Buckshot vs Birdshot for HD . . . Here we go again.

[ChuckDizzle]

Most scenarios we discuss are unlikely for most of us, including the need for a firearm for home defense at all. The old solution of racking an empty pump shotgun will often work to dissuade a person in your home from further evil action if you like playing the odds. No penetration to worry about either.

I just get a kick out of people that seem to think they can predict the behavior of the rare lethal encounter in which they might be involved.

I can agree with that, which is why the discussion should stay in the generalities.

Practice is probably the best thing to do, I'm guessing most people neglect to do so with a HD shotgun. I know in my area I have to go to private land to do any fast, buckshot shooting. Based upon your avatar it looks like you do skeet and trap shooting, do you feel that taking up such a sport would be a skill builder for the average shooter who uses a home defense shotgun?

[AAShooter]

I can agree with that, which is why the discussion should stay in the generalities.

Practice is probably the best thing to do, I'm guessing most people neglect to do so with a HD shotgun. I know in my area I have to go to private land to do any fast, buckshot shooting. Based upon your avatar it looks like you do skeet and trap shooting, do you feel that taking up such a sport would be a skill builder for the average shooter who uses a home defense shotgun?

Other than making you comfortable with that weapon platform, I am not sure many of the skills are as transferable as I would like. Many times you are shooting a tactical shotgun more like a rifle and the shotgun is setup with sights. Clays shooting is not shot that way. The worst I ever shot at a 2-day clays competition was when I attended it immediately after taking a 4-day tactical shotgun.

That said, if you want to learn how to run a pump gun, go shoot double clay targets. Although frustrating at first, you get good practice running it.

Finally, shooting clays help people build upper body strength and learn to deal with recoil. It also toughens your shoulder and is great to prepare for multi-day classes.

[TMB 1]

I prefer #4 buck minimum. Check out this vid.

That's an interesting video. I wonder why they didn't test some of the heavier birdshot loads? Like the 1 7/8oz #4 shot turkey loads. The #4 buck didn't look to bad, but the other buck shot loads looked like they'd blow right through a bad guy at 10ft.

[ERdept]

NO BIRDSHOT.

He will live, be badly wounded and sue you.

If it comes down to shooting, you got to use buck, or ball, or both.


Who uses birdshot to hunt deer? No one, they use slugs or buck, NOT birdshot.

[bernieb90]

#8 Birdshot


#1 Buckshot

[Teeko]

Buckshot

[Kokopelli]

Lots of truth here.

It should be noted that many rifle rounds are plenty effective with a lower chance of over-penetration. {snip}

^ This is truth. Check out the lowly 223 w/55gr FMJ. It fragments before it makes it through a 10" gelatin block.

[ChuckDizzle]

NO BIRDSHOT.

He will live, be badly wounded and sue you.

If it comes down to shooting, you got to use buck, or ball, or both.


Who uses birdshot to hunt deer? No one, they use slugs or buck, NOT birdshot.

This ignores the relevant question of distance to target. I'm sure bird shot would do just fine against a deer that is 10 feet away.

[-hanko]

This ignores the relevant question of distance to target. I'm sure bird shot would do just fine against a deer that is 10 feet away.

You apparently missed the photo on this thread showing birdshot penetration in a gelatin block.

You also missed the point of the thread. Check the title.

The idea is to stop the actor, and stop him as quickly as possible. Maybe you've never hunted, but the idea there is to stop the animal as quickly as possible.

That's why God gave us shotgun shells with big pellets, and shotgun shells with little pellets.

I'd submit that birdshot at 10 feet would cause the deer to bleed to death, slowly. You'd be called "unethical" by some, "arsehole dumb$h1t" by most.

That's because California Fish and Game laws speak to that exact subject. Read the part in red...

Shotguns capable of holding not more than three shells firing single slugs may be used for the taking of deer, bear and wild pigs. In areas where the discharge of rifles or shotguns with slugs is prohibited by county ordinance, shotguns capable of holding not more than three shells firing size 0 or 00 buckshot may be used for the taking of deer only.

Same with shooting a human.

Get a clue.

[bsg]

This ignores the relevant question of distance to target. I'm sure bird shot would do just fine against a deer that is 10 feet away.

shooting deer with birdshot from any distance would be an act of cruelty.

[afteractionreport]

I stock up on buck even though i live in an apt...i just got to make sure i dont miss, thats why i go to the range and practice...btw i have sum birdshot too j.i.c shtf i want to have a lil bit of everything

[SBsasquatch]

^^^ good idea- better to have then have not.
Personally I'd rather have the ability to get through barriers. If and when the bad guy chooses to duck behind a wall and/or my couch. He's toast. With bird shot? I doubt it.

[mossy]

This ignores the relevant question of distance to target. I'm sure bird shot would do just fine against a deer that is 10 feet away.

this guy...........shooting a deer with birdshot is extremely cruel. It will not be a quick clean kill.

Again, i have seen someone take 3 shells of birdshot. it does not stop a threat quick. Birdshot is for birds, buck is for people.........

[CK_32]

^^^ good idea- better to have then have not.
Personally I'd rather have the ability to get through barriers. If and when the bad guy chooses to duck behind a wall and/or my couch. He's toast. With bird shot? I doubt it.

This is the reason I run slugs on the side.. For couches, tables or walls if we get into a firefight for the "just in case".

I feel like too many people have the fantasy of the bag guy is going to be a deer in the head lights as soon as you see day other out in the open in the middle of your living took or kithen of a mansion like the self defense mags love to picture with the guy huntched over sneaking around corners. One shot and bam your on the front page of the news paper.

Doesn't happen like that. Again over penetration is second to the damage the round will cause out on target. But that doesn't mean I'm going to machine gun chop every wall of my house either.

Also a reason I have a pistols, AR and shot gun all ready and waiting so I can listen. Assess wtf is going on then choose one of my many plans than have one plan and hope it goes down and he is in the spot I want him to be when I want to shoot him. Hope for the best, expect the worst.

[ChuckDizzle]

shooting deer with birdshot from any distance would be an act of cruelty.

No crap, but would it stop the deer from attacking you?