SmallGameAddict
.308 Win
Me too, for most things.
12g ammo for home defense recommendation?
- Thread starter ikilledkenny
- Start date
@ikilledkenny
If you can't decide you could always go with these. I suspect the person on the receiving end would have a bad day. I have a few boxes of it but haven't shot it at all.
If you can't decide you could always go with these. I suspect the person on the receiving end would have a bad day. I have a few boxes of it but haven't shot it at all.
SmallGameAddict
.308 Win
I think that the results would be interesting to see on paper.
SmallGameAddict
.308 Win
Holy, you're on the other side of the Hudson. I ain't been down that way since I was stationed @ West Point.
JackNeat
.45 acp
Go to a class for Defensive Shotgun with Onsite Firearms Training.. You'll get to see what the various options are and a discussion on those options. There are a lot of variables really. A Home Defense Shotgun load IMO really depends on what your maximum distance might be and who/what is on the other side of your walls. One thing... you have to aim and hit your target - the myths surrounding shotguns are numerous.
If you were to shoot some birdshot at an intruder 10-15ft away... you're going to have lethal effects and he will stop providing you hit and aim at the vital parts of the body. Longer shots and things can get iffy possibly? Shooting the 00 buck in a home defense round will absolutely do the job and there is zero doubt the actions of the intruder will likely cease immediately. Miss with that round though and you have issues and consequences you might have to deal with.
00 is the choice if you have training and know you will be able to aim and hit what you are aiming at under stress.
If you were to shoot some birdshot at an intruder 10-15ft away... you're going to have lethal effects and he will stop providing you hit and aim at the vital parts of the body. Longer shots and things can get iffy possibly? Shooting the 00 buck in a home defense round will absolutely do the job and there is zero doubt the actions of the intruder will likely cease immediately. Miss with that round though and you have issues and consequences you might have to deal with.
00 is the choice if you have training and know you will be able to aim and hit what you are aiming at under stress.
ikilledkenny
.45 acp
thanks all for the recommendations. i will buy whatever is available from highly recommended to low.
WOW!........... Imagine that........training.
(but but but muh best friends neighbor is a cop and he says..............)
spat
.700 Nitro Express
At home defense distances it's almost irrelevant.
Unless you live in an aircraft hanger anything is going to pattern about same inside your house.
What's the longest shot you could conceivably make ? 10 yards ?
From slugs to #8 shot all are going to hit inside a 1" circle at indoor distances, even with a rifled barrel.
The terminal performance will vary quite a bit, but not the pattern.
Now, if the fight goes outside things could change, but indoors it's just about terminal performance.
Unless you live in an aircraft hanger anything is going to pattern about same inside your house.
What's the longest shot you could conceivably make ? 10 yards ?
From slugs to #8 shot all are going to hit inside a 1" circle at indoor distances, even with a rifled barrel.
The terminal performance will vary quite a bit, but not the pattern.
Now, if the fight goes outside things could change, but indoors it's just about terminal performance.
Inside the home I have a 15 yard shot.
When I see various brands of buckshot make a 10 to 12 inch pattern at 15 yards, it actually does become relevant. Hence the need to pattern your HD shotgun with various brands to see which works best. The cheap ass ("just as good as any other brand") buckshot is an invitation to unwanted accountability.
Wouldn't fire slugs in the home, and in NY, if the fight goes outside the house, I'm staying in the house.
The minute I take the fight out of the house is the minute I risk jail time.
That whole "Ima duhfend muh land" crap is for someone wanting to go to jail in this state.
spat
.700 Nitro Express
That's a big house.
I obviously recommend knowing how any ammunition patterns with your shotgun. But for the 15-20 foot shot most people would have it isn't likely to matter much.
I doubt there are many other people with a 50 foot hallway to shoot down.
As for the terminal performance, it's going to depend a lot on where you are.
If you have neighbors (or worse yet, an apartment) you'll need to be very conscious of overpenetration.
If you're on a farm and your nearest neighbor is far enough away that you have a backyard shooting range, probably not such a concern.
As for fighting someone who's outside the house, only if they're out there shooting back in, or are getting ready to burn the place down around you or something.
Phazer
.450/400 Nitro Ex
At the last OFT shotgun course I attended, Ben had us pattern our buckshot loads from around 10 yards.
I fired my bulk-purchased basic 12 gauge #4 buckshot at the bottom of the paper. Then, Ben had me try a round of Hornady Critical Defense 00 buckshot at the top of the paper. I was impressed. Now I'm looking to buy some Federal Premium 12g (00 or #1) with Flitecontrol wad or Hornady Critical Defense for use in a home defense shotgun.
Oh...damn Ben for letting me try his Beretta 1301 for one of the drills. That little demo cost me a heck of a lot for a new order that won't be available until October.
I fired my bulk-purchased basic 12 gauge #4 buckshot at the bottom of the paper. Then, Ben had me try a round of Hornady Critical Defense 00 buckshot at the top of the paper. I was impressed. Now I'm looking to buy some Federal Premium 12g (00 or #1) with Flitecontrol wad or Hornady Critical Defense for use in a home defense shotgun.
Oh...damn Ben for letting me try his Beretta 1301 for one of the drills. That little demo cost me a heck of a lot for a new order that won't be available until October.
Facts. Not assumptions. FACTS.
JackNeat
.45 acp
I haven’t been able to locate the Federal HD shells yet but I did manage to find some Fiocchi HD buckshot which I hope arrives before this Sunday ( and just checked tracking and it’s arriving TODAY - one day shipping as posted by oft on their FB page.. ) see you there @Phazer ? Definitely looking forward to a long day of shooting with @OnSight Firearms Training
my buddy ( a local police officer ) is taking me to the town police range this Saturday morning. Gonna shoot some reactive steel targets and clays... he is also bringing along a few others things for me to try out .. this weekend is gonna be FUN!
my buddy ( a local police officer ) is taking me to the town police range this Saturday morning. Gonna shoot some reactive steel targets and clays... he is also bringing along a few others things for me to try out .. this weekend is gonna be FUN!
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BDinPutnam
.475 A&M Magnum
Like the man said- a man is entitled to his own opinion but he's not entitled to his own set of facts.
@thewheels
.308 Win
I've seen some weird patterns with a rifled barrel at 5-10 yards.
Aunt Mildred's old clock hanging down the hall might not survive.
maverick52
.223 Rem
Same here. The shotgun is probably the last gun I want to use. My Glock 19 with an Olight rail light is my first choice.
Acer-m14
20×102mm Vulcan
I know more than a few people who are not gun people......but, they own a shotgun for home defense.
Its easy to buy, easy to use and you dont need to be a dead eye shot to use successfully.
If I was only able to own one gun....it would be a pump 12 gauge for sure.
JackNeat
.45 acp
I do not have anything but a shotgun. A handgun is something I want to obtain. I am also interested is possibly obtaining a pc carbine in a matching caliber.
One thing I think about though is how often you see a handgun trigger pulled BEFORE the bad guy drops... compare that with 9 pellets of 00 buckshot hitting the bad guy and the math seems pretty simple to me. The shotgun looks like the most effective way to drop a threat as quickly as possible.
One thing I think about though is how often you see a handgun trigger pulled BEFORE the bad guy drops... compare that with 9 pellets of 00 buckshot hitting the bad guy and the math seems pretty simple to me. The shotgun looks like the most effective way to drop a threat as quickly as possible.
Oh my, are you not bowing to a self-proclaimed expert?
That expert Saying #4 buck “peppers” your house is just stupid!
technicalgadget
.223 Rem
Because if you need to stop a bad guy immediately at close range, not much does the job better at 50 caliber, 440 grains and 3,100 ft pounds. It is the preferred round for many in grizzly bear country.
IMO, the shotgun is one of the most versatile and easy-to-use weapon options out there.
At least with regards to a pump-action, the manual of arms is relatively simple, though not impervious to user error.
It offers a wide range of ammo that can handle a variety of functions (00 Buck, 0 Buck or Slugs for home defense or hunting or big animal defense, various light-weight options for small game and target practice.
In states where semi-auto's are restricted, pump-action and even some semi-auto 12 gauges are NOT restricted.
Rifles are great, but at typical HD ranges they don't offer much of an advantage and, if anything, offer the potential for over penetration. Whereas you can easily find12 gauge loads that are well suited to close quarters shooting and mitigating over penetration.
I personally think that the average gun owner would be better off buying a shotgun first rather than a typical semi-auto rifle; he/she will get more utility out of the former than with the latter.
The major issues: recoil (which can be mitigated with training and proper round selection) and round capacity (which really isn't an issue for the average self defense scenario).
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