not as lethal shells

[hardlyworking]

Note officers firing less lethal munitions in LE are always backed up by other officers with real guns firing real bullets. As a person defending your home from an intruder you do not have that luxury.

This is the kicker right here.

Unless your child is covering you with a riot shield and batton, and your wife is muzzling the bad guy with a conventional arm/round, you are not a one-man riot squad.

I used to think like you. I happened to be in jury duty and actually asked the court sheriff/bailiff if they were legal to use. He gave me a really funny look and said "if somebody is breaking into your home you can use lethal force, so ... yah you could use less lethal if you want to" He was clearly completely baffled why anyone would want to.

Now, HAVING some less lethal on hand just "in case" isn't going to hurt you. You will still need to decide if discharge of a weapon inside city limits is worth the hassle (I'm assuming you live in a city) if it is not a justified shoot. I'm pretty sure bear-in-the-trash-can would not hold up in court.

Now say you wake up to BG in your home AND you have time to grab shotgun, turn on your weapon light and decide to engage, you don't HAVE to shoot. You could choose to inform said bad guy of his immanent death and to get the F' out of your home. He either complies, no mess on the carpet. Or he doesn't, in which case he's clearly going to murder your family.

[Pfletch83]

I would suggest #4 Buckshot in any gauge ( Not to be confused with #4 birdshot) if you're worried about over penetration at indoor ranges, said buckshot has a reduced chance of going through the targeted threat while at the same time being very lethal.

Also you need to understand that if you do use "Less lethal" rounds your intentions as well as your actions will be called into question.

[Frito Bandido]

"Less Lethal" rounds will not spare your house from being damaged. You will certainly cause less damage to the house as compared to using lead shot, but you'll still do plenty of damage to furniture, walls, etc.

Having said that, if the intruder in question is armed with a gun (highly likely!), you need to reconsider your decision to use less lethal ammo. If the intruder is under the influence of drugs and alcohol, or is a very large individual, your rubber bullet may not incapacitate him and you'll end up with a really pissed off thug intent on killing you.

You may also be facing multiple intruders.

Look at it this way: when the police confront a suspect they believe to be armed - they don't go after them with rubber bullets or pepper spray. They use the real stuff.

The inconvenience of a few hundred dollars in repairs to your home is a small price to pay to make sure you won't get shot and killed, or your family harmed. Please reconsider your strategy and take the advice of some of the other posters here.

Personally, I would urge you to use #4 birdshot at a minimum, but preferably use #4 buckshot.

[Sicarius]

If you are at the point of having to pull the trigger to defend yourself and family with a firearm. You are at the point of lethal force, why would you limit your ability to meet that force with equal force? Who is to say that there is only one bad guy? There are a lot of unknowns so you must prepare for the worse case.
Kevin

[hermosabeach]

Do the rubber balls bounce back at the shooter?

I see a shot hitting a wall in the home and/ or furniture and then pellets bouncing back at the shooter.

As designed- they will not penetrate

I think the bean bag might not bounce-
But the rubber balls and slugs might give you a taste of your own....

[shamaz]

I tested the Lightfield "Less Lethal" 900 f.p.s. double rubber balls shells at a range bay and found that one of the balls bounced off the berm and landed on the ground about 75 feet behind where I fired the shot. I've decided to use #3 or #4 buckshot for home defense.

[hardlyworking]

I tested the Lightfield "Less Lethal" 900 f.p.s. double rubber balls shells at a range bay and found that one of the balls bounced off the berm and landed on the ground about 75 feet behind where I fired the shot. I've decided to use #3 or #4 buckshot for home defense.

LOL that is awesome. Very very good info there