Which number buckshot do you prefer?

[GoodOl'12gauge]

Im reloading some defensive 12 gauge ammo and was wondering what you guys use for pellet size? Im either going to use #3,#1, or 0 buck. I figure the #3 gives me 15 pellets for an 1 1/8 load. So which do you guys prefer?

[Alpo]

Anything from #4 on up will work on unprotected people at close range. People wearing some type of armor - none of 'em will be any good. People at a distance - you want the larger pellets so you have more weight, as inertia is then on your side.

15 pellets would increase your likelihood of a hit over a 9 pellet 00 load, this is true. But your gun might not shoot #3 worth a flip. It might prefer #1. Shooting #3, with 15 pellets but with a pattern that is 14 inches wide, so you only hit with two pellets is not as good as shooting #1, with only 12 pellets, but with a pattern that is 3 inches wide, so you hit with 9 pellets.

My suggestion is to load some, with all the available sizes, and see how they shoot in your gun.

[FTK87]

BTW it is not wise to use reloads for defensive purposes, good way to get roasted in court, all a lawyer would have to do is look up this post.

[carver]

Originally Posted by GoodOl'12gauge

Im reloading some defensive 12 gauge ammo and was wondering what you guys use for pellet size? Im either going to use #3,#1, or 0 buck. I figure the #3 gives me 15 pellets for an 1 1/8 load. So which do you guys prefer?

GoodOl'12gauge, while I agree with both Alpo, and FTK87, remember that with an 18" barrel, at 20' your pattern, no matter the size of your shot, will probably be no more than 2", or 3". In other words your shot wad should hit like a solid. 20' just isn't enough distance for the shoot to open up. Also, I too, only use store bought ammo for SD. All of my re-loads are for plinking, target shooting, and hunting only.

[USMC-03]

These days it's whatever I can find available that won't cost a lot...

[Suicide*Ride]

My SD loads are factory #4 or #1 buck

For SHTF: 3" 000 BUCK & copper HP's.

SR

[questor]

Originally Posted by FTK87

BTW it is not wise to use reloads for defensive purposes, good way to get roasted in court, all a lawyer would have to do is look up this post.

+1

[JohnTheCalifornian]

I know that reloading your own ammo for defense purposes makes you look like a person with intent to kill someone. But all ammo is designed to kill, not injure someone. With the exception of those "less than lethal" rounds for shotguns, and some rubber bullets you can load with.
So why should it be a problem to load your own defense ammo?Unfortunately, lawyers are behind this mess and look to prosecute people for what I feel is wrong. But no worries, you can drive to your local gun store and purchase ammo specifically called "Self Defense" and suddenly your in the clear. Completley stupid how our legal system works. It works for the criminals, not the victims.

[gdmoody]

I have not bought any loaded ammo in quite a while, I reload every thing I shoot. If it comes to defending myself or my family, I don't give a crap whether or not it is reloaded ammo. If the BG is dead, he sure as h@!! isn't going to sue me and I will worry about some other lawyer when that time comes.

[doug66]

00

[GoodOl'12gauge]

GDmoody i Agree with you completly. +1 Ive tried a bunch of loads and my #2buck loads put the best pattern at 25'. Right at 5 to 5 1/2 inches.

[FTK87]

I can't say that I wouldn't use reloads to defend myself if that was all I had. One of the basic principles behind personal defense is being prepared. being prepared should also cover you after the fact, thus you should use factory rounds as insurance. I don't know whats worse, dying trying to defend myself or rotting away in prison for the rest of my life.

[Alpo]

Can anyone cite a court case where the shooter's use of reloads was an issue? I see on many boards, "Don't use reloads, the prosecutor will burn your ass", but never have I seen something like, "State of Texas vs. Frank Robertson, July 1996".

[FTK87]

I too have never seen a case like that. I'm not claiming to have any law school or training, and if I can clearly see the potential for making a case on this, then surly a lawyer trained to put ideas in peoples head can make 12 "normal" people think thats what reloads are for.

[JLA]

For HD, anything works. In a HD situation shots are generally so close the shot column doesnt spread out much and will hit the target pretty much like a frangible solid. The size of the shot will have an effect on penetration though, the bigger shot will penetrate more than the little stuff. My preferred HD load is #4 high brass game loads give reasonalbe penetration with good pellet cound and probably wont penetrate through a baddie.

I gotta advise against the use of handloads for self defense. If you ever do have to drop the hammer on someone in self defense you will be thoroughly raked over the courts for offing a bad guy, so why invite the possibility of an extra lawsuit for manufacturing mankiller ammo. believe me there is a lawyer out there that will paint you out to be a murderer and your self defense was pre-meditated by planning the ammo for it. That my brother could land you behind bars on a technicality for murder 1...

[zb338]

Good ole,
We poor slobs that love guns and live in N.J. have had to use buck shot
on deer for a long time. They have since changed that rule and allow slugs. Every
gun shoots the same buck shot differently. You have to know what you want and
start patterning your gun to achieve that goal. We deer hunters always went for
the tightest long range pattern. Self defence guys might want the loosest pattern
if they are going to shoot at people around the house.

Zeke

[mark_baron]

I never could make up my mind so I use both #4 buck and 00 buck. First #4 then 00 then #4 then 00, etc. All are store bought but I generally don't worry about that. All in my 18.5" Mossberg. That is my first line of home defense here in Florida (castle doctrine in effect).

[johnlives4christ]

well i haven't ever heard of anyone using the fact of a person having used reloads against them in court. i've heard a lot of people talk about it. but i think it is bull crap honestly. i have a 2004 copy of "handguns" im not sure the exact title of it as it is as work right now. it's not a magazine, but a price/referance guide, but it has some articles and such in the front, and one of them addresses the issue of using reloads for self defence. the writer of the article stated that he hasn't ever heard of such an incident either.

[johnlives4christ]

Originally Posted by JLA

If you ever do have to drop the hammer on someone in self defense you will be thoroughly raked over the courts for offing a bad guy, .

just because you kill someone doesnt neccesarily mean you go to court.

lets say someone shoots at you, and you return fire and shoot and kill them. and there is witnesses that all say that the bad guy was unprovoked and you acted soley in self defence. no criminal charges would be likely to arise from a situation like this, even if you used reloaded ammo.

civil charges might arise, but that isn't always the case either.

[JLA]

i see your point john, but chances are they are still going to investigate the incident. We live in a society where the bad guy is allowed to file suit against you for shooting him in a robbery and not killing him... I mean, is it really worth the risk. i used to believe the same way, but its just better to erase the possibility, especially when youre dealing with the law...

[GoodOl'12gauge]

Im guna talk to a lawyer friend of mine and see if i can get some light shed on the situation. But for now my mossy will remain loaded with my #2 loads.

[jacksonco]

My HD shotgun is loaded with Estate 00 buck. My 1911's are loaded with home load 200 grain xtp-hp. If I would ever have to use any of my guns in self defense I am not worried about any investigation because the shoot will have been justifiable.

[johnlives4christ]

Originally Posted by JLA

i see your point john, but chances are they are still going to investigate the incident. We live in a society where the bad guy is allowed to file suit against you for shooting him in a robbery and not killing him... I mean, is it really worth the risk. i used to believe the same way, but its just better to erase the possibility, especially when youre dealing with the law...

anytime there is a shooting there is an investigation, and even if there is not criminal charges against you, there could be civil charges against you IE the bad guy or his family sue you. but this isnt always the case either. give you an example

up the road from where i live, man and a woman and 2 kids. he was gone to work and her ex boyfriend stops by, the story goes that she let him in to talk and he starts threatening her, she shoots him and kills him with a 45 then when the cops got there... no 45 to be found. they never did give the gun up, the cops investigated but nothing ever came of it, since the ex bf was dead and couldnt tell his side. his family was going to sue them and what not, but no lawyer would touch it since the cops ruled it open and shut self defense.


now im not saying this happens all the time or even most of the time, but what im saying is rather that there are instances that you shoot someone and there is no legal action taken against you.

cops show up ask some questions, sort it out, they leave, you mop up the blood.

i can see where in a civil suet that reloaded ammo could be used against you. but if it ever came to that, i dont think it would have much affect either way.

[AngelDeville]

I found a box of 10, #2 and #6 duplex, got 7 left....

[JLA]

to each his own. i suppose...