22_Shooter 1,560 Posted March 28, 2009 Report Share Posted March 28, 2009 (edited) 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. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Link to AR15.com's Ammo Oracle: Self Defense Ammo List. Shotgun ammo is at the bottom, is brief, and is only for 12 gauge. The beginning gives an explanation of the importance of penetration in any small arm projectile. Link to Article about defensive shotgun ammo on FirearmsTactical.com. Link to Box O' Truth site for actual ballistics testing. Link to a fantastic thread on ShotgunWorld.com that has pics of gelatin tests of all sorts of shotgun ammo. Not for dial up. Link to Squeaky's Gun-Deals.com, which can show you instantly the best delivered price on ammo by caliber. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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: 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 #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. Currently I only see non-plated offerings from Remington & Winchester. There are no Flite Control loads w/ #1 available, so pattern sizes will be undesirably large w/o a choke. Federal does not offer any at all. -Winchester Super X, 2-3/4" 16 pellet 1250 FPS, Part #XB121, $3.53/box/50 boxes -Winchester Super X, 3" 24 pellet!, 1040 FPS, -Remington Express, 1250 FPS, Part #12B1, $3.53/box/50 boxes 12 Gauge Low Recoil 00 Buck Shot: Low recoil loads will often not cycle reliable in auto-loading shotguns but offer more comfort & faster follow up shots in pump shotguns. 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 -Federal Power-Shok Low Recoil, non plated, 9 pellet, 00 Buck, 1140 FPS, #H132 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 are a little 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. Federal Flite Control 00 Buck: 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 X' patterns @ Y yards w/ 18" Cylinder bore barrels. 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. Commercial Packaged: -PFC154: Premium Vital Shok, 2-3/4", plated, 9 pellet, 1325 FPS -PFC157: Premium Vital Shok, 3", plated, 12 pellet, 1325 FPS LE Packaged: -LE127:Standard recoil, 2-3/4", plated, 9 pellet, 1325 FPS (same as PFC154) -LE132: Low Recoil, 2-3/4", plated, 9 pellet, 1145 FPS -LE133 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) 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. Found this of Arfcom (credit going to "rightwingnut"), and thought some here could get use out of it. Edited March 28, 2009 by 22_Shooter Quote Link to post Share on other sites
hobbyshooter 59 Posted March 28, 2009 Report Share Posted March 28, 2009 Thanks. I've read most of that stuff already. My agp mags are loaded up with 3" win 1 buck, and I have 1 agp loaded up with 3" rem 4 buck. Everything else is loaded up with nobelsport 4 buck, and I have a bunch of S&B 00 buck for tearing stuff up. Honestly the 3" stuff is probably overkill for home defense. I think the nobel sport 4 buck is probably the best bargain right now. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Thunderchild 0 Posted March 28, 2009 Report Share Posted March 28, 2009 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
hallboss 1 Posted March 28, 2009 Report Share Posted March 28, 2009 PLEASE STICKY THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 22, thanks for the info. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
22_Shooter 1,560 Posted March 29, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 29, 2009 Hey, cool, it got stickied! Like I said, credit goes to "rightwingnut" over on Arfcom. I've seen a "rightwingnut" posting here as well. I wonder if it's the same guy. Anyway, I figured all the S12 addicts here could get something out of it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
raidersfan_5544 57 Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 Nice info to have and nice links as well Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Biff Stroganoff 1 Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 I got myself 250 rounds of Federal Flite Control. It's 00, but not everyone agrees that #1 is better, and if the pattern is as tight as they say, that more than compensates for any other problems the ammunition may have. And it wasn't expensive. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
vbrtrmn 167 Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 I like this quote from the Box of Truth... same goes for zombies. If we engage a bad guy (BG), we will shoot him until he STOPS what ever he is doing that threatens our life. If he continues to threaten us after being shot, what do we do? Answer: Shoot him some more. When he STOPS, we stop shooting. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rightwingnut 0 Posted April 13, 2009 Report Share Posted April 13, 2009 yeah, that's me on arfcom. thanks for the credit. Good idea posting it here. Didn't occur to me somehow. I found this page on a google search when I was looking for some of that plated Federal 20 gauge ammo. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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