12 gauge load ?

rebs · August 5, 2014, 07:12 AM

what makes a good home defense load for a 12 gauge pump shotgun ?

eastbank · August 5, 2014, 07:50 AM

1-1/4 oz #4 shot. under 40 feet its sure death with a center mass hit and will not over penertrate. eastbank.

BigJimP · August 5, 2014, 12:11 PM

1oz or 1 1/8 oz of "OO" buck is always a good load....

Use the same recipe for the hull you choose / with the amount of shot you choose...and just weigh the pellets out for 1 oz or 1 1/8 oz ( I don't remember how many OO make up a 1 oz load ...but I think it was 8 or 9 ).... / I don't run the "OO" thru the bottle and shot feeding tube on the press....because it tends to "bridge" and jam in the drop tube ../ so I drop it into the case after I seat the wad ( easy to do )....

load up as many as you want for practice..../ a lot of the experts will tell you not to reload your "defensive ammo"...you can just buy it / and reload for your tactical practice drills.

rebs · August 5, 2014, 01:49 PM

I reload my trap loads with either red dot or 700x. Will either of these powders have any advantage over the other loading # 4 shot over the normal load of 1 1/8 oz of 7.5 shot ?

mannyCA · August 5, 2014, 03:29 PM

Any #7.5 or #8 shot 2 ¾” shells, the type you find at wal-mart, works frighteningly well. And very reasonable. Great for mulitiple invaders. Little worry for over-travel.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqETMARQ8xk

BigJimP · August 5, 2014, 04:25 PM

Nothing changes in the recipe.....recipe is based on the amount of shot you are putting in the shell ....( its irrelevant if its 8's, 4's or " OO Buck".....
1 oz is one 1oz....) - the only thing that changes is the number of pellets that make up the 1 oz of shot.... / velocity stays the same / recoil stays the same....

In my opinion : ...( you don't need 1 1/8 oz of 7 .5's for trap either )...1 oz in a 12ga shell is plenty of shot...in either 8's or 9's for Trap singles at the 16 yard line.../ if you're shooting handicapped Trap ...24 - 27 yd line is about the only time you would use 7.5's.... / but if you like 1 1/8oz ...keep using it...

hartcreek · August 5, 2014, 04:47 PM

You may be able to still find layered loads but they are expensive. I use OOO buck with BB in the voids and ____ grains of powder in preferably Winchester Red paper hulls. If you get shot with that you aint surviving.

August 5, 2014, 07:12 AM	#1
rebs Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2012 Posts: 3,881	12 gauge load ? what makes a good home defense load for a 12 gauge pump shotgun ?

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August 5, 2014, 07:50 AM	#2
eastbank Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2008 Location: pa. Posts: 2,450	1-1/4 oz #4 shot. under 40 feet its sure death with a center mass hit and will not over penertrate. eastbank.

August 5, 2014, 12:11 PM	#3
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	1oz or 1 1/8 oz of "OO" buck is always a good load.... Use the same recipe for the hull you choose / with the amount of shot you choose...and just weigh the pellets out for 1 oz or 1 1/8 oz ( I don't remember how many OO make up a 1 oz load ...but I think it was 8 or 9 ).... / I don't run the "OO" thru the bottle and shot feeding tube on the press....because it tends to "bridge" and jam in the drop tube ../ so I drop it into the case after I seat the wad ( easy to do ).... load up as many as you want for practice..../ a lot of the experts will tell you not to reload your "defensive ammo"...you can just buy it / and reload for your tactical practice drills.

August 5, 2014, 01:49 PM	#4
rebs Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2012 Posts: 3,881	I reload my trap loads with either red dot or 700x. Will either of these powders have any advantage over the other loading # 4 shot over the normal load of 1 1/8 oz of 7.5 shot ?

August 5, 2014, 03:29 PM	#5
mannyCA Senior Member Join Date: May 7, 2009 Location: the world Posts: 182	Any #7.5 or #8 shot 2 ¾” shells, the type you find at wal-mart, works frighteningly well. And very reasonable. Great for mulitiple invaders. Little worry for over-travel. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqETMARQ8xk

August 5, 2014, 04:25 PM	#6
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	Nothing changes in the recipe.....recipe is based on the amount of shot you are putting in the shell ....( its irrelevant if its 8's, 4's or " OO Buck"..... 1 oz is one 1oz....) - the only thing that changes is the number of pellets that make up the 1 oz of shot.... / velocity stays the same / recoil stays the same.... In my opinion : ...( you don't need 1 1/8 oz of 7 .5's for trap either )...1 oz in a 12ga shell is plenty of shot...in either 8's or 9's for Trap singles at the 16 yard line.../ if you're shooting handicapped Trap ...24 - 27 yd line is about the only time you would use 7.5's.... / but if you like 1 1/8oz ...keep using it...

August 5, 2014, 04:47 PM	#7
hartcreek Junior member Join Date: April 22, 2014 Location: Washington Posts: 1,549	My 12 gage loads You may be able to still find layered loads but they are expensive. I use OOO buck with BB in the voids and ____ grains of powder in preferably Winchester Red paper hulls. If you get shot with that you aint surviving.