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Posted: 3/6/2009 3:31:56 AM EDT
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I'm a noob to shotguns and the ammo. Honestly concerned about SHTF scenairios. What is decent defense ammo and where could I find it at a good value?
Thanks in advance. 
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This is what I keep on hand for HD.
Fiocchi 00 buckshot RR Not a bad price per box of 10. I used to buy Federal, a little more expensive but just as good imo. |
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There are a few lines of thought-
Some people like to have the biggest meanest payload they can get in each shot, like a slug or 3 1/2" buckshot. Other people prefer smaller shot size in exchange for more of them, for example a 3" #4 Buck carries 41 pellets compared to 9 in a 2 3/4" 00 Buck. My preference is in this order- #1- 2 3/4" shell. My 590 will hold one extra round with the 2 3/4" compared to 3", and if I have missed I'd rather have another try than more pellets that miss. 9 pellets of 00 Buck is plenty for me. That said, my 500 takes 5 shells whether it's a 3" or 2 3/4", so I stock it with 3". If I could get 6 shots with the 2 3/4" I'd do that. #2- Accuracy. I like the Federal Flight Control wad- but it's not terribly available so I get them when I can. #3- Shot size. I wish I could lay my hands on some Flight Control #4 buck in 2 3/4", but so far I can't even FIND it locally for any price. So I use 00 Buck, less of them but it's more important to me to get that extra round in the magazine and have the tighter pattern. I do keep a single slug on the side saddle and have made shots on silhouette targets out to about 50 yards (bead sight). #4-Shot material. To tell the truth I really don't give a crap if it's copper plated, buffered, lead, tungsten, steel or depleted uranium for defense ammo. As far as a good deal, I've been buying some whenever I see it, ammo is getting difficult to find at any price, even Cabela's in Utah didn't have any .380 Auto or 9mm in stock. Don't wait too long for the good deal, imo. |
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Federal LE12700 9 pellet 1325 fps buckshot at 20 yards
from a Mossberg 930spx. 18.5" barrel, open cylinder, 8 shot capacity. I'm pretty sure this is the same ammo as FR12700, the hunting equivalent. No problems with feed or extraction and the gun is not well broken in yet. 
Clean target had 2 extra holes blued out. Big hole is the Flite Control shot cup. Looks like more holes than there really is. 
The shotgun 
LE13300 has an even tighter pattern at 15 yards, almost one ragged hole but I'm out of it because the JBTs are hogging it all right now  It's 1140 fps and 8 pellet(I think).
No hunting equivalent for this one. NobelSport 15 pellet gave a garden hose pattern, it sprayed all over the place. The Federal with flite control has given me the best patterns to date and has had no problems with function. As far as finding it, you'll just have to find a place that has it in stock. Internet ordering is the way to go in this case. Test some for your gun then buy a case(250) of something it likes. Federal buckshot is like AR ammo right now. |
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Quoted:
I'm a noob to shotguns and the ammo. Honestly concerned about SHTF scenairios. What is decent defense ammo and where could I find it at a good value? Thanks in advance. You're hosed. Buck shot and slugs will penetrate your walls, and your neighbor's walls and kill their children and dog. And bird shot won't even penetrate the bad guy's puffy coat. Good luck finding anything that works in between. 
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Hmm.......
Lot to think about. Don't want to penetrate walls and light up the neighbors. Just have general concerns that the world is going further to shit. Hope I never half to use it to defend myself, but would rather be prepared. If I never need it for the worst case scenario, I can always use it at my friend's range for fun. The problem right now is, lots of things are on back order. Thanks everybody for all your input.
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Humans are easy to kill.
Any 2 3/4" 12gauge buckshot load of size #4 or larger is going to kill any human being at 25 feet or less. For home defense, practicing with your shotgun over and over is what you need to do. You should put at least a couple hundred rounds through your weapon firing at targets within 30'. Putting rounds centered on the target is what's important, not the difference between 00 and #1 buckshot or one brand over another..... |
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Fearme is right, the specific load does not matter. Inside of 30 feet, any quality 0, 00, 000, #4 loading will do the job.
However, once you pick something, you should pattern it, practice with it, and use it all the time. A deviation in manufacturers can give you a totally different pattern out of your individual weapon. |
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Quoted:
Humans are easy to kill. Any 2 3/4" 12gauge buckshot load of size #4 or larger is going to kill any human being at 25 feet or less. For home defense, practicing with your shotgun over and over is what you need to do. You should put at least a couple hundred rounds through your weapon firing at targets within 30'. Putting rounds centered on the target is what's important, not the difference between 00 and #1 buckshot or one brand over another..... Well said! 
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Quoted:Federal LE12700 9 pellet 1325 fps buckshot at 20 yardsfrom a Mossberg 930spx. 18.5" barrel, open cylinder, 8 shot capacity.I'm pretty sure this is the same ammo as FR12700, the hunting equivalent.No problems with feed or extraction and the gun is not well broken in yet.http://media.ar15.com/media/viewFile.html?i=8687&prev=1Clean target had 2 extra holes blued out. Big hole is the Flite Control shot cup.Looks like more holes than there really is.http://media.ar15.com/media/viewFile.html?i=8686&prev=1The shotgunhttp://media.ar15.com/media/viewFile.html?i=8688&prev=1LE13300 has an even tighter pattern at 15 yards, almost one ragged hole but I'm out of it because the JBTs are hogging it all right now Not to derail but... Who's shell pouch and sling set up is that?
It's 1140 fps and 8 pellet(I think).No hunting equivalent for this one.NobelSport 15 pellet gave a garden hose pattern, it sprayed all over the place.The Federal with flite control has given me the best patterns to date and has had no problems with function. As far as finding it, you'll just have to find a place that has it in stock. Internet ordering is the way to go in this case. Test some for your gun then buy a case(250) of something it likes. Federal buckshot is like AR ammo right now. |
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The ammo FAQ (under the AR-15 heading) recommends #1 buck as the best (best combo of penetration and surface area of shot).
I just bought some #1 in 2 3/4". I wanted to run 3", but can get 1 more shell in my extended mag with the 2 3/4, and I think that is more important (3" has more pellets, but same powder/energy). I can't find #1 buck in bulk, so I bought 25 rounds, that gives me enough to shoot a few to see how it patterns, and then I'll keep the gun filled with those. For general practice/shooting you can get bulk of #4 or 00 from several places. I think ammnuitiontogo.com has the best prices. Also, not bad idea to keep some slugs on the side-saddle (if you have one) so you can load them up if needed. |
| IN my experience and observation of many actual shootings with Buckshot, the single biggest factor is penetration (or lack of it). That is why I use only #000 Buck...but...I live alone in a mostly brick home. If in an apartment I would probably use #4 Buck for the first couple rounds. I never did that when I had kids at home due to the layout of the house. #1 is, indeed, a good compromise but sometimes difficult to find, and AFIK it is not made in the newer reduced recoil 'tactical' loads. In standard loads it has more recoil than #00 due to the increased payload. (weight of shot) |
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