario the 2.75" round works quite well. In fact, there is some pretty good evidence that going even lighter (the reduced recoil or "tactical" buck) will tighten groups without giving you any significant loss of performance for normal defensive use.

[DPris]

In general, aside from Federal's Flitecontrol stuff, a three-inch buck shell will give you increased recoil levels & patterns that open up more rapidly than a 2 3/4-inch version.

I see no practical reason to go with a three-incher in standard versions, you slow down recovery time between shots and you decrease your useful range with buck.

Denis

[Nutt51]

Thinktwice, I'm with you and the rest of the boy's on
this one.
For HD the 2 3/4" is just fine. No need for the extra
cost or recoil of a 3" Mag.

[just a shooter]

for back country I like 3" mag buck in the pipe backed up with 2 3/4" slugs in the magazine.

but for HD I go 2.75 9 pellet or #4 Buck. sometimes I mix the two with the last round a slug.

whatever my paranoia is for the day.

[SUNDSVALL]

What about reduced recoil 00 buck and slugs w/ flite control from Federal?

LE132 and LE127

[Joenpb]

The reduced recoil 00 buck works great. I used some for a shotgun 1 class and it patterned well, and the recoil wasn't bad. I prefer this type of loading.

[mitchshrader]

Up close & personal, faster is better than mo' powah.

At any distance a 2 3/4 buck won't work, use a patrol rifle, or slugs. That wouldn't be HD use.

I don't think a more lethal weapon always results in a more lethal gun/shooter combination. I tell folks use the gun you shoot best. If that's not the gun you're currently using, why not?

[Joenpb]

Because that gun is an Air Soft.

Its certainly fairly easy to become proficient with a shotgun at home defense distances.

[DPris]

Reduced recoil buck will generally shoot tighter.
So-labelled "Reduced Recoil" loads achieve it by lower velocities, with lower energy figures.
The Flitecontrol buck is achieving a good rep for tight patterns.

Denis

[22highcaps]

2-3/4" 12P 00BK copper plated Vital Shok patterns very well.

Another alternative is the 16P 1BK Winchester.

3" is not necessary.

[Darkangel1846]

Pardon the pun ....don't over kill. Unless you live in the great white North where Mr. Bear lives I'd be happy with the 2 3/4

[byf43]

Originally Posted by method

3" shells will also cost you a shell's worth of capacity in a tube magazine.

Agreed.

2-3/4" shells work just fine for HD purposes. Not really any need (IMNSHO) for 3" shells, inside. (Unless you're in a warehouse.)