I’m thinking about using this round for home defense. Anyone got experience with it? Would love to hear opinions on its effectiveness, overpenetration, or other concerns.
From all the testing I’ve seen, 00 buckshot penetrates more than most other defense rounds and scatters a lot of projectiles. If you’re worried about overpenetration, it’s not the best choice.
If you want something easier to handle, a pistol-caliber carbine or an AR-15 could be better. You also don’t want to be racking a shotgun slide while trying to aim in an emergency.
It’s a standard 00 buckshot load—nothing fancy. Soft lead pellets, basic wad, and full-power recoil. It’ll work fine at close distances like inside a home, but don’t expect it to perform great at longer ranges.
@Herbert
Taking long-range shots at someone isn’t really home defense and could get you in legal trouble. Home defense means stopping a threat inside your home, not firing at someone outside or risking hitting neighbors.
@Stevejones
I’ve found .410 with birdshot to be quieter indoors and less likely to go through drywall at close range.
I use this round along with hollow-point .223 for home defense. There’s some risk of overpenetration, but it’ll definitely stop the threat.
If you’re planning to use this for your partner while you clear the house with a Glock, make sure they’re comfortable with it. Shotguns can be tricky to handle in a high-stress situation.
DolphGabbana said:
If you’re planning to use this for your partner while you clear the house with a Glock, make sure they’re comfortable with it. Shotguns can be tricky to handle in a high-stress situation.
Why are you clearing the house? Unless it’s to get to another family member, you’re better off staying in a defensive position with your partner. Protect your family first. Your stuff is insured, and you pay taxes for the police to handle situations like this.
@Norman
It’s my house. If someone breaks in, I’m not waiting for the cops. In some places, they won’t even come unless there’s already a serious crime. You’re responsible for your own safety.
Roberto said:
@Norman
It’s my house. If someone breaks in, I’m not waiting for the cops. In some places, they won’t even come unless there’s already a serious crime. You’re responsible for your own safety.
Clearing your house puts you at a higher risk of getting shot. It’s safer to stay in a defensive position, especially if you’re not trained for this.
@TomHenry
That assumes the police are coming at all. In a lot of places, they won’t respond to a call like this.
Avery said:
@TomHenry
That assumes the police are coming at all. In a lot of places, they won’t respond to a call like this.
That’s not true everywhere. Where I live, if I call and say someone’s breaking in, the police will show up quickly.
@TomHenry
It depends on where you live. When I lived in a rough area, I had to call multiple times to get a response. For situations like this, you often have to handle it yourself.
@TomHenry
You’re right that everyone is responsible for their own safety, but putting yourself at unnecessary risk isn’t the best way to protect your family. It’s better to secure everyone in one place and defend that spot. Let the police handle the rest.
DolphGabbana said:
If you’re planning to use this for your partner while you clear the house with a Glock, make sure they’re comfortable with it. Shotguns can be tricky to handle in a high-stress situation.
7 1/2 birdshot is a good option if recoil and noise are concerns.
00 buckshot works well on unarmored targets at home-defense ranges. Each pellet has about the same energy as a 9mm round. You should pattern your shotgun at 7, 15, and 25 yards to see how it performs. Loads with flight control wads keep a tighter spread, so try a few to find what works best.
Stocking up on ammo? Good call. 00 buck is effective and usually the cheapest option. Don’t stress too much about small differences between buckshot sizes—they’ll all do the job if you hit your target.
For ready firearms, premium defensive loads can be a solid choice, though they’re more expensive. I like Winchester PDX for a first shot—it’s very effective.