NOTE: Please reserve replies to this thread to new info & corrections & I will add the new info to the original post from time to time.

Below are hot links w/ info about 12 gauge ammunition for defensive purposes. Below that is a list of Commercial or LEO packaged cartridges that are suitable for self defense. This, BTW, according to people that are smarter than me.

Link to AR15.com ammo oracle self defense ammo list. Shotgun ammo is at the bottom & is brief & is only for 12 gauge. The beginning gives an explanation of the importance of penetration in any small arm projectile. HERE.

HERE is a new 12 gauge ammo FAQ here on Arfcom

Link to Article about defensive shotgun ammo on firearmstactical.com HERE.

Link to Old Painless Box of truth site for actual ballistics testing HERE.

Link to Tactical Works.ca that seems to be source of pics in the link above. Also, there are pics of terminal wounds in various dissected game. LINK DELETED

Link to Fr Frog's Article on combat shotgunning. HERE

Link to Squeaky's Gun-Deals.com site that can show you instantly the best delivered price on ammo by caliber. HERE

20 gauge:
#2 or #3 lead buckshot is the biggest available. (#2 is larger than #3) The #3 loads may be better for those who are recoil sensitive but should only be chosen over #2 if absolutely necessary. Plated shot very preferable as w/ shot this small you need every thing you can to improve penetration. Neither Remington nor Winchester make #2 or #3 plated lead 20 guage cartridges. Federal makes both in their Premium "Vital-Shok" line.

20 Gauge Federal Premium Vital-Shok PLATED Lead Buckshot:
-2-3/4", 20 pellet, #3, 1175 FPS, Part# P256
-3", 18 pellet, #2, 1100 FPS, part # P258
-federal, winchester & remington make some unplated buck in #2 &/or #3

FYI:
-premium 20 gauge ammo is often more expensive than similar 12 gauge ammo.
-Walmart sells a Remington youth 20 gauge w/ 18" barrel & removable choke


16 Gauge:
I can only find un-plated buckshot in shot size #1 by Winchester & Federal. Note that I haven't read any 16 gauge ballistic testing or anything. I am just showing you the largest 16 gauge buck shot available.
-Winchester makes Super-X, 2 3/4", un-plated,12 pellet, #1 buck, 1225 FPS, part #XB161
-Federal Power-Shok, 2 3/4", un-plated, 12 pellet, #1 buck, 1225 FPS, part #F164


12 Gauge:
12 Gauge #4 Buck Shot: despite some pictures posted on shotgunworld.com that show #4 penetrating over 12", other laboratory experiments show a lack of consistency at attaining this depth. Therefore, use of #4 buck as a home defense loading is controversial.

12 Gauge #1 Buckshot: the International Wound Ballistics Association argues that all other thing being equal #1 buckshot is the best b/c compared to 9 pellet 00 buck 16 pellet #1 has the ability to produce "over 30% more potentially effective wound trauma." Additionally, it is the less likely to over-penetrate or penetrate barriers than 0 or 00 buckshot. Since it is less likely to overpenetrate, plated would be preferable. Plated #1 is the smallest size buck shot that consitently meets the FBI penetration standard in calibrated ballistic gel under strict laboratory conditions. Currently I only see non-plated offerings from Remington & Winchester. Federal finally came out with an offering w/ #1 buck shot in their Flite Control Wad. It is a plated 15 pellet load. It is low recoil at 1100 FPS. I am unaware of any penetration testing data on #1 at that velocity...
-Winchester Super X, 2-3/4" 16 pellet 1250 FPS, Part #XB121
-Winchester Super X, 3", 24 pellet!, 1040 FPS,
-Remington Express, 2-3/4", 16 pellet, 1250 FPS, Part #12B1
-Federal Tatical Shot, 2-3/4", 16 pellet, 1100FPS, Part #LE132 1B

12 Gauge Low Recoil 00 Buck Shot (except Federal's Flite Control): Low recoil loads may not cycle reliably in auto-loading shotguns, but offer more comfort & faster follow up shots in pump shotguns as well as less theoretical over-penetration.

Commercial Packaged:
-Remington "Expressed Managed Recoil", non plated, 8 Pellet, 2 3/4", 00 Buck, 1200 FPS. Rem part #RL12BK00
-Winchester Winlite, 8 or 9?, plated?, 1125 FPS, part #: WL1200
-Federal "Power-Shock", non-plated, 9 Pellet, 1140 FPS, part #H132
-Fiocchi Premium Nickel Plated, 8 or 9 pellet?, 1150 FPS, part #12LE00BK

LE packaged:
-Winchester Ranger, 9 pellet, 25 rd box, non-plated, 1145 FPS, #RA1200
-Winchester Ranger, 9 pellet, 5 rd box, non-plated, 1145 FPS, #RA12005
-Winchester Ranger, 8 pellet, 25 rd box, non-plated, 1145 FPS, #RA12008
-Winchester Ranger, 8 pellet, 5 rd box, non-plated, 1145 FPS, #RA120085
-Hornady TAP Blue Hull, 8 pellet, non plated, 1100 FPS: Part #8628.
-Remington hardened, 8 pellet, ? FPS, #RR128B00
-Remington hardened, 9 pellet, ? FPS, #RR12BK
-Fiocchi Premium Nickel Plated, 8 or 9 pellet?, 1150 FPS, part #12LE00BK
-Federal has several that are covered below in the Flite Control Section


12 Gauge Standard Power 00 Buck: If you are shooting an auto, any one will do really. Plated or hardened pellets will pattern & penetrate better but may be more likely to overpenetrate. There are various loads in Commercial & LE packaging in various length & pellet counts. Some Remington LE packaged ammo is water proof. The Federal Flite Control, disussed next, will have the best patterns from a cylinder bore shotgun.

Here is a powerful load in a 2 3/4" shell, 12 00 pellet, 1290 FPS: Nobel LEO

Federal Flite Control regular and reduced recoil: Federal Premium Shot shell ammo w/ Flite Control wad makes the best patterns when shot out of cylinder bore barrel. The proprietary Flite Control Wad is really unlike anything else. People report ca 10" patterns @ 30 yards w/ 18" Cylinder bore barrels. This is a great alternative to an expensive up front investment in an expensive tactical choked barrel. They make Low & regular recoil loads in LE packaged ammo & regular loads in commercial ammo. Commercial ammo w/ the "PFC" prefix on the part number is Premium Flite Control ammo. The "Precision Buckshot" features unique wad that actually retains the shot the entire time in flight until it hits something. That one seems less safe in terms of barrier penetration but would be the ultimate in a tight pattern. Federal's "partner company" Speer also has a Lawman offereing w/ the Flite Control Wad. As of 2012, there is a Flite Control Load available in #1 buck (Finally).

Commercial Packaged:
-PFC154: Premium Vital Shok, 2-3/4", plated, 9 pellet, 1325 FPS
-PFC157: Premium Vital Shok, 3", plated, 12 pellet, 1325 FPS
-PFC154-00LR: Premium Vital Shok, 2 3/4", plated, 9 pellet, low recoil 1145FPS

LE Packaged:
-LE127-00:Standard recoil, 2-3/4", plated, 9 pellet, 1325 FPS (same as PFC154)
-LE132-00: Low Recoil, 2-3/4", plated, 9 pellet, 1145 FPS (same as PFC154-00LR)
-LE132 1B: #1 Buck, Low Recoil, 2-3/4", plated, 15 pellet 1100 FPS
-LE133-00: Low Recoil, 2-3/4", plated, 8 pellet, 1145 FPS
-LE133 00PR: "Precision Buckshot", plated, 2 3/4", 8 pellet, 1050 FPS.
-57800: Speer Lawman Buckshot, 2-3/4", plated, 8 pellet, 1145 FPS (same as Federal LE133-00)

Slugs: These should almost always have sufficient penetration for two-legged deer, but again are more dangerous to everyone else. Naturally, they are a better option at longer distances. There are basically 2 different type of slugs.
-Rifled Slugs (aka Foster Slugs): These are designed to be shot out of smooth boor barrels. These slugs are designed to "swage" down to fit through choke tubes. They may be shot out of most chokes excepting super full or specialty turkey type chokes. However, more constrictive chokes may produce higher recoil & lead to higher amouts of slug deformation & more errant point of impact. Brenneke brand slugs are type of foster slug that are somewhat unique in there design & materials.
-Saboted Slugs: These are intended to be shot from rifled shotguns & offer higher accuracy than shooting other types of slugs from smooth bore weapons.

Exotic Cartridges: There are various types of specialty type shotgun cartridges. There are types w/ two or three slugs, two slugs tethered together, steel core darts, multiple small finned darts, flame throwing, smoke making etc. Some of these are pretty neat & probably fun. They are generally very expensive, compared to conventional ammo and so even if their design features were considered tactically sound, it is hard to justify their price. Do be advised that some states have laws banning various type of exotic shotgun ammo. Fun fact: I hear you can add flour to a load & it will make a giant fire ball.

Less Lethal Ammo: There are different types, rubber slugs, rubber buck shot, bean bags, rubber rings, rock salt, wax slugs etc. The main thing to realize is that most less lethal ammo is lethal at under 25 yards or so. W/ a choke, lethality range can increase. Note it says "Less Lethal" not "Non Lethal" Even rock salt can be lethal I hear. So, always be willing to destroy/kill anything you shoot at or what is behind it.

Fantasy: On Future Weapons I saw retractable fin stabilized 12 gauge round with a high explosive warhead Thinking about it gives me a little bit of a chub

Reserved

How about these? I'm planning to try some soon. Essentially a self-contained version of the very deadly "buck and ball" practice from the muzzleloader era.

Pretty good video with gel, vehicle, and other medium tests with various loadings.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ievbU3xIYGQ

They aren't a gimmick and work as advertised. Being that I bought several boxes of Winchester 00 military buck for $5 a box of 5, and these go for roughly the same, it's a pretty good deal. If I were in war, I think I'd actually prefer this buck and ball to 00.

Yesterday I shot several and was impressed at the distance that ball can go! At 00 range it's about the same, other than one of those holes being .65 caliber!

I shot some Hornady Light Magnum 12 gauge 00buckshot in my Mossberg 500. Advertised velocity is 1600fps. What kind of pattern does one want at a certain distance? Mine still grouped minute of torso at 25 yards.

I got to try some polyshok rounds for my agency. Lets just say whats left over is now under my bed loaded in my home defense shotgun. They were amazing. They hit like a shaped charge without the explosive and completely reduce worrying about collateral damage. Thinking about their potential definitly gives me a chubby.

There is an additional load you are missing from your Federal Premium Flitecontrol section.

It is Federal Premium Vital-Shok # PFC154-00LR.

Lists 1145fps, 2 3/4", 9 pellet, low recoil, flitecontrol wad, copper plated 00 shot. Appears to be the commercial version of LE132-00.

Thanks Info added

I'm no expert so I can't give some authoritative opinion on the ammo. I know some reloaders reject S&B brass. But its just shotgun ammo & if it works good in your gun that is saying something.

It is interesting that it is only 12 pellet. I wonder if it has lower recoil than a 16 pellet shot. If not, they you are just humming the pellets along faster which would make for increased energy & penetration of the individual pellets, not something you want if you are trying to be careful of overpenetration.

I went to their site but it is terrible. I couldn't find a way to look at an individual loading's details, like velocity etc. If someone can give me those figures I'll post it up in the OP in the #1 buck section.

Looks like Cabels has this ammo for $5/box of 10

If someone could get the data on that SB load that would be great

They are not listed because they are inadequate.

That is unless you expect to have your home invaded by geese.