Ammo for HD

[ChaseReynolds]

What ammo do you use for home defense?
I use Hornady Z-Max

[Dave McC]

"Old" Estate 00 R/R.

[glocktwotwo]

Winchester supreme elite xpdi...jhp...

[jrothWA]

due to semi-rural location.
Standard JHP for sidearms and M1 Carbine.

Then there's the deer rifles.

[Archer 9505]

This has been hashed out before, but here is my spin on it. First I believe the standard full throttle load of 00 buck (9 .33 pellets @ 1325 FPS) to be plenty of medicine at home defense ranges (30 feet and under).

However, I being a perfectionist and a gun nerd, good enough is not the same as better or best.

My choice for close range HD loadings in a 12 gauge shot gun is Winchester #1 buck.

#1 Buck at .30 diameter is about as small as you can go and still get reliably deep penetration to ensure that vital, blood bearing organs are reached.

The cumulative pay load of a 16 pellet #1 buck load is 648 grains vs. 484.2 grains of 9 pellets 00.

The combined muzzle energy of #1 buck (16/ 40.5 gr. pellets at 1250fps) is 2260 ft lbs. VS 1898 ft lbs for 00 buck (9/ 54 gr. pellets at 1325 fps).

The cumulative surface area (Potential wound channel) for #1 buck (16/ .30 pellets) is 1.133 sq inches vs. .771 sq inches for 00 buck.

Recoil between the two different loadings is comparable.

My choice is #1 buck because it will create more deep wounds and produce a larger overall wound channel, increasing the potential incapacitation ability of this loading over the standard 00 loading.

[ScotchMan]

#4 buckshot due to recommendations from trainers so as to not kill my neighbors if a pellet misses.

[Irish B]

Brenneke Black Magic 3" Magnums.. . . . but then again I don't use my shotgun for HD against 2 legged intruders. That's what my .357 and 9mm are for. . . and if things get really out of control I have 200 gr soft points for the Mosin.

[Smitty in CT]

Originally Posted by ChaseReynolds

I use Hornady Z-Max

You can't use that !! It only works on Zombies

Originally Posted by http://www.hornady.com/ammunition/zombiemax

Disclaimer: Hornady® Zombie Max™ ammunition is NOT a toy (IT IS LIVE AMMUNITION), but is
intended only to be used on…ZOMBIES, also known as the living dead, undead, etc. No human
being, plant, animal, vegetable or mineral should ever be shot with Hornady® Zombie Max™
ammunition. Again, we repeat, Hornady® Zombie Max™ ammunition is for use on ZOMBIES
ONLY, and that's not a nickname, phrase or cute way of referring to anybody, place or thing.
When we say Zombies, we mean…ZOMBIES!

At least they've got a sense of humor....

[k511]

Winchester PDX1

[Sheikyourbootie]

Whatever buckshot is on sale at wally-world. Anything from 00 to #4 buck. Remington Core-lokt in 30-30 in the lever action. I live out in the styx....so anything getting past my alarm and dog is probably desperately needing treatment for acute lead deficiency.

[jonnyc]

I keep #4 Buck in the tube, 2 more boxes of it handy, and 5 00 Buck in stock loops....just in case.

[arizona98tj]

"Old" Estate 00 R/R.

Dave,
Is there a notable difference between the "Old" Estate and the Estate 00 currently being sold?

[FrosSsT]

remington 3" 00 buck

[Archer 9505]

remington 3" 00 buck

For maximum one shot potential this is a monster load and hard to beat.

1.285 sq in. cumulative surface area (potential wound channel)
2713 lbs muzzle energy
810 grain payload.

My concerns for this loading are; Excessive recoil slowing follow up shots and the longer shell increasing the potential of a jam or short stroking the pump under stress.

But for a shooter that has resolved these issues, there is not much else out there that is going to say "Now stop that" faster than this load, short of a 25 mm chain gun.

[firemediceric]

When choosing the load to use, is there any consideration as to the pellets that may go past the bad guy? In the confines of a HD situation, how effective will two pieces of drywall be at slowing down the pellets so as not to injure family on the other side of the wall?

[Archer 9505]

When choosing the load to use, is there any consideration as to the pellets that may go past the bad guy?

Not with me.

I am not being flippant and I understand that this is a legitimate concern. The lay out of my house and distance to our nearest neighbors mitigates this as a significant issue for us.

It is an issue and something that I must be cognizant of (4.Be sure of your target and what is beyond it. —Jeff Cooper) but for me the greater threat is the intruder.

What ever the intruder is doing that is so threatening to my family or myself that I am justified in using deadly force to stop him/her/them; I want them to stop doing it immediately.

[FrosSsT]

oh trust me archer...ive overcome the problem spots in using 3" 00, one round at a time

[TheKlawMan]

In the confines of a HD situation, how effective will two pieces of drywall be at slowing down the pellets so as not to injure family on the other side of the wall?

Not much if you are talking about 00 buckshot.

[Denezin]

For less than 10 yards. 2 and 3/4 birdshot no choke. for door penetration and just gettin plain nasty...... 3 inch number 4 buckshot. 41 .22 calibur sized pellets at close to 1300fps says ouch to even the nastiest of burglars.

[Webleymkv]

20ga- Remington 2 3/4" #3 Buck
12ga- Winchester 3" #1 Buck
10ga- Remington 3 1/2" steel BB

[Sheikyourbootie]

Webleymkv: the REAL question is this, are your buckshot loads sufficient to stop a charging raccoon....or do you need to upgrade to 10 ga slugs? Just poking fun at the "raging raccoon" thread below.

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=482180

[Fishing_Cabin]

I keep 00 buck near the shotgun just in case. I do keep birdshot in it for the critters.

I will say an extra full choke, and birdshot at 15-20 feet stops a raccoon quickly. No need for buckshot there.

[Webleymkv]

Webleymkv: the REAL question is this, are your buckshot loads sufficient to stop a charging raccoon....or do you need to upgrade to 10 ga slugs?

If it came to that, I do have a couple boxes of 10ga 00 Buck and Slugs in the gun room

[Sphawley]

Winchester PDX1.

This is the stuff hands down! It sells itself....

[HALL,AUSTIN]

3inch #4 buck. 41 .24 caliber shot is plenty for me.