ikilledkenny
.45 acp
ammo recommendation?
is 00 ok?
i have bunch of #7.5 for clay shooting and a few #1.
is 00 ok?
i have bunch of #7.5 for clay shooting and a few #1.
12g ammo for home defense recommendation?
- Thread starter ikilledkenny
- Start date
spat
.700 Nitro Express
The 00 would certainly be the best of that bunch.
But any of them will do in a pinch at HD distances.
Bob
6.5 Creedmoor
The 590 that I keep behind the door is loaded with 00 Flitecontrol. Anywhere in my house, I can keep all 9 pellets in COM.
8+1 in in gun, 5 on the sidesaddle, and then 4 slugs on the buttstock in case I have to reach out and touch someone.
8+1 in in gun, 5 on the sidesaddle, and then 4 slugs on the buttstock in case I have to reach out and touch someone.
Last edited:
ikilledkenny
.45 acp
thanks. going to order some 00.
wish i had picked up a decent semi shotgun when there were many choices. all i am left with is a dp12 and tristar 512 [over under shotgun, which i use for clay shooting]
wish i had picked up a decent semi shotgun when there were many choices. all i am left with is a dp12 and tristar 512 [over under shotgun, which i use for clay shooting]
I know @OnSight Firearms Training mentions a few solid options (and offer shotgun classes) i believe Federal Flitecontrol was one of them (I could be wrong)
But what ever load you pick make sure to go to the range and pattern it so you know what you are getting
BDinPutnam
.475 A&M Magnum
My 12 gauge 870 has 00 in it.
My 20 gauge Mossberg has slugs in it (more concerned about coyotes than people).
My 20 gauge Mossberg has slugs in it (more concerned about coyotes than people).
dwa12479
.338 Win Mag
I 2nd, 3rd, and 4th the Flitecontrol. That's what I have ready for my HD shotty. If you can find it in #1, it's 15 pellets vs 9 in the #00.
dwa12479
.338 Win Mag
Never used it before. Thanks, I'll see if I can find some next time im.shopping for 12ga.
Deplorable Me
.700 Nitro Express
Given the times and supply chain 00 Buck might be hard to come by. Trap loads would be effective only at really close range. Something I did see on the shelves at Cabalas' two weeks ago was turkey and duck loads in 3". An assortment of 4, 5 and 6 shot but in steel, tungsten or bismuth. The stuff is pricey but in difficult time one has to think alternate resources. Be prepared for a little added recoil. Test fire from the hip.
There may be some boutique nickle plated BB loads out there sold as coyote loads (Hornady?) That would probably be effective but again pricy. The Hornady stuff is lead.
There may be some boutique nickle plated BB loads out there sold as coyote loads (Hornady?) That would probably be effective but again pricy. The Hornady stuff is lead.
Just keep in mind there is a difference between steelshot and buckshot. You should get 00BK for sure. Federal flight control is good, probably the only thing better would be the Remington TAC-8 LE 00BK which has 8 pellets instead of 9. The 9th pellet seems to be the one that flies off away from the rest. It has to do with how they are stacked into the shell. Flight control does a decent job of eliminating that, but not having the problem to begin with like the Remington is even better, and gives the pellets slightly higher velocity.
Good luck finding either one now
Good luck finding either one now
@thewheels
.308 Win
#4 Buck for me inside my dwelling.
00 and slug outside.
00 and slug outside.
I'll take 8 tightly placed pellets INSIDE the house than 21 to 28 random pellets flying around inside my home. I like the things in my house.
Fed Flight Control #8 00 in the home.
Tested, patterned and proven.
@thewheels
.308 Win
There's absolutely nothing in the construction of my home that will stop .330 pellets moving at over 1300 fps.
Hitting the BG is no guarantee either.
#4 patterns nicely for me out to 10 yards and has less velocity.
Also, If anyone is using a rifled barrel with any type of buckshot, they're doing it wrong. Smooth bore is a requirement for a proper pattern.
I'm just saying, I know my abilities so I dont need to pepper my entire household with pellets to get the job done. I shoot about 300 rounds of buckshot a month, and I have gone through all of the "popular' brands, sizes, lengths, colors, flavors, etc. to find what works best in my shotgun(s).
You do you in your own house. Im just saying for ME, in MY house, I am perfectly confident in my ability to shoot tight patterned 00 flight control 8 pellet.
ecosystem3
.40 S&W
Paul Harrell has a decent video on shotguns and penetration FWIW
@thewheels
.308 Win
Sure, I'm in no way doubting your practice/skills with the shotgun.
I'm just reiterating the greater possibility for a larger and faster pellet to find it's way through/past a BG and an exterior wall.
SmallGameAddict
.308 Win
Yep. The proximity to your neighbors house is def a factor to consider. I don't have that issue.
My personal fave is Winchester Super-X 12 ga. 2-3/4" #1 buck. They don't brag about it but Winchester uses a shot cup in this load.
Runner-up is Rem Express 2-3/4" 00 buck. Rem uses a shot cup in this load.
Edit: I'd like to add that a 12 ga 2-3/4" load of #1 buck contains 16 pellets. By weight, if you do the math sometime when you're bored, that's 640 grains, or just about 1-1/2 oz. of shot, @ 1250 fps. Pretty much makes it a 2-3/4" "baby magnum". Be prepared for the recoil.
My personal fave is Winchester Super-X 12 ga. 2-3/4" #1 buck. They don't brag about it but Winchester uses a shot cup in this load.
Runner-up is Rem Express 2-3/4" 00 buck. Rem uses a shot cup in this load.
Edit: I'd like to add that a 12 ga 2-3/4" load of #1 buck contains 16 pellets. By weight, if you do the math sometime when you're bored, that's 640 grains, or just about 1-1/2 oz. of shot, @ 1250 fps. Pretty much makes it a 2-3/4" "baby magnum". Be prepared for the recoil.
Last edited:
Patterned both at 15 yards out of three of my shotguns and got patterns around 6 to 12 inches. If I am concerned about the end destination of my shots/pellets neither of these loads would be good for my shotguns.
One of the most beneficial topics in our shotgun classes is the buck shot patterning we do with the students.
We ask that students bring their top choice for buck shot, and about three to four other loads and we compare the patterns out of their shotguns.
I have seen the weirdest patterns. The "brown box Olin (winchester) Green shells, "military grade" (lowest contract bidder) as they are called pattern in the worst in 95% of the guns tested. 12 inch groups at 10 yards. Rem Express 2-3/4" 00 averages about 8inch patterns at 10 yards.
Rem Tac 8 the same. Only thing that I would say even comes close to a fist sized group at any distance (10 to 15 yards) is FFC or Hornady Crit. Def. Versatite. While I understand that there is the desire for a larger shot pattern, I run about 16 hours per monthm running my shotgun in unconventional situations, including moving while shooting and shooting moving targets. I would rather stick with the tighter pattern from FFC or Hornady CDV in my house. Just my opinion on what works for me, based on constant training and testing.
SmallGameAddict
.308 Win
I've never bothered with the Win "military grade". Always figured it was packaging hype, with bare bones unplated, unbuffered shot with no shot cup. You pretty much confirmed my suspicions.
I don't mind unplated, but buffering and a shot cup helps a lot.
I keep waiting for Winchester to come out with "Shot-Lok" buckshot, using copper-plated shot, like they have for turkey, pheasant and varmint loads. That would likely be a pattern for sore eyes. Maybe TOO tight for home defense distances.
BDinPutnam
.475 A&M Magnum
Before I went to slugs for the coyote gun I actually had #4 buck in it.
Saltwater60
.950 JDJ
I’ve got buck shot and I have turkey loads. Obviously buck is better but the turkey loads are for the wife or kids if needed. Also I’ve tried the mini shells and I can’t get them to cycle reliably at all so I’ll never use them for self defense ever!!
SmallGameAddict
.308 Win
Marine Cpl
.577 Tyrannosaur.
I do not understand a shotgun for home defense. Lots of recoil and large, cumbersome ammo with minimal capacity in most cases unless you get a 10 rd tube that will make your already long shotgun even longer.
Then the trend is to reduce the pattern of shot and turn the 8 or 9 pellets that if spread apart may cause more wound tracts and increase the chances of hitting something vital into a slug. Why not just use a slug? And if using a slug, why not just use a rifle with soft points that will make an almost as big hole, be easily reloaded, and will not recoil as much for follow up shots?
A shotgun is an antiquated firearm for home defense. But because it’s been parroted as the best, it’s what people keep repeating to each other.
Then the trend is to reduce the pattern of shot and turn the 8 or 9 pellets that if spread apart may cause more wound tracts and increase the chances of hitting something vital into a slug. Why not just use a slug? And if using a slug, why not just use a rifle with soft points that will make an almost as big hole, be easily reloaded, and will not recoil as much for follow up shots?
A shotgun is an antiquated firearm for home defense. But because it’s been parroted as the best, it’s what people keep repeating to each other.
BDinPutnam
.475 A&M Magnum
"Why not just use a rifle?"
This thread is about shotgun; that said my go to HD guns are, in fact, rifles.
I have handguns throughout the house in case of an invasion of my home. I have two AR's that I can get to easily as well.
Under my bed, I have a 12 gauge shotgun loaded with 00 buck. I am a firm believer in a variety of guns.
Under my bed, I have a 12 gauge shotgun loaded with 00 buck. I am a firm believer in a variety of guns.
SmallGameAddict
.308 Win
You forgot slow to reload. You make some valid points.
A shotgun is one tool of choice, of many.
A shotgun is a very powerful short range weapon. A 12 ga. has a bore of about .727", so a slug would be a lot larger in diameter than a rifle. It can fire 9 .33 cal projectiles/shot, so five shots in under 3 seconds would be 45 projectiles, pretty good rate of fire. Cleared a lot of trenches in a few wars.
Some ppl use what they have. Some ppl don't want to go to the expense and hassle of a pistol permit to obtain a handgun, but a shotgun is usually easily obtained, and a very flexible tool. You can load it to minimize over penetration specific to your circumstances.
You don't have to be an expert marksman to use one.
My personal goal isn't as tight a pattern as possible, because I'm not worried about stray pellet over penetration, for those pellets that might miss the target In suburban or urban areas. That may be a concern for some.
A shotgun is one tool of choice, of many.
A shotgun is a very powerful short range weapon. A 12 ga. has a bore of about .727", so a slug would be a lot larger in diameter than a rifle. It can fire 9 .33 cal projectiles/shot, so five shots in under 3 seconds would be 45 projectiles, pretty good rate of fire. Cleared a lot of trenches in a few wars.
Some ppl use what they have. Some ppl don't want to go to the expense and hassle of a pistol permit to obtain a handgun, but a shotgun is usually easily obtained, and a very flexible tool. You can load it to minimize over penetration specific to your circumstances.
You don't have to be an expert marksman to use one.
My personal goal isn't as tight a pattern as possible, because I'm not worried about stray pellet over penetration, for those pellets that might miss the target In suburban or urban areas. That may be a concern for some.
Same here