#00 with 9 pellets or 12 pellets?

Patriots · May 12, 2008, 05:49 AM

What's the best shotshell and amount of pellets for home defense for a 12 gauge? I'm thinking of a 2 3/4 size shell in #00 with either 9 pellets or 12 pellets. On Federal's website they show the #00 with 9 pellets to have a muzzle velocity of 1325 and the 12 pellet shell to have 1290 in muzzle velocity. Is that a huge difference in stopping power? I live alone so I'm not worried about over penetration.

mikenbarb · May 12, 2008, 08:45 AM

#4 Buckshot with 54 pellets in a 3 1/2" round.

Heck of alot more pellets to hit the target with than 00.

rantingredneck · May 12, 2008, 08:55 AM

Typically heavier payloads = heavier recoil.

9 pellet 00 is gracious plenty. I save my 3 1/2" ammo for deer, personally.

The most important thing is what you shoot the best, the second most important thing is what your shotgun patterns the best.

Rampant_Colt · May 12, 2008, 04:58 PM

You're not going to be shooting over great distances, so there's no need for high-velocity, 12 pellet magnum loads, or even 3" magnums. They simply aren't necessary. The extra pellets represent a liability.
Low recoil 00 and 000 buckshot is unmatched for your needs. If you're concerned about overpenetration use number 4 buckshot. If you're not prepared to use buckshot or slugs, a shotgun's probably not for you.

Federal Flite-Control reduced recoil Tactical buck produces the tightest patterns available. Look into some of that. Most of the -Mart and major retail outlet bulk BS ammo is unbuffered and probably won't pattern well in your gun unless you check for patterns to prove that out.

I doubt the bad guy will be able to tell the terminal difference between a 12-pellet and 9-pellet buckshot load. In fact, I'll wager that my 9-pellet low recoil loads will kill the bad guys just as dead, just as quickly, while providing better patterns, faster follow-up shots, more ammo capacity, and easier for anyone in the family to use.

Like rantingredneck said:
Your concerns should be about what you shoot well, practicing, and where your patterns are clustered and the buckshot will do the rest.

Unknown Soldier · May 12, 2008, 06:53 PM

What is the difference between 3" and 2 3/4" in a home defense application? Is the difference negligible, or significant?

Rampant_Colt · May 12, 2008, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unknown Soldier

What is the difference between 3" and 2-3/4" in a home defense application? Is the difference negligible, or significant?

In what capacity?

Magnum loads recoil a LOT more than reduced recoil loads do.

Magnum shotshells simply aren't necessary for the reasons i listed above. If all you have are magnum, or 3" mags, just choose your shots carefully.

Buckshot is relatively inexpensive from places like ammotogo.com and Natchez, so there's no reason not to have it loaded in your shotgun.

FWIW - i like Aguila Mini-Slugs in my 1300 Defender - 11 rounds with .72 dia 385gr @ 1250 FPS. The flat meplate punch clean wadcutter holes in the black past 25 yards

Boris Bush · May 12, 2008, 07:27 PM

Rampant_Colt

You pretty much said what I was thinking. I just got done testing buckshot and even though some are rated the same as the next brand, recoil and muzzle blast will differ, greatly sometimes.

Get out and shoot some 3" compared to 2.75s and you will notice the difference........

mikenbarb · May 13, 2008, 08:58 AM

You wont even notice the recoil with your adrenelin pumping.

May 12, 2008, 05:49 AM	#1
Patriots Member Join Date: November 18, 2007 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 68	#00 with 9 pellets or 12 pellets? What's the best shotshell and amount of pellets for home defense for a 12 gauge? I'm thinking of a 2 3/4 size shell in #00 with either 9 pellets or 12 pellets. On Federal's website they show the #00 with 9 pellets to have a muzzle velocity of 1325 and the 12 pellet shell to have 1290 in muzzle velocity. Is that a huge difference in stopping power? I live alone so I'm not worried about over penetration.

May 12, 2008, 08:45 AM	#2
mikenbarb Senior Member Join Date: October 10, 2007 Location: N.J. Posts: 1,111	The more the better. #4 Buckshot with 54 pellets in a 3 1/2" round. Heck of alot more pellets to hit the target with than 00. __________________ Mike B. Gun control= Being able to hit your target. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pifinnercircle

May 13, 2008, 08:58 AM	#8
mikenbarb Senior Member Join Date: October 10, 2007 Location: N.J. Posts: 1,111	You wont even notice the recoil with your adrenelin pumping. __________________ Mike B. Gun control= Being able to hit your target. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pifinnercircle

May 12, 2008, 08:55 AM	#3
rantingredneck Senior Member Join Date: January 12, 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 4,728	Typically heavier payloads = heavier recoil. 9 pellet 00 is gracious plenty. I save my 3 1/2" ammo for deer, personally. The most important thing is what you shoot the best, the second most important thing is what your shotgun patterns the best.

May 12, 2008, 04:58 PM	#4
Rampant_Colt Senior Member Join Date: March 17, 2006 Location: Parts Unknown Posts: 1,478	You're not going to be shooting over great distances, so there's no need for high-velocity, 12 pellet magnum loads, or even 3" magnums. They simply aren't necessary. The extra pellets represent a liability. Low recoil 00 and 000 buckshot is unmatched for your needs. If you're concerned about overpenetration use number 4 buckshot. If you're not prepared to use buckshot or slugs, a shotgun's probably not for you. Federal Flite-Control reduced recoil Tactical buck produces the tightest patterns available. Look into some of that. Most of the -Mart and major retail outlet bulk BS ammo is unbuffered and probably won't pattern well in your gun unless you check for patterns to prove that out. I doubt the bad guy will be able to tell the terminal difference between a 12-pellet and 9-pellet buckshot load. In fact, I'll wager that my 9-pellet low recoil loads will kill the bad guys just as dead, just as quickly, while providing better patterns, faster follow-up shots, more ammo capacity, and easier for anyone in the family to use. Like rantingredneck said: Your concerns should be about what you shoot well, practicing, and where your patterns are clustered and the buckshot will do the rest. __________________ member of an elite paramilitary organization: Eagle Scouts

May 12, 2008, 06:53 PM	#5
Unknown Soldier Junior Member Join Date: January 24, 2007 Posts: 12	What is the difference between 3" and 2 3/4" in a home defense application? Is the difference negligible, or significant?

May 12, 2008, 07:27 PM	#7
Boris Bush Junior member Join Date: September 7, 2007 Posts: 921	Rampant_Colt You pretty much said what I was thinking. I just got done testing buckshot and even though some are rated the same as the next brand, recoil and muzzle blast will differ, greatly sometimes. Get out and shoot some 3" compared to 2.75s and you will notice the difference........