The home-defense load for shotguns has traditionally been 00 buckshot. In a 12-gauge shotgun, this is generally a load of nine .33-caliber balls traveling at nearly 1,250 fps when they leave the muzzle.
Of course, some magnum shotshells increase both the number of pellets and the velocity. The downside of this increased performance is an increase in recoil and recovery time. A person is just not going to shoot their best with a load that really smacks them every time they press the trigger. There is much justification for going the other way when considering buckshot vs. birdshot for home defense.
A real problem for the homeowner who is defending his home and family is over-penetration. Rounds fired inside a house may break through walls and into other rooms that could be occupied by family members. Furthermore, it is quite possible for heavy defensive bullets to completely exit the house, placing neighbors in danger. One thing is for sure: The legal system is going to hold a person responsible for each and every shot he fires, regardless of his good intentions.
I read about an experiment with shot loads and home building materials at my favorite school Gunsite. This is his experience.
A while ago, I participated in an interesting buckshot vs. birdshot experiment. Ed Head, operations manager at Gunsite Academy
We began by firing standard 9 mm and .45 ACP defensive loads. These sailed right through all three walls. A 55-grain bullet from a .223 Rem. round showed improvement because it stopped in the second wall. Then it was time to try the shotgun loads.
First to be launched was a standard 12-gauge police buckshot load, driving nine pellets at approximately 1,250 fps. I thought the buckshot would be contained in the third wall. I was wrong. It penetrated all three walls with ease and sailed into the protective backstop. In an actual home, people in the other rooms would have been in grave danger. A 1-ounce, 12-gauge slug load gave the exact same results.
Our final test was a 12-gauge field load of No. 7 1/2 shot, a 1 1/8-ounce load running at 1,250 fps. This load entered the first layer of sheetrock, making one hole that was about 3 inches in diameter. It exited that wall completely, but merely splattered on the surface of the second wall. People in that second room would likely have been hit with birdshot, but it would probably not have been life threatening.
These simple tests convinced me that, between buckshot vs. birdshot, a standard birdshot load is usually best for a homeowner’s defensive 12-gauge shotgun. In close-range encounters, as found in most home-defense situations, birdshot can be deadly. But, it loses power so fast, over-penetration is much less of a problem. In a home full of children, it would certainly be my first choice.
The advantage of the shotgun is the variety of ammunition available. Choices range from birdshot to duck and goose loads to buckshot, and finally slugs. But remember, you will probably have to fight with what’s in the gun. There likely won’t be time to do a bunch of changing.
The shotgun is not as glamorous as a tacticool AR or a custom-tuned fighting handgun, but it’s a great fight stopper nonetheless. Make the wide variety of shotgun loads work for you by selecting those that will do the job without needlessly endangering those who don’t deserve to be hurt.
Shotguns are great because they are rarely included in bans or considered “military” or “assault” weapons. Law enforcement and military knows different. Used correctly and with the right loads, a shotgun is deadly and more menacing than any “black” scary gun you can build.
You can outfit a shotgun with short barrels (always be legal), folding and pistol grip stocks, and many aftermarket accessories. Remember the importance of a light for home defense.
There is an amazing amount of crazy ammo out there for a shot gun.
Birdshot ranges in size from Shot # 12 through 1, then B, BB, BBB, and T being considered birdshot, but is really buckshot if you ask me.
Buckshot ranges in size from Shot # TT, F, FFF, more common: 4, 3, 1, 0, 00, 000
Crazy loads include:
Dragon’s Breath. Which turns your gun into basically a flame thrower. It releases a 100 ft flame.
Macho Gaucho. This round shoots a bolo. This round has been found to be devastating when it works right. It shoots 2 steel balls connected with a steel cable.
Flares. There are several different colored and style flares that can be shot.
Rubber balls. There are also several sized rubber projectile shotgun rounds.
Bean bags. This is similar to the rubber projectile in that it’s not so lethal. But a bean bag coming at you really fast can be dangerous!
Pepper “spray”. These will blast with pepper spray.
Flechettes. This is a small metal dart. 20 in each round. Used in Viet Nam on snipers.
Drone Catcher. This is a net of cords shot at a drone that is supposed to take it down. Others have shot drones out of the sky and have had some legal problems. This won’t blow up the drone but will down it with a 6 feet wide net of cords. I’m not sure this would relieve anyone from legal problems though.
As you can see, a shot gun is versatile. I do not recommend any of the above crazy rounds. Know that many unconventional rounds are dangerous and unpredictable. Use with extreme caution!
Regular birdshot is still a good idea for home defense. Consider a shotgun.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
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