home defense ammo info/advice needed

[jram62]

I just purchased my first HD shotgun, 12 ga. Remington 870 tactical. I want to confirm that it is okay to fire slugs through the factory barrel, or do I need a specific type of barrel? Do I need to buy a specific type of slug for use on this gun?

I intend to load this gun so that the first shot is #3-#5 pellets, and have subsequent shots be 00 buck, or PDX1 ammo. My reasoning is that I want to avoid overpenetration if my first shot is a miss. Is this strategy good, or impractical?

My level of experience is limited. I've done some bird hunting, and some target shooting using an unknown model Mossberg, and Remington 870 many years ago. I look forward to getting back into shooting.

[call-in]

I have zero experience with this but here is a good discussion: http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s...highlight=ammo

[Erin]

I have zero experience with this but here is a good discussion: http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s...highlight=ammo

beat me too it, i just found the same link..

federal LE 00 flight control reduced recoil

[coyotebait]

You can shoot slug through just about anything. I personally won't shoot them through full but I hear it can be done.

[Sanderhawk]

I have a remington 870 and I have put a few boxes of slugs through it with no problems at all. The only difference I noticed was the slug seemed to have a "bigger bang" than say the #00 buck or bird shot did.

[inbox485]

My only concern with the flight control stuff is that they use hardened pellets and the penetration is excessive. Hardened or plated 00 buckshot is contraindicated for home defense as a rule of thumb. IIRC the FBI considers anything over 18" of penetration in bare gel to be an over penetration risk and the typical flight control stuff ranges from 20" to 25". I've never seen it for sale but if you can get the tactical precision variant, I could see the use for it. Other consideration is anticipated range. Indoors, the longest plausible shot in your house with any of the Walmart buckshot loads may well still be in the 5-8" pattern range.

[repubconserv]

anything less than full choke on the factory barrel and slugs are GTG

[POWG]

Slugs have a bigger bang because they are a 1 Oz. lump of lead ...or copper. Launched at typically higher velocities and offering absolutely no "fluidity" i.e., an ability to reposition itself in the journey through forcing cones, down the barrel and through the choke. This = more muzzle blast and recoil.

For a similar reason "00" buck does same when compared to what is commonly referred to as "birdshot". Generally "00" [for example] patterns spread the approximate equivalent of 1" per yard and with significant mass per pellet have the kinetic energy to over penetrate. Every such wandering pellet not "on target" in any setting represents a flying ticket to a lawsuit for various reasons.

IMO your shotgun loaded with 2&3/4" 1&1/4 OZ. of #2 or #4 shot represent a highly controllable, lethal combination at typical distances encountered inside a dwelling and when hopefully placed on target.

Obviously given a full blown combat situation, which even today is still unlikely, it would be a different situation and then with all bets off ...certainly time to lob some heavy lead in the form of Slugs & Buckshot. In that scenario my least concern would be over penetration or "wandering" pellets!

Bottom line ...Have a plan and understand the importance of Quality - Practiced - Repetive - Actions

Life & Death for sure ain't a video game and there is no substitute for quality training and practice!

POWG is out.

[para-frame]

Your barrel is fine for slugs, it is a down right stupid idea to load a vastly inferior round as your first shot because you might miss, you might also only get one good shot before the bad guy is stabbing you in the face/shooting you. Like someone very smart once said "bird shot is for birds" do you really want a round that barely takes down a 15 lb goose when you have a 250 lb crack head standing in your living room? Load your shotgun with nothing less then #2 buck, anything less doesn't make it deep enough to be an acceptable alternative.

[coyotebait]

Your barrel is fine for slugs, it is a down right stupid idea to load a vastly inferior round as your first shot because you might miss, you might also only get one good shot before the bad guy is stabbing you in the face/shooting you. Like someone very smart once said "bird shot is for birds" do you really want a round that barely takes down a 15 lb goose when you have a 250 lb crack head standing in your living room? Load your shotgun with nothing less then #2 buck, anything less doesn't make it deep enough to be an acceptable alternative.

True story. This question/scenario has been played out more times than I can count (even if I take my boots off )
I shot a crow with bird shot several years ago, just wounded it enough that it couldn't fly away. I only had the one shot so I sat there trying to hit this bird as it bounced and hopped all over the place with my 22 rifle. That probably went on for about 5 minutes before I got a good hit.

[Sanderhawk]

In all reality if your using your shotgun as home defence any size shot coming out of a shotgun in close proxcimity is going to kill your intruder. I had # 8 shot putting giant holes in boxes that were set up 10 feet away. Somebody in your house is going to suffer the same.

[call-in]

In a recent tactical shotgun class I attended, one of the instructors told a story about someone who was accidentaly shot by a buddy with birdshot to his thigh (negligent discharge). When the officers arrived, the guy was up and about pacing back and forth and cussing a mouthful. A couple of minutes later he sat down because he felt woozy, another couple of minutes and he is passed out, when paramedics arrived he was already dead and was not able to revive him. Apparently, his femoral artery was severed.

So yeah, birdshot can be fatal.

[D2Shooter]

In a recent tactical shotgun class I attended, one of the instructors told a story about someone who was accidentaly shot by a buddy with birdshot to his thigh (negligent discharge). When the officers arrived, the guy was up and about pacing back and forth and cussing a mouthful. A couple of minutes later he sat down because he felt woozy, another couple of minutes and he is passed out, when paramedics arrived he was already dead and was not able to revive him. Apparently, his femoral artery was severed.

So yeah, birdshot can be fatal.

Reads like an endorsement for using something a little heavier than bird shot. I wouldn't want the BG to be functional and pissed at me after being shot.

[coyotebait]

In a recent tactical shotgun class I attended, one of the instructors told a story about someone who was accidentaly shot by a buddy with birdshot to his thigh (negligent discharge). When the officers arrived, the guy was up and about pacing back and forth and cussing a mouthful. A couple of minutes later he sat down because he felt woozy, another couple of minutes and he is passed out, when paramedics arrived he was already dead and was not able to revive him. Apparently, his femoral artery was severed.

So yeah, birdshot can be fatal.

Well sure it can be, but here's the problem. How long before the police arrived? 5, 10 minutes? He was still walking around and cussing, if he were a violent intruder, he would still be able to inflict catastrophic injury upon you. Sure, he may die later but you and your family could be dead first. A motivated BG can do a lot of damage in 5 minutes.

[call-in]

Reads like an endorsement for using something a little heavier than bird shot. I wouldn't want the BG to be functional and pissed at me after being shot.

Take it for what it's worth, I'm loading mine with 00.