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I need to go pick up some 12 gauge load for Personal Protection for my shotgun. What is the most prefered preference for those of you who use a 18 1/2" barrel shotgun.
I was thinking 9 pellet 00 Buck, but also giving thought to simple 12 gauge slug rounds.
Thanks for any imput you can share.

The load you pick really depends on your circumstances, and there are a lot of answers that might be correct. If you are worried about penetration through multiple walls and collateral damage, limiting your choice to #4 lead up to BB shot might be a good idea. Worrying a bit less about overpenetration/collateral damage opens things up through 00 or 000 buckshot. For home defense -- where the distances are not more than 20 yards -- there is really no need to go to slugs. Slugs excel at carrying a lot of energy out to 50-100 yards, which is beyond most home defense distances.

I think that 00 buck is going to be a favorite, especially if you are a home dweller rather than an apartment renter. You can't go wrong there. If you are in an apartment, going down to #4 might be a good idea. While I have never used them myself, I have a lot of friends who are partial to the reduced recoil loads. I do like slugs in some situations and I always carry a few in a cartridge holder, but I don't know that they are the best for self-defense. They penetrate too much for a man-sized target.
For close quarters home defense a 12 gauge loaded with 00 or 000 buck is as good as it gets!

AndyC wrote:I have run anything from #4 buck (.24 cal) to 00 buck (.33 cal) as well as slugs (I love having slugs handy) - but it's important to pattern whatever loads you purchase and see how they spread when pushed through your barrel/choke at various distances.

For patterning, I usually use a regular B27 style target - my personal goal is to keep all the pellets inside the width of either the head or the 9-ring, so I'm testing to find the maximum distance possible with that specific shotgun/load.

I agree, this would be my approach.

Mike I

I use heavy dove load. 7 1/2 shot, it will put a big hurt on someone at close range and is easy on the walls. I don't need slugs going through someone and then through two or three walls.

It's hard to beat the WalMart fifteen round boxes of WW 00 Buck and Slugs. I don't use nor recommend using #4 Buck because of some serious under penetration issues. Bird shot is for the birds! (pun intended but that is what it's for) If you can find some the Remington #1 Buck load (16 pellets of 40.5 gr .30 shot) , it is almost the perfect home defense buckshot load. Slugs tend to really penetrate. Lke AndyC I like to have a couple of slugs on the side saddle or butt cuff. If recoil is a problem there are many very effective managed recoil loads in both buck and slugs available. Pattern the gun with the load(s) you plan to use and shoot enough to know where the gun needs to be held to hit what you are shooting at. Contrary to popular myth - - - Shotguns HAVE to be aimed.

Here's a chart with Number weight and size of popular buckshot.

#000 Buck 4.54 g (70 gr.) 9.14 mm (0.360")
#00 Buck 3.49 g (53.8 gr.) 8.38 mm (0.330")
#0 Buck 3.18 g (49 gr.) 8.13 mm (0.320")
#1 Buck 2.62 g (40.5 gr.) 7.62 mm (0.300")
#2 Buck 1.91 g (29.4 gr.) 6.86 mm (0.270")
#3 Buck 1.52 g (23.4 gr.) 6.35 mm (0.250")
#4 Buck 1.34 g (20.7 gr.) 6.09 mm (0.240")

Thanks for the imput, I guess I will go with 00 Buck shot. This is a residence, not too worried about collateral damage to the interior walls. The exterior walls are 16" thick filled with concrete and rebar. And it is just the wife and I in the house.

I keep Remington Managed Recoil 00 buckshot in my 1300 Defender. Box-O-Truth did a decent write up on a couple different loads. Buckshot

I stand by my bird shot post. I'm willing to bet no one here will want to have a round of bird shot fired at them. Buckshot, I hope you don't have children in the next room!

fishman wrote:I stand by my bird shot post. I'm willing to bet no one here will want to have a round of bird shot fired at them.

I don't want to be shot with a BB from an airgun. That doesn't mean it's a good choice for self defense.

fishman wrote:I stand by my bird shot post. I'm willing to bet no one here will want to have a round of bird shot fired at them. Buckshot, I hope you don't have children in the next room!

Box-O-Truth talks about birdshot too. birdshot

fishman wrote:I use heavy dove load. 7 1/2 shot, it will put a big hurt on someone at close range and is easy on the walls. I don't need slugs going through someone and then through two or three walls.

Watch this video for some perspective re: Birdshot

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=48963" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Box link: http://theboxotruth.com/docs/bot3_2.htm
Summary: Bird-shot is for birdies. Buckshot stops and yes, will penetrate walls.