Why choose 8 pellet 00Buck over 9 or 12 pellet 00Buck???

[alpha6164]

I have been doing quite a bit of reading on defensive shots for shotguns and it seems that the majority of sources recommend 00Buck, with #1 or #4Buck coming in 2nd and 3rd.

Now i am only talking about 2 3/4" shells. What i cant figure out is why would one pick an 8 pellet 00Buck over a 9 or 12 pellet 00Buck. And in the same line of thinking why would one pick a 2 3/4" 8 pellet 00Buck over a 2 3/4" 8 pellet 000Buck? Is it basically just a recoil issue? I mean all else being equal would it not be better to have 8 pellets of 000Buck over 00Buck? And within 00Buck line why not have 12 or 9 over an 8 pellet shot? All inputs appreciated.

[M1014]

theres no subsitution for pellet size,,,2-3/4 000 is the way to go ,,,when lives are a stake,,like post hurricane,,,etc.

[Novaking]

I use 1 1/4 oz 4 shot.

[MikeyZ]

One issue of consideration when speaking about pellet size is how much penetration you are looking for. Some people prefer smaller pellets in defensive loads so in a residential scenario you don't rip through walls endangering everyone in the house.

In other situations you probably want the all-out knockdown of 000 buck. If that's the case, try using some of Caligvla's tri-ball ammo that snapped his B&T rail in half

[adamlau]

Some of the better 2-3/4" defense rounds for the home (most are reduced loads):

Hornady TAP FDP (max load for max penetration and accuracy over a distance in 00)
Federal LE Tactical (inexpensive, general home defense 00 w/ FLITECONTROL)
Hornady LE Tactical (tighter manufacturing tolances than Federal LE Tactical)
Brenneke Tactical Home Defense (knock down slug for armored intruders)

[jualdeaux]

Some of the better 2-3/4" defense rounds for the home (most are reduced loads):

Hornady TAP FDP (max load for max penetration and accuracy over a distance in 00)
Federal LE Tactical (inexpensive, general home defense 00 w/ FLITECONTROL)
Hornady LE Tactical (tighter manufacturing tolances than Federal LE Tactical)
Brenneke Tactical Home Defense (knock down slug for armored intruders)

I've got 35 boxes of the TAP LE! LOL

[johnnywitt]

The whole thing with the 8 pellet "low recoil" LE buckshot is so people of smaller stature can shoot the 12ga. It's also really good in AOW, or SBS. Otherwise your better off shooting a 2 3/4" 00 or 000 buck with max dram of powder. 3" mag are actually slower velocity because they have the same amount of powder and more shot to push. Oh, and they have even more recoil. Recoil is not a factor when your defending your life. SMG, or carbines work better for smaller folks- smaller folks with big wallets. As far as the debate over 00 or 000, just see which size patterns the best in your shotgun and go with that one. Don't expect the el cheapo Wally World with crappy soft lead shot to hold a tight pattern for very far though. It might be just the ticket for close range though because the soft lead shot deforms on firing and gets "scrubbed" by the bore and creates flyers. For distance you need copper plated buckshot and you need to pattern your gun with Mod. Imp. Mod. and Full. In most guns the IM choke usually give me the tightest most concentric patterns. All gun are different though and this is a rough guideline. It's fun to try different loads and chokes. You will be amazed how much difference you find.

[Super M4]

I have been doing quite a bit of reading on defensive shots for shotguns and it seems that the majority of sources recommend 00Buck, with #1 or #4Buck coming in 2nd and 3rd.

Now i am only talking about 2 3/4" shells. What i cant figure out is why would one pick an 8 pellet 00Buck over a 9 or 12 pellet 00Buck. And in the same line of thinking why would one pick a 2 3/4" 8 pellet 00Buck over a 2 3/4" 8 pellet 000Buck? Is it basically just a recoil issue? I mean all else being equal would it not be better to have 8 pellets of 000Buck over 00Buck? And within 00Buck line why not have 12 or 9 over an 8 pellet shot? All inputs appreciated.

Your standard LE round is usually 2 ¾" 00BK 9 pellet. That is load I generally use in Hornady TAP red hull. I do also run the Federal Flitecontrol 2 ¾" 00BK 8 or 9pellet depending on where I can get and whats available at the time. Both shoot the same from I have shot of them. I fired Federal flitecontrol 00BK 9pellet at 25yds into a solid piece of cardboard out of a Benelli M4 and the wad was stuck in the cardboard no pellets on the target at all. The reason I've run the Hornady is because I've been able to load more rounds in the tube. The Tap is just a tad smaller than the Federal loads. Sometimes I can fit the same in Federal as not all their hulls are to spec. I've also heard some people say to run the 8 pellet as when compared to the 9 pellet you always tend to get 1 pellet that strays away from the group. Now is it way off, I doubt it. It's more of a personal choice to what load you decide to use and also depends on where you are going to be using it inside or outside! I'd ask the guy who sold you the gun and see what kind of input he could give you on this stuff!

[SgtCathy]

For home defense only, perhaps the answer is the 00 buck round that you can handle the easiest. For many people the 3" or 3+1/2 inch loads, even under stress situations, are not going to be manageable. Practise at the range and find out what is comfortable for you. I've spent a life time practising at 25 yards on the LE shotgun course, but the course is designed for outdoor confrontations. At 25 yards, all brands of 00 buck have kept the pellets on target and covered the human paper targets with a nice spread. I certainly would never want to take a load of 00 buck at 25 yards! We also shoot at 7 yards in a "quick shoot" type scenario and all loads end up in about 3 inches or less on target. Just can't see an intruder getting up after a blow to any part of the body with 00 buck at 7 yards or under. For me, it still comes down to what 00 buck rounds I can fire repeatedly before I can't keep the muzzle on target. That also means, lose the pump gun and get a reliable semi-auto such as a Benelli M4. At the end of an afternoon of shooting 00 buck on the LE range, the pump guys are having problems getting off a second round and I'm still firing 3-4 rounds before the whistle blows. We also shoot slugs at 25 yards and with my Benelli, it's like shooting a rifle. Most all modern 00 buck ammunition is reliable, so find out what brand is the easiest for you to handle, practise as often as you can and use a semi-auto. Of course some people will say "I live in a mansion and 80 yards shots down the hallway or between bedrooms will be common". After a life time of shooting at my local friendly ranges, I've learned that somebody will always want the absolute peak performance at extreme range under the most bizzare situations. It makes all shooting fun. In my shotshell collection, I have an 3+1/2 inch 10 guage, 00 buck round. I'm told THAT is the ultimate home defense round

[adamlau]

...I've learned that somebody will always want the absolute peak performance at extreme range under the most bizzare situations.

What if you were hanging off a cliff, upside down with three BGs closing in and you had to shoot a rock under a boulder at 75 yards with sight screws fast unthreading to save your life? What ammo and choke would be best for shooting out of your one free hand? Hmm?