Best 12 Ga. Defensive Load?

[Uncle Saggy]

inexpensive at roughly $300

Mossberg 500 (or just in case)




been close to purchasing several times but can't pull the trigger (he he he)

have not shot it so I can't speak to recoil question but I imagine a big guy like yourself would have no issues

That is my wife's gun, except her's has a front pistol grip. My old slug gun converted

[AtTheWall]

Birdshot in the house and I aim for the head and neck. Blind them if they stare and survive but I bet that full choke cylinder will put enough lead into the zone to make me call a professional cleaning service to mop and pick the pieces up afterwards. If I need a double tap, gut shot is next.

[kp143631]

I am a duck hunter, so I keep 3" #2 steel shot in my automatic shotgun that stays beside my bed. I have not kids so I keep it ready to go at all times.

[trophy8]

i am also a duckhunter and i keep my 870 express super magnum loaded with 3" BB steel shot.....nobody is gonna walk away from bein hit with one shell from it much less 3....and i pray to god i never have to use it

I am a duck hunter, so I keep 3" #2 steel shot in my automatic shotgun that stays beside my bed. I have not kids so I keep it ready to go at all times.

[Lockpro]

Just my thoughts: First round, 3" mag. Dump the shot and pack with cut to length brazing rod. Re-crimp.Next comes the OO.Think of dropping to one knee when engaging. It takes you below the line of fire and your shots that penitrate walls should go high.

[Bassbucker]

i keep 0000 buck in my pump with no plug. if the ngpos can take that many shots of 0000 buck he can have the house. I'LL LEAVE !!!

[texas bound]

From the Box of Truth:

"Birdshot as a Defense Load
I have had a lot of questions, summed up as follows: How effective is birdshot (#4, #6, #8, etc.) as a defense load?

We have done tests with various birdshot loads. Birdshot penetrated through two pieces of drywall (representing one wall) and was stopped in the paper on the front of the second wall. The problem with birdshot is that it does not penetrate enough to be effective as a defense round. Birdshot is designed to bring down little birds.

A policeman told of seeing a guy shot at close range with a load of 12 gauge birdshot, and was not even knocked down. He was still walking around when the EMTs got there. It was an ugly, shallow wound, but did not STOP the guy. And that is what we want... to STOP the bad guy from whatever he is doing. To do this, you must have a load that will reach the vitals of the bad guy. Birdshot will not do this.

In fact, tests have shown that even #4 Buckshot lacks the necessary penetration to reach the vital organs. Only 0 Buck, 00 Buck, and 000 Buck penetrate enough to reach the vital organs.

Unless you expect to be attacked by little birds, do not use birdshot. Use 00 Buck. It will do the job.

But doesn't 00 Buck penetrate too much in interior walls to be a "safe" load in a home?
Yes, it does penetrate a lot. But any load that is going to be effective will need to penetrate walls to have enough power to penetrate bad guys. If our only concern was to be sure we didn't penetrate walls, we would use BB guns. However, BB guns will not stop bad guys.

Therefore, we must use loads that will STOP bad guys, and this means that they will also penetrate walls. So, be sure you hit the bad guy and do not shoot into walls where loved ones are on the other side.

When To Use Birdshot
A friend of AR15.com sends this:

"I saw a gunshot victim, about 5' 10" and 200 lbs, taken to the operating room with a shotgun wound to the chest. He was shot at a range of six feet at a distance of just over the pectoralis muscle. He was sitting on his front porch and walked to the ambulance. We explored the chest after x-rays were taken. The ER doc had said 'buckshot' wound, but this was obviously not accurate.

It was # 6 shot. There was a crater in the skin over an inch in diameter. When the shot hit the level of the ribs, it spread out about five inches. There was ONE pellet that had passed between the ribs and entered the pericardium, but not damaged the heart at all. As you say, 'use birdshot for little birds.'""

I have my home defense shotgun loaded with Federal Premium Police 00 Buckshot Low Recoil with Flight Control Wad.

100% disagree with this. I have seen way to many test done with birdshot that shows it will not go through a wall in your home and does have enough power to take care of a human.

[Johnny Dangerr]

It is nice to be reading others threads again.

I prefer a mix of slugs and buckshot. The trick is to remember what order you put them in.

[txtimetravler]

two 3 inch shells followed with a slug

[texag93]

I'm the only one that is suppose to be in my house so....I use the same load I do for coyote. 3" #4 buckshot. It's good from one end of house to the other and through a wall if need be.

[Randy]

I dont think it really matters.

If you actually have to shoot someone you wont notice the recoil and at the same time any size shot out of a shotgun its going to do the trick.

[GR5]

High brass #4's are bad dudes. I've killed hogs and deer with #6's at 20 yards. A human doesn't stand a chance

[mjhaverkamp]

If I am using a shotgun for home protection I am loading buckshot, nuff sed.

[Mike D]

I can't believe folks still believe that bird shot is a good defensive load.

It's NOT, period.

Do some research, please.

I don't see any LE, military or anyone else for that matter using bird shot. If it was that great they would be using it.

I'm tired of posting test data proving this.

[MichaelW]

I can't believe folks still believe that bird shot is a good defensive load.

It's NOT, period.

Do some research, please.

I don't see any LE, military or anyone else for that matter using bird shot. If it was that great they would be using it.

I'm tired of posting test data proving this.

I guarantee you we don't have birdshot in any of ours!!!!!