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Started By
Message
Best shells for 20 GA home defense pump gun
Posted on 9/30/10 at 8:44 pm
Posted on 9/30/10 at 8:44 pm
(no message)
5
Posted on 9/30/10 at 8:56 pm to hawkster
There's a lot of schools of thought on this.
Slugs are without a doubt the heaviest hitters, but you might have over penetration concerns.
#3 or #2 buck are the most common defense shells you'll find. But depending on your home situation, you might have overpenetration concerns with these as well.
Some people say you shouldn't use bird shot, but I tried an experiment at the range, and within room size distances... i.e. less than 20 - 25 feet, bird shot (#4) does a great job against soft targets. The pattern is so dense, its really devastating.
My recommendation is that if you live in the country and have no concerns about hitting your neighbors house, and your house is such that don't think you'll be sending rounds into your kid's bed... then slugs and buckshot combinations are the best. Whatever you feel most comfortable with.
If there are any concerns about over penetration, then load it up with some bird shot and learn to aim for the face and neck. You can put some buck shot in shell holder if it makes you feel better.
Slugs are without a doubt the heaviest hitters, but you might have over penetration concerns.
#3 or #2 buck are the most common defense shells you'll find. But depending on your home situation, you might have overpenetration concerns with these as well.
Some people say you shouldn't use bird shot, but I tried an experiment at the range, and within room size distances... i.e. less than 20 - 25 feet, bird shot (#4) does a great job against soft targets. The pattern is so dense, its really devastating.
My recommendation is that if you live in the country and have no concerns about hitting your neighbors house, and your house is such that don't think you'll be sending rounds into your kid's bed... then slugs and buckshot combinations are the best. Whatever you feel most comfortable with.
If there are any concerns about over penetration, then load it up with some bird shot and learn to aim for the face and neck. You can put some buck shot in shell holder if it makes you feel better.
This post was edited on 9/30/10 at 8:57 pm
Posted on 9/30/10 at 8:59 pm to coloradoBengal
I like #4's. More pellets and they are moving quick coming out of the barrel.
Posted on 9/30/10 at 9:06 pm to TexasTiger
I killed a feral pig with #4 birdshot. He was about 15 away. Dropped him cold. That's when I decided to do some tests and took some pumpkins to the range.
Most people dramatically over estimate the spread of their shotgun at short distances.
Most people dramatically over estimate the spread of their shotgun at short distances.
Posted on 9/30/10 at 9:11 pm to coloradoBengal
I use #2 Buckshot in my home defense 20ga
Posted on 9/30/10 at 9:47 pm to hawkster
Thanks to all. I'll try it out with some of these recommendations and come up with a plan.
Posted on 9/30/10 at 10:49 pm to hawkster
what birdshot does to 3 walls of drywall.
hickok45 shows the accuracy of 00 and 000 buck shot
birdshot at 15 feet
Just a couple things to think about regarding safety in a home defense situation. I can't tell you which has more energy/incapacitation potential between slug and buck in 20 gauge but from the looks of it accuracy is paramount (not that that is any surprise). You can always do buck or bird for the first couple and slugs after. When I only had a .410 I looked up similar information regarding stopping power and came to the conclusion that slugs were appropriate for me, but that was based on the fact that a .410 bore slug is the same diameter as a .45. 20 gauge on up may be different. good luck and be safe.
hickok45 shows the accuracy of 00 and 000 buck shot
birdshot at 15 feet
Just a couple things to think about regarding safety in a home defense situation. I can't tell you which has more energy/incapacitation potential between slug and buck in 20 gauge but from the looks of it accuracy is paramount (not that that is any surprise). You can always do buck or bird for the first couple and slugs after. When I only had a .410 I looked up similar information regarding stopping power and came to the conclusion that slugs were appropriate for me, but that was based on the fact that a .410 bore slug is the same diameter as a .45. 20 gauge on up may be different. good luck and be safe.
Posted on 9/30/10 at 11:25 pm to puffulufogous
honestly it doesn't matter, but i would go no smaller than #4. DO NOT use slugs, buckshot are ideal...good spread and you'll devastate the intruder. Slug would too, but i'd rather a spread than one inaccurate glob of lead out of a shotgun.
Posted on 9/30/10 at 11:28 pm to halleburton
quote:
honestly it doesn't matter, but i would go no smaller than #4. DO NOT use slugs, buckshot are ideal...good spread and you'll devastate the intruder. Slug would too, but i'd rather a spread than one inaccurate glob of lead out of a shotgun.
You're not getting a spread inside of 20ft in a house. Anything you hit with a 20ga slug and larger... a hand, a foot, a leg, arm or head... is getting blown clean off.
Now... slugs might also kill people two houses over... so, choose wisely based on your particular situation.
Posted on 9/30/10 at 11:46 pm to coloradoBengal
no chance a 20 ga slug goes through multiple walls and kills a neighbor. definitely 'possible' if you're shooting through an exterior wall only but the chances are negligible.
and you get at least get a spread of 10" or so at 30' so you don't need to be a good shot.
ive missed a couple deer at 50 yds with a slug, on a rest, deer not moving. wouldn't trust that to protect my family from a cracked up burglar.
just my opinion, i know i'll get 'em with buckshot if they break into my house.
and you get at least get a spread of 10" or so at 30' so you don't need to be a good shot.
ive missed a couple deer at 50 yds with a slug, on a rest, deer not moving. wouldn't trust that to protect my family from a cracked up burglar.
just my opinion, i know i'll get 'em with buckshot if they break into my house.
Posted on 10/1/10 at 1:07 am to puffulufogous
Very helpful post, thanks. Not too many interior situations where the distance would exceed 15 or 20 feet.
Posted on 10/1/10 at 3:51 pm to hawkster
Check out theboxotruth.com Very good recomendations with real world research to back it up on self defense rounds.
Posted on 10/1/10 at 3:58 pm to hawkster
Posted on 10/1/10 at 6:35 pm to hawkster
Years ago, as in the early 70's I rarely thought of home defense.(I had a .270 and a 12 gauge in the gun rack of my truck)in the parking lot of Neville High School. Hunting was spontaneous so you kept your shite ready. I wasn't the only one.
It really never crossed my mind that I might have to shoot a human.
My how things have changed. Having gone off on a tangent I say #3Buck, slug, #3Buck, slug, #3 Buck. Of course you need to take the plug out.
It really never crossed my mind that I might have to shoot a human.
My how things have changed. Having gone off on a tangent I say #3Buck, slug, #3Buck, slug, #3 Buck. Of course you need to take the plug out.
Posted on 10/1/10 at 6:44 pm to windriver
i pay chuck norris to sleep under my bed
Posted on 10/1/10 at 7:00 pm to iwyLSUiwy
I saw a guy get shot in the stomach with 7.5 birdshot. he was incapacitated but didnt die.
Posted on 10/2/10 at 7:51 am to hawkster
Shooting slugs defeats the purpose of having a shotgun in the first place.
Posted on 10/4/10 at 12:17 am to CaptainsWafer
quote:
Shooting slugs defeats the purpose of having a shotgun in the first place.
kinda my take on the whole thing
Posted on 10/4/10 at 8:12 am to Chris4x4gill2
quote:
Check out theboxotruth.com Very good recomendations with real world research to back it up on self defense rounds.
Very good site. Looks like #3 buck may be the best choice. Good pattern, lethal penetrating power. My gun can handle 3", but I'm thinking 2.75" might have better spread at close ranges. Will test some rounds, but thanks for the help in narrowing down the choices.
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