Best home defense shotgun round?

NOTPARS

Several friends are maintaing shotguns as part of their home defense arsenal. They asked me what was the best round inside a house considering our houses have sheet rock walls and family in other rooms. I have read discussions on this but don't recall what the consensus, if there was one, on the answer to this question. And, I am definitely not an expert.

k.stanonik

you might try one of the less than leathal 12 gauge buck shot loads. they are rubber, make the person hurt like hell but not deadly

Gordian Blade

Someone in the gun business recommended small game loads. I use those, followed up with pheasant loads. He told me that they would be very effective at close range, but unlikely to penetrate a wall with any force. Since he died recently, unfortunately I can't ask him for clarification. Perhaps an expert here can further enlighten both of us.

niklasal

I use rubber buckshot in my 12 gauge. You can buy it anywhere, for about 15-20 dollars for 25 rounds. Just don't be a sucker and pay 10 bucks for 3 rounds like they advertise in some catalogs.

---

NIKLASAL@hotmail.com

redfalconone

I'm no expert but you figure your target is going to be less than 50' away. While out hunting, I've peppered trees at that range and done considerable damage with light loads (#6,7,8) I personally would use something a little bit heavier at home. I think #4 lead or better would be good to stop someone with but I wouldn't go higher than a BB load for safety. Just my opinion

Shootist3006

Gordian, you might want to rethink your belief that bird loads will not penetrate plaster board. I ran a series of tests a few years back with various loads and various materials. At household ranges (less than 7 yards) a field load of 8's will punch a nice hole (about 1&1/2 inches) in BOTH sides of an interior wall with enough left to penetrate a third piece of wallboard placed 8" behind the wall.On the other hand, this same load did not exit the buliding when shot at an exterior wall from 5 yards. The combination of heavier materials and insulation was enough to stop the shot.My conclusions? Be sure of the background and aware that you WILL punch through an interior wall. To avoid a hasty shot exiting the building and possibly hurting a neighbor, I load a 7&1/2 as the first up, followed by 2 #4 buck and then 2 slugs. At household ranges, the 7&1/2's will stop most anything; the rest are to provide a level of protection if the intruder has taken cover and is still a threat. (#4 Buck will penetrate the average couch and the slugs will penetrate a refrigerator!)

---

Quod principi placuit legis habet vigorem.Semper Fidelis

Gordian Blade

Shootist3006, I can't argue with your experimental results. (Kids, don't try this at home!) That does change my thinking a bit. Are you sure about using the slugs? I assume they are the type meant for a smooth barrel, or doesn't it make a difference at that range?

v35

Any shot will really shread up a target at 10-20 ft but number 1 buck will give best penetration in the human body and reliably disable the bad guy according to Marshal & Sarnow in their book Streetstoppers.

Shootist3006

Gordian, yes I've tried it at relatively close range - about 4 yards - and a slug will go through, side to side, a refrigerator. Washing machines are tougher, could not get a slug to go through and through. Nice to find a country house that is going to be torn down and you get a chance to play (er... experiment).

---

Quod principi placuit legis habet vigorem.Semper Fidelis

jeenyes

My choice is, I take a field load shell and load it with #4 buck. Then you have a low powered buckshot. I have shot several times inside a house and have to say, make sure of what's outside in the direction your aiming at.

BlueTic

Flachettes - non metalic....