Patterning a shotgun for personal defense

[David LaPell]

There's a lot to be said for having a shotgun, and after talking to a guy recently who doesn't believe in them because he thinks they spray buckshot all over the place, I decided to see exactly where my shotgun puts out buckshot.

I took my old Stevens 67E with it's factory 20 inch barrel, rifle sights and smooth bore (IC choke) to the range with some Remington 2 3/4" 00 buckshot. Nothing fancy, no flight control wads or whatever some of the other rounds have. This is the good old $5 a box of five round stuff.

I made up some targets and set them up at 5, 10, and 15 yards. The gun did very well, and I figure that 15 yards is as long as I could think of shooting indoors, especially where I live.

I measured them later on and the groups measured out to be 3 1/2 inches or so at 5 yards but I don't know where the wad ended up in all that, the 10 yard group was 4 inches and the 15 yard group was 6 3/4 inches at its widest point.

I guess what I was trying to do was, like we set up and pattern our shotguns to hunt, you need to see what they will do at different ranges if you use them for personal defense. I'll play around with different ammo but this stuff surprised me at how good it did with this gun, of course not all will do the same, why we pattern and test them.

 

[GunnyGene]

Yep, pretty normal. If you want that load to really open up at close range use a rifled barrel. It will open up to about 18" @ 5 yds. :shock:

 

[wwb]

There are a bunch of folks who believe that a shotgun will cover the side of a barn at 5 paces..... or something nearly as foolish. The 15 yard pattern brings home the point that, even with a shotgun, you need to AIM when you fire.... or you need to develop a very strong pointing instinct, such as you get from shooting skeet or sporting clays (and trap, to a lesser extent).

 

[Johnnu2]

My home defense guns have always been shotguns with that exact load..... I always figured that, in the middle of the night, with sweat running into my eyes and a super high heart rate and trembling limbs, one of those 30 cal pellets would score for me. The only drawback even with a short (legal) barrel is you cannot let them get even a little close to you to take it away. Any of those patterns would do the trick in my house.
J

 

[Don Lovel]

I have found that #1 buck and #4 buck pattern better for me than 00 and I keep my shotgun loaded up with alternating #4 & #1 with a couple of Hornady SST slugs in the last to feed.

 

[pete44ru]

I figure that 15 yards is as long as I could think of shooting indoors, especially where I live.

If you can have a shot 45' away, INSIDE your home, you must need security guards all around. :mrgreen:

(unless you live in a big barn, of course..... )


.

 

[volshooter]

I use a Mossberg 500, 18 inch with #4 buck for in my bedroom defense.
Honestly at 15 feet or so and shot larger than #6 will work without worring about over penetration to the rest of the house.

"nothing puts the fear of GOD into a bad guy as the sound of a pump racking a round"

this I know from a former life.....

as good hunters, we all pattern our shotguns for game.

 

[steveodtw]

I have no solid evidence of this, but I often thought about a standard turkey load through a turkey choke in my Mossy 500 as a good home defense load. Less concern about buckshot going through drywall and unintended "collateral" damage. That "big bullet" concept of a 12 Ga. load has got to be a showstopper.

 

[Rumrunner]

I recently won a Remington 870 Express Syn tactical 12 gauge. I took it out and shot it at 5 yards and 10 yards with OO Buck, #1 Buck, #4 Buck, and some AA trap loads. While I was impressed with it's pattern, I was not impressed with the fact that it would only extract but not eject any of the 25-30 rounds fired. UPS picked it up yesterday for repairs.

While I like the #1 Buck with 16 pellets, the Hornady American Gunner 00 Buck reduced recoil load with 8 pellets was very easy on the shoulder.

 

[Mobuck]

"00 Buck reduced recoil load with 8 pellets was very easy on the shoulder."

Very important factor for in the home use. You don't need HV or magnum loads for 5 yards. In fact, the heavier recoil may well be a DISADVANTAGE.

 

[gunzo]

There are so many misconceptions about shotgun patterns & different types of shells. It can be explained till the cows come home & only some will comprehend. I'm one of those that needs to see for myself.
The very best thing to do is get out & try different loads at multiple distances. Most shells aren't real expensive & some part time shotgun shooters need the practice anyway. Plus, it's fun. On the way to the range, drive around and look for new home construction. You might be able to scrounge the trash pile for some drywall or plywood scraps. Shoot at those & decide what shell you would/would not use where you live.

Seeing is believing.

 

[Jimbo357mag]

That 00 buckshot would certainly take care of any intruder in your house but I think a shotgun is a little ungainly to be wielding around in your house. It might be good in the yard or from the doorway into the yard but for inside the house I will take a double-action revolver every time.

 

[blackhawknj]

Not much of a shotgunner but knowing how your guns perform, a Wise Idea IMHO. Always thought pattern loading a repeating shotgun was a Wise Idea, light skeet or birdshot to get their attention and show you mean business, something heavier for those who are rather thickheaded.

 

[volshooter]

In close in spaces, say 15-20 feet, even a 1 oz load of #8 shot will take care of up close business. Not much difference between a slug and bird shot at those ranges.
A "cut" shell is deadly and has been used to take deer. Pull it up on youtube.

 

[Mobuck]

"A "cut" shell is deadly and has been used to take deer."
Only use this "wonderful idea" in a real emergency situation as it is neither safe nor effective.

 

[mikewriter]

My old fishing buddy from Louisiana explained to me the concept of a "coon-ass rifled slug" - a plastic birdshot load with the plastic shell "cut" a short distance above the brass portion of the shell. He said the load was commonly used by poachers to kill deer. Speaking of deer, I once saw a nice 8 point bukc a squirrel hunter had killed by emptying his 12 gauge loaded with #6 shot into it's head and neck at close range.

Mike