Home defense: Bird shot, Buck shot or Slugs ?

[Blackrock]

To get the ball rolling I wish to raise a controversial topic for us to chew on. What would you use for home defense, Bird shot, Buck shot or Slugs and why?


Let the debate begin,

Blackrock

[cv0lv0g0]

I still believe in the use of #2 bird-shot in urban areas.

[bad0351]

For all my defense loads including that of my home and family I use Winchester supreme elite PDX1 slugs with 3- 00 buck over.
Hits like a slege hammer.

Dale

[jeffcneal]

I believe it was the Department of Justice that conducted a test several years ago that found the best compromise was #4 buckshot through an improved cylinder choke. This test was conducted long before the current crop of low-recoil and specialty defense loads. Plus, it's important to keep in mind that an Officers riot gun will often be employed very differently than a civilians home defense rig. For my very urban environment, I use low recoil #4 buckshot.

Jeff

[SharksFan]

For now we have a couple boxes of 00 buck sitting on standby. It was on sale and anything would be better than the 7 1/2 bird-shot we had for recreational use.... I'm torn between 00 and other loads such as #4.

Here was an interesting page I found on the topic of penetration for anyone with a moment. http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot3.htm

[rdsmith3]

I'm loaded with 00 buckshot. I have a two story "colonial" style house. I'm thinking that I am either shooting on the first floor, or down the stairs. Either way, I'm not shooting towards a bedroom -- they're on the second floor. No neighbors close enough to be concerned about.

[jeffcneal]

rdsmith3:

Your reasoning is sound and your load is appropriate, but keep a pair of "lighter" rounds with you just in case your tactics have to change on the fly.

regards,
Jeff

[MDW]

I have 00 Buck in my 870. I don't think bird shot has the stopping power required, except maybe at point blank range, or if you are trying to stop a bird. Slugs tend to penetrate to much.


Dwayne

[jeffcneal]

I'm thinking of doing a pattern test with Remingtons "BB" defense load through an 18" cylinder bore barrel. But at $25 for a box of 10 shells, it's going to be about a 2 round experiment!

Jeff

[badboybeeson]

number 3 is what most will use for indoor work, as the chaces of missing in a no light home invation is about 50% for the trained shooter.
Myself low recoil 00 buck going at 1000 feet bet second 333m per second is what i train people to use.
with slugs as a back up on the side saddle if things end up outside.