Years ago I read something about #1 buckshot being the "best" load for a 12 gauge shotgun because of the way the pellets fit in the shell, giving you a bigger payload than other buckshot sizes. Naturally I did some research and here is what I found.

All loads are Remington 12 gauge, 2 ¾” shells:
000 buck with eight 70 grain 0.36” pellets (total of 560 grains) at 1325 ft/sec has 2183 ftlbs.
00 buck with nine 53.8 grain 0.33” pellets (total of 484.2 grains) at 1325 ft/sec has 1887 ftlbs.
0 buck with twelve 49 grain 0.32” pellets (total of 588 grains) at 1275 ft/sec has 2122 ftlbs.
1 buck with sixteen 40.5 grain 0.30” pellets (total of 648 grains) at 1250 ft/sec has 2248 ftlbs.
4 buck with twenty seven 20.7 grain 0.24” pellets (total of 558.9 grains) at 1325 ft/sec has 2179 ftlbs.

Looks like the feller was right! Ever since I've bought #1 buck loads for defensive use.

One problem with that theory, the energy listed is the total of all the shot. And not the actual energy on the target like a rifle load or slug would have with a single projectile.

So really the #1 buck shot each only has 140 ft-lb of energy. While each #000 buckshot each has 270 ft-lb of energy.

Thats almost double the energy and penetrating ability from a #1 to a #000 buck shot. So what would you bet your life on for a defensive load ??

Dimitri

I guess if you only plan to hit the target with one pellet that makes sense... However the #1 load also gives you more chances to hit the target. And if you hit with 75%, or 50%, or 25% of the pellets the #1 load still has the advantage. I'll stick with the #1 buck.

Mike,

I'm just thinking with double the energy it will at least penetrate better.

Dimitri

If you divide the momentum by the cross sectional area of the pellet, as a way to guess what the penetration might be, a single 000 pellet has an advantage over a single #1 pellet (4.04 to 3.17, figured in slug ft/sec per square inch). But again, we aren't talking about single pellets.

Punkin wrote:

Looks like the feller was right! Ever since I've bought #1 buck loads for defensive use.

Punkin...I'm assuming that when you say defensive use you are talking about using them within the home.

Personally I'd be happy with just about any shotshell load from #4 upwards to #9. At least with these loads you will achieve the desired outcome on the grub without smokin' on through a wall and taking out your little ones. And if the first one doesn't do it then you always have a second barrel or "another pump".

Another shotshell load that you could consider is a flechette load. You have to custom make the flechettes, but that ain't real difficult. I remember reading many many years ago an article in American Handgunner where they did exactly that and they proved to be very effective. Some of the flechettes didn't even have fins on them and they were still effective. I do know that a .357 MAG flechette load is surprisingly effective against feral cats at self defence range.

Cheers, Vince

Vince, I agree that about any shotgun load will work inside a house, the patterns don't spread as much as Hollywierd would have us believe. I do tend to think of buckshot as more of an outdoors load. A few times when I was pretty serious, like escorting a vehicle carrying the contents of a jewelry store, I alternated buckshot and slugs in my 8 shot Mossberg.

I've seen flechette rounds for sale here but never tried any. What I really want are those 12 ga fin-stabilized grenades I've seen on "Future Weapons"...

You can buy flechettes in bulk in the USA, couldn't tell you the details as I looked at it and then went on, they are illegal here go figure.

I think it might have been E-Gun that had them.

Dimitri