Shotgun ammo help.... Question...

[DK9mm]

Hello all, I'm new here to the forum and will be picking up my 1st SG Wednesday... Mossberg 500 combo!

Looking for a good home defense and target practice shells...

I seen some Winchester AA for $10 for 25.....

Good deal for target?

Any guidance will be appreciated.

Thanks!

[negolien]

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I like the Shotgun for HD for the simple reason you can load it to minimize over penetration and for particular encounters. Any Handgun you use is going thru a few walls no doubt about it. Any Buckshot you use is going thru a few walls no doubt about it. You also are going to be jacked up making aiming problematic. The shotgun must be employed correctly in a HD situation also. You take up a position that defends a choke point , call 911 immediately while yelling you are armed and willing to use deadly force and racking the action chambering your 1st round of #8.

Do some google searches on Birdshot penetration. People can run their mouths all they want about buckshot but the tests don't lie. I saw an outstanding piece on one of the outdoor channel shows on penetration of shotgun ammo. Any buckshot is penetrating a minimum of two pieces of drywall or one complete wall. You hit someone at 7 yards or closer (the average distance of defense engagements) with some #8 and that's going to seriously hamper the bad guys determination to continue the attack. It's also going to stop the attack at least momentarily if not permanently. No one let me say that again NO ONE is going to take a 12 gauge blast without at least temporarily being stopped cold at such a close range. I stagger the loads also keeping my Shotty "Cruiser Ready" or empty chamber, safety off tube full with 1 round of #8, 3 rounds of 000 and finally a slug. the #8 is also a good trap/skeet load imo.

Shotguns are great for defense and my 1st choice. I only go with the Handgun because of the inability to carry a shotgun for defense wherever you go lol. Below is a link to one of my favorite Birdshot myth busting videos.

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=...=0&FORM=NVPFVR

[CessnaDriver]

I suspect over penetration is fretted over a bit too much though.
Are there many reported instances of HD situations where over penetration has indeed caused an unintended injury?

[Joe'Bronco]

I agree, i keep the handgun for home protection. Although nothing says, "You mess with me, your gunna die" like the rack of a shotgun.

I have always said that multi round types are best for home defence. It lets you get your point across starting with a potentially lethal round and moving up. By the time you shoot the Buck or Slug your family/neighbors should know to either hit the ground or GTFO of the way.

First shot - #7.5
Second - #4
Third - OO Buck (or Dime load)
Forth - Slug
Fifth - Slug

[Pancakes]

I agree, i keep the handgun for home protection. Although nothing says, "You mess with me, your gunna die" like the rack of a shotgun.

I have always said that multi round types are best for home defence. It lets you get your point across starting with a potentially lethal round and moving up. By the time you shoot the Buck or Slug your family/neighbors should know to either hit the ground or GTFO of the way.

First shot - #7.5
Second - #4
Third - OO Buck (or Dime load)
Forth - Slug
Fifth - Slug

Now that's a damn good combo.. I may have to switch to that

[shellslinger]

I may have a different view all other posters but, I agree with them to some extent. I stick to strictly buckshot. I don't fire my shotgun in a home defense situation without the intention to permanently stop a threat. I am not saying that birdshot doesn't have the capacity or the capabilities of stopping a threat, but I firmly believe that buckshot gives me the best capabilities of stopping a threat more adequately. That being said, I only use buckshot (00 buckshot and 0 buckshot) for home defense.

[HOGLEG]

My favorite Anti Birdshot for home defense myth busting videos.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIfilArIHlY

The good new is that your Mossberg will eat any round you use in it.

Birdshot lacks penetration to reach vital organs. If you are worried about your back drop, this same issue works in your favor.

For home defense under 25 yards I'll use 04 buckshot or 00 buckshot to stop the threat. You can cut back on some of the excessive penetration and recoil by using tactical loads.

The birdshot is great for training. $10.00 for AA is a little on the high side but not by much for these times. You should still shoot some buck to learn how your shot gun patterns at different ranges.

[rromeo]

For Target use, I was buying the Federal or Remington bulk packs from Walmart. Since they've raised prices, I now buy Remington Gun Club at Dicks for $7 a box.
The Winchester AA is good stuff, but don't confuse the Winchester Universal. It's crap.
For defense, I have Federal 00 buckshot.

[Joe'Bronco]

I may have a different view all other posters but, I agree with them to some extent. I stick to strictly buckshot. I don't fire my shotgun in a home defense situation without the intention to permanently stop a threat. I am not saying that birdshot doesn't have the capacity or the capabilities of stopping a threat, but I firmly believe that buckshot gives me the best capabilities of stopping a threat more adequately. That being said, I only use buckshot (00 buckshot and 0 buckshot) for home defense.

If its just you and your significant other in your home OO Buck is the way to go. But lets say the "Intruder" is between you and your child's room. Are you willing to take that shot with OOBuck? Or your in an apartment/condo and share a wall with an unsuspecting neighbor...

Bird shot at a range less than 20 feet with a Modified choke is still a kill shot and has a spread of about a softball. Your first shot is normally going to be in a "O-****" mindset and are your aim is going out the window.

Its more of a precaution to anyone else in the home rather than a "shoot to mame" over "Shoot to kill" mindset. Im a firm believer, if you have to pull a gun on someone your planning on useing it to its fullest extent.

[Stevod]

Several years ago, I came across a paper by (from) the International Ballistic Wounds Institute, which stated emphatically that the best load for personal defense and law enforcement is #1 buckshot in a 12 ga. Reason: best lethal penetration w/o over penetration.

They had plenty of studies and tests to back up that claim and I've never found anything which would change my mind.

[jeffme]

I've been away from bird hunting since the laws changed to steel shot. When I could shoot birds at 20-30 yrds and watch them continue flying as if nothing had happened, it was time to quit.

Can you still buy lead shot in Ca? How about all the slugs and 0xxx loads?

I HATE steel, no stopping power!!!

[AAShooter]

I personally am a believer of buck shot for home defense, as well as having slugs available in a side saddle.

I know of no serious professional firearms instructor/school that recommends birdshot for a defensive shotgun (other than for practice) or "staggering loads" in the magazine. Birdshot or buckshot will go through most residential walls and creates a concern for over-penetraion.

Many worry way to much about over-penetration when they need to worry about stopping the threat.

Here is an interesting article for your review:

http://warriortimes.com/2011/06/26/uk-man-survives-shotgun-blast-by-attackers-at-his-door-armed-with-bird-shot/

[AAShooter]

Hello all, I'm new here to the forum and will be picking up my 1st SG Wednesday... Mossberg 500 combo!

Looking for a good home defense and target practice shells...

I seen some Winchester AA for $10 for 25.....

Good deal for target?

Any guidance will be appreciated.

Thanks!

Assuming your are talking 12 gauge, you can pick a box of birdshot up for about $6/box. For example, Walmart 100-round packs are about that price. Premium ammo (AAs, Nitros, etc) will run more like $8/box on sale.

Quality home defense ammo (assuming low-recoil buck shot), will cost much more per round.

[Jet Setter]

AA at $10 a box is an OK price. The cheapest I have seen them is about $8.50 a box at WM. For target, get some cheap target loads at about $6.80/25. These are usually the Rio, Estate, Win, Federal target loads. Look online but it is only worth it if you buy at least a case worth (250 shells).

[Joe'Bronco]

First off, That spread on his back is NOT close range. Shoot a patterning board at 20ft and the spread is about the size of a softball. A modified choke at 20 yds is a 20" spread with #7.5...

Yes, everyone will agree that Birdshot is less lethal than buck/slugs at a distance. A shot to the chest with bird shot will not only stun the assailant but im sure it will temporarily stop him. If he is within 20 ft it will kill him. That will give you enough time to rack another load and fire again with your family on high alert. If the assailant is close it will most definitely punch a hole into them. Ever shoot a piece of plywood at close range with birdshot? Try it yourself and tell me if a person can live through that.

Again, if i had no one else in my home it would be 100% #1 Buck shot. But if you have a family to think about its going to be a bit different.