hd loading

[cabinetguy]

as to keep a different topic on topic, lets talk about loading your hd shotgun. there are points of penetration/ over penetration, stacking your magazine, and legal issues. most go with 00 buckshot, but birdshot and slugs can ruin a day. is some combination of birdshot, buckshot and slugs best? and finally, does castle doctrine apply in california.
as for me, i have a mossberg 500 that has been well worked over, rifle sights and a surefire. at 25 yards, it patterns roughly with the bright center of the light. i keep 1 birdshot, 5 00 buck, and 1 slug in the magazine, 3 buckshot and 1 slug on the side saddle.

[BigDogatPlay]

There have been so many threads on this. It really comes down to personal preference as to how you load out a home defense shotgun, or any gun you intend to use for personal protection. You need to be very aware of how the various types of ammo you are loading are going to perform, what risks you have in your home in the case of stray pellets and be well practiced so that running the gun is second nature and instinctive.

That said, I load the guns I use for personal protection to be as effective as they can be, assuming I do my part correctly in the moment of truth. For a shotgun I load my 870P with six 2.75 inch 00B. I have four more 00B and two 1 ounce rifled slugs on the side saddle. I loaded out shotguns the same way as a LEO and never felt like I was giving up anything. My 870 has a surefire fore end and a Scattergun Technologies mag extension, but is otherwise OEM. Ghost rings and rifle sights are, IMO, not the best choice for a fight inside a house, hence I choose a plain bead.

There is no 'castle doctrine' in California. Our laws regarding use of lethal force by a non-public/peace officer are fairly close to what is commonly referred to as 'castle doctrine' in other states, but in some respects the law comes way short of that standard. I would recommend to study the relevant sections in the Penal Code, specifically sections 197, 198 and 198.5.