Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

\n

This is just a brief look at the ammunition world. I hope you take the time to dig deeper and become an expert yourself. Then share that knowledge with others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This article was originally published in the Personal Defense World October\/November 2022 issue. Subscription is available in print and digital editions at OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a><\/em><\/em>. Or call 1-800-284-5668, or email subscriptions@athlonmediagroup.com.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Primed with Basics: Understanding Gun Ammunition Made Easy","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"gun-ammunition","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-06-01 00:28:21","post_modified_gmt":"2023-06-01 00:28:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2022\/11\/17\/gun-ammunition\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":95994,"post_author":"351","post_date":"2018-09-04 13:19:27","post_date_gmt":"2018-09-04 17:19:27","post_content":"

\r\n\r\nWhen picking a defensive shotgun<\/a> load, the two most obvious options are buckshot or slugs. Steel F and lead BB shot could be entertained in a pinch, though F and BB shot sizes (0.22 inches and 0.18 inches in diameter, respectively) are smaller than buckshot.\r\n\r\n[in_content post=\"107375\" alignment=\"align-left\" \/]\r\n\r\nIf a person wanted to consider a less lethal option, a rubber slug is less likely to kill a person \u2014 though a headshot would likely be able to turn the trick \u2014 but will hurt a lot.\r\n\r\nThat said, slugs or either 00 or 000 buckshot are better choices. The mass of these projectiles ensure penetration (which is why birdshot is a non-starter except at basically point-blank range) and thus the requisite damage to soft targets to be effective. Which is better, though?\r\n

Defensive Shotgun Loads \u2014 Slugs<\/h3>\r\nA shotgun slug is a good choice for a self-defense round. Slugs differ by manufacturer, but are generally either a solid lead slug or a sabot; a solid lead or jacketed bullet surrounded by a plastic jacket. Solid slugs also feature wadding, which will probably hit an attacker at home defense distances.\r\n\r\nMost slugs are 1 ounce. Rifled slugs intended for use in a smooth barrel are most common.\u00a0Some are solid lead, while others are hollow; it depends on what you buy. Sabot rounds are often jacketed soft points, mostly used for hunting in rifled shotguns.<\/span>\r\n\r\nBasically, it's a modern-day Minie Ball. You can keep home invaders at bay while shouting the battle cry of freedom.\r\n\r\nNow, slugs are actually a good choice for self-defense for a few reasons. As they are solid lead, they pack a wallop. Since they are cast lead in most cases, instead of jacketed bullets, they also deform when hitting a soft target due<\/a> to the hydraulic pressure, often breaking apart.\r\n\r\nYou do need to shoot accurately, of course. You'll have to put in some range work to get proficient, but at close range (inside 20 the yards typical defensive shooting distance) it shouldn't be too difficult.\r\n\r\nThe TL;DR is big lead bullet hits bad guy hard, stays in body cavity. Kind of ideal if you want a long gun for home defense ... though with caveats, which we'll get into later.\r\n

Defensive Shotgun Loads \u2014 Buckshot<\/h3>\r\nOf course, the standard defensive shotgun load is buckshot. Infantry and police have used buckshot\u00a0for more than a century. Some of the doughboys in WWI had Winchester 1897 shotguns for action in the trenches; some Army and Marine units packed Model 1897s and Model 1912s in the Pacific theater in WWII, Korea and Vietnam.\r\n\r\nIt's also good for hunting, though it's better suited to close range in thick timber. Rifled slugs are the preferred medicine in shotgun-only jurisdictions.\r\n\r\n[in_content post=\"106367\" alignment=\"align-right\" \/]\r\n\r\nBuckshot is the largest shot before getting to rifled slugs, with size 00 and 000 being the largest. Size 00 is 0.33 inches in diameter and size 000 is 0.36 inches in diameter. Both sizes are available in every gauge, including 410, though 12 gauge is the most common.\r\n\r\nYou would be just as well served with a 20-gauge, though you get fewer pellets per shell.\r\n\r\nFor 12-gauge applications, the number of pellets depends on shot size and shell length. Typically, you get eight to 10 pellets of 00 in a 2 3\/4-inch shell, 11 to 13 in a 3-inch shell and up to 15 in a 3 1\/2-inch shell. The latter; however, is stout; that No. 2 high-speed duck load is going to seem like a picnic in comparison. The 3 1\/2-inch load in 000 is less common, but you can expect eight pellets of 000 in a 2 3\/4-inch shell and 10 in a 3-inch shell.\r\n\r\nTypical muzzle velocities are 1,100 to 1,400 feet per second. Shot clusters tightly at\u00a0personal defense distances, so accuracy is needed.\r\n\r\nWhy does it work well for personal defense? It puts a bunch of holes in a bad guy at close range. As Clint Smith of Thunder Ranch<\/a> is fond of saying, \u201ca pistol pokes a hole in a person, a rifle puts holes through a person and shotguns remove chunks of a person.\u201d\r\n

Defensive Shotgun Loads \u2014 Accuracy<\/h3>\r\nThere's a hitch, however, when it comes to using a shotgun as a home defense weapon, namely over-penetration. Of course, this is a concern regardless of firearm; pistol, shotgun, AR-15, whatever. The point is that you had better not miss.\r\n\r\nThe Box O' Truth<\/a> does a bit of ammunition testing now and again, including with shotgun slugs and buckshot. One test is shooting loads through drywall that's spaced like a typical home. Repeatedly buckshot<\/a> and slugs go through drywall, even with insulation<\/a>, like a hot knife through butter.\r\n\r\nBirdshot only penetrated one wall in one of their tests; however, the shot cup penetrated a second wall. Of course, birdshot will only wound an attacker, and you want to be able to put a home invader down.\r\n\r\nGranted, this applies equally to handguns. Handgun rounds punch through drywall just as easily and far as buckshot; don't kid yourself for a moment about the potential for disaster to happen.\r\n\r\nTherefore, if you're going to have a gun, any gun, for home defense, put in time at the range. You need to be able to hit what you're aiming at and a shotgun is not for \"spray and pray.\" Shot spreads, but only at longer distances and even then you still need to aim well.\r\n

About the Author<\/em><\/h3>\r\nSam Hoober is a contributing editor for\u00a0Alien Gear\u00a0Holsters<\/a>,\u00a0a subsidiary of\u00a0Tedder Industries<\/a>.<\/em>","post_title":"Choosing Between Buckshot and Slugs for Defensive Shotgun Loads","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"best-defensive-shotgun-loads","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-31 22:42:09","post_modified_gmt":"2023-11-01 02:42:09","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2018\/09\/04\/best-defensive-shotgun-loads\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":103622,"post_author":"351","post_date":"2016-04-18 13:06:52","post_date_gmt":"2016-04-18 17:06:52","post_content":"The all-new Tango Shotgun Round by Rockledge, Florida-based OATH Ammunition<\/a> is now available for preorder. As AllOutdoor.com<\/a> points out, these 100% copper, 602-grain, hollow point, 12-gauge slugs -- which are loaded into a lightweight, 2.75\" aerospace aluminum case -- travel down range at a rate of 1200 FPS and achieve a whopping three inches of expansion upon impact. The suggested retail price is $34.95.\n

TRENDING

No Content Available

POPULAR

No Content Available

BROWSE BY BRAND

\n

In our current situation, I encourage people to buy a decent amount of ammunition for each gun every chance they get. If kept in a cool, dry area, these rounds will last for years, if not decades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is just a brief look at the ammunition world. I hope you take the time to dig deeper and become an expert yourself. Then share that knowledge with others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This article was originally published in the Personal Defense World October\/November 2022 issue. Subscription is available in print and digital editions at OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a><\/em><\/em>. Or call 1-800-284-5668, or email subscriptions@athlonmediagroup.com.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Primed with Basics: Understanding Gun Ammunition Made Easy","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"gun-ammunition","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-06-01 00:28:21","post_modified_gmt":"2023-06-01 00:28:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2022\/11\/17\/gun-ammunition\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":95994,"post_author":"351","post_date":"2018-09-04 13:19:27","post_date_gmt":"2018-09-04 17:19:27","post_content":"

\r\n\r\nWhen picking a defensive shotgun<\/a> load, the two most obvious options are buckshot or slugs. Steel F and lead BB shot could be entertained in a pinch, though F and BB shot sizes (0.22 inches and 0.18 inches in diameter, respectively) are smaller than buckshot.\r\n\r\n[in_content post=\"107375\" alignment=\"align-left\" \/]\r\n\r\nIf a person wanted to consider a less lethal option, a rubber slug is less likely to kill a person \u2014 though a headshot would likely be able to turn the trick \u2014 but will hurt a lot.\r\n\r\nThat said, slugs or either 00 or 000 buckshot are better choices. The mass of these projectiles ensure penetration (which is why birdshot is a non-starter except at basically point-blank range) and thus the requisite damage to soft targets to be effective. Which is better, though?\r\n

Defensive Shotgun Loads \u2014 Slugs<\/h3>\r\nA shotgun slug is a good choice for a self-defense round. Slugs differ by manufacturer, but are generally either a solid lead slug or a sabot; a solid lead or jacketed bullet surrounded by a plastic jacket. Solid slugs also feature wadding, which will probably hit an attacker at home defense distances.\r\n\r\nMost slugs are 1 ounce. Rifled slugs intended for use in a smooth barrel are most common.\u00a0Some are solid lead, while others are hollow; it depends on what you buy. Sabot rounds are often jacketed soft points, mostly used for hunting in rifled shotguns.<\/span>\r\n\r\nBasically, it's a modern-day Minie Ball. You can keep home invaders at bay while shouting the battle cry of freedom.\r\n\r\nNow, slugs are actually a good choice for self-defense for a few reasons. As they are solid lead, they pack a wallop. Since they are cast lead in most cases, instead of jacketed bullets, they also deform when hitting a soft target due<\/a> to the hydraulic pressure, often breaking apart.\r\n\r\nYou do need to shoot accurately, of course. You'll have to put in some range work to get proficient, but at close range (inside 20 the yards typical defensive shooting distance) it shouldn't be too difficult.\r\n\r\nThe TL;DR is big lead bullet hits bad guy hard, stays in body cavity. Kind of ideal if you want a long gun for home defense ... though with caveats, which we'll get into later.\r\n

Defensive Shotgun Loads \u2014 Buckshot<\/h3>\r\nOf course, the standard defensive shotgun load is buckshot. Infantry and police have used buckshot\u00a0for more than a century. Some of the doughboys in WWI had Winchester 1897 shotguns for action in the trenches; some Army and Marine units packed Model 1897s and Model 1912s in the Pacific theater in WWII, Korea and Vietnam.\r\n\r\nIt's also good for hunting, though it's better suited to close range in thick timber. Rifled slugs are the preferred medicine in shotgun-only jurisdictions.\r\n\r\n[in_content post=\"106367\" alignment=\"align-right\" \/]\r\n\r\nBuckshot is the largest shot before getting to rifled slugs, with size 00 and 000 being the largest. Size 00 is 0.33 inches in diameter and size 000 is 0.36 inches in diameter. Both sizes are available in every gauge, including 410, though 12 gauge is the most common.\r\n\r\nYou would be just as well served with a 20-gauge, though you get fewer pellets per shell.\r\n\r\nFor 12-gauge applications, the number of pellets depends on shot size and shell length. Typically, you get eight to 10 pellets of 00 in a 2 3\/4-inch shell, 11 to 13 in a 3-inch shell and up to 15 in a 3 1\/2-inch shell. The latter; however, is stout; that No. 2 high-speed duck load is going to seem like a picnic in comparison. The 3 1\/2-inch load in 000 is less common, but you can expect eight pellets of 000 in a 2 3\/4-inch shell and 10 in a 3-inch shell.\r\n\r\nTypical muzzle velocities are 1,100 to 1,400 feet per second. Shot clusters tightly at\u00a0personal defense distances, so accuracy is needed.\r\n\r\nWhy does it work well for personal defense? It puts a bunch of holes in a bad guy at close range. As Clint Smith of Thunder Ranch<\/a> is fond of saying, \u201ca pistol pokes a hole in a person, a rifle puts holes through a person and shotguns remove chunks of a person.\u201d\r\n

Defensive Shotgun Loads \u2014 Accuracy<\/h3>\r\nThere's a hitch, however, when it comes to using a shotgun as a home defense weapon, namely over-penetration. Of course, this is a concern regardless of firearm; pistol, shotgun, AR-15, whatever. The point is that you had better not miss.\r\n\r\nThe Box O' Truth<\/a> does a bit of ammunition testing now and again, including with shotgun slugs and buckshot. One test is shooting loads through drywall that's spaced like a typical home. Repeatedly buckshot<\/a> and slugs go through drywall, even with insulation<\/a>, like a hot knife through butter.\r\n\r\nBirdshot only penetrated one wall in one of their tests; however, the shot cup penetrated a second wall. Of course, birdshot will only wound an attacker, and you want to be able to put a home invader down.\r\n\r\nGranted, this applies equally to handguns. Handgun rounds punch through drywall just as easily and far as buckshot; don't kid yourself for a moment about the potential for disaster to happen.\r\n\r\nTherefore, if you're going to have a gun, any gun, for home defense, put in time at the range. You need to be able to hit what you're aiming at and a shotgun is not for \"spray and pray.\" Shot spreads, but only at longer distances and even then you still need to aim well.\r\n

About the Author<\/em><\/h3>\r\nSam Hoober is a contributing editor for\u00a0Alien Gear\u00a0Holsters<\/a>,\u00a0a subsidiary of\u00a0Tedder Industries<\/a>.<\/em>","post_title":"Choosing Between Buckshot and Slugs for Defensive Shotgun Loads","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"best-defensive-shotgun-loads","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-31 22:42:09","post_modified_gmt":"2023-11-01 02:42:09","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2018\/09\/04\/best-defensive-shotgun-loads\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":103622,"post_author":"351","post_date":"2016-04-18 13:06:52","post_date_gmt":"2016-04-18 17:06:52","post_content":"The all-new Tango Shotgun Round by Rockledge, Florida-based OATH Ammunition<\/a> is now available for preorder. As AllOutdoor.com<\/a> points out, these 100% copper, 602-grain, hollow point, 12-gauge slugs -- which are loaded into a lightweight, 2.75\" aerospace aluminum case -- travel down range at a rate of 1200 FPS and achieve a whopping three inches of expansion upon impact. The suggested retail price is $34.95.\n