Birdshot For Home Defense??????

[gardnerjigman]

No I don't. I've thought about it. Something like Remington's managed recoil buckshot every other one would do the trick. The only reason I don't is because, as state before, the shotgun is my wife's line of defense. We live in a 2 story town-home/duplex... whatever you want to call it. Penetration is a huge factor for me. I have 2 little girls, and the neighbors have 3 young children. If that means she has to pump 5 shots of birds shot into the target to get the job done, so be it. I know nobody else took something they weren't supposed to. 

[retiredbosn]

I was channel surfing yesterday and mythbusters were doing a show on bulletproof items. I won't bore you with all the details, but and this is important; birdshot won't penetrate a pizza carried in one of those delivery bags at 10 feet. I thought I'd pass that along. The loads used was 5 shot high velocity rounds, that translates to 1 3/8 ounce of shot over 3 5/8 dram of powder. That's not bird shot, that's much more powerful and still can't penetrate a insulated bag.

[A-Jay]

I was channel surfing yesterday and mythbusters were doing a show on bulletproof items. I won't bore you with all the details, but and this is important; birdshot won't penetrate a pizza carried in one of those delivery bags at 10 feet. I thought I'd pass that along. The loads used was 5 shot high velocity rounds, that translates to 1 3/8 ounce of shot over 3 5/8 dram of powder. That's not bird shot, that's much more powerful and still can't penetrate a insulated bag.

 

Say it isn't True  . . . .

 

That's pretty Funny Boats . . .

 

A-Jay

 

[NorcalBassin]

So what would be the ideal shot size for home defense. Something that will kill the bad guy, but not go through a wall and harm family?

#3 shot or #4 shot or something else?

#1 buckshot is generally considered the "best" option due to the size of the pellets, number of pellets (~16), and ability to penetrate 12" of gelatin. It's less likely to overpenetrate walls while also producing more wound trauma vs #00 or #000, but then again the proximity of those most important to you (and next door if close) needs to be the first thing you consider when choosing your HD rounds. Anything is better than nothing and a loaded shotgun pointed at anyone is likely going to put an end to any robberies/assaults. 

[SHaugh]

_{It is an interesting experiment....  youtube of it here:}

 

_{https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzVAnRWfweU}

 

_{My guess is that a pizza bag works kind of like this:}

_{https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KwyftaLT-k}

 

_{As long as your attacker isn't wearing an 8" thick bag with 3 pizzas in it, I guess you should be ok with something that does penetrate 4 layers of denim though...}

 

_{https://www.youtube....h?v=97sjv11yesc}