Advice: 12 ga. bulk ammo

[Ferox]

I'm looking to purchase 1,000 shells for my Remington 870 12 ga. shotgun. What's a good shop to go (around Sacramento) for a good deal? Any tips on negotiating/shopping for such a deal? Also, what's the bets mix of ammo for home defense? I've used Winchester (defender) and Federal (target loads)...they work fine, but I'm open to trying new loads. The main function would be home defense with the rare (once a year) hunting trip.

[Bert Gamble]

Are you looking for 00 Buck, slug, or bird? For HD, the 00 Buck is best. Slug over penetrates, and bird does not have the knockdown power.

The best place to buy that much is on the internet, or buy it from someone here. LGS are going to be very expensive. Send me a PM if you want 00 Buck, slug, or a combination of the two.

[TAS]

Since you're in Sacramento, I would check out Sportsman's Warehouse in Rocklin or if not there, online. There are a lot of choices out there and SG ammo is still readily available.

00 Buck would be a good choice for HD but for hunting, it will really depend on what type of hunting you're doing - upland bird, waterfowl, deer, rabbit, or ?.

[762ch]

Talk to local gun stores, I'm sure they would be OK ordering some extra. Or you can buy 5 of the winchester universal value packs from wallmart.

Then go to shooters warehouse and buy two of the 250 rd ammo cans of buck shot. That's 1000 RDS local

[Jet Setter]

Check out Sportsman's Warehouse for bulk ammo. However, you have to catch them on the right day as their ammo sells very quickly.

For HD, I just use target loads as I don't want to blow through my house and hit a neighbor. I do have 00 but just have it close by just in case.

[JagerDog]

I'm looking to purchase 1,000 shells for my Remington 870 12 ga. shotgun. What's a good shop to go (around Sacramento) for a good deal? Any tips on negotiating/shopping for such a deal? Also, what's the bets mix of ammo for home defense? I've used Winchester (defender) and Federal (target loads)...they work fine, but I'm open to trying new loads. The main function would be home defense with the rare (once a year) hunting trip.

2-3/4" #1 Buck with brass (check with magnet) heads for HD. I can't imagine 1k rounds of HD, but then again, I make my own so I only need coponents.

Hunting: depends what your'e hunting.

What about Ammo Depot over in Folsom?

[Carsgunsandchics]

They actually have a decent selection at this time.

http://www.sgammo.com/catalog/shotgun-ammunition/12-gauge

[200Apples]

Also, what's the bets mix of ammo for home defense?

As Bert Gamble just said, 00 buck is the way to go. Remember, though, that home defense rounds won't do squat unless you know where to aim them.

In other words, practice at the range: I shoot paper targets of "bad guy" outlines at a local indoor range. Even with an 18" smooth barrel, I was amazed at how tight 00 buck will pattern. The term "scattergun" does not apply here. I need to actually aim the thing. My targets were placed at 12, 25 and 50 ft... and it was only way out at 50 feet that the nine pellets spread far enough to widen to a 6-inch spread.

Practice, practice, practice... and before you cream your shoulder, look also into reduced-recoil/LE (law enforcement) loads in 00 buck (or slugs, but as Bert G noted, slugs may overpenetrate in a HD situation. I keep them for camping as bear defense).

And with the topic of home defense, remember that even though every round discharged will have a lawyer attached to it, we should continue to train anyway, just in case. We never wish to kill another human being, but we may be put into a situation where we must stop the threat of death or grave bodily harm at the hand of a violent intruder.

[RonnieP]

+1 on SGammo

Their prices are decent and they didn't gouge at the height of the panic buying.

And right now, you can get 250 shells of 00buck or #4 buck for $125 +shipping.

[762ch]

SG ammo is good to go. They ship fast and are on top of their game.

1000rds is a lot of 12ga ammo, it will take up a lot of room but there is no such thing as too much!

My 12ga has two rounds of birdshot followed with buck and one slug. Buck will go through walls and I can't risk having any strays...

I'm sure a couple rounds of birdshot to the face, will severely hamper and slow down all but the most doped up intruder. Not having eyes anymore is going to make it hard to fight.....


No matter which round you choose. Make sure your gun will cycle the rounds and make sure you train!

[Grakken]

Cabelas has decent target loads..not sure about buck...5 dollar shipping too..

[M27]

Sportsman's has lots of birdshot but not as much high quality buck and slug. I have seen cases of the rio 00 buck. Buckshot can cost $1 a shot. It might be good to get 2 cases of birdshot and a case of rio buck for practice and training then a case of a high quality 00 buck for fighting. Your best bet is to be there at 9AM when they open on Wednesdays. That is when they get there shipments.

then there are slugs, for slugs I have had the best experience with 1oz Federal TruBall or Remington Slugger.

There is also MTG firarms and Shootin' Shack in Elk Grove. They are both smaller and newer shops both shops are run by great guys. If you want to try to negotiate I would try one of those shops.

[Newshooter]

1,000 rounds of target loads is not very much at all. A typical 2 day tournament is 600 rounds for some people. Trying to negotiate a good deal during these times might be a little tough.

Has anyone tried duck or turkey loads for HD? I have 3 and 3.5" BBB for geese and I know those shells are readily available. They are expensive but would be worth it if you needed them for home defense. Have you reached out to J&S Wholesale in Jackson? They have pretty good deals on bulk and can probably get you whatever you may want.

[NapalmCheese]

1,000 rounds of target loads is not very much at all. A typical 2 day tournament is 600 rounds for some people. Trying to negotiate a good deal during these times might be a little tough.

Has anyone tried duck or turkey loads for HD? I have 3 and 3.5" BBB for geese and I know those shells are readily available. They are expensive but would be worth it if you needed them for home defense. Have you reached out to J&S Wholesale in Jackson? They have pretty good deals on bulk and can probably get you whatever you may want.

While I don't advocate using anything less than #4 buck for personal defense, at least BBB has some mass to it...

Substituting individual shot weight for payload weight and maybe a bit of powder would be a mistake IMO. Also, using steel shot indoors seems like a ricochet waiting to happen.

[dlquinn71]

A heavy turkey load would probably be just fine for home defense. I have been to a couple of seminars and that was mentioned.