Recomemdations for 12Ga home defense load

[raycogxxx]

00 Buck or 04 Buck for. Gun is Maverick 88 18.5", pistol grip/retractable stock.

[Phillip Gain]

There are a number of articles on this. You need information, not opinions. Here are a couple of good places to start:

The Box O' Truth #3 - The Shotgun Meets the Box O' Truth - Page 1

Brass Fetcher Ballistic Testing

[gunnerbob]

I have OO Buck in the 12ga's at the moment but I keep some #4 buck around too.

The benifit to #4 Buck is that you have more pellets... duh right. So, lets say you had to take a shot down your hallway, which may be more than 12 feet... I'd feel better knowing I have 27 or so pellets filling the hallway rather than 9-12.

And here's another thing to consider... wether you choose OO Buck or #4 buck... the guy you shoot isn't likely to get up after either one.

One example of the usefulness of #4 Buck... small, but an example none the less. The Durham, NC SWAT team uses #4 buck as their shot of choice. I know this b/c my father is the Armorer there.

Regardless, just make sure you hit the perp down the hall.

[Firefighterchen]

I was told 00 buck will make it through most walls, while 04 buck usually won't. I live in an apartment, so 04 buck for me. If I lived in a house, 00 for me. This is what multiple gun shops told me, so take the information as you see fit.

[vn6869]

There are a number of articles on this. You need information, not opinions. Here are a couple of good places to start:

The Box O' Truth #3 - The Shotgun Meets the Box O' Truth - Page 1

Brass Fetcher Ballistic Testing

Theboxotruth don't lie

If you watch the brassfetch video on the 12 ga 00 impacting 20% gelatin, you can actually see the shockwave AROUND the gelatin block. don't recall seeing anything like that in a pistol ammo video

[B2Tall]

If you're using the pistol grip w/o the stock (like I do) then whatever load you go with it should be the low-recoil stuff. In my Mossy 500 I use a combination of Remington OO and Federal Hydra-Shok slugs (low-recoil for both).

[raycogxxx]

Thanks for all the info, gives me stuff to think about.

[Rhino]

I use #1 buck for what I feel is the best compromise between stopping power and reduced overpenetration. 00 buck, to me, is too likely to kill a family member or pet in the next room, or maybe even a neighbor. #1 buck reduces that chance somewhat while giving up almost nothing in stopping power. It is somewhat hard to find though, so I usually have to order it in bulk.

[golddigger14s]

Remington Self Defense, combo of #2 and #4 in each shell. I'm also thinking of getting some bean bag loads, so if the bean bag doesn't work I follow up with the real ammo.

[CPW1265]

I have the same shotgun and I have 00 buck and #4 in mine