00-buck for HD: 2.75" or 3"?

[timbernet]

Am I stupid for considering 2.75" 00-buck for my shotgun over the 3"?

When I am out having fun there is nothing quite like the 3" But I am thinking that in a home defense scenario that the more manageable 2.75" rounds might be smarter.....

Any opinions?

I've got to say - if there is ever "one gun" that I go to - to it my 18" Remington 870.... I love that gun to death! I can hit targets fairly far out with slugs, 00-buck makes a great "impact", and I can even hit clay pigeons with it.

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[NoAim]

My uninformed opinion, is that if you're looking at HD scenarios within close range, 2.75" is better. Less kick, faster back on target.

Unless you've got a bit of property out there....and then buckshot kinda sucks at than range.

 

[huntpotter]

Yep, I agree, 2-3/4, managed recoil is better for indoor use. Less kick, faster back on target, should handle anything 0 to 50yds out. If you have bears breaking into your house, go for the 3" magnums.

 

[chiefchip]

#7 shot works well and you have less worry about injuring someone in the next room

 

[stmcelroy]

2-3/4" reduced recoil 00-buck is what you want.

 

[NoAim]

#7 shot works well and you have less worry about injuring someone in the next room

I would disagree. Birdshot SUCKs as a defensive round. If it can't make it through drywall, how is it going to make it through most of a person?

http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot3.htm

http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot14.htm

 

[timbernet]

Unless you've got a bit of property out there....and then buckshot kinda sucks at than range.

I do have property (2 acres) but I wouldn't use the 870 for property defense.... just for the confines of the house. THEN I escalate to the AR15.

Yep, I agree, 2-3/4, managed recoil is better for indoor use. Less kick, faster back on target, should handle anything 0 to 50yds out. If you have bears breaking into your house, go for the 3" magnums.

Exactly what I was thinking... in fact... I might grab another 870 and have one with 3" and one with 2.75" stored in it

 

[PhysicsGuy]

#7 shot works well and you have less worry about injuring someone in the next room

#7 does not work, it has been documented in several shootouts where someone was shot in the face or body with bird shot with little to no effect. Actually there was a shooting where an invader (intoxicated) was using a remington 870 loading with 00 took on a home owner who had the exact same 870, but loaded with birdshot. Bad guy took a round of birdshot to the face, managed to recover and kill the homeowner, then drove 150 miles or so back home (or to a bar, can't remember) where he was arrested.

 

[NoAim]

#7 does not work, it has been documented in several shootouts where someone was shot in the face or body with bird shot with little to no effect. Actually there was a shooting where an invader (intoxicated) was using a remington 870 loading with 00 took on a home owner who had the exact same 870, but loaded with birdshot. Bad guy took a round of birdshot to the face, managed to recover and kill the homeowner, then drove 150 miles or so back home (or to a bar, can't remember) where he was arrested.

Birdshot to the face:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Cheney_hunting_incident

Ahd for more reference. I think I have more than 4" of fat. It's like my own personal birdshot body armor! http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=381023

 

[the4thshake]

If you aren't worried about overpenetration then the 00 buck should work just fine. Pick your flavor. The bigger shells hold more pellets but kick harder. They all will do a heck of a lot of damage to a bad guy.

Another option for a shotshell is #1 buck. It still has plenty of penetration to go through bad guns(even big ones). The #1 buck won't be as likely to go through walls when it exits the bag guy. It also has more pellets then a similar load of 00, creating a larger area of wound channels. Your choice of available #1 buck loads are few compared to the more common 00 buck.

 

[Gunner3456]

+1 It's well documented - bird shot won't penetrate to vitals.

A 3" buckshot round doesn't have a higher velocity than 2 3/4" It just has about 25% more shot and a much harder kick.

#1 buck is approximately .30 inch diameter, muzzle speed about 1300+ fps.

2 3/4 #1 buck = about 15 .30 pellets @ 1300 m/l fps - a nasty load.

$.02

 

[CaughtSteelin]

From 15yds away #2-#4 shot/steel does not penetrate a jacket/fleece sweat shirt/under armor shirt. But you can feel the blow (scary), stings when it hits just the jacket/hat with no additional layers. At 40-50yds it is still just a blow (not as big of one) and no penetration, but still real scary.

I've had 2 3/4" 00 Buck shot and richoet from 5ft of a target. Just one ball. Didn't penetrate but stung like a @%&#* and left a good welt (size of a golf ball). Was only wearing a t-shirt. Only half of the rounds penetrated a old rubber float at 5ft away.

Hope maybe some of that helps. And yes it's all been proven (@ me).