Do You Use One All-Purpose Ammo?

[Halo]

Regarding several posts about birdshot for shotgun defense, most sources showing in my Google searches warn that while birdshot can make a nasty wound, it might not be enough to stop a determined attacker.

Buckshot is usually recommended over birdshot, some contending that for home defense, No. 1 buckshot is even more effective than 0 or 00.

This link is typical of that school of thought:

http://www.firearmstactical.com

Browse the site, then read Tactical Briefs No. 10, Oct 98, Shotgun Home Defense Ammo.

[Hornet33]

I have found that the only way to shoot alot of target ammo that you would want to use for defensive ammo is to handload your own. I buy Winchester 9mm 115gr Silver Tip hollow point bullets in bulk, around $80-100 for 500. I collect all my brass at the range and can normally get at least 5-6 reloads before the brass starts to get too stressed. After it's all said and done, bullets, primers, powder, and brass if I need to buy some, I'm looking at a cost of around $5 for 50 rounds of quality ammo that I can use for anything. Granted it takes time to load all that ammo, but it makes for a distracting hobby. If you do much shooting the cost of the equipment pays for itself pretty quick.

One of the other neat things is making ammo that you can't purchase anywhere else. A friend and I loaded 500rds of 9mm once and got all sorts of comments on it at the range. We bought nickle cases and loaded Silver Tip hollow points. All silver 9mm rounds. NO ONE makes them that way. You can get nickle cases with copper bullets, or brass cases with silver bullets but not nickles cases and silver bullets, so we made our own. They looked really cool:D  I also load my own rifle rounds and shotgun shells.

[Ghosth]

Halo, have you ever seen any living thing shot at close range with birdshot?
Anything at all under 50 feet?

The closer it is, the smaller the entrance hole, but anything inside of 50 feet is going to have an exit hole I can stick my arm into. Plus, all the surrounding tissue is going to closely ressemble  hamberger. You REALLY think that wouldn't stop someone?

However if your still in doubt, I'm going to recomend that you go Mythbuster on the problem. Go to the Grocery store, buy the biggest matching pair of pork hams, or Roasts you can find that you can afford. Or even a pair of Chickens. Take them out to the range, Pace off 30 feet, nail one with birdshot, and the other with buckshot.

However, if the problem in your house is wearing full body armour, face shield, etc, then yes Buckshot would perform better. But in that situation are you SURE you want that officer dead?

BTW going to a low recoil buckshot load is kind of self defeating. If your pulling the recoild down that much your pulling the impact down just as much.

Your better off back with the birdshot

[Halo]

I don't doubt the damaging potential of anything coming out of a shotgun barrel, especially 12-gauge.  And I'm just a theorist -- never even fired a shotgun until last couple years, and then just some skeet and target range.

Most research I've seen, ranging from well-meaning guys on their farms to technical studies for law enforcement, does not recommend birdshot for home defense.  However, it's certainly wise to be skeptical and alert to nuances for a person's particular environment and needs.  

I agree it's ironic that many people are looking for reduced recoil (including .38 and plus loads in .357s) when maybe they should just be buying a smaller caliber gun in the first place.

For example, I considered 20 gauge, but when I discovered my Stoeger coach shotgun is the same size and weight in 12 gauge, I figured the best buy would be the 12 gauge and then tailoring whatever size ammo I found best for me.  

Likewise I'd rather have a slightly heavier .357 with the option of shooting plus or .38 than having only a .38 revolver.  

I'm also intrigued by several shot damage assessments pointing out that many targets are not engaged head on as on a target range.  Shots hit from different angles such as to the side rather than head on, and extra impediments such as heavy clothing and raised arms and weapons often further reduce load impact.  

And of course in stress situations many shots do not hit well at all.  So better to have the most potent load that is comfortable to shoot.  

Many birdshot advocates seem to be including some birdshot shells in mixed loads in their pump shotguns, e.g., couple birdshot, then some buckshot, maybe even a slug.  Since I use only a double barrel coach shotgun, both my shells and their backups have to be buckshot, in my opinion.

I'm still going to try some 12-gauge low recoil options.  Finally located some 1 3/4 Aguila Minishells (seven No. 4 and four No. 1 duplex load) and some Winchester 00 reduced recoil.  Will try first to get them locally.  Might be winners for my needs if they're still reasonably effective and as pleasant to shoot as the Winchester low recoil / low noise No. 8 birdshot.