Slugs vs Buckshot for Home Defense
Apologies if this has been covered before (I could not find this specific discussion).
If you are using a 12 gauge (or other shotgun)for home defense, do you load it with slugs or buckshot rounds or something else, or a mix ? I have a 8 round ITHACA pump featherlight with 20" barrel.
On another forum there was some concern that slugs have exceptional penetration capability and could go through walls potentially endangering neighbors, that is not an issue for me due to distance to neighbor's house.
In several decades I have had one home break in, where I am sure he thought no one was home. I racked one up and he ran like a scared rabbit. Always thought that was a real benefit of a pump action (funny but some folks have the app on their iPhone that duplicates that sound). Honestly I hope I never have to shoot anyone, but it still makes sense to have the most effective round should that day ever come.
Not intending this be a discussion about what is a better home defense weapon and we have others.
If you are using a 12 gauge (or other shotgun)for home defense, do you load it with slugs or buckshot rounds or something else, or a mix ? I have a 8 round ITHACA pump featherlight with 20" barrel.
On another forum there was some concern that slugs have exceptional penetration capability and could go through walls potentially endangering neighbors, that is not an issue for me due to distance to neighbor's house.
In several decades I have had one home break in, where I am sure he thought no one was home. I racked one up and he ran like a scared rabbit. Always thought that was a real benefit of a pump action (funny but some folks have the app on their iPhone that duplicates that sound). Honestly I hope I never have to shoot anyone, but it still makes sense to have the most effective round should that day ever come.
Not intending this be a discussion about what is a better home defense weapon and we have others.
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depends on where you are... apt or 200 acre farm.
for most people 2 #4 turkey loads then 6 #4 buck would be ideal i would say. reloads (side saddle)or round substitution on my benelli are slugs. out in the country id have a short ar0 -
Buckshot. Slugs are for range. 0 -
First, I would have a hard time hitting my neighbor's place with a .308. Some folks live closer than that.
Both buckshot and slugs are doing to penetrate- more than you might think. I would recommend a gent that publishes actual tests on the internet- look up box 'o truth. http://www.theboxotruth.com/the-box-o-truth-14-rifles-shotguns-and-walls/
Birdshot is for birds. at any distance over a few feet, the pellets do not have the mass to reliably reach vital organs. Makes nasty wounds, but shallow.
My standard loading is first 4 rounds, 00 buck, next 4 slugs. YMMV.0 -
At close range,( less than 30 feet). Normal in house distance, unless your home is the size of Bill Gates or Donald Trumps. Neither bird shot, or buck shot, will spread into a large pattern.
Because of this the shotgun, has to be aimed at the perp. If you have any expectation, to actually hit him. Doesn't much matter what size shot you use. Obviously larger shot would have more penetration. Which would be beneficial, if your dealing with a meth head who hasn't sleaph in a week.
I have confidence in a 12 gauge short magnum load. Of 1 1/2 ounces of nickel plated #6's. Even with a extremady hit, it would ruin a perps day.0 -
Rem 870 Express 20" BBL pistol griped extended magazine skeet #2 screw in choke tube mid bead in the rib.
18 pellets of buffered OO or 41 pellets of #4 buckshot - will own camp to 50 yards.
Cast Lyman 540 grain sabot slug 4 DE - 3# coffee can @ 90 yards.
You need to pattern your loads in your gun and check the penatration, compair to your house.
Learn to shoot from the hip, practice several times a year.0 -
#1 buck 0 -
The KEY word here is defense. That most of the time, legally means 21 feet or less. The secondary key word, is HOME...meaning inside, or outside a dwelling, where loved ones could be in close proximity, in other rooms.
I stick to the 12 gauge 870, with a 21 inch barrel, and an IC choke tube installed. My load of choice is 2 3/4" high base #4 shot. At 21 feet the pattern is a little over 12", and it will come close to penetrating a wall that has a layer of sheetrock on both sides...but not quite.
Just remember that anything beyond 21 feet, there is a great possibility that the prosecutor will make you out to be the bad guy, the grand jury will indict you, and the jury might convict you.
However, it is always better to be judged by 12, than carried by 6.0 -
Some very good information in all these posts.
I am kind of leaning towards reduced-recoil 00 buckshot which would work fine in my pump action. Going to the range to check patterns as suggested. That link showing the drywall penetrations was interesting.0 -
Remember Federal Flitecontrol. We shoot a fair amount of shotgun here on our range and sell a good number of short barreled guns for use as defensive work. The Federal Flitecontrol buckshot has given us the tightest patterns of all the loads we have tested. Both my Rem. 870 Police Magnum setting here beside me at work and my Moss. 590 at home are loaded with this load. 2 3/4" 00 buck. Federal does make great slugs too and I have some with my shotguns if I feel the need to reach out.
I remember talking to a Secret Service agent here in the store a few years back. He had worked on V.P. Chaney's detail and of course we talked guns.His favorite was a cut down 870. I remember him telling me that he was very comfortable with that gun out to 150 yds and while the slug would not penetrate some body armor it would shove it up the target's ass.[:)]0 -
Sounds straight killy if you're gonna use slugs in your home. 0 -
Very interesting info regarding FliteControl
https://federalpremium.com/education/flitecontrol.aspx0
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