12gague defense load

[nayra]

So, I have a maverick 88 security 6 shot 12gauge , What defense load shot shells should i use?

[rogerxd45]

in my ccw class that was offered by the boise police they recomended useing #4 shot it penetrates enough to stop or kill but doesnt over penetrate thats what i gave my GF to load into hers

[vafish]

OO buckshot. The reduced recoil loads seem to work fine and not beat the shooter badly.

[fredj338]

Originally Posted by rogerxd45

in my ccw class that was offered by the boise police they recomended useing #4 shot it penetrates enough to stop or kill but doesnt over penetrate thats what i gave my GF to load into hers

They recommended #4 birdshot or #4buck? Big diff. & while #4 birdshot MAY penetrate deep enough on a T-shirt clad BG @ 20ft, I wouldn't want to bet on it if the BG is 300# & wearing a leather jacket. Have a look: http://www.tacticalshotgun.ca/conten...in_shot_4.html
Notice the distance is under 10ft!
The lightest buckshot load is #4, that is the min. for SD. Many like the reduced recoil #00 buck & I have to say, for quick follow up shots or smaller stature people, it is a good choice. Keep the birdshot for birds. If your CCW instructor tells you birdshot is good for your HD shotty, I question anything else he may have been teaching.

[TobyU]

I use #2 buckshot in my HD 20 inch shotgun. 00 can penetrate too much at times in close quarters.

[MDarms]

You should look at the low recoil Speer Lawman 8 pellet 00 buck. It keeps a 5 inch pattern at 25 yard with no flyers. You read that right. I fired some at 50 yards out of a 19inch barrel and they all was within a 12 inch pattern (small enough to put them all in the chest). Out of an 8 inch barrel Tromix Saiga-12 they keep a 10 inch pattern at 25 yards! Speer is using a new shotcup design with great results. They was designed so a LE could still take a headshot in a hostage situation or similar without switching to a slug. 8 .32 caliber pellets in the head at 25 yards will ruin the bad guy's day for sure. Being low recoil "helps" with follow-up shots and over penetration.

[arjppj]

Anybody looked at the Federal Black Cloud loads? The cutting edge on the pellets look like they would do a bit of damage. I use 00 though, easy recoil and plenty of punch.

[Hank Ellis]

I'm no expert by any means but here's my opinion.

For apartment and similiar dwellings where penetration is a real issue. #4 buckshot. For single family homes, 00 buckshot. Bird shot is for birds and not a good choice for home defense. I've seen #8 bounce off birds at the trap range so if it can't break a clay target 100% of the time I wouldn't trust my life with it.

I've patterned a couple of the reduced recoil 00 loads and was quite surprised at the results. The Remington 8 pellet reduced recoil load p/n RL12BK00 produced a 6" pattern for 3 shots at 50'. Tight. No flyers. The load is buffered which helps keep the pellets round for true flight. The other was the Federal 9 pellet p/n H132 00. The pattern for 3 shots was a bit larger and every shot had one flyer an inch or so off from the main pattern. The Federal also had more recoil than the Remington which felt about like a trap or skeet load.

When I get around to it there is some Winchester and Fiocchi reduced loads on the shelf to pattern.

Gun used was a Remington 870 Turkey with a Rem IC choke. Choate mag extension.

[TobyU]

Originally Posted by Hank Ellis

I'm no expert by any means but here's my opinion.

For apartment and similiar dwellings where penetration is a real issue. #4 buckshot. For single family homes, 00 buckshot. Bird shot is for birds and not a good choice for home defense. I've seen #8 bounce off birds at the trap range so if it can't break a clay target 100% of the time I wouldn't trust my life with it.

I've patterned a couple of the reduced recoil 00 loads and was quite surprised at the results. The Remington 8 pellet reduced recoil load p/n RL12BK00 produced a 6" pattern for 3 shots at 50'. Tight. No flyers. The load is buffered which helps keep the pellets round for true flight. The other was the Federal 9 pellet p/n H132 00. The pattern for 3 shots was a bit larger and every shot had one flyer an inch or so off from the main pattern. The Federal also had more recoil than the Remington which felt about like a trap or skeet load.

When I get around to it there is some Winchester and Fiocchi reduced loads on the shelf to pattern.

Gun used was a Remington 870 Turkey with a Rem IC choke. Choate mag extension.

I really consider the overpenetration possibliity. House or appartment....if you are coming down a hallway which is a very probable situation.....you have fire at an intruder....realize that if you fire at a slight angle....it would not be hard for a shot to hit a side wall of the hall you are in...
That wall is almost always 3/8-maybe 1/2 inch drywall board...studs usually every 16 inches vetically and then another piece of drywall.
So many wall do not even have insualation in them....whick would do much of anything to buckshot.
If a child or any family members bed was inside that room with their head at the end near that wall....think about it.
I wouldn't lay there and let you shoot a glancing shot at the wall even with a full face cycle helmet on.
I would rather risk having to fire more than once to stop an attacker than to have over penetration on a shot.
Of course this is all personal preference.
But walls are thin.

[mullarz]

Black Cloud loads are great on ducks but they are made of non-toxic steel shot and not lead. I am sure they would make a shallow and big mess at close range.