sroc112 19 Posted July 2, 2016 12g with a 2 3/4 - 3 inch capacity. Was looking at #4 but sure of weight. Anyone have a size/weight/brand they like? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RichP 115 Posted July 2, 2016 12 gauge, 2 3/4 No. 4 buckshot. Do not mistake #4 birdshot for #4 buckshot, 2 different animals (pun intended). For HD purposes, any of the quality brands will work equally well. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
T Bill 649 Posted July 2, 2016 Best Defense Round has been debated over and over again. In this state you are under a whole lot a scrutiny after a discharge, may as well make it worth your while. Low recoil 00 buck and some slugs for good measure. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NickySantoro 211 Posted July 2, 2016 #1 buck, preferably low recoil Fed LE132 1B if you can get it. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GRIZ 3,365 Posted July 2, 2016 All good answers so far. Anything smaller than #4 buck lacks sufficient penetration in the target. That's the most common shortcoming in using small shot. Another not often mentioned fault of small shot in this application is small shot that doesnt hit the tartget will ricochet off metal surfaces. Think refrigerators, doors, office chairs, etc. No need for 3" or bigger for SD. Before you settle for a load get a few 5 packs of buckshot and pattern them in your gun. What works well in mine may not work well in yours. A open choke will generally give a spread of about 1 inch per yard. Don't be fooled by some that argue barrel length determines shot spread. Thats all about choke. Low recoil buckshot loads usually patterns tighter. I like 12 ga low recoil 00 buck. No need for slugs unless you contemplate having to shoot over 15 yds. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MidwestPX 172 Posted July 2, 2016 It depends. Buy a few boxes of buckshot and pattern them to see what the gun prefers. My 590A1 prefers Federal LE13200 while my inheirited 590 prefers Hornady TAP based on patterns. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bhunted 887 Posted July 2, 2016 Nobelsport are good. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Screwball 483 Posted July 2, 2016 I primarily load PDX1s... slug and three 00 buckshot. Not for everyone, but if my girlfriend has to shoot at home, we have a perfect backstop for it (stone fireplace). She isn't going to be clearing the house, so she has standoff distance with that in the background. Other than that, I used to use TAP 00 buckshot. Something along those lines would be perfect. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GRIZ 3,365 Posted July 2, 2016 I primarily load PDX1s... slug and three 00 buckshot. Not for everyone, but if my girlfriend has to shoot at home, we have a perfect backstop for it (stone fireplace). She isn't going to be clearing the house, so she has standoff distance with that in the background. Other than that, I used to use TAP 00 buckshot. Something along those lines would be perfect. Don't count on the bad guy standing in front of the fireplace. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Screwball 483 Posted July 2, 2016 Don't count on the bad guy standing in front of the fireplace. I don't... but if my girlfriend needs to shoot, it will be down one avenue, leading right to that backdrop. Again, it isn't her job to clear the house. Alarm goes off, she will wait for response... and keep someone from getting to her. Nobody here is aware of how my home is setup. I considered my needs, and picked that as being the best option. That is enough that needs to be said, and I don't have to defend it. If things change, I will consider new loads. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sroc112 19 Posted July 2, 2016 Well i just ordered some 04 bucks (3 inch), 00 bucks (3 inch), and spugs for the range since thats all that rtsp will let you shoot there. Thanks for the feedback Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sroc112 19 Posted July 2, 2016 Sorry, the 00 and 04 are for home. Slugs for range Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
leo-польд 35 Posted July 6, 2016 I wouldn't suggest shotgun for home protection at all unless you will have ear muffs or other protection ready on you first place. Think about this, I prefer 9mm/.357sig HP ammo with pistol or carbine. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bhunted 887 Posted July 6, 2016 I wouldn't suggest shotgun for home protection at all unless you will have ear muffs or other protection ready on you first place. Think about this, I prefer 9mm/.357sig HP ammo with pistol or carbine. Any firearm will blow your ears out. Ask how I know. Despite how Hollywood portrays gun fire like on our police shows or something as crazy as the Expendables where the whole movie is gun fire, nobody supposedly wears ear protection. Hell, you don't wear it outside, you'll be hearing Santa's sleigh for a week. So I don't know where you get that from. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Old School 611 Posted July 6, 2016 All good answers but have one problem with all of them. Range. I don't know the layout of anyone's home but range is a deciding factor. As Griz said and correctly so, you can figure on 1" of pattern per yard. So your hallway is 20' and that's a long hallway... You get a little over 6" of pattern. You throw 7/8oz of #6 or 7 1/2 birdshot at a bad guy in a 6" circle that's nasty. And that's a low recoil load that won't over penetrate.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sroc112 19 Posted July 6, 2016 I wouldn't suggest shotgun for home protection at all unless you will have ear muffs or other protection ready on you first place. Think about this, I prefer 9mm/.357sig HP ammo with pistol or carbine. But what about for when the zombies come? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sroc112 19 Posted July 6, 2016 All good answers but have one problem with all of them. Range. I don't know the layout of anyone's home but range is a deciding factor. As Griz said and correctly so, you can figure on 1" of pattern per yard. So your hallway is 20' and that's a long hallway... You get a little over 6" of pattern. You throw 7/8oz of #6 or 7 1/2 birdshot at a bad guy in a 6" circle that's nasty. And that's a low recoil load that won't over penetrate.. So what if you just kept it full of 1oz slugs? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Screwball 483 Posted July 6, 2016 You throw 7/8oz of #6 or 7 1/2 birdshot at a bad guy in a 6" circle that's nasty. And that's a low recoil load that won't over penetrate.. Birdshot is best left for the birds... Prime example. There is a picture on this following page, saying the dog was hit with about 30-40 pellets. One full ounce of #6 has 225 pellets and 7.5 is 350 (for 7/8 shot, about 196 and 306 pellets, respectively). That means smaller pellets with less energy... so, less penetration. Not saying it won't be nasty looking, but very likely superficial. http://www.tribtoday.com/page/content.detail/id/555778/Dog-suffers-pellet-wounds.html?nav=5021 Notice the wound is about 6" in diameter. Dog survived the gunshot. You want a threat inside your home to survive and continue to be a threat? Wrong idea of defensive shooting, in my opinion. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sroc112 19 Posted July 6, 2016 Birdshot is best left for the birds... Prime example. There is a picture on this following page, saying the dog was hit with about 30-40 pellets. One full ounce of #6 has 225 pellets and 7.5 is 350 (for 7/8 shot, about 196 and 306 pellets, respectively). That means smaller pellets with less energy... so, less penetration. Not saying it won't be nasty looking, but very likely superficial.http://www.tribtoday.com/page/content.detail/id/555778/Dog-suffers-pellet-wounds.html?nav=5021 Notice the wound is about 6" in diameter. Dog survived the gunshot. You want a threat inside your home to survive and continue to be a threat? Wrong idea of defensive shooting, in my opinion. So 00buck it is Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MidwestPX 172 Posted July 6, 2016 All good answers but have one problem with all of them. Range. I don't know the layout of anyone's home but range is a deciding factor. As Griz said and correctly so, you can figure on 1" of pattern per yard. So your hallway is 20' and that's a long hallway... You get a little over 6" of pattern. You throw 7/8oz of #6 or 7 1/2 birdshot at a bad guy in a 6" circle that's nasty. And that's a low recoil load that won't over penetrate.. This is why patterning is so important. Federal Flight control out of my 590A1 is a 4" pattern at 7 yards and doesn't change significantly from 5 to 12 yards. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sroc112 19 Posted July 8, 2016 Is it ok to scatter different ammunition in the gun? For example load 2 slugs, 2 04 bucks, 2 00 bucks? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MidwestPX 172 Posted July 8, 2016 Is it ok to scatter different ammunition in the gun? For example load 2 slugs, 2 04 bucks, 2 00 bucks? Why? You can't select a specific load from the magazine when cycling the action. You're better off just sticking to one load. Kind of like not mixing FMJs in with JHPs in handgun magazines. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Krdshrk 3,871 Posted July 8, 2016 Agreed. Unless you've got a Kel-Tec KSG or something, don't switch up - keep it consistent. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sroc112 19 Posted July 8, 2016 Got it, thanks. But obviously ok to go through a full round of one type of ammunition then reload with another, correct? Dont need to only shoot 1 size shell for the whole life of the gun? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Purple Patrick 638 Posted July 8, 2016 You can shoot any round you would like out of the gun. I'm an HD situation it's best to keep it loaded with the same type of round this signature exceeds the 15 character capacity count Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fishnut 2,358 Posted July 9, 2016 Birdshot is best left for the birds... Prime example. There is a picture on this following page, saying the dog was hit with about 30-40 pellets. One full ounce of #6 has 225 pellets and 7.5 is 350 (for 7/8 shot, about 196 and 306 pellets, respectively). That means smaller pellets with less energy... so, less penetration. Not saying it won't be nasty looking, but very likely superficial. http://www.tribtoday.com/page/content.detail/id/555778/Dog-suffers-pellet-wounds.html?nav=5021 Notice the wound is about 6" in diameter. Dog survived the gunshot. You want a threat inside your home to survive and continue to be a threat? Wrong idea of defensive shooting, in my opinion. yup bird shot isent that bad of a wound. Especially when a drunk fires through a sticker bush and shoots you in the back while your wearing a thick jacket from 25 yards away. Kinda felt like warm bee stings. I stayed away from WMA bird hunting for almost 20 years after that. However I'm not dead and if I was trying to hurt someone that round would not have stopped me. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
W2MC 1,699 Posted July 9, 2016 I've never tried 'em, but these are intriguing...the modern version of 'buck-n-ball' Multidefense Shotshells — The ultimate knockdown power with a 0.65" round lead ball, backed by six No. 1 buckshot pellets. 12 ga.http://www.cabelas.com/product/shooting/ammunition/shotgun-ammunition%7C/pc/104792580/c/104691780/sc/104567580/herter-s-reg-defense-shotshells/1555113.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fshotgun-ammunition%2F_%2FN-1100191%2B4294751476%2FNe-4294751476%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104567580%3FWTz_st%3DGuidedNav%26WTz_stype%3DGNU Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JC_68Westy 1,024 Posted July 9, 2016 This is why patterning is so important. Federal Flight control out of my 590A1 is a 4" pattern at 7 yards and doesn't change significantly from 5 to 12 yards. I completely agree on the Federal Flight control. The LE loads hold really tight compared to any other 00 that I have patterned in an open choked HD shotgun. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
10X 3,278 Posted July 9, 2016 I've never tried 'em, but these are intriguing...the modern version of 'buck-n-ball' Multidefense Shotshells — The ultimate knockdown power with a 0.65" round lead ball, backed by six No. 1 buckshot pellets. 12 ga.http://www.cabelas.com/product/shooting/ammunition/shotgun-ammunition%7C/pc/104792580/c/104691780/sc/104567580/herter-s-reg-defense-shotshells/1555113.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fshotgun-ammunition%2F_%2FN-1100191%2B4294751476%2FNe-4294751476%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104567580%3FWTz_st%3DGuidedNav%26WTz_stype%3DGNU Ammo for the indecisive. I've never understood those. If you think buckshot is the right solution, buy buckshot. If you think a slug is appropriate, buy slugs. If you can't decide, go off and think about it some more, and by all means do some patterning. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bhunted 887 Posted July 9, 2016 I've never tried 'em, but these are intriguing...the modern version of 'buck-n-ball' Multidefense Shotshells — The ultimate knockdown power with a 0.65" round lead ball, backed by six No. 1 buckshot pellets. 12 ga.http://www.cabelas.com/product/shooting/ammunition/shotgun-ammunition%7C/pc/104792580/c/104691780/sc/104567580/herter-s-reg-defense-shotshells/1555113.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fshotgun-ammunition%2F_%2FN-1100191%2B4294751476%2FNe-4294751476%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104567580%3FWTz_st%3DGuidedNav%26WTz_stype%3DGNU These are basically the same as the Nobelsport LE rounds I posted in post 7...They work very well. I tested them out to about 25ft and they almost actually hold that pattern inside 3ft wide. I am content with them and use them for HD in my 590 and M4 shotty. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites