Home defense - buckshot
#1
(Shotgun FAQ) <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.ar15.com/content/page.html?id=176">http://www.ar15.com/content/page.html?id=176</a><!-- m -->
(Ammo FAQ) <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://ammo.ar15.com/project/Self_Defense_Ammo_FAQ/index.htm#SHOTGUN%20AMMUNITION">http://ammo.ar15.com/project/Self_Defen ... AMMUNITION</a><!-- m -->

(original source for the statistic below) <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.firearmstactical.com/briefs10.htm">http://www.firearmstactical.com/briefs10.htm</a><!-- m -->

Interesting...

According to this, the best buckshot for home defense is not #00 but rather #1 buckshot.

Quote:For personal defense and law enforcement applications, the International Wound Ballistics Association advocates number 1 buckshot as being superior to all other buckshot sizes.

Number 1 buck is the smallest diameter shot that reliably and consistently penetrates more than 12 inches of standard ordnance gelatin when fired at typical shotgun engagement distances. A standard 2 ¾-inch 12 gauge shotshell contains 16 pellets of #1 buck. The total combined cross sectional area of the 16 pellets is 1.13 square inches. Compared to the total combined cross sectional area of the nine pellets in a standard #00 (double-aught) buck shotshell (0.77 square inches), the # 1 buck shotshell has the capacity to produce over 30 percent more potentially effective wound trauma.

In all shotshell loads, number 1 buckshot produces more potentially effective wound trauma than either #00 or #000 buck. In addition, number 1 buck is less likely to over-penetrate and exit an attacker's body.
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#2
Slamz Wrote:(Shotgun FAQ) <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.ar15.com/content/page.html?id=176">http://www.ar15.com/content/page.html?id=176</a><!-- m -->
(Ammo FAQ) <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://ammo.ar15.com/project/Self_Defense_Ammo_FAQ/index.htm#SHOTGUN%20AMMUNITION">http://ammo.ar15.com/project/Self_Defen ... AMMUNITION</a><!-- m -->

(original source for the statistic below) <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.firearmstactical.com/briefs10.htm">http://www.firearmstactical.com/briefs10.htm</a><!-- m -->

Interesting...

According to this, the best buckshot for home defense is not #00 but rather #1 buckshot.

Quote:For personal defense and law enforcement applications, the International Wound Ballistics Association advocates number 1 buckshot as being superior to all other buckshot sizes.

Number 1 buck is the smallest diameter shot that reliably and consistently penetrates more than 12 inches of standard ordnance gelatin when fired at typical shotgun engagement distances. A standard 2 ¾-inch 12 gauge shotshell contains 16 pellets of #1 buck. The total combined cross sectional area of the 16 pellets is 1.13 square inches. Compared to the total combined cross sectional area of the nine pellets in a standard #00 (double-aught) buck shotshell (0.77 square inches), the # 1 buck shotshell has the capacity to produce over 30 percent more potentially effective wound trauma.

In all shotshell loads, number 1 buckshot produces more potentially effective wound trauma than either #00 or #000 buck. In addition, number 1 buck is less likely to over-penetrate and exit an attacker's body.

Until you factor in the availability of #1 vs #00.

I'll continue to have #00 loaded and 1oz Rifled Slugs on the side saddle.
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#3
So strange that they just skip two sizes completely, 2 & 3. Seems like those sizes would be the best balance of stopping power, spread but without over penetration.

Here were some interesting videos for penetration. I'm starting to think that birdshot would be fine

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://youtu.be/noQGg_t5eYY">https://youtu.be/noQGg_t5eYY</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://youtu.be/97sjv11yesc">https://youtu.be/97sjv11yesc</a><!-- m -->

Would love to see these tests also done at 15 & 21 feet
[should not have shot the dolphin]
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#4
Birdshot would probably be okay in some instances, but what if you actually do need to shoot through a door or at greater distances? Birdshot stops being lethal at even 15 yards, and at 15 yards, the spread on it is quite large.

I'd prefer something that I can use most scenarios.

Spread isn't necessarily a good thing. If you're worried about over-penetration hitting a loved ones... generally speaking, a bullet/shot going through a body and then through a wall is going to penetrate the wall less than one that misses a body completely and then hits a wall. You're not dove hunting here where you want a big spread on it.

This is one of the advantages of the managed recall ammo. The spread on it is pretty small. If I had a choice between managed recall and all of my shot going through my target, or #00 or even #1 buck (regular loads), having half the shot miss my target... I'd probably go with the managed recall(assuming it cycles through my gun).
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#5
Diggles Wrote:I'm starting to think that birdshot would be fine

Birdshot at 10 yards would be crazy awesome in the summer time but you put on a heavy jacket and you may have some problems. Plus, if you shoot someone who breaks into your house, you want to kill them. Don't wound them and have them argue they were selling girl scout cookies.
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