20 gauge buckshot

bradpierson26

bradpierson26

Joined
Aug 7, 2008
Messages
803
I just bought a Mossberg 500 in 20g. I am looking for a good defensive buckshot round for HD. what do you guys use? where is the best place to buy online?

thanks
 
Most folks buy on-line in bulk. When you pay the haz-mat shipping fees, it makes sense to buy lots. How much of this stuff did you want?

Home Defense (to me) means indoors or within 20' distance. If you must use a shotgun, you're better off with bird-shot, it will likely do more damage if you hit someone, and have less worry about over penetration of plasterboard walls so you don't jostle the wife sleeping in the bed behind the living room wall.

At distance, the pattern is wide enough to seriously worry about collateral damage.Up close, the pattern is equally tight in either 00 or birdshot. The shock delivered by #6 loads is devastating. I saw firsthand what a .410 2.5" #7 did to a bad guy at 25' distance- all but severed his arm at his shoulder. Made him drop his UZI right there. The winner's gun, a Remington 1100 (!) had already cycled and reloaded.

Birdshot works.

Cops have transitioned from 12gge to 5.56 largely because of provable collateral damage and over penetration. Slugs proved to be problematic in terms of shooter accuracy as well as over-penetration. The 00 buck that missed the intended target got 48" wide at 120' downrange and sailed right through wallboard.

#7 shot had the same spread characteristics, would deliver more energy upon impact, and would stop at the intended target or background wallboard, reducing it's lethality outside and beyond the target considerably.

WallMart sells 100 rounds of "target loads" for $18. If you gotta have 00 or some such specialty load, buy yourself 5 or 10 at the local gun shop and be done with it.

Additional issue to consider: We are talking about Home Defense here, and that means that if you ever pull the trigger, your life is about to change forever. So... when the persecuting attorney asks you "What kind of shotgun shells were you using", you can say "Clay Pigeon Target Loads from MallWart" instead of High Tech Special Purpose Combat Dragon's Breath Fletchette Ammo that was mail-ordered from that place in Arkansas with the fun wording and odd pictures.... even if it was just the 00 stuff that you can hunt deer with.
 
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Hi,

I'll second mack's reply. For the distance involved, smaller shot sizes are more than adequate while reducing over penetration concerns. Plus, the recoil is less with target loads. Allowing for quicker shot recovery, better shot placement, and for more pleasant and cheaper practice sessions.

dalee
 
The verdict is in on birdshot: Its for the birds. If you seriously want to defend your family, do them a favor and buy some buckshot. Hop on over to the box o' truth and do some reading. http://www.theboxotruth.com/

I want to stop intruders. Not just tickle them. Hell, I don't use 7 shot on pheasant, because I want to humanly kill them for dinner.

These silly threads about what size shot to use HAVE to STOP.
 
xdshooter said:
The verdict is in on birdshot: Its for the birds. If you seriously want to defend your family, do them a favor and buy some buckshot. Hop on over to the box o' truth and do some reading. http://www.theboxotruth.com/

I want to stop intruders. Not just tickle them. Hell, I don't use 7 shot on pheasant, because I want to humanly kill them for dinner.

These silly threads about what size shot to use HAVE to STOP.
Click to expand...

Hi,

So you wouldn't mind if I "tickle" you at 20 feet with a 20ga. trap load? Home defence generally means inside the house. Don't know of too many rooms that are 30 yards or more across.

Outside the house is a different matter. But that can quickly change the legal parameters from self-defence to murder depending on the jurdistiction.

dalee
 
dalee100 said:
Hi,

So you wouldn't mind if I "tickle" you at 20 feet with a 20ga. trap load? Home defence generally means inside the house. Don't know of too many rooms that are 30 yards or more across.

Outside the house is a different matter. But that can quickly change the legal parameters from self-defence to murder depending on the jurdistiction.

dalee
Click to expand...

I have seen two people "tickled' at about 40 feet with bird shot from a 12 gauge. An unfortunate hunting accident. They didn't even go to the hospital, as only a few pellets hit skin, and those barely broke the skin.

If you think every self defence engagement will occur at short range, with your family directly behind the perp, and the lawyers will be standing in the room too, you could load rock salt. I'm sure that's just as useful.

This is not the old 9mm vs 45acp debate. Birdshot is inadequate.
 
dalee100 said:
Hi,

So you wouldn't mind if I "tickle" you at 20 feet with a 20ga. trap load? Home defence generally means inside the house. Don't know of too many rooms that are 30 yards or more across.

Outside the house is a different matter. But that can quickly change the legal parameters from self-defence to murder depending on the jurdistiction.

dalee
Click to expand...

Years ago here in town a man broke into a woman's house and shot her point blank in the face with birdshot. It took all the features off her face but didn't kill her.

If birdshot is such a good HD round I think we would see many, many, many more dead bird hunters. I know a few people who have been hit by birdshot at close range. Some went to the ER and others haven't...

If you want to give an attacker a superficial wound go ahead and load up that #8!
 
After reading those great web references, both "The Box of Truth" as well as the archived thread on Blade Forums, it's hard for those researching to know which way to turn.

We all know what we know, some of us only have what we have read.

Reality street, your TAX DOLLARS at WORK from FLETC:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ievbU3xIYGQ (No water jugs used, sorry)

The first shot fired, the first shot to connect, the first shot to incapacitate the opponent.

Three huge hurdles. Surprising how many targets just didn't know they were dead.

http://www.fugly.com/videos/8087/guy_shoots_lawyer_behind_tree.html
 
mack_t_knife said:
We all know what we know, some of us only have what we have read.
Click to expand...

Oh please. Just because you SAW some guy get shot that makes you an expert? I (along with others I bet) doubt your "devastating" 410 with arm severing powers. Besides, if a 410 with 7 shot is lethal force, and a 12 gauge with 00 buck is lethal force, I'd take the 12 gauge every time. This holier than thou "I use only enough lethal force to be lethal enough" attitude pisses me off. Since you so firmly believe in just enough proportionate lethal force, next time you get attacked, call 911 and ask them to send 1 officer.

Tell you what I know: Every LEO and Military person who has EVER carried a shotgun for duty uses Buckshot.

I don't NEED to see a person killed with it to KNOW that it works.
 
Arm "blown off" by .410 birdshot at distance = BS flag at full mast.

dalee, your 20 with shot prob won't tickle the intruder, if he's wearing a leather or even jeans jacket, he probably won't feel anything at all while he blows you away with a
3 1/2" 12 ga load of 00 buck or a slug.

Tho it should be said to their benefit that those most worried about overpenetration are those most likely to miss or shoot an innocent, so maybe the stupidity balances out.
 
mack_t_knife said:
Most folks buy on-line in bulk. When you pay the haz-mat shipping fees, it makes sense to buy lots. How much of this stuff did you want?

Home Defense (to me) means indoors or within 20' distance. If you must use a shotgun, you're better off with bird-shot, it will likely do more damage if you hit someone, and have less worry about over penetration of plasterboard walls so you don't jostle the wife sleeping in the bed behind the living room wall.

At distance, the pattern is wide enough to seriously worry about collateral damage.Up close, the pattern is equally tight in either 00 or birdshot. The shock delivered by #6 loads is devastating. I saw firsthand what a .410 2.5" #7 did to a bad guy at 25' distance- all but severed his arm at his shoulder. Made him drop his UZI right there. The winner's gun, a Remington 1100 (!) had already cycled and reloaded.

Birdshot works.

Cops have transitioned from 12gge to 5.56 largely because of provable collateral damage and over penetration. Slugs proved to be problematic in terms of shooter accuracy as well as over-penetration. The 00 buck that missed the intended target got 48" wide at 120' downrange and sailed right through wallboard.

#7 shot had the same spread characteristics, would deliver more energy upon impact, and would stop at the intended target or background wallboard, reducing it's lethality outside and beyond the target considerably.

WallMart sells 100 rounds of "target loads" for $18. If you gotta have 00 or some such specialty load, buy yourself 5 or 10 at the local gun shop and be done with it.

Additional issue to consider: We are talking about Home Defense here, and that means that if you ever pull the trigger, your life is about to change forever. So... when the persecuting attorney asks you "What kind of shotgun shells were you using", you can say "Clay Pigeon Target Loads from MallWart" instead of High Tech Special Purpose Combat Dragon's Breath Fletchette Ammo that was mail-ordered from that place in Arkansas with the fun wording and odd pictures.... even if it was just the 00 stuff that you can hunt deer with.
Click to expand...
You have bad advice and misinformation covered for this thread.

-There are no hazmat fees for buying ammunition.

Birdshot is for shooting clay pigeons and small animals with feathers called birds. . . Small, delicate birds at that- Ducks and geese require much larger shot.

The statement of the .410 and the #7 shot on the guy with an UZI is a complete fabrication.
 
bradpierson26 said:
I just bought a Mossberg 500 in 20g. I am looking for a good defensive buckshot round for HD. what do you guys use? where is the best place to buy online?

thanks
Click to expand...

20 ga. ?? for HD ??? might as well get a .22 pistol to go with it. :confused: for me , i'll stick with a 12 ga. AND .45 acp.:thumbup:
 
try check youtube wildernessoutfitter dave had this topic an some good advice on the vid he use a goose round to the nuts an slug to the chest,try check-um out
 
I would have thought 20 ga was a good shot gun for unpleasant close encounters with intruders.Not much recoil,fast etc without blowing the walls down. as for the type of shot to use, that seems a lot more debatable.
 
I suggest 00 buck with slugs on every other round. If you miss, too bad so sad for people other then you. Sh*t happens and if you need to down some one, accept no substitute for the biggest load you can possibly get!
 
willgoy said:
I would have thought 20 ga was a good shot gun for unpleasant close encounters with intruders.Not much recoil,fast etc without blowing the walls down. as for the type of shot to use, that seems a lot more debatable.
Click to expand...

20 gauge is for people who think 12 gauge has too much recoil. (some people are recoil sensitive) It does not penetrate any less, it just has less pellets.
 
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