Top 5 Best Shotgun Ammo For Home Defense

[@stevekelley2341]

I like buckshot , slugs and turkey load for home defense.

[@AllAboutSurvival]

Double-aught buck or slugs? If you had to pick one for home defense, which way are you going and why? 🏠💥

[@oddish4352]

Eight pellets, reduced recoil OO Buck. More damage, less penetration, less kick. Though my preferred load is 21-pellet #4 buck.

[@jonmcewan3354]

I would prefer the slug yes i know it will penetrant more but I'm not worried about that.

[@oddish4352]

@jonmcewan3354 If you're way out in the boonies, slugs are a reasonable choice. In a city or suburb, best to either skip them or keep them in a side saddle carrier. If you have to make a precision shot, just stuff one in.

[@mrscary3105]

I use 000, or 000

[@oddish4352]

@@mrscary3105 That will do the job.

[@JohnPublic-dk7zd]

We currently have 00 loaded, but in our small house, with accompanying short range, even a #6 game load could be enough...slightly heavier turkey loads, #4 and #1 buckshot also on hand, and all would be bad news at 15 feet...

[@carlfields]

#4 buck would be my choice. But these youtubers who keep dismissing bigger bird shot rounds need to spend some time in emergency rooms. Bird shot in 12 or 10 gauge KILLs at home defense distances. Quit telling people it's not viable.

[@mrscary3105]

They used lots of 04 in Vietnam. It did do the job.

[@Jaycv-dq3rg]

My load Winchester 3 inch 00 buck 12 pellet at 1,400 fps

[@oddish4352]

@@carlfields I know it kills, but does it quickly incapacitate? Or does the person just die from blood loss, minutes or hours later?

[@carlfields]

@@oddish4352 At 5 to 7 yards 2oz of #6 lead birdshot from a 12 gauge would leave a big hole in a person. Unless they are Michael Myers, it won't take hours to die from that. Paul Harrell demonstrates it.

[@oddish4352]

@carlfields It's a 12 gauge. Nearly any load will probably work. But I still see the reduced recoil #4 buck load as optimal.

[@BanthamNobilis]

00 Buck 3 in magnum FTW, nothing else compares or even come close. Birdshot hurts but does not stop the threat, Slug while does stop the threat immediately, take careful aiming. MOST Buckshot, 1 buck, 4buck are fine too but 00 Buck 3 in magnum is undeniably the KING!

[@TheGrendelbane]

One problem with buckshot is that over time it has shrunk some. I don’t mean the pellets have actually shrunk, but as more buckshot loads incorporate wads with shot cups the ammo makers are using smaller pellets to fit in that cup. Not a big deal most of the time, but is something to keep in mind. Foreign makers are bad about this, but some big US makers do it also. #1 buck is sometimes as small as 0.27”, instead of 0.30”, the nominal size.

[@oddish4352]

@@TheGrendelbane That's #2 buckshot, technically.

[@TheGrendelbane]

Yes, it is. But apparently the tolerances on buckshot are incredibly large. One company uses the same size pellets in their 12 gauge #! Buck load as they use in their 3” 20 gauge. The 20 gauge actually has 3 more pellets.

[@BanthamNobilis]

There is a + and - but the designation is the caliber size and not subject to debate. Buy quality ammo and not cheap ammo and you'll get actual 00 size.......They're selling you smaller ammo and calling it 00buck, you can actually sue over this.

[@TheGrendelbane]

@@BanthamNobilis Quality ammo won’t protect you from this. Quality US makers are guilty of this, as well as cheaper makers. Sue if you want to. Their tolerances are extremely large.

[@LiamGardner-u9k]

Always wondered why i liked 00buck, now i know , numerology.

[@hifiandrew]

Watch the Paul Harrell video about 00 buck and penetration. It goes.. and goes.. and goes..

[@BanthamNobilis]

Not like a slug does.

[@kentreichow7567]

OO where I live

[@EsyuDach]

You are many times more likely to not HAVE your longarm (in time) than you iare to have a pistol not suffice. Openly wear your pistol when in your home and if you have to go outside for the pets, etc, consider just draping your shirtail over your gun and holster (if legal in your area, of course). Practice both your open carry and ccw draw. Get an airsoft gun (and a wristband shot timer from Alpha Presiion. Having instantaneous feedback about your draw is a huge help at getting faster. Ditto knowing where your shot went. You can KID youraelf a lot about dryfire draw-practice.:-) 1/2c per shot for airsoft, practice in your basement . Always "aim" at a safe wall, fire place, or your armored vest, in case you screw up and use your real gun someday. It's happened. If someone forces entry or gains access by stealth, you've got about 1 second before they shoot you or charge you. They CAN throw their crowbar or hammer at you. Then LUCK becomes the main deteminant of the outcome. It's a bad mistake to just ASSUME that youll have your longarm in hand when you need a gun, because that's often not the case. Also, leaving loaded guns lying around is just ASKING to have somebody steal one or use it against you. Longarms are a lot more difficult to hide/secure than handguns! Dont be a lazy cheapskate, folks. A 9mm or.38 can be as leight as 1 lb, After a day or 2, you'll forget that you have it on your person. Watch OUT cause that can mean that you take it someplace that you should not. That's happened, too., Like airports of courthouses and a metal detector "reminds' you that you're armed! That's no joke, bro.

[@BanthamNobilis]

100%, I carry in my home, out of my home, I actually carry more than LEO's as a citizen. I am used to the weight (subcompact .45 acp 14 rds)on my hip daily. I actually feel naked without it. And no one is sneaking up on me in my home inside or out, even by stealth, neither of my dogs will allow that. It's true that you will forget it is on you, I do all the time, but where I live is a constitutional state, and so are the states around my state....I live in SC. In SC there are only a few places you cannot take a weapon, Hospitals, schools, and government buildings...You can take them in bars even. I openly practice on my range with live ammo (I live in the boonies) I know everyone cannot do that, so anything like airsoft as you mentioned is beneficial.

[@TonyBlougouras]

Even a skeet load would be quite effective at seven yards or less.

[@BanthamNobilis]

So would a brick.

[@TonyBlougouras]

@BanthamNobilis Yeah, but they're not as accurate and ammo is too heavy. I was so broke a few years back all I had was battered H&R single shot and a box of bird shot, not ideal,but I slept better knowing I at least had something.I have a pump shotgun now and it is loaded with buckshot

[@Jaycv-dq3rg]

Winchester 12 ga 3 inch 12 pellets at 1,450 fps Berenkie black magic slugs my prefer defense loads

[@Steven_Rowe]

I think you mean which one will win. The word who refers to humans generally speaking.

[@oddish4352]

Your insights are pretty much dead on. If a person has to choose birdshot, obviously the bigger the better: #1 shot approaches the 12" minimum, and BB actually reaches it. But my choice is #4 buck.

[@AllAboutSurvival]

Totally agree with you! #4 buck is an excellent choice-solid penetration without over-penetration risk in home defense scenarios. What’s your take on 00 buck for a balance of power and control? I’ve seen debates about it being the 'ultimate choice,' but curious about your experience!

[@oddish4352]

@AllAboutSurvival Nine-pellet OO Buck is favored by the military because it's lethal out to 50 yards, and its pellets can penetrate things like canteens, spare magazines, or car doors. While the load's inherent versatility and high availability make it a solid choice for home defense in nearly any situation, there are better choices for most people. For defending the average-sized suburban estate, #1 shot has adequate range and more pellets. For the apartment dweller who's going to mainly be firing at 10 yards or less, #4 shot is probably the optimal choice. That being said, just because there are better options in some cases doesn't make OO buck a bad one. One solid hit with it will reliably take down nearly any adversary, and that's a home defense gun's function.

[@lonewolf286]

Just playing number four shots. My uncle killed black bear on his farm all the time with it. Not four bookshot just playing four shot

[@cal9064]

Theory seems to be all you've got. You've never seen the damage a load of bird shot does to a human body at close range, have you? It won't penetrate? Why don't you test that theory out on yourself?

[@BanthamNobilis]

Sure, it can penetrate but why take that chance? And why do you think all encounters will be at close range, that's always the go to but almost never the case.

[@lonewolf286]

I'm not going to watch your video. I've already watched 3 and 1/2 minutes at time is wasted. You don't know what you're talking about

[@vampirerevin]

BUCK N BALL IS DAMN GOOD AS WELL...

[@BanthamNobilis]

Agreed!

[@vampirerevin]

CUT SHELLS ARE BEST LOAD FOR TAKING A TARGET OUT OF THE FIGHT ROUND ONE!!! JUST SAYING .....