best home defense ammo?

Question

I use 12 gauge semi automatic for my home protection, Whats a good ammo for it?
I have 2-3/4 00" buck in it now, Would that be good for takeing down an intruder? Or would be be a better idea to use slugs? Or steel shot?
Also me and my brother live together and he has a Smith and Wesson 40. cal loaded with hollow points. Which gun would take down an intruder faster? A 40. or a 12 gauge?

Answer 1

A 12 Gauge with bird shot will take down an intruder faster, and contrary to previous comments above it will kill. The buckshot it ok, but then you have to worry about over-penetration.

For the .40, hollow points are nice, but you have to worry again about over-penetration. The ammo that I have found works the best is call RBCD. It's a relatively new ammunition. It's almost spooky how this stuff works. RBCD's bullets are designed and manufactured with the latest state of the art materials and equipment. The jackets of the bullets are manufactured from specially engineered copper alloy reducing barrel friction and wear, while controlling penetration and expansion, the core of the bullet is manufactured from a blended metal that ensures complete fragmentation, upon impact with soft tissue. RBCD ammunition will penetrate automotive safety glass, metal body panels and interior house walls, maintaining designed penetration, without over penetration. This is truly one shot stop ammo!

To see a live demonstration go to the following website.

http://www.donnellsshootingsupply.com/rbcd_ammo.html

I have seen this demonstration live and it is some pretty awesome stuff. Hope this helps
check with your states laws, it's not legal in all 50. Surprisingly enough it's legal in California.

Answer 2

Well, you are way overgunned. I would suggest a simple 20 gauge pump action with a deer slug barrel and some low brass No. 7 bird shot.

Now the things to consider.

1) Do you have childern? If so, what do you think of sending buckshot or bullets through the walls into their rooms while they are sleeping? Of course, if you are close enough to the wall No. 7 low brass will continue through, but it is the best all around.

2) How big is your house? I mean is that you need to look at your fields of fire and the distance in which you would engage an intruder. Your hallway is maybe 20 or 25 feet long? The biggest room in your house might cover 30 FEET? I think you will find the damaged done at that point with simple, old fashion bird shot is very impressive.

It ain't sexy, but neither is killing someone.

Answer 3

The shotgun is the most devastating close range defense weapon ever invented. When determining ammunition you really need to look at the composition of the walls, if other people will be in the house, whether it's an apartment complex, etc. 00 buck will travel through most walls. My suggestion would be to use bird shot for home defense if there's any chance of anyone besides the intruder being injured. At close range (under 10 yards) the bird shot will be pretty effective.

Answer 4

I use a combination of 3 inch 00 Buck and No. 8 Birdshot; I live alone in an apartment, but among all my weapons, I have a Mossberg 590A1 pump action shotgun and a 1911A1 pistol loaded with 230 gr. FMJ. Whoever wants to come to my apartment better have Class III body armor, because I am aiming straight to the chest. and 45 ACP/12 gauge hurts a lot.

Answer 5

Unless something has changed, the CCI Inspector Load using the 200 gr. JHP is, or at least was for a long time, the premier one-shot stop load in Evan Marshall's stopping power study. Just be aware that not ever .45 ACP will feed these cartridges. They have a short overall length and many stock handguns will have them hang-up on the feed ramp. They feed perfectly in my Colt Stainless Officers' ACP, but a local gunshop uses the same type pistol as the store gun, and it will not feed them at all. You might be forced to have the feed ramp polished or altered if you insist on using the 200 gr. JHP "Flying Ashtray" Loads. I also use Federal 230 gr. Hydro-Shok's for defensive use. I believe that they are pretty reliable in any handgun that is reliable with FMJ ammo. The Hydro-Shok's also have an enviable reputation for one-shot stops. Doc

Answer 6

a .410 pump with #8 would be the best.

00 will go through all the walls in the house that it hits, possibly injuring others in your family. The same is true of the .40 cal.

Just think, the noise of a pump is the same whether it is a .410 or a 12 and all you have to do is to pump it and whoever is there will jump out windows and run.

Answer 7

the 12 gauge is the way to go. In a circumstance where you may be awakened and groggy, or it is dark and you can not see well, the buckshot is the best choice. You do not have to be as accurate and the knockdown power is there.

Answer 8

Have you ever heard of a Flechette round for a shotgun. It comes in different guages, but it contains a number of tiny darts. I have never seen anything like for tearing through a target; I can only imagine what it would do to a perp!

Answer 9

I'd say use bird shot. Won't kill (so you won't be charged with murder by the police or sued by the intruder's family), but it will incapacitate them until the police arrive.

At least until the "Stand Your Ground" laws come fully into effect and then you can go back to 00 buckshot and the killing effect.

Answer 10

Good home protection you have there. Which is best would depend on if you wanted them in one piece with a hole on one side , and a bigger hole on the other to stick you hand in and drag them out, or just cut in half and have more piece to have to pick up.