Shotgun ammo questions

breakingcontact · January 30, 2013, 11:20 PM

I'm not real experienced with shotguns.

These rounds would be coming out of a semi-auto smooth bore 18.5" barrel.

Buckshot for home defense/social work: 8 pellet? 9 pellet? #4 Buck? Low recoil?

Slugs: regular or low recoil?

Oh, also, I find "military buckshot" at the local Academy Sports. What's up with this round?

Thanks!

jason_iowa · January 31, 2013, 12:02 AM

any of them are fine. Low recoil buck shot is 8 pellet instead of 9. #4 buck shot is acceptable but not #4 bird shot there is a huge difference.

Slugs you can try both and see which you like better. Personal preference is really what its all about.

The military buckshot is just 9 pellet 00buck.

I use 9 pellet 00 Buck in my HD shotgun. My go to home defense gun is a 45acp carbine with 30round mags though. 30 min slugs > 8 big ones imho.

bigghoss · January 31, 2013, 01:13 AM

00 buck is usually your best bet for a defensive shotgun. I like 3" 15 pellet myself but it's not cheap and it kicks hard. 2 3/4" 9 pellet is most common.

This article is a great read for anyone looking to keep a shotgun around for defense.
http://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=72535

breakingcontact · January 31, 2013, 07:55 AM

So even if its not labeled "low recoil" 8 round buck is low recoil?

Eppie · January 31, 2013, 08:20 AM

I'm with bigghoss. The more lead your slinging the more recoil your going to have, but in a home defense situation I think recoil is the least of your problems. Here's the 15 pellets compared to a .308 bullet as you can see one pellet has the same diameter as a 308

Mrgunsngear · January 31, 2013, 09:54 AM

I recommend either #4 or #1 buckshot. Here's a couple tests I've done to show what you can expect:

#4 Buckshot Gel Test

#1 Federal FC Buckshot Gel Test

Both are pretty nasty loads with less risk of overpenetration vs 00 buck or slugs.

Eppie · January 31, 2013, 10:04 AM

Excellent videos plouffedaddy

jason_iowa · January 31, 2013, 03:32 PM

In general 8 pellet 00 Buck will be lower recoil. Reducing the weight of shot reduces the recoil. So unless the 8 pellet buckshot has more powder then yes its going to be lower recoil.

Tony615 · February 2, 2013, 12:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by breakingcontact

So even if its not labeled "low recoil" 8 round buck is low recoil?

Hornady Critical Defense 12 gauge 8 pellet 00 is 1600 FPS.

kraigwy · February 2, 2013, 09:55 AM

About the only time I shoot shotguns anymore is in the shotgun phase of three gun matches.

I keep it rather simple and CONSISTANT, meaning I use the same load (weight wise) and powder wise.

I keep recoil down so I can stay on target. It's simple.

1 oz of bird shot
1 oz slug
and 1 once (a hair under) of buck shot. For my buch shot loads I cast .319 round ball, and load 9 each, They weight 48 grs a piece so that 432 grs (5.5 grs short of an oz.

My bird shot and buck shot paterns good at 25 yards and I can hit an 8 inch plate constantly at 50 yards with the slug.

I use Win. AA hulls and Win wads, with 18.5 grs of Red Dot on all three loads.

Cheap to shoot, mild recoil, and fairly accurate in my Remington Police 18 in smooth bore.

January 31, 2013, 01:13 AM	#3
bigghoss Senior Member Join Date: September 15, 2006 Location: Pueblo, Colorado Posts: 2,664	00 buck is usually your best bet for a defensive shotgun. I like 3" 15 pellet myself but it's not cheap and it kicks hard. 2 3/4" 9 pellet is most common. This article is a great read for anyone looking to keep a shotgun around for defense. http://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=72535 __________________ I don't collect guns, I accumulate them.

January 31, 2013, 08:20 AM	#5
Eppie Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2010 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 802	I'm with bigghoss. The more lead your slinging the more recoil your going to have, but in a home defense situation I think recoil is the least of your problems. Here's the 15 pellets compared to a .308 bullet as you can see one pellet has the same diameter as a 308 __________________ "Socialized Medicine is the Keystone to the Arch of the Socialist State.” -Vladimir Lenin "I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them." - Thomas Jefferson (An early warning to Obama care)

January 31, 2013, 09:54 AM	#6
Mrgunsngear Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2011 Location: Carolina Posts: 3,415	I recommend either #4 or #1 buckshot. Here's a couple tests I've done to show what you can expect: #4 Buckshot Gel Test #1 Federal FC Buckshot Gel Test Both are pretty nasty loads with less risk of overpenetration vs 00 buck or slugs. __________________ Mrgunsngear Youtube Channel

January 31, 2013, 10:04 AM	#7
Eppie Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2010 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 802	plouffedaddy Excellent videos plouffedaddy __________________ "Socialized Medicine is the Keystone to the Arch of the Socialist State.” -Vladimir Lenin "I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them." - Thomas Jefferson (An early warning to Obama care)

February 2, 2013, 09:55 AM	#10
kraigwy Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2008 Location: Wyoming Posts: 11,061	About the only time I shoot shotguns anymore is in the shotgun phase of three gun matches. I keep it rather simple and CONSISTANT, meaning I use the same load (weight wise) and powder wise. I keep recoil down so I can stay on target. It's simple. 1 oz of bird shot 1 oz slug and 1 once (a hair under) of buck shot. For my buch shot loads I cast .319 round ball, and load 9 each, They weight 48 grs a piece so that 432 grs (5.5 grs short of an oz. My bird shot and buck shot paterns good at 25 yards and I can hit an 8 inch plate constantly at 50 yards with the slug. I use Win. AA hulls and Win wads, with 18.5 grs of Red Dot on all three loads. Cheap to shoot, mild recoil, and fairly accurate in my Remington Police 18 in smooth bore. __________________ Kraig Stuart CPT USAR Ret USAMU Sniper School Distinguished Rifle Badge 1071

January 30, 2013, 11:20 PM	#1
breakingcontact Junior member Join Date: October 25, 2012 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 736	Shotgun ammo questions I'm not real experienced with shotguns. These rounds would be coming out of a semi-auto smooth bore 18.5" barrel. Buckshot for home defense/social work: 8 pellet? 9 pellet? #4 Buck? Low recoil? Slugs: regular or low recoil? Oh, also, I find "military buckshot" at the local Academy Sports. What's up with this round? Thanks!

January 31, 2013, 12:02 AM	#2
jason_iowa Senior Member Join Date: July 30, 2011 Posts: 686	any of them are fine. Low recoil buck shot is 8 pellet instead of 9. #4 buck shot is acceptable but not #4 bird shot there is a huge difference. Slugs you can try both and see which you like better. Personal preference is really what its all about. The military buckshot is just 9 pellet 00buck. I use 9 pellet 00 Buck in my HD shotgun. My go to home defense gun is a 45acp carbine with 30round mags though. 30 min slugs > 8 big ones imho.

January 31, 2013, 07:55 AM	#4
breakingcontact Junior member Join Date: October 25, 2012 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 736	So even if its not labeled "low recoil" 8 round buck is low recoil?

January 31, 2013, 03:32 PM	#8
jason_iowa Senior Member Join Date: July 30, 2011 Posts: 686	In general 8 pellet 00 Buck will be lower recoil. Reducing the weight of shot reduces the recoil. So unless the 8 pellet buckshot has more powder then yes its going to be lower recoil.

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