[TCK]

A friend of mine moved to the country recently and he decided he needed a shotgun for "home defence" and snake medicine. He picked up a great deal on a Mossberg 590 SS. It was grity and dirty in the bore, but looked like it had only been shot a few times.

(now to the question)

He asked me what kind of shells I thought he should get for having around the house. I didn't really know what to tell him for home defence because I've heard many conflicting opinions on tpye of shot. I thought 00 Buck would be my choice, but another friend said that it might go through walls in the house and hit unintended targets.

My final opinion was for him to get a few boxes of 7.5s and 4s and 00 Buck and shoot some to see what he likes.

 

[lefty o]

00 buck for baddies, #6 for birds snakes and other assorted little vermin.

 

[AR-tim]

Originally posted by TCK
My final opinion was for him to get a few boxes of 7.5s and 4s and 00 Buck and shoot some to see what he likes.

Personally I wouldn't want to get shot by any shot from that shotgun. I would probably agree on 00 Buck for defense. Then again, can't tell you if it goes through walls or about the stopping power, never shot anyone in my house with a shotgun(or any gun) . Personally, if someone breaks in and sees a shotgun responding to that noise, I think they will be haulin' a## in the other direction...I know I would be. 7.5 or 6 is a good pest control size.

-Tim

 

[AJY]

Check into the reduced load 00. They're marketed for cops but are available to civilians. One less pellet, lot less kick. Heard of some problems using in semi autos but I shot them in an old department Smith and Wesson pump we have and it was noticebly easier to shoot, especially when you are trying for quick follow up shots.

 

[TCK]

Thanks

Thanks for the info! Does anybody know of a shot size chart online. My father had one on the back of my closet door for years, but his new wife misplaced it sometime back.

 

[jerry]

as a side note; we had a long running discussion on the old format on this. I'll throw my opinion back in the hat.
At HD ranges 20 feet or less 1&1/8 oz 7.5's are deadly. the thing i like about using it is i can "rotate" the stuff out and use it on clays, dove etc. tghis way there are allways fresh rounds in the tube. i wouldn't want to be at the store shelling jack on buck all the time. i know shot shells will last a long time, but why dinker. then you have the cort thing, albeit not illegal to cap someone in your house with buck, you get this innocent look on your face and explain your just a lowley bird hunter.

foregot to mention, pick up any freebie load manual. winchester, hogden many others will have a shot chart in side. want it bigger enlarge on a copier.

 

[Tal/IL]

Yes, I can tell you 00 Buck will penetrate interior walls and still be packing plenty of wallop.

 

[Guest]

I like 2 3/4 inch #4 buckshot

 

[Guest]

Oops... The ever popular Remington 870. I prefer the Remington 11/87 but I ended up buying a Beretta 1201FP....Nothing wrong with a Winchester 1300 Defender or Mossberg 500/590 either

 

[alan c.]

I keep it loaded with 3 inch 3/4 ounce slugs and OO buck every other round.

 

[johno]

i've got my mossberg 500 with the same load 2 3/4 inch, alternating 00 buck and slugs

 

[nascarnhlnra]

Normally 3 inch 00 buchshot is my choice if I am going somewhere and leaving it for the wife than I load 2 3/4 # 4 buckshot in it for her.:assult:

 

[NRAJOE]

I personally use 2 3/4 00 buck in my mossberg 500A riot gun, i don't have to worry about it going through any walls. If i had kids in the house i would use #4 buck,or 00 rubber buck. But if you use a non-lethal load then you gotta deal with the scumbag in court!

 

[Dennis]

3" #4 shot "turkey" load works for me.
The idea of a longer range round is that if there is an incedent you dont know how it's going to go, so I want the option of a little more range.
The 2 3/4 dove loads will work fine in the house. The only thing I dont like is that the pattern is so big at just 20 feet that at 30-40 feet there are a lot of your shot are not hitting a man size target.
Weather you kill the bad guy with #8 shot or #4 shot or 00 buck
he's still going to be just as dead.
Use what you are comfortable with.

 

[Guest]

at home defense ranges even birdshot is good (no home invader is gonna shrug off a 12 gauge load of anything...even rocksalt)...with the added reassurance that some anti self defense prosecuting attorney probably won't come after you for publicity to help his political career

 

[Dennis]

#4 is good 00 buck is good also, it has great range but it doesnt "open up " very well ( ya get one or the other not both)
2 3/4 has been my choice for years, 3 in Mags are almost uncontrollable. Yea there is more shot and it is comeing out the barrel faster. it is also a lot slower to recover and make a second shot.
I have an 870 with the new "comp stock" that works real well with 3 in mags, that is the only way I can control those big wompers.

 

[Guest]

there are alot of overlooked underrated shotsizes...I like #1 Buckshot, #4 Buckshot and Triple Ought Buckshot