Preferred Home Defense Ammo

[fritztkatt]

I like the vital shok. It's a 2 3/4 9 pellet flight control. Listed at 1600fps. Regular is about 1350fps list, correct?

I honestly don't like to shoot them, but I have done a decent bit of pattern testing and find them to be a "nipple to nipple" sized group at 25yds. Very effective IMO, I'd prefer the #1 load, but availability and price is prohibitive.

Spartan 00 is my choice for fun or shtf buckshot. It shoots pretty stiff, and is star crimped unlike most other cheap shells. It's also got a decent pattern to about 15-20 yards.

[Area 52]

I use #4 buck, but I'd like to pick up some #1 buck. As shot size gets smaller, you gain cross sectional area but lose penetration. As partially mentioned above, #1 buck is the greatest cross sectional area you can get and still meet the FBI 12 inch gelatin penetration standard.

[billped]

#00 buck LE low recoil. Not sure if it's "the best" but I'm comfortable shooting it and that is probably as important as the theoretical benefits of "the best."

When I restock, I'll investigate again.

[THBailey]

Kinda depends.....

Do you live by yourself, or do you have four or five kids spread around the house in different bedrooms? If the latter, the suggestion above of bird shot is not a bad one. Even the humble one ounce #8 shot dove and quail load throws 437.5 grains of lead at 1300 fps muzzle velocity. At least on paper that is like two simultaneous 44 mag pistol shots. At likely in-your-house combat ranges, i.e. across your foyer, across your bedroom, maybe down the hall a ways, that bird shot will still be a fairly solid mass. Yet your interior sheetrock, particularly at an oblique angle, makes an effective barrier to slow and hopefully stop the fine shot before it can find a loved one.

You might consider one or two dove loads up front followed by the bigger stuff.

[Danodog]

Thanks all. I appreciate the suggestions. The general consensus is helpful. I will read more on the subject as the Internet has many different opinions. The thought of ammo going through walls would be a concern, but the direction of my master bedroom does not line up with other bedrooms. I appreciate the help.

Do any of you have vendor suggestions?

[ceh383]

A wise man once told me "If you live in an area where you think you will need a gun to defend your home....IT'S TIME TO MOVE"

That being said, I keep my 870 loaded with #1 buck...and I'm about 99% sure I will never need it...

[Steve_In_29]

#7 bird shot......hahahahaha

Kinda depends.....

Do you live by yourself, or do you have four or five kids spread around the house in different bedrooms? If the latter, the suggestion above of bird shot is not a bad one. Even the humble one ounce #8 shot dove and quail load throws 437.5 grains of lead at 1300 fps muzzle velocity. At least on paper that is like two simultaneous 44 mag pistol shots. At likely in-your-house combat ranges, i.e. across your foyer, across your bedroom, maybe down the hall a ways, that bird shot will still be a fairly solid mass. Yet your interior sheetrock, particularly at an oblique angle, makes an effective barrier to slow and hopefully stop the fine shot before it can find a loved one.

You might consider one or two dove loads up front followed by the bigger stuff.

Neither of these "birdshot" recommendations should be taken seriously if you value the lives of you and your family.

The "on paper" .44 Mag comparison is indeed only valid "on paper" and ends as soon as those tiny pellets hit anything. They don't have enough mass to penetrate deeply thus the resulting wound is nasty but shallow and not likely to end the fight at anything beyond touching distance. Especially if the attacker is on drugs or even just amped up with adrenalin for that matter.

The tightest patterning buckshot round is the Federal Flight Control but in reality pretty much any #1/#4/00Buck round will work well for an HD situation. If buying #1/#4 make sure it's buck and not birdshot, as they make both.

[Danodog]

I saw this deal on Estate 12 gauge 00 buck for as low as .32 cents a round. Seems to get great reviews and I know a good deal when I see one, so I went in on 4 cases. If it doesn't work well, I can always sell it for what I paid or donate it to the scouts.

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=1096180

Dano

[CodyGT46]

I keep two shotguns at the ready bedside for my girlfriend and myself. Remington 870 on my side loaded with 5 plain jane Remington 00 buckshot and the last round being a slug. Girlfriend's side has my Winchester 1200 Police model loaded with low recoil buckshot, not sure what size. No kids to worry about, just dogs, a black lab and a pit, which would probably get to whoever broke in before I could get the gun moving.

[j15w]

I use Hornady TAP 00 low recoil. It uses the versatite wad, said to be very similar to federal's flitecontrol wad, but the pattern opens up just a bit more, which I prefer at home defense distances. About softball sized at 10 yards.

The Fiocchi low recoil 00 opens up more than that, obviously, but I like it as well and would not hesitate to use it.

I did some impromptu pattern testing here:

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=1039538

[JohnFLand]

Federal Premium LE Tactical #1*Buckshot 12 Ga 2-3/4" 15 Pellets FLITECONTROL LE1321B 5rds/box;

https://www.ammunitiondepot.com

Just bought a bunch.

[JohnFLand]

More precise link:

http://www.ammunitiondepot.com/mobile/Product.aspx?ProductCode=LE1321B

[Bill Steele]

I found a case of the Federal LE Low Recoil #1 Buck with the Flight Control Wad a while back. Should last me a while.

[bigbearbear]

How do you like the Fiocchi buck? I also purchased some Hornady TAP 00 buck, but haven't gotten around to testing it yet.

I like them enough to keep a few boxes on hand for home defense. They cycle well in my semi-auto shotguns and patterns pretty ok too.

I've tried the Hornady TAP low recoil ones, those are very low recoil, so much so that while they will cycle in my semi-auto, they do not have enough recoil to hold the bolt open on the last round. I think they are too light but for pump shotguns training, they might be nice because you won't get beaten as much.

[Saym14]

A wise man once told me "If you live in an area where you think you will need a gun to defend your home....IT'S TIME TO MOVE"

That being said, I keep my 870 loaded with #1 buck...and I'm about 99% sure I will never need it...

so you live in a bad area? otherwise you don't need a gun according to this wise man. was his name BARACK ?