Why not both? Winchester PDX-1 Defender, a one ounce foster slug with 3 pellets of 00 buck. Other than that I generally use 00.
At home defense distance bird shot will do fine. I shot a 2X6 at 10 feet with birdshot and it made a 1-2 inch hole. Plus less over-penetration if you live in an apartment.
I've treated quite a few shotgun injuries over my career and none of the birdshot ones hit anything vital. The shot column broke up to rapidly to penetrate verry far. I'll stick with at least #4 buck or larger.
00 buck for sure. As long as you don’t have neighbors to close. If you live in a apartment or townhome I would stick with a heavy bird shot load. I live in a rural area and have few over penetration concerns. I’m buckshot all day…
I have never used it on anything two legged, but have on plenty of 4 legged. A Mossberg 500 12 gauge was my bump in the night gun for years. When dealing with raccoons/coyotes/pigs I have experienced everything from heavy bird shot loads to different buckshot. 00 Buckshot is a fight stopper! Sledgehammer
I have never used it on anything two legged, but have on plenty of 4 legged. A Mossberg 500 12 gauge was my bump in the night gun for years. When dealing with raccoons/coyotes/pigs I have experienced everything from heavy bird shot loads to different buckshot. 00 Buckshot is a fight stopper! Sledgehammer
Indirect fire. Also taught by the Military back in the day and I'm sure it is now.
Back in the day, we were taught bouncing off the street using buckshot to disperse an unruly mob as well as targets behind vehicles or walls. A fairly new recruit said the same thing during his training.
I read an FBI ballistics report [with pictures] comparison of wound trails in ballistic gel blocks of different types of shotgun ammunition which indicated that #1 buckshot was considered the minimum acceptable pellet size for human targets. Using that information, among other data, and taking into consideration my apartment type residence, I opted for Federal Premium 12ga. #1 Buckshot (15 pellets=30 cal. pellets each) in a 2 3/4 low-recoil shell with a claimed muzzle velocity of 1100 fps as my HD ammo of choice.
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A good read from an expert.
“Law enforcement 12 ga. shotguns using buckshot of #1 or larger size offer greater close range physiological incapacitation potential than virtually any other commonly used shoulder fired weapon-- this can be a significant advantage during urban entry missions and high risk warrant service in closely confined settings. Should the need arise to stop fast moving targets at close range, like aggressive dogs that could not be deterred through less lethal alternatives, 12 gauge buckshot of #1 shot or larger is the optimal ammunition choice. Keep in mind that buckshot, especially frangible types such as Hevishot, have less ricochet risk than shotgun slugs, as well as handgun and rifle projectiles when fired at objects close to the ground, such as charging dogs. In congested urban settings, buckshot is less likely to pose as high a downrange hazard as slugs in the event a missed shot exits a structure wall. Birdshot offers inadequate penetration and intermediate barrier capability and has no place for LE use.”
https://pistol-forum.com/showthread.php?4340-12-gauge-shotgun-loads-for-LE-duty-use
“Law enforcement 12 ga. shotguns using buckshot of #1 or larger size offer greater close range physiological incapacitation potential than virtually any other commonly used shoulder fired weapon-- this can be a significant advantage during urban entry missions and high risk warrant service in closely confined settings. Should the need arise to stop fast moving targets at close range, like aggressive dogs that could not be deterred through less lethal alternatives, 12 gauge buckshot of #1 shot or larger is the optimal ammunition choice. Keep in mind that buckshot, especially frangible types such as Hevishot, have less ricochet risk than shotgun slugs, as well as handgun and rifle projectiles when fired at objects close to the ground, such as charging dogs. In congested urban settings, buckshot is less likely to pose as high a downrange hazard as slugs in the event a missed shot exits a structure wall. Birdshot offers inadequate penetration and intermediate barrier capability and has no place for LE use.”
https://pistol-forum.com/showthread.php?4340-12-gauge-shotgun-loads-for-LE-duty-use
This. Birdshot makes gruesome wounds, but to stop someone, large buckshot or slug.
Works on concrete with the 5.56 at softer angles too, and I learned it in my instructor courses (MOUT and BUST), as well as taught it.
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