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Best Shotgun Ammo For Self Defense

July 25, 2018 By Bryce Lewellen 4 Comments

We understand Home defense is important but maybe using an AR isn’t the best option. If an AR isn’t the best option then what is? Shotguns! Shotguns are found to be more effective in a home defense situation. The reason the shotgun is best for home defense is that it provides the maximum damage with lower wall penetration and it takes minimal skill to fire the weapon. There’s one important question to ask when using the shotgun for home defense. Whats the best ammo!? From personal uses, I believe that 20 gauge is best but some people prefer 12 or 410 gauge. It all really depends on the person and what results they want when picking the best ammo.

Below I broke down the three most popular shotgun shells

3. 410 gauge

When it comes to .410 the bigging problem is the pattern spray. Since the shell is a long skinny shape the spray pattern is not an oval pattern like the shorter and bulker shells. Due to the shells spray pattern, it would not be ideal to use for home defense.

2.  12 gauge

Image result for 20 gauge shells

12-gauge shells are commonly used for bird hunting and occasionally home defense. the 12 gauge is not popular for home defense because of its powerful recoil. with that being said in a defensive situation you should only have to worry about protecting yourself not the shotgun coming back and hitting you.

1. 20 gauge

just like the 12 gauge shell, the 20 gauge is popular for bird hunting. When it comes to home defense the 20 gauge is the most popular. The reason its so popular is because the recoil on a 20 gauge is almost nothing which is why it is used mostly for home defense.

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Filed Under: All Things Guns, Survival Tagged With: gun, self defense, shotgun

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Comments

  1. James says

    July 28, 2018 at 12:58 pm

    I have and use a .20 ga for home defence, I use #1 BS for load, getting .000 buck is impossible for
    a .20 gauge as far as I can tell. But #1 BS is sufficient for close conduct.

    Reply
  2. Jed A. Peeler says

    July 29, 2018 at 2:31 am

    A semi-auto Browning A-5 in 20 gauge, would be the best choice, because you can reload it as you fire and aim the gun at the perpetrators. A gunfight is no time to turn your pump shotgun over and to start fiddling with the tiny release button in order to reload. Single shots are totally useless.

    Reply
  3. bill knight says

    November 21, 2018 at 11:04 pm

    I gotta go with my 12 gauge 870 loaded with #4 buck, and three each of 00 and 1oz slug on the side saddle.

    Reply
  4. Carl G. Ratliff says

    November 22, 2018 at 12:25 am

    I have ZERO PROBLEMS with shoot & load , shoot & load , shoot & load. Because I stay in Practice with my 12 Ga. pump.I’m pretty fast because I stay in practice and I reload my own bird shot, that I practice with.Bird shot works great for protection of me and mine.If you don’t think so just talk to anyone that has been the receiver of some HOT & FAST BIRD SHOT.

    Reply

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