What do you load on your home defence shotgun?

[blackdog8200]

I keep my 870 loaded with #4 shot and in reach of my Glock 27 at night. My two kids have bedrooms above me so I do have some over penetration issue concerns that way. I also have a hallway that ends in a window that lines up with my neighbor's
master bath/bedroom window. Just a cedar fence to separate the yards. My 21 year old "kid" has his 870 with bird shot as well. They know not to come down the stairs in the event they hear an intruder but to call 911 and evade to the patio roof....

The longest shot in my house might be 30 feet tops with most in the 12 foot range. A ball of bird shot at 12 feet would be fist sized, if that, and very lethal.

Back in the day I liked #1 buck for number of pellets.....lets in a lot of "light and air" to the human body. I think I might reload now as suggested above with an increasing factor of penetration. Maybe 2-#4 shot, then jump to 2-#1 buck then 4-00 buck. or some of the TAP loads....

[Mastodon]

This has been a good read.
I've recently acquired a Rem 870. I've been curious what to feed it.

Right now its factory with a 28'' BBL. May need to get a shorter barrel for indoor work..

[CC Italian]

20 gauge 870 Remington youth express with 3in. federal vital shock #2 copper plated buckshot.

[Greybeard]

Federal or Winchester Low Recoil 00. Slugs and lighter recipes on the side.

[RiverRat]

#4 shot x2 with 3x 00 chasers