What shotgun rounds do you recommend for home defense?

Originally posted by mr-lizard
This whole thread is pretty worrying...

It's like some of the people on here WANT to get their houses burgled, just so they have the chance to shoot someone.

I'd like to try and explain the concept of using deadly force in self defence, but I note that you're British, so good luck with all that.

Meanwhile, back at the thread....

Personally, I find it hard to avoid using anything smaller than '00' Buck in a low recoil loading, I especially like Winchester Ranger.

But yes, it will penetrate some, but then I want it to.

i think ANY shotgun round would work in a close environment such as a home.
the cheapest skeet rounds you can pick up at walmart will do the job, have you ever shot a shotgun at something at close range. it shreds anything it touches. i've turned phonebooks into feathers

anyone who can withstand a single shot from a shotgun within the confines of my home and keep moving deserves to have my stuff..

ive got slugs in one next to the door and buckshot in the shotgun in the safe upstairs. I prefer buckshot honestly. Be careful.


Posted Via ATS Mobile: m.abovetopsecret.com

reply to post by Win1892


Wrong! A 12 gauge sabot round will go through a protective vest and two Ford Fairlane car doors. That's first hand knowledge from a Police range. It was a very sobering site.

I'm a small guy myself. Not sure if someone else suggested this already, but to reduce recoil I bought a Knoxx SpecOps anti-recoil, adjustable length stock for my Mossberg 500 12ga. In addition to this, I replaced the stocks rubber end with a Limbsaver pad. These two modifications very effectively reduced the recoil of the weapon. 00 Buckshot fires easily now, and slugs are manageable. I literally went through 80 shells of magnum type 00 shot, in under an hour, as a test. The next day, there was no bruise on my shoulder, and no pain, as if I had not even shot the day before. Previous to the modifications, I would be severely bruised after only 1/4 the number of shells, and it would hurt. I can now fire the thing as fast as I can pump it while maintaining decent aim. I am assuming that the stopping power of the shells is only slightly reduced by the anti-recoil mechanisms, the power reduction is negligible.

[edit on 4-10-2008 by Ionized]

reply to post by Anonymous ATS


In general I must disagree with you. I'm sure there are some wildcat type rounds that will penetrate some soft body armor (level IIa and lower), I can make any round penetrate body armor by messing with the loading / manipulation of the round, but that's not the norm.

I have about 20 years of experience working with bullet resistant materials, not just one range visit and not just wearing it and I don't consider a YouTube video as research . I've tested just about every thing on the market and shot just about every thing into it, had Whites Lab in MD test some materials for NIJ certification.

There are always exceptions to the rule, but real information is important to put out. Nothing personal.

reply to post by Win1892


Again, it was a very sobering demonstration about the limits of the protective vest we were wearing. A standard 12 gauge Sabot round, shot from approximately 5 meters from the vest went through the vest and both doors. Your standard 00 Buck and #4 shot did NOT go through the vest. Although, I'm not so sure you wouldn't be toast from the shock of either of those rounds. You stated that no standard 12 gauge round would go through a protective vest. I know the Sabot round we were issued will go clean through. I'm not talking about Level IV vest. I'm talking about the vest we were issued on the department. I believe they were II-A vest. It has been a few years. I'm not trying to argue with you, it was just first hand knowledge. As far as the topic on this link, rifled slugs are excellent defensive rounds, but I wouldn't use them for home defense. I'd stick to 00 Buck or #4 shot for home defense.

I have seen a few videos and discussions about penetrating sheetrock. This is clearly a concern in the home. Another concern is drawing fire. An armed intruder isn't going to care about penetrating the wall and shooting whoever is asleep in the next room. I think it's important to keep in mind what is behind you if you are going to start shooting. It's probably best to offer no warning and shoot first, ask questions later and consider the position from which you would be firing, in advance of any deadly situation. The position of your bed or desk or your child's bed or desk can be considered long before the time is at hand. I have also tried to consider ways to passively direct the path of an intruder with furniture etc. On top of all that I want to survive any return fire, so I keep body armor handy near my mossberg shotgun (#6 ammo) and hang a bulletproof backpack on my son's headboard of his bed.

Great post Anonymous ATS,
Another good idea is to have solid wood interior doors, not the hollow core luan doors. The solid wood doors give you a better protection from the "saturday night special" type gun .22, .25, .32. 38spcl, 9mm (light load) that most criminals carry, not many bad guys are carrying long guns. Also, if you put a quality door lock on the door, it would take time for the bad guy to get through and from a legal stand point, you can say you did everything you could to NOT have to shoot the bad guy.

i remember one of my friends shooting .44 rounds through a .410 shotgun when we used to hog hunt back in high school. it was brutal. but probablly penetrate several walls as well as the perps.i have several super speed 12gauge cut loads in my 870 for home defence as well as my p90.

Again, I have to agree with Anon. If you are outside, and in a remote area, buckshot and slugs are fine. But if you are shooting inside a structure, and other folks are anywhere in the vicinity, you may wish to use bird shot, #6 is good, or even #8.

You want your target to absorb all that energy, and not blow right on through. You don't want to kill an innocent two or three or more walls beyond your target.

One other thing. Always hold low. Everybody in the excitement of the moment tends to shoot high. Even soldiers.

Keep in mind that in the event your intruder is wearing a type of body armor, by shooting a bit low and at groin level, you partially defeat the armor, the guy just had his tender bits blown off, and he's not going to be anxious for further aggressive behavior. There's a lot of major blood arteries and critical organs within the pelvis area, and the impact on the rather substantial bone mass makes for massive shock which transmits to the nervous system.

Within fifteen feet, that bird shot hasn't had time to spread, and will in fact act like a slug as far as impact, but without the downsides.

Try different loads at the distances you will be firing in your home! See the spread, or lack of it for yourself.

And by the way, a .20 guage inside a home, inside fifteen or twenty feet, and the SOB is going down, especially when directed at the groin area. Just inside each leg, you've got major arteries. Much better, much easier, and much more effect than a head shot.

Now, now...

You cant accomplish anything with violence. Just have plenty of hot chocolate and cookies on hand just in case someone wants something warm. Approach subject carefully and offer a hug also.

reply to post by dgtempe


DG, you're a sweetheart. I love your take on things.

Now get the tea on, there's a good girl. White, two sugars.

Originally posted by sir_chancealot

Originally posted by thisguyrighthere
...bruise their shoulder with some heavy load. ...

The context of this entire thread is that the person's life is threatened, so they are going to have to start shooting to keep themselves alive.

Now, do you want to rephrase or retract that statement?

I agree with thisguyrighthere. Years ago I tried out different types of shot with a new shotgun and the 00 buckshot hit me so hard it left me stunned (with a bruised shoulder). I gave the rest of the shells away to the guys at the range and vowed to never buy or use it again.

In a life threatening situation you also don't want to be "afraid" of your own weapon, and you surely don't want your own weapon to kick so hard it leaves you stunned and hurting when you need to have your wits about you.


[edit on 22-10-2008 by Sonya610]

#2s will do the job and not as expensive as buckshot. If just trying to scare off potential intruders (on property but not breaching your home) then everyday birdshot (ie, 7 1/2s for quail) will work just fine. The smaller the # of shot (ie, 9 pellet buckshot vs BBs) the closer you have to be to hit your target if you are not an experienced shooter)...but the larger the shot size the greater the capacity for a lethal shot (best to save that for when someone is actually breaking into your home and they wont take "NO!" for an answer). A man's home is his castle (castle doctrine).

reply to post by Anonymous ATS


If you really want to use your shotgun for non-lethal defence then load it with widely available bean bag and rubber ball rounds.

You don't shoot people with number 7 1/2 shot to "scare them off".

[edit on 15-12-2008 by Retseh]

My shotguns are loaded with #4 duck and geese load. I will not shoot up my house while killing some robber. Any high brass BBs to #4 will do just fine. Any center shot from 0 to 30 will kill a human on the spot. The organ damage and bleed out holes will not let someone survive. Anonymous Reply.

i like flechets (bunch of small steel arrows), and gut hooks (large round slug with a six inch piano wire and large fish hook attached) yeah they over penetrate but extremely effective and funny, and god what a mess.

reply to post by AgentBlack

You might have a tough time justifying home defense with those rounds. I wouldn't recommend either. Plain shot will defend you well.