Best shotgun HD ammo

[ad40]

Hi all,

Wanted your thought and advice on what you think is the best HD shotgun ammo. Over penetration is my main concern.

Thank you.

[Bangzoom]

#4 buckshot if youre worried about Over penetration

But im sure somebody will prove me wrong

I use 00

[ad40]

^ creative avatar haha

[AAShooter]

Anything that is effective in stopping a threat will penetrate a wall, including bird shot, buck shot and slugs. Perhaps consider less than lethal alternatives?

That said, realize that many people get their priorities confused in this discussion. If someone is about to take your life and you have one shot to stop the threat and live, are you still concerned about about over-penetration? Making sure you don't have an over-penetration issue, make not allow you to stop a dedicated opponent.

[m16]

I keep low-recoil 00 buck in my shotgun.

I've patterned my gun, and know what to expect at the distances found inside my home.

[L84CABO]

Um...there's an active thread on this very topic...

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=867080

[AAShooter]

Um...there's an active thread on this very topic...

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s...d.php?t=867080

The question being asked here is slightly different. This one is asking for a load that specifically address the over penetration issue.

[AAShooter]

http://www.guns.com/2013/02/27/self-defense-inside-the-home-avoiding-over-penetratio/

http://www.firearmstactical.com/briefs10.htm

[Bill Steele]

Anything that is effective in stopping a threat will penetrate a wall, including bird shot, buck shot and slugs. Perhaps consider less than lethal alternatives?

That said, realize that many people get their priorities confused in this discussion. If someone is about to take your life and you have one shot to stop the threat and live, are you still concerned about about over-penetration? Making sure you don't have an over-penetration issue, make not allow you to stop a dedicated opponent.

Spot on.

+ Get an alarm.

[kcjr1125]

low recoil 00 buck

[Oliver_Charles]

***

[Mr. Beretta]

Federal LE132 00

The best!

[bruss01]

Speaking to the OP in all sincerity here...

Penetration is a mixed bag. A home invasion is a chaotic situation and you cannot always line up your shots carefully, nor is an invader moving as uniformly or predictably as a skeet clay. The whole point of a home invasion is to catch you by surprise, unready, maybe asleep. You are at a disadvantage from the outset of the event. There is real potential, no matter how "good" you are, for a miss.

Having said that, a gun (or the ammo) are of little use if they are not effective for the intended purpose. A bb can ricochet and put someone's eye out. People have been killed by .22 lr, about the weakest round that is (readily) commercially available. Any round of any kind is potentially lethal, and any round that is not powerful enough to penetrate a couple of layers of drywall will produce a superficial wound rather than the fight-stopping wound that you wanted - and which is needed to stop the fight ASAP and minimize loss of life or injury.

In my opinion an attacker represents a much greater threat to the life and health of me and mine more than an over-penetrating stray bit of buckshot. Naturally you do not want to shoot towards an attacker if he is standing between you and your children's bedroom. This is a matter of training and forethought. Position yourself so the attacker must come to you, and where you are pointing away from where your loved ones are likely to be the back-stop. I realize that's not a perfect solution but in a scenario where the attacker has the upper hand you must realize that there can be no such thing as a perfect solution.

I use military double aught buckshot in my HD shotgun and I am completely comfortable with that choice because I believe it provides adequate penetration and is less likely to overpenetrate beyond my home than a slug or a rifle round. Bird-shot has been shown to produce a gory but superficial wound that is unlikely to stop a determined attacker. A fragmenting rifle round would also be a good choice, but firing a rifle indoors is going to play havoc on your hearing - not that a shotgun is whisper quiet, mind you, but it's more of a boom than a sharp crack and that does make a significant difference.

I have 8 rounds in the tube, and six in the side-saddle, with a Surefire light up front. I sleep soundly knowing it's there, ready for instant action.

Good luck with your choices... I think that taking care in your defensive strategy and going with a high-probability fight-stopper is ultimately safer for you and your family than opting for a weak or superficial defensive round and hoping an attacker takes the hint.

[tima]

#1 Buck is what I use. I can't seem to find the study now, but there was a website that had a pretty in depth study of various 12ga loads for HD. Ballistics, penetration, gel tests, etc.

Conclusion was basically #1 is the best load that consistently penetrates deep enough to stop an intruder but is less likely to over penetrate. 00 Buck was the second best bet but over penetration was more likely.

I stock both as #1 buck can be semi hard to find from time to time though.

[Sigster]

I use low recoil Ranger T 00 buck. I like the way it shoots and I'm sure it will blow through any wall I'm pointing at so I make sure I know what direction never to pull the trigger if anything bad was to ever to happen.