Does it matter which slug or buckshot?

[Rottentofu]

I started researching 12ga shotgun defensive ammo. I found many types of slugs and buckshots (00) with prices ranging from $0.40 per round to $2.00 per round. I can understand where a pistol round would have different type of ammo with the more expensive ammo being more powerful than the cheaper target practicing ammo. However, when it come to slugs and buckshots, does it matter if I shoot the bad guy with a $0.40 slug/buckshot or a $2.00 slug/buckshot?

[DarkSoul]

I started researching 12ga shotgun defensive ammo. I found many types of slugs and buckshots (00) with prices ranging from $0.40 per round to $2.00 per round. I can understand where a pistol round would have different type of ammo with the more expensive ammo being more powerful than the cheaper target practicing ammo. However, when it come to slugs and buckshots, does it matter if I shoot the bad guy with a $0.40 slug/buckshot or a $2.00 slug/buckshot?

Depends on the bad guy application, if you use 00 buck, that's like firing 9 - .32 caliber bullets with very little control over where they all go, at approaching 1800 fps. That's enough to penetrate walls/windows and potentially also kill the neighbors / innocent bystanders.

Slugs are so massively overkill for a defensive shoot, unless you are engaging at a much longer distance, i.e, outdoors. IMO opinion, if your gonna use a shotgun for home defense, load it with birdshot and have slugs/buck on a side saddle as a select munition should the need arise.

[bigbearbear]

I'm no expert but I think at the typical home defense distances (eg. 10 yards or so), no, it doesn't really matter.

However, more expensive shotshells are typically (not always) more consistent and less prone to failure/jamming. To be safe, while I don't use very expensive shells for HD, I make sure those put on standby are brass cased and from a major manufacturer like Federal or Winchester.

[j-shot]

I started researching 12ga shotgun defensive ammo. I found many types of slugs and buckshots (00) with prices ranging from $0.40 per round to $2.00 per round. I can understand where a pistol round would have different type of ammo with the more expensive ammo being more powerful than the cheaper target practicing ammo. However, when it come to slugs and buckshots, does it matter if I shoot the bad guy with a $0.40 slug/buckshot or a $2.00 slug/buckshot?

In the home invasion scenario you described, with your theoretical fire being at the usual point blank range I believe the only thing that will "matter" is how good of a mop you have. JMO

[jimbo74]

There is already a thread on this, as I found, when I was looking for the best HD load. definitely a good read, that is where I started. I recently bought my first shotgun, a Mossberg 500. It is my only gun as of right now. But I have trained with an M16, and was pretty decent.

here it is:

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=1159274

So..... opinions vary greatly, and there are a lot of opinions. 99% of those opinions are based on what people read. Here is why, the likelihood of needing to use HD is very small.... Not many people are confronted with that situation.....


Slugs will rip right through someone, and keep going..... 00 buck will.... 04 buck is probably the best at getting the most penetration, and having the least amount of collateral damage... HOWEVER it is still huge and powerful..... The main concern is everyone thinks oh, I just want to stop the bad guy, but no one considers one of the fundamentals of gun safety, and that is know what is behind your target.... If you are out on the farm, with no neighbors for a mile, that is greatly different than the duplex or apartment complex you live in, with the baby next door in their crib...

I have slugs, I have 00 buck, and 04 buck..... the 04 buck is my HD load


some people will say use birdshot, some will say don't... I am not trying to stop a bird, I am trying to stop something a lot more dense, and powerful.... That, if I need to use deadly force, has me scared enough, that they have a weapon capable of deadly force and also intend to use it.... You also have to look at it this way, can you handle killing someone? Theoreticals are fine and dandy, but killing someone in a HD situation will live you you the rest of your life.

[ErnstHatAngst]

Yes, brand and size actually matters. Pattern a few different shells and you'll see it for yourself. Even at 10 yards there was quite a difference. We're talking about your life in the balance here and you're debating spending an exta 40 cents on a shell? As for which kind.... that is something everyone has their own opinion on and you'll need to figure out what works for you.

Cheers

[NapalmCheese]

Yes, brand and size actually matters. Pattern a few different shells and you'll see it for yourself. Even at 10 yards there was quite a difference. We're talking about your life in the balance here and you're debating spending an exta 40 cents on a shell? As for which kind.... that is something everyone has their own opinion on and you'll need to figure out what works for you.

Cheers

Yuppers right there.

Different shells will pattern different in different shotguns. Different slugs will impact at different points in different shotguns.

As such, buy a box of each that you can find and pattern/test them.

From a more technical standpoint, there's low recoil stuff, magnum stuff, high velocity stuff, 000, 00, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 buck, sabot slugs, foster slugs, strange looking slugs made of other metals (hexolit, etc.) and different wads for different loads. Any of those will work for antipersonnel use at in home distances. Some are more appropriate than others.

Lots of people like the Federal #1 buck 12 gauge with flite control wad.

[Rottentofu]

Yes, brand and size actually matters. Pattern a few different shells and you'll see it for yourself. Even at 10 yards there was quite a difference. We're talking about your life in the balance here and you're debating spending an exta 40 cents on a shell? As for which kind.... that is something everyone has their own opinion on and you'll need to figure out what works for you.

Cheers

Don't get me wrong. I use Federal HST +P for my pistol defensive rounds. So I am definitely not going cheap when it comes to defensive rounds. All I am saying is there if there is no difference between defending yourself with a $0.40 slug and a $2.00 slug, why not go with the $0.40 slug?

[Musubi1000]

At typical distances anything from a 12g will be absolutely lethal. Have you ever shot a wild boar at approx 20'? Dropped him in less than a heartbeat with #8 birdshot. Patterned a 4-5" diameter from a bird gun. As long as you hit your target I don't really think it matters as long as it goes bang. Slugs would probably be a bad idea in an urban sit. You may over penetrate.

[ScottsBad]

Semi-auto shotguns are more sensitive to the ammunition. But if you are using a pump, ammo is less important. That said, there are reduced power HD shells, and then the more powerful shells. 2 3/4" shells, and 3" magnum will be different in the velocity of the load. For home defense I keep two different rounds. (1.) The reduced power 00 Buck which is easier to shoot for my wife. (2.) Regular 2 3/4" #4 Buck. #4 Buck has more pellets than 00 Buck, but each pellet carries less energy making them penetrate less through walls.

I would not use regular bird shot as it doesn't have as much stopping power.

JMHO

[Bill Steele]

My primary HD weapon is a shotgun loaded with Federal low recoil #1 buck with Flight Control wad. These buckshot loads are kind of hard to find, usually in specialty ammo retailers like SGA ammo, etc.

One day I decided to test some different buck for HD use. I shot a lot of different brands, cheap to expensive. At even relative close defensive ranges there were pretty big differences brand and load to brand and load.

Although a few of the less expensive brands of 00 buck delivered decent results, most were pretty poor.

When I got around to the Federal low recoil #1 buck with flight control, a guy a few lanes over walked up and asked if I had switched to testing slugs, I said no and showed him the box. His next question was, "where can I buy some?"

There are a few other brands and a few other Federal with the FCW that pattern just as well, Hornaday makes a few, but these just seem to have the right balance for HD use.

[Mr. Beretta]

Federal LE132 00.

None better!

[Ryridesmotox]

IMHO with a pump, grab a few boxes of varying ammo and see which patterns the best.

One thing someone said is that a slug will go right through someone... Not entirely accurate. A lead deer slug will deform very quickly upon impact with flesh. Humans are mostly water and an ounce of soft metal will deform upon impact. If you hit center mass, chances are most of the energy will be passed to the target. These are hunting rounds. They are designed to kill prey... It doesn't do a good job of that if it passes through with little or no expansion. There are ballistic tests on YouTube heck even on tv, mythbusters did hundreds of gun myths, a deer slug at like 10 yards wouldn't penetrate a glass fish tank.

Whatever you decide to get, make sure it's a lead shot. Steel definitely will over penetrate even in a center mass hit. Steel is much harder and more resistant to deformation than lead. But lead should expend all or most of its energy inside your target. Just make sure you hit the target center mass. You wing them in the arm and it's going to go through like a steak knife through hot butter.

I like buck shot and rigged slug for home defense. You're looking at like 10 foot distances or less... Its only going to take 1. Get the reduced recoil stuff, at that distance, you don't need added velocity.

Just in case people don't believe me...

https://youtu.be/ftrCtOyLrmU

[k1dude]

04 buck is probably the best at getting the most penetration, and having the least amount of collateral damage...

#4 Buck does not have the best SD penetration (about 8"). #1 Buck is the smallest Buck that has the minimum recognized lethal penetration (12"). These penetration results are from actual ballistic testing.

[Mayor McRifle]

For general in-home defense, I use Federal Low Recoil #1 Buck with Flitecontrol Wad (LE132-1B):




If you want to use slugs in a smooth-bore shotgun, use a rifled slug like Federal Truball Vital Shok: