SD Shotgun Ammo

[therealnickb]

[Super Chicken]

Have #4 buck loaded up. Only have ten rounds of that in total. Everything else is #00 buckshot (Winchester cheapo & lead free Federal), slugs are Winchester & a few boxes of steel slugs. Can't remember the brand. Steel ones I'm sure could punch through light cover of an automobile for whatever that's worth.

Don't see the merit in having birdshot loaded for defensive use unless that's all that is on hand.

[strakill]

00 loaded in tube and on side saddle save for one slug on the saddle.

If someone is in your house trying to kill you the last damn thing you need to be doing is thinking about what loads are where. Staying in the fight and staying alive is the only thing that needs to be on your mind, anything else will get you or your family killed.

You should be more concerned with training, having a plan, and practicing.

[FeuerFrei]

How you load your shotguns really is affected by your home situation too.

We live in the sticks and no close neighbors to worry about. Shotguns on the ready rack are loaded with slugs with 00 buck on the saddles.

Not all bird shot is equal. You need to test it yourself. Heavy turkey loads are really good performers for close encounters. Good choice for apartment or typical newer homes where people are packed in close.

[CWL]

What's your take on a VARIETY of different rounds for SD? SLUG/00/000/2/3/4/6? Or are you a single round type?

Mine is loaded with (in reverse order), SLUG; 00; 000; 2; 4 & 6.

The correct term is "cocktail loading" and it is simply a bad idea.

From your posting about it, I already know:

1. You've never had professional shotgun training or taken any classes;

2. You've never patterned your shotgun

I suggest you do both to understand how both you and your shotgun will perform, especially under stress.

[SoftHeart]

A shotgun slug is a single large piece of lead, one piece per shell.

As an addendum to this-----

1st, a shotgun isn't a rifle, a shotgun is a close in defensive weapon, a rifle is for medium/long range. If I had the money to buy a ranch sized property, I'd be shopping 4 a rifle and a good scope.

That said, a shotgun slug extends the range of a shotgun, and has the power to drop just about anything that walks on land.



I'm not posting this video as a suggestion of anything except as an illustration that w/slugs you can shoot farther w/a shotgun than most people think.

There are a bunch of videos around w/folks testing shotguns out to a longer range, I uploaded this because I'm familiar w/it. But ck out some others.



This gentleman is up in age, and his eyesight is still good enough to hit out to 690 ft w/slugs and iron sights. I'm probably around his age and I wouldn't attempt anything like this w/o the red dot/3x magnifier I already have mounted on my slug gun.

This certainly isn't going to work in a packed residential area.


The longest range I have to worry about is the 75 yards behind my house.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNTyCcip-ks

[JagerDog]

#6 may "make a dent", but it fails the FBI's minimum penetration standard...by a bunch.

#5 will penetrate approx 4" when shot point blank. I have the CT scan to prove it.

Sure the odd pellet will track considerably further due to the blocking front line, but......

So yeh...poor choice for HD (unless you're being attacked by pheasant).

[SandHill]

This topic seems to come up at least once a week and I'm sure everything that can be said about has been, x a million. But I haven't commented on it this week, so what the heck.

1. I am in the camp that any buckshot out of a 12 gauge is up to the task and will do just fine. But then what is there to debate?

2. I currently have Federal Flite Control #1 loaded. That stuff was never easy to find, and there are always rumors of it being discontinued. I like 15 pellets as opposed to 8 or 9 slightly larger ones with 00 buck. At inside the house distances, it is going to make an entry wound only slightly larger than a slug. It is what it does after entry that makes it so effective. Each pellet takes off on its own trajectory, increasing the chance of hitting something vital.

3. I am actually thinking of going to #4 buck. More pellets is good, and given that any shot will be maximum 13 yards inside my house, a little spread wouldn't hurt. But I am going to wait until supply situation eases up before I worry about it. The #1 is just fine for now.

[TMB 1]

Double barrel shotgun man, all you need is a couple blast of 7 1/2 birdshot.

[glilon]

To prevent the possibility of lead poisoning, I use these. https://www.bing.com/images/search?v...iew&ajaxhist=0

[Thoughts]

Federal 00 buck, Flite Control. It maintains its group very well in my gun, and 00 buck is a good size for dealing with a dangerous criminal. Birdshot is for birds.

[SoftHeart]

This topic seems to come up at least once a week and I'm sure everything that can be said about has been, x a million. But I haven't commented on it this week, so what the heck.

1. I am in the camp that any buckshot out of a 12 gauge is up to the task and will do just fine. But then what is there to debate?

2. I currently have Federal Flite Control #1 loaded. That stuff was never easy to find, and there are always rumors of it being discontinued. I like 15 pellets as opposed to 8 or 9 slightly larger ones with 00 buck. At inside the house distances, it is going to make an entry wound only slightly larger than a slug. It is what it does after entry that makes it so effective. Each pellet takes off on its own trajectory, increasing the chance of hitting something vital.

3. I am actually thinking of going to #4 buck. More pellets is good, and given that any shot will be maximum 13 yards inside my house, a little spread wouldn't hurt. But I am going to wait until supply situation eases up before I worry about it. The #1 is just fine for now.

This discussion, and what's been said about Fed. FC #1 buck reminded me of a test/report about this ammo, circa 2016, that went a long way in my deciding to purchase this ammo, which I count on for inside the house/up to 25 yrds.

https://www.theboxotruth.com/the-box-o-truth-56-federal-flight-control-1-buckshot/

Just like you, it took like what seemed forever 4 me to actually get the ammo.

I guess the biggest truth running through all of this is that buckshot will put a severe hurt on a predator.

[jyo]

At one point, I used to load #4 buck for the first two rounds, then OO buck for the rest---now I just load all OO buck and don't overthink things... Most any name brand full-power new ammo will do the trick...

[W.R.Buchanan]

The correct term is "cocktail loading" and it is simply a bad idea.

From your posting about it, I already know:

1. You've never had professional shotgun training or taken any classes;

2. You've never patterned your shotgun

I suggest you do both to understand how both you and your shotgun will perform, especially under stress.

In this thread this is the only post that actually matters is this one.^^^

It is hard for me to understand why so many people resist training and then think they know what they are doing because Dad taught them how to shoot 30-40 years ago. It is doubtful that dad knew either, unless he was LEO and was well trained by them..

Running a Tactical or Defensive Shotgun is not the same as Duck Hunting !! And just because you can load and fire the gun and maybe hit something,,, doesn't mean you'd prevail in a real gunfight. In fact Training doesn't even guarantee that outcome, it only tilts the odds in the positive direction.

In fact if you were trained on how to run a Tac Shotgun you'd probably be a better Duck Hunter just because you could reload faster.

Guys if you want to talk about HD Shotguns and loads etc., lets start with the Training you just got back from and what you learned there, and how you can apply it to your HD plan. You do have a Plan?,,, Right???.

You do know how to clear a room ,,, Right? You do know how to change to a slug quickly (<4 seconds)if a longer range target presents itself? Right???
You can hit 3 in a row in <3 sec. Right???

Being able to shoot the gun effectively is way more important than what is in the gun. And if you don't prevail,,, it doesn't matter what ammo you chose.

Randy

[SoftHeart]

On another discussion I asked a specific question about 4 buck, and you started talking about training, which wasn't what I asked you about.

Because I don't go into detail about the training I've had or still need, or plan to have, or haven't had, or respond to any of your suggestions about training to your satisfaction, that doesn't mean I'm resisting what you said.

I haven't seen any resistance by me or anyone else in these discussions regarding your recommendations/suggestions.



As far as my Dad teaching me how to shoot, it wasn't 30 or 40 yrs. ago, it was 62 yrs. ago, I'm 72 yrs. old, a yr older than you, and I knew/know what I need/don't need, and that was before I discussed anything w/you.

Yes, my Dad was an LEO, fought in battle as a War Vet, was actually in some gun battles as an LEO, and over the yrs. he trained folks in his dept/trained me, which was why it wasn't just me that listened to him, but numbers of grown men he trained/mentored who went on to thank him for what he did for them.



Most folks as well as me aren't going to write a diary/run down their lifes experiences when they appear on a venue like this and ask a question. I'm always learning, I'll never stop learning, but because I don't talk about it w/you, doesn't mean me or anybody else is resisting training.