Birdshot then 00 for home defense?

[VERT]

Any recommendations on particular 00 shells?

8 or 9 pellet 00 buck in reduced recoil. 1100-1200 FPS. Federal Flight Control would be my go to recommendation and what I keep in my guns. I shoot a lot of the Fiocchi reduced recoil LE 00 buck as well. I have not tried the Remington managed recoil but plan to pick some up at the local shop to test drive.

The reduced recoil stuff might not cycle a semi auto but works great in 870s and 500s.

 

[2Lucky]

Using more than one type of ammo in any firearm for self defense is a big no no! Attorneys will argue that you "planned" this and were, as they say, hunting.

 

[Rookie]

Using more than one type of ammo in any firearm for self defense is a big no no! Attorneys will argue that you "planned" this and were, as they say, hunting.

Do you have any proof of this? Prior court cases?

 

[Crandall Crank]

Know your area...know your target...no warning shots will be fired

 

[gregkl]

I know first hand that bird shot will penetrate 2 layers of drywall cross a 12' room and imbed in the other wall.

But I wouldn't use it. Current opinion seems to gravitate to 00 Buck. I use #4 Buck. I'm not worried about them being a little smaller.

 

[2A_Tom]

Using more than one type of ammo in any firearm for self defense is a big no no! Attorneys will argue that you "planned" this and were, as they say, hunting.

Yep I plan that if the first round of Remington managed recoil 00 buck doesn't stop an intruder that the next round of Remington managed recoil 1 oz. slug will.

I only have one hallway that I will deploy a shotgun. The rest of the house is 230 gr. .45 ACP Hornady Critical Defense territory.

ETA: No, Your Honor, I "did not" want to chase him away to invade someone else's home to rape, kill and steal.

 

[Beemer]

Thanks for all the info!

 

[Dead Duck]

Birdshot then 00 for home defense?

Bad guys will thank you........ and so will their lawyers.

 

[Hookeye]

Had a coyote cut through our deer spot.
Told buddy to bring his shotgun next day w #4 buck and I'd bring a pistol and caller.
15 mins after first light (started calling) I hear the shotgun bark.........across the creek comes the coyote.
Its at a good clip so I put a 140gr FTX through its heart (Colt Python).

Buddy comes over to admire the dead yote.

Informs me that his shot didn't phase it. I said "with #4 buck?"...........and he goes.........."buck?"

He stung her w a #4 pheasant load.

So.............#4 means different things to different folks, even when being more descriptive and saying "#4 buck".
He heard #4 and being an old school bird hunter.........obviously thought #4 pheasant load.

So when folks say "birdshot"...............what do they mean?
Non buckshot.............but what "bird" ?

Lead 8's for doves, steel 7's for same, heavy pheasant loads...............turkey loads, goose loads?

FWIW my 870 HD rig has #4 HV turkey loads. First 2. The rest are slugs.

 

[Lt Scott 14]

My past training with shotguns utilized #4 Buck, and Deer slugs. I have added 00 Buck to keep recoil from slugs tolerable. Side saddle loaded and magazine tube as well. Home Defense will be short and dirty. No issues with handguns(9mm or 45ACP). Added a 357mag Snubbie to the toolbox recently. Short barrel still does light stuff up. Since the shotgun load is discussed, i would say Buckshot over Birdshot. Can't quote personal experience except from training recommendations.
Chose well. Good luck.

 

[lovemywoods]

8 or 9 pellet 00 buck in reduced recoil. 1100-1200 FPS. Federal Flight Control would be my go to recommendation and what I keep in my guns. I shoot a lot of the Fiocchi reduced recoil LE 00 buck as well. I have not tried the Remington managed recoil but plan to pick some up at the local shop to test drive.

The reduced recoil stuff might not cycle a semi auto but works great in 870s and 500s.

I'm a big fan of the Federal Flight Control shells also.


I believe several people have made a case for not using bird shot, but I'd like to add a couple of thoughts as well.

I think people see a cardboard or paper target after being hit with birdshot, see all the holes, and think about what a hit on a person would look like. It would be nasty, however, the small shot penetrates very little.

It's not being shot that causes people to die, it's the loss of blood that kills them. Birdshot doesn't penetrate enough to reach vital organs and it doesn't leave holes big enough to allow the blood to pour out. "00" buckshot will.

 

[patriot574]

Bird shots better then bare knuckles but i'd stick with the 00.

 

[Ark]

Don't listen to fudds. If you're not prepared to kill, you shouldn't pull the trigger. Load with properly lethal, effective ammunition and practice judicious trigger control.

 

[AngryRooster]

Birdshot is designed for birds. Just a couple of the more mild examples, lots more out there if you care to look. Notice something they have in common? They are not birds, and they're still vertical. That would not be the case had 00 been used.

Use something that is designed to stop the threat. A threat that is not stopped IS STILL A THREAT. I'd be bad enough to hear about someone who lost a loved one because they chose a cheap & ineffective round that didn't stop the threat. Now imagine being the person that chose that round. This also goes for .22, .32 & .380 for defense as well. Use the proper tool for the job.

 

[Hookeye]

LOL..........how far was Cheney's boy when he got peppered and what was the shot size?

(dunno, am asking)

Shot loses energy pretty quickly and smaller stuff is the worst.

Size and distance matter to some extent.

 

[Thor]

I load 00 milspec (1900fps) followed by armor piercing slugs...but I don't live in an apartment either. If I'm going to shoot something with my scatter gun I want it to work.

 

[Robert Richardson]

I prefer #4 Buckshot

 

[VERT]

I prefer #4 Buckshot

Why? This is a general question to all and not being aurgumentative. But why #4 buckshot? I understand that it will penetrate less and that is an advantage. But in my patterning tests I tend to get more spread and flyers with the #4 then reduced recoil OO. Even a single errant #4 could be lethal. My question though is how does 1500 FPS #4 compare to 1150 FPS OO when it comes to barrier penetration? The #4 certainly has more felt recoil. I am not against the idea of smaller shot and if it patterns good then I say go for it. But with the ready availability of good quality OO what is the advantage of #4?

 

[Tactically Fat]

Birdshot will work. If you're close enough.

Me? I don't wanna be close enough for it to work.

And OP: Stop listening to those people when it comes to issues of self-defense. And if you do; do your own due diligence and research things.

 

[Beemer]

Birdshot will work. If you're close enough.

Me? I don't wanna be close enough for it to work.

And OP: Stop listening to those people when it comes to issues of self-defense. And if you do; do your own due diligence and research things.

That is what I was doing. As I said, I was always a 00 guy. Heard several people discussing this and thought I would bring it here to see what INGO thought.