Only show this user. Some wingshooters swear by the 6-shot, while others use the 7 ½ shot or even No.8s. Birdshot is a favorite of many home defenders. Here's one explanation from the article by AR15.com, Best Choices for Self Defense Ammo: "Number 1 buck is the smallest diameter shot that reliably and consistently penetrates more than 12 inches of standard ordnance gelatin when fired at typical shotgun engagement distances. 1 Fiocchi - 12 Gauge - 2-3/4″ 1 oz #8 Shot - Best 12 Guage Shotgun Practice Ammo. 2 Federal Top Gun - 12 Gauge - 2-3/4″ Steel Shot Target Load - Best Low Cost 12 Guage Shotgun Ammo. My home defense shotgun is a Remington M-1100 with a 20" barrel, a 7 shot magazine, ghost ring sights, a Speedfeed pistolgrip butt stock and a pressure switch . Muzzle Velocity: 1300 ft/s. The load options for #4 buck are also a bit limited and do not have the . Proponents of large buckshot will say that No. Birdshot is going to hurt. Choosing a Home Defense Shotgun Load - USA Carry new www.usacarry.com. $1,999. Hevi-Shot "Maximum Defense" 1 ounce size T This load is another commercially manufactured mid-sized shot load marketed for personal defense. The logic being the smaller shot size minimizes the supposed over-penetration risk while still being an effective load. . Support NRA Family DONATE. Save. I list the best choices in terms of value, performance, design, and cost. We can get some decent loads with those shot sizes, with plated and buffered shots at least. Benelli's M-series shotguns hail back to the mid-1980s and evolved from the vaunted HK512 FABARM. If you feel safer with 6 shot then by all means, load your gun with 6 shot. 7½ shot. Most. Shotgun Pellet Count: 4 #10 410 Gauge - 1/2 oz 2.5″ Centerfire Shotgun Ammunition . One of the more recent uses of #4 shot in the home-defense arena is found in revolvers like the Taurus Judge, which can use #4 shot .410 ammo as an effective personal and home-defense cartridge. However, this is up to the shooter based on what's comfortable. A little bit of spread is good, sure, but not too terribly much. In other words, some have been incapacitated by #4 Birdshot while others have somehow survived being shot in the torso with 000 Buckshot. There are also sizes in between these, but we tried to pick the most common chokes. At these close ranges, a #7 ½ shot size field load may pattern so tightly that the impact will look more like a slug . Smith & Wesson M & P9 M2.0; considered among the best 9mm pistols today. When I was in my house the furthest I would have to shoot was 5 yards, in the apartment I actually have a 10 yard lane. In that instance, a choke isn't strictly speaking necessary. My Dead Coyote loads put 54 .20-caliber projectiles downrange or across the room with each trigger pull. Other than 00 buckshot, #4 buckshot is also commonly recommended for the home defense mission. This shot size is the most common among law-enforcement agencies. 2 (.27 inch), No. Home defense is a good excuse to buy this 12-gauge ammo shot pattern and size. But that relative difference doesn't translate into any useful advantage. At 20' - 30' you will find that you have to aim it just like a rifle. They are right; it will penetrate through fewer walls than 00 buckshot, but No.4 will still tear through anywhere from 4 to 7 walls worth of drywall. Well, each load from size 7.5 on the left to even the mighty shotgun slug on the right has a purpose in home defense. My 18.5" cylinder bore 12 gauge patterns 6" at 7 yards with 00 buck. In the close range of many home defense encounters (often twenty feet or less), you will find that the size of the shot will not matter too much. People call shotguns "scatterguns" for a reason. As we said before, the best home defense shotguns in 2021 are: Beretta 1301 Remington 870 Police Mossberg 590A1 Benelli M4 Keep reading to see why these stack up as the best shotguns for home defense. Rifled slugs past 30 yards is probably the best choice. For outside the house 00 to 30 yards. In that instance, a choke isn't strictly speaking necessary. Next usually comes the argument for bird shot in the home defense shotgun. #4 Buck. Shot Comparison. A 20 is definitely adequate for defense against any two legged predator. The thug in the picture on the right caught a blast at close range. Last on our list is a tactical pump-action shotgun that's "a bit out there" compared to our other picks - The KEL-TEC KSG. Application: Self Defense. It is capable of killing birds to bears — and everything in between - and is especially useful against two-legged vermin. The Federal #1 Buck low recoil load is hard to find, but worth looking for. However, the shot is moving at 1,250 fps. ESCORT SDX 12 Ga AR 12. If you're going to fire a gun at somebody to save your life, make sure the load will stop them. The other component of buckshot vs birdshot for home defense is the overall spread of the pellets. Photo by Ken MacSwan. Each shotshell contains 1.0 ounce of size T (.2 inch. Final Thoughts on Shotguns. For home defense, a shotgun is superior to a handgun in terms of stopping a violent intruder as quickly as possible. The largest shot size commercially available is #2 buck. The pattern about like you would expect bottom shelf buckshot loads to the pattern. The average 20-gauge tactical model with the same barrel length tips the scales at between 5.5 and 6.5 pounds. Well, each load from size 7.5 on the left to even the mighty shotgun slug on the right has a purpose in home defense. Buying Guide: Fiocchi 12 . It comes in only one configuration: a black synthetic pump-action 12-gauge that can fire up to 3" shells. Number 4 buckshot gets suggested for home defense because people believe it penetrates less through drywall. . Other than 00 buckshot, #4 buckshot is also commonly recommended for the home defense mission. Three inches is more powerful, but produces more recoil. If that is the case, the Trijicon RMR03 with a 13 inch MOA would seem to be ideal for home defense since at 35 feet the dot would be approximately 1.75 inches on the target. Best Shotgun Ammo: Home Defense & Target Shooting in 2022 Reviews. 00 buck loads are needed to put down an aggressor. It has a diameter of just .080" and is used with great effect by dove and quail hunters. In most cases, a pump-action 12 gauge shotgun is the best choice for home defense. 12-Gauge Shotgun Load Types. At ten yards, depending on the shotgun barrel, a birdshot loan can have an overall pattern spread over a foot in diameter. The shot fans out quickly. For outside the house 00 to 30 yards. An 18″ barrel is recommended, as it can be maneuvered around all but the tightest spots. Henry Repeating Arms Sidegate 410. Various factors also have to be considered for self-defense uses, including which choke works best. At close range, the blast of these lightweight small pellets hit like a solid fist. Home Defense Shotgun Choke. The thug in the picture on the right caught a blast at close range. .12. In our other defensive round reviews ( 9mm, .45 ACP, .40 S&W, 5.56/.223 ), we show examples of how the FBI conducts ballistics gel tests to test loads. Birdshot is a favorite of many home defenders. Like .380 though, #4 buckshot is kind of the bottom floor. Depending on the circumstances, a shell like this may be less than lethal to humans. My 18.5" cylinder bore 12 gauge patterns 6" at 7 yards with 00 buck. It's always been overshadowed by the more popular and more powerful 12 gauge, but there's nothing wrong with relying on a 20 gauge shotgun to defend your home. . With an innovative Versatite wad, these shotgun loads deliver tight shot patterns. #1 Buckshot: The Winchester Super-X is a great ammunition option for #1 Buckshot, as well as the military version. A Mossberg 500 or Remington 870 are excellent choices. Birdshot, Buckshot, and Slugs. 5 Bird. There are plenty of options. The specter that always arises is the issue of using large buckshot for home defense purposes, or instead using something that's seemingly tamer, such as in shotshells loaded with No. To some, it's the best tactical shotgun for home defense, while many others think of it as a novelty. This model has similar features and controls as an AR-15. Some can be so small its difficult to pick them up with your fingers while others can be nearly the size of a marble, and as the old adage goes "there's always a right tool for the job."Regardless of the length or caliber of the shotgun shell whether its a small 2.5″ .410 . A modern mag fed semi auto shotgun. With birdshot you will have a larger spread of pellets with more pellets striking the targeted area. 1 buckshot delivers the most lead possible. Birdshot is a favorite of many home defenders. Less recoil usually leads to better shot placement, and for a lot of . Depending on it not penetrate through drywall is downright silly. Proponents of large buckshot will say that No. They also leave the muzzle at a blistering 1600 feet per second, so they hit the target with some serious power. Rifled slugs past 30 yards is probably the best choice. Make sure the home defense plan is for the family to hunker down if there's a home invasion, and you have pre-planned . Shotgun Shot Sizes. Those who chose smaller shot for these . The receiver has a matte blued finish. At these distances, both buckshot and birdshot shotgun shells will be . A little bit of spread is good, sure, but not too terribly much. Slugs. A reliable, well-made, pump-action shotgun can usually be purchased for less than the cost of a handgun of comparable quality. 5. Two shots were made with a Remington 870 shotgun which is typical for a home defense shotgun nowadays. This is a versatile, fail-safe load with a proven track record at all reasonable distances for which one would choose a shotgun. At close range, the blast of these lightweight small pellets hit like a solid fist. The specter that always arises is the issue of using large buckshot for home defense purposes, or instead using something that's seemingly tamer, such as in shotshells loaded with No. Those who chose smaller shot for these . This may all depend on how the guns pattern, the ranges at which dove hunters shoot, and other conditions. It is also possible to find higher buckshot-pellet counts in 2 3/4-inch and 3-inch magnum loads. . Below is my list of the best .410 shotguns for 2022. 225. My 20 gauge coach gun improved cylinder is 5" and modified is 4" at 7 yards with #3 buck. Unique to the Critical Defense 410, the .41 caliber FTX slug actually engages the gun's . Most commonly, 12-gauge shotguns are the go-to choice for defensive purposes when a shotgun is needed, and have from 27 No. Hornady Critical Defense 00 Buckshot is another great home defense option. A standard loading is an ounce of shot in a 12-gauge shell. 7) KEL-TEC KSG. Mossberg 590 Shockwave 410. Personally, #4 Buck is the minimum that I'm willing to use for Home Defense. The shotgun is capable of taking all sizes of game in North America. Fiocchi 12 Gauge 2-3/4 Inch Shell, #4 Buck, 1325 Velocity, Shot At 25 Feet. The 20-gauge also has plenty of stopping power. That can be extended with a choke. At 5 yards, which is just across the room, the number 8 birdshot covers a larger area while the buckshot had its bigger pellets spread out a little bit. Rifled slugs The load options for #4 buck are also a bit limited . Granted, it is important; 00 and 000 buckshot are the standards for defensive loads, and for good reason.. Only buckshot has enough mass to retain momentum and therefore penetrate deep enough in tissue to do vital damage. The logic being the smaller shot size minimizes the supposed over-penetration risk while still being an effective load. Delivering effective shot patterns that place all projectiles on a man-sized target at seven yards, the Critical Defense 410 features a unique Triple Defense projectile column consisting of two .35 caliber round balls topped with one non-jacketed FTX slug. Number four buckshot is the minimum size shotgun load we recommend for home defense. View at Palmetto State. 4 - Velocity: 950 fps - Pellet count: 60 (approx) The lighter gun has an edge in handling and is especially suited for smaller-framed family members who may have to wield it. 6 Bird. 1 of 3. We patterned four different buckshot loads with each choke at five-yard increments from five to 25 yards. 170. Click on the name to head to the product page, read reviews and check prices or skip ahead to the list of shotguns. The wad technology available in 12-gauge still isn't there, but maybe for home defense ranges . In common use, there are several sizes of buckshot, designated: No. The most common commercial buckshot ammo for the 20 bore is #3B American Standard, (also known as #9 Western Buck). It and our Stevens 320 HD, also in 20ga, are loaded with (3) Remington #3 buckshot, followed by (2) W-W Defender segmented slugs. 2 of 3. .109. For those who keep a scattergun to defend the home, the axle they tend to get wrapped around is the shot type and size. Grade 00 buckshot is another great Home Defense mission bucks, as well as the military.... Right caught a blast at close range, the ranges at which dove shoot! 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