Shotgun Ammo 4 HD

[SoftHeart]

I stocked up w/plenty of 12 ga. ammo B4 Covid hit.


I've got the Fed. #1 buck in my pumps, although strangely I had real trouble getting/finding at a reasonable price, some #4 buck/it never seemed to be in stock when I ck'd stock, even B4 Covid. I still want to try it out.

I live in a dense residential area and it was drummed into me early, there's a 5-10 yr. prison sentence that comes along w/every slug that leaves a muzzle.



I've also stocked 0, 00, and even "000" buck, which I really don't see myself using for HD, but I've got it. I've got a boatload of slugs but I don't see using them except out in the boonies, not around the house.


I first watched this video yrs. ago, and several others which discussed the advantages/disadvantages of heavy birdshot all the way to #1 buck as viable HD ammo to stop an intruder w/o going through a wall and hitting somebody walking down the street w/a stroller.

#4 buck is the only buck I don't have/haven't had the chance to shoot, so I'm interested in the opinion of folks that have used that ammo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhZf_x8Esms

[W.R.Buchanan]

Anything you listed will work just fine. But instead of worrying about how many years you will get for defending your family, why don't you look at all the possible directions in your house that you might shoot and figure out which ones will hit the neighbors and avoid shooting in those directions.

Once you get this all sussed out you can relax, and since the chances of you actually needing to shoot someone in your house are so Remote, maybe you should concentrate on getting some training and learning to run the gun efficiently instead of what jail will be like if you ND the gun and hurt someone that doesn't deserve it.

Randy.

[SoftHeart]

Maybe I put this the wrong way, if so, my bad. I'm not "worrying" about going to jail because I defended my family. I know how to run a gun, or I wouldn't be using it for HD.


I simply passed along a "mantra"/caution that was passed along to me by my Dad, who was an LEO for 45 yrs. who rose from motorcycle cop to the senior levels of his dept. He trained folks in his dept. and he trained me.



He taught me how to shoot when I was ten, he was a war vet, had to shoot it out to come home, and actually had been in several gun fights as an LEO, so I listened to what he said, and I passed along a bit of what he said here.

My Dad was a stickler for being organized/prepared/anticipating problems, and he also passed that along to me.


I'm sure as you've just said, 4 buck will be fine, but I'm in the habit of getting the opinions of folks who've already bought something which I haven't used, and I'm about to buy, for the specifics, and in this case, it's 4 buck.


There's a boatload of brands, loads out there, that probably worked better for folks than others, and I'm still interested in folks passing along the benefit of that experience to me, B4 I make a buy.


If that doesn't happen, no problem.

[W.R.Buchanan]

I shoot mostly Reloads of all flavors. I have loaded and shot all sizes of shot from #9 to 000 plus 15 different types of slugs.

Good sizes for HD are anything bigger than #6 but in a pinch even #8 will be effective at close range. At 5-7 yards #8's leave a ragged hole about 1 1/2" in dia.

Since your dad was LE, then he has probably heard of Hans Vang and the Vang Comp Process for Tactical Shotguns. Hans is the absolute GURU of Police Shotguns.

I have two M500's that have had the barrels modded and both shoot buckshot into 7" at 25 yards. They also pattern #8's into the same size hole. A face full of 400 #8 pellets will change anyone's mind about just about anything and be unlikely to do much damage after passing thru a wall due to the light weight of the individual pellets.

Obviously the penetration potential increases as the shot size increases, but as far as the lethal potential is concerned #6, #4, #2 Bird Shot or more properly "Duck and Goose" loads will stop anyone if properly applied.

Farther than 15 yards is where you start to need the heavier shot and if you are going to shoot out to beyond 25 yards then 00 or 000 are viable to 50 yards with Vang Comp or Flight Control ammo. With a cylinder bore barrel you will be about 1" for every yard from the muzzle and at 25 yards that is a pretty big pattern for 9 pellets.



I have a friend who lives in Texas and he shoots small pigs under a feeder at 50+ yards with BB size shot. He gets 2-3 with every shot. He likes the small ones as they are very tender. Too bad we can't eat burglars, but they'd probably be too tough and chewy anyway?

I was serious about learning your house and the directions it is safe to shoot and places it is not safe to shoot.

Also I can't recommend going to a Tactical Shotgun Class enough. You will get a chance to pattern your gun with various loads and see exactly what they will do. You will also see how to shoot in a Hostage Situation so you don't hit your wife as well as insight as to how to handle the gun in close quarters. Lots to learn here, and nobody was born knowing it.




Randy.

[Mr. Beretta]

Federal LE132 00 buck # LE132 00.

Ultra tight groups, low recoil, exceptional performance.

Ask your Dad...He'll agree with me.

[SoftHeart]

Thanks Buchanan and Beretta for the info, it is much appreciated.

Plenty to chew on; I think I'll plan on getting an assortment of what's been mentioned to try out.

[Imageview]

[SoftHeart]

Thanks for the input.


"Any differences between it and #4 are largely theoretical....."

Yes, I agree w/this; if you look at a chart comparing the actual size of buckshot, there isn't a big difference bet. #4-#1-#0-#00



Having said that, w/the sizes of the different buck being so close, my concerns/priorities then become felt recoil/cost/availability/what holds what pattern at what distance.

I like the Federal Flite Control #1 buck, because it will keep a tight pattern, good 4 inside the house, easy on my aging shoulders, and don't need any more than it's 1100 fps, because I'm running them out of pumps, not a SA.

I'd be running the LE 132 @1145 fps in the pumps, if I switched from the Federal#1 buck, and I may still do that in the future.



Maybe it's a case of wanting what you don't have, but I may still buy some # 4buck, and try it out to compare w/what I do have.

Of course what Buchanan mentioned, getting a face full of heavy birdshot at close range, turning somebody around in the other direction/or worse, makes sense. Not only do you get shot, but you get your face taken off.

Again, thanks 4 all the input.

[9Cal_OC]

I load mine with #4 buck since I’m in an apartment complex.

In a home with long hallways or rural (outside of CA), I wouldn’t mind loading 00 and a few slugs to follow.

[SoftHeart]

How does it shoot?

[9Cal_OC]

It was mild recoil. Manageable when compared to the regular 00 (non-low recoil rounds).

What area are you in? I can shoot you some rounds to try out.

[SoftHeart]

That will work, since everything is out of stock, sending PM, thanks.

Appreciate the gesture greatly; gives me a chance to try it out w/o waiting for everybody to restock.

[W.R.Buchanan]

Thanks for the input.

Of course what Buchanan mentioned, getting a face full of heavy birdshot at close range, turning somebody around in the other direction/or worse, makes sense. Not only do you get shot, but you get your face taken off.

Again, thanks 4 all the input.

Too many people just don't get how serious a shotgun is as a defensive weapon. My recommendation of a class is where you start to see just how lethal they can be..

They are by far the most versatile of firearms due to the number of things you can launch from one. But the difference between a 2 3/4" #8 Bird Shot load and a 3" 1 1/4 oz Brenneke Slug is pretty eye opening.

You can literally take out small pick up trucks with a shotgun. Ain't gonna happen with a .223

I get that you are recoil sensitive, and there are many things you can do to mitigate Felt Recoil. Vang Comp works wonders. as do some of the miracle recoil Pads out now. But learning how to really mount the gun properly is where the most improvement will be found.

I am 71 and have been shooting since my single digits. I thought I knew how to deal with it and how to shoot a shotgun. My first two Shotgun Classes at Front Sight dispelled that notion as I got the snot beat out of me, and this was with #8 birdshot!. Learning to get my cheek weld in and head down on the gun took care of that problem.

This stuff has to be drilled in the proper context of Defensive Shooting as Clay Shooting doesn't really equate, as gun fit and shooting stances are completely different.

Looks like you are headed in the right direction.

Randy.

[SoftHeart]

Too many decades ago, my Dad took us out to the desert to shoot up cans, cars, and trucks. I was 10 yrs. old when we were out in the desert, and my father handed me a shotgun to shoot which was taller than I was.

When he handed me the gun, my aunts, uncles, just about everybody there ran/jumped/dived for cover.



My Dad had a big grin on his face; he hadn't told anybody about the time/work he spent drumming into me gun safety/getting a good cheek weld/breath control/getting a sight picture/leaning into the gun/good stance/all the basics I have and haven't mentioned.

After I got through shooting, my uncles and aunts who were also LE (no slouches themselves when it came to shooting), gave me a round of applause.


That was a good feeling, but I expected it, because I listened to everything my Dad said, and I knew if I followed his instruction, I would be ok.



Ever since that day, I've had a love for the 12 ga. shotgun. A revolver and/or semi-auto will put one hole in you at a time. A shotgun w/a shotshell with 8 or 9 pellets w/a diameter close to that of a 9mm SA, will hit you once, but you've been shot 9 times.

Yes, you can tear up a truck w/a shotgun and Brenneke slugs; the truck doesn't have a chance.



I'm not recoil sensitive, yet, but fortunately, I don't have Arthritis in my shoulders/back and at my age, so I concentrate on subjecting my body to the least amount of wear and tear possible. I thank God for blessing me with still having a complete range of motion, as some folks my age, have unfortunately lost that.

I'm doing what I'm doing in an attempt to keep shooting for a lot more yrs.


You seem to have the same determination to discipline yourself and improve, that my Father had, as well as quite a few other folks I've known over the yrs.


The shotgun is a magnificent defensive tool, capable of devastating power, as long as the individual using that tool, respects it, and learns how to use it.


I appreciate your take on all of this.

[usr1987]

I stocked up w/plenty of 12 ga. ammo B4 Covid hit.


I've got the Fed. #1 buck in my pumps, although strangely I had real trouble getting/finding at a reasonable price, some #4 buck/it never seemed to be in stock when I ck'd stock, even B4 Covid. I still want to try it out.

I live in a dense residential area and it was drummed into me early, there's a 5-10 yr. prison sentence that comes along w/every slug that leaves a muzzle.



I've also stocked 0, 00, and even "000" buck, which I really don't see myself using for HD, but I've got it. I've got a boatload of slugs but I don't see using them except out in the boonies, not around the house.


I first watched this video yrs. ago, and several others which discussed the advantages/disadvantages of heavy birdshot all the way to #1 buck as viable HD ammo to stop an intruder w/o going through a wall and hitting somebody walking down the street w/a stroller.

#4 buck is the only buck I don't have/haven't had the chance to shoot, so I'm interested in the opinion of folks that have used that ammo.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhZf_x8Esms

all I care for is Paul Harrell!