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| Science & Technology |
| Shotgun shell type and order in magazine |
| 2006-07-06 |
| I have an 8-round 12-gauge pump shotgun, and 00 buck and slug shells. I have it for, ahem, 'problem resolution & positive value reinforcement' purposes. I have been pondering in what order I should load the shells. Should I start with the heavy hitting power of a slug? Or should I "start the party with buck" and expand my killzone? I have been thinking buck/slug/slug/buck/buck.... Anyone have any thoughts on this quandry? |
| Posted by:Brett |
| #13 .38, handloads, 125 grain semi-wadcutter with 5 1/2 grains of red dot behind it, also sometimes called the "FBI" load, flat shooting, (1250 FtSec+) shorter range, less distance penetration, for outdoors got a nice SKS with a 30 round mag (I lie, several 30 round mags)loded with stagger mix of 1.Winchester hollow points (Plastic point) 2. Solids (Lead Soft nose), and hard military.(Autos and idiots who think they're armored, goes right through) and never needed either yet. Killed some trees for practice, works good on foot thick pines, also a few junk cars to check penetration. You are NOT safe. |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2006-07-06 20:01 |
| #12 Anon4021---Tales from the morgue. Treasure trove of great information. Thanks for pointing it out. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2006-07-06 18:55 |
| #11 Some cool links on the subject if you've missed these awesome, yet somewhat only partially scientific sites. Shotguns at The Box Of Truth Shotguns More Shotguns Shotgun Patterns 12 vs 20gauge Also, I found this dude's postings on another board a little awesome and disturbing. Tales from the Morgue |
| Posted by: Anon4021 2006-07-06 16:40 |
| #10 I obviously need more imagination. 8 rounds of 00 buck max loads in a 12 gauge pump (with tac light and C More sight). Interesting data point on #1 buck. |
| Posted by: Whiskey Mike 2006-07-06 12:50 |
| #9 A .357 magnum loaded with MagSafe's (like a shot shell but will not go through walls). |
| Posted by: usmc6743 2006-07-06 12:11 |
| #8 20 Ga w/ #6,a Python 357 Mag, plus a Kuhkri. |
| Posted by: bk 2006-07-06 11:47 |
| #7 CQB indoors - I use 2 #8 shot as my initial load followed by one 00 then deer slug. Alternates 00/slug from there on. Why such a light initial load? Overpenetration. I have seen what 00 and slugs can do to innocent occupants of adjacent rooms. Typical drywall on 18" 2x4 centers doesn't do much in the way of protection. With an adequate choke and internal ranges, #8 is fine for home defense, and due to less fears of overpenetation its actually superior to #1, 00 or slugs in an interior situation IMHO. The rest of the loadout is designed for more fatality and range during pursuit. Dont' want them getting away wounded. Besides, if I need a stopper, thats then I go to the pistol. It is much more manueverable than a longarm and I always have one nearby - plus Im the most trained with that particular weapon over the years. Shopping around for a new one, may go USP45 Compact. Until then, my old federal Glock23 (.40S&W Hydrashock rounds) simply works every time. But nothing in this world says "stop" like a +P (high velocity) .45ACP JHP round impact. So I'm going back to that after over 15 years, but not to the 1911 design. |
| Posted by: Oldspook 2006-07-06 10:26 |
| #6 There is a lot of discussion on the subject of what size buckshot. I've got an 12 ga. Model 870 with a deer barrel under the bed loaded with #1 buck (16 pellets). Throws a bigger pattern. Here are a few links: Guns and Ammo: Let's consider pellet size. Regular shot runs from No. 12 all the way up to 000 buckshot. The odds-on favorite for combat (read: anti-personnel) use is 00 buck. Double-ought pellets are approximately .33 caliber and weigh around 52 to 54 grains apiece. You can get as many as 12 of them in a 2 3/4-inch "short magnum" shell, but standard and low-recoil loads use either eight or nine pellets. This is probably the best all-around choice. However, there is a low-recoil load from Federal that uses eight 000 pellets that I feel is the best possible compromise. But to be frank, this is an area where there's a lot of leeway. At "inside the house" ranges, 10 to 12 yards is a long shot, and shot size isn't critical. Even No. 8 birdshot will pattern into a six- to eight-inch circle at these distances. And it'll do plenty of damage, too. Firearms Tactical Institute: For personal defense and law enforcement applications, the International Wound Ballistics Association advocates number 1 buckshot as being superior to all other buckshot sizes. Number 1 buck is the smallest diameter shot that reliably and consistently penetrates more than 12 inches of standard ordnance gelatin when fired at typical shotgun engagement distances. A standard 2 ¾-inch 12 gauge shotshell contains 16 pellets of #1 buck. The total combined cross sectional area of the 16 pellets is 1.13 square inches. Compared to the total combined cross sectional area of the nine pellets in a standard #00 (double-aught) buck shotshell (0.77 square inches), the # 1 buck shotshell has the capacity to produce over 30 percent more potentially effective wound trauma. In all shotshell loads, number 1 buckshot produces more potentially effective wound trauma than either #00 or #000 buck. In addition, number 1 buck is less likely to over-penetrate and exit an attacker's body. For home defense applications a standard velocity 2 ¾-inch #1 buck shotshell (16 pellet payload) from Federal, Remington or Winchester is your best choice. We feel the Federal Classic 2 ¾-inch #1 buck load (F127) is slightly better than the same loads offered by Remington and Winchester. The Federal shotshell uses both a plastic shot cup and granulated plastic shot buffer to minimize post-ignition pellet deformation, whereas the Remington and Winchester loads do not. |
| Posted by: Steve 2006-07-06 09:54 |
| #5 If the intruder makes it past the Claymores I use a 12ga. pump. The first shell is a slug and the other two are buckshot. |
| Posted by: Deacon Blues 2006-07-06 08:42 |
| #4 I have a .20 gauge Remington 870 mag express under my bed, also doubles as my deer shotgun. All sabot slugs (due to the rifle barrel) - usually federals or whatever .20 gauge sabot walmart is selling - buckhammers are good to. If I had a smooth bore I'd prolly throw the double-ought in first then alternate from slug to buckshot, but that's just me. Nothing like the sound of that pump racking a round to scare off the scumbags. |
| Posted by: Broadhead6 2006-07-06 08:30 |
| #3 I throw in a mix of flechettes... ...with mini-slugs from Aguila |
| Posted by: Skidmark 2006-07-06 06:28 |
| #2 I only a 3 inch 5 shell capasity. I have the reverse order the 3X 00 shells and 2X Sabotted slugs. The 32 cal pellets first and followed up with 50 cal slug or 2 if needed. Just the sound of a shell being racked will settle most situations that and the bright red bore sighted laser designator. All shots are going to be aimed. This is a house gun. |
| Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom 2006-07-06 02:17 |
| #1 Have the first round a slug and then expand as needed. After all, your first shot is going to be aimed while the others will just be pointed. BTW, don't use either inside a house, they'll both go through walls. |
| Posted by: Xenophon 2006-07-06 00:53 |