While some defensive shotgun experts opine that #3 or #4 buck is the best overall choice, others feel that #1 buck is superior to all other choices, even over 00 buck for tactical/defensive use, since there is more total payload, sufficient penetration in ordnance gelatin, less risk of over-penetration, and a greater …

1 buckshot loads seem attractive for home defense. Penetration is adequate, and they are less offensive as far as recoil goes. Notably, reduced-recoil 12-gauge 00 buckshot will exhibit excellent patterns, and the loads generate penetration and wound ballistics similar to full-power 00 buckshot.

A low recoil 12-gauge is one of the best guns to learn on, and the V3 isn’t too heavy for most people to hold, yet it’s extremely soft-shooting. Let’s hope Remington starts making both guns again soon.

#1 buck is a great compromise load that doesn’t give up too much of anything on 00 or #4 buck. Whether loaded for hunting or carried in your home defense gun, #1 buck has good penetration and an even better punch.

Birdshot contains the smallest pellets out of all the other shotgun ammunition types. They also cause the least amount of damage because of their small size, but they are still strong enough to kill birds and small animals.

If the 12-gauge weighs more and the shells are the same, the 12-gauge recoils less. If the shells are the same and the 20 gauge weighs less, it recoils more. This is why OFTEN 20-gauges recoil worse than 12-gauges, because of the lighter gun, even with lighter payloads.

Although gas guns can be just as light and just as well balanced, the lack of gas-system parts under the forearm means inertia guns can have a trimmer feel in your front hand that makes them easy to point naturally. The downside of inertia guns is that they don’t offer nearly as much recoil reduction as a gas gun does.

Buckshot Size Chart: Pellet Diameter

Buckshot remains the most commonly utilized police shotgun ammunition. The typical round of 2-3/4 inch 12 gauge buckshot contains 9 pellets approximately . 32 caliber in diameter.

A cloud of 16 pellets is certainly formidable, even if the pellets are smaller than 00 buckshot. Winchester offers several buckshot loads including 00 and #4. The #1 buckshot load is a counterpoint to the larger and smaller size, and some feel it is just right for home defense.

Federal 12-Gauge 2¾ Inch 12-Pellet Load A standard 00 buckshot load is nine pellets. This short, magnum load carries 12 pellets, significantly increasing the payload. At 1290 fps, this is an impressive loading from Federal.

If you hunt deer with buckshot, then a long-barrel shotgun with a tighter choke is a different consideration. The bottom line — test several shotgun loads, pattern them on target and understand how the shotgun patterns. Sometimes a lighter shot, such as #1 and #4, will throw a few pellets into a tight center and create a widespread with the rest.

At close range, buckshot will produce a ragged rathole. As the range increases and the shot spreads, the advantage of buckshot on moving targets comes into play. As an example, a running coyote is a common problem around farms that raise animals.