If you use buckshot in a 12 gauge for defense

[mallardsx2]

#4 buckshot will kill any intruder out to 50 yards pretty dead in a hurry. I doubt your shot will be that far unless you have a really big home....

 

[Dutch]

2 3/4 00 Buck, Federal Flight Control for 2 legged critters.

#1 (3 in.) and 00 (3 in.) for deer and Hogs

Buck Kicker Xtra Full choke for 00, Modified for #1

 

[Deerhead]

I have shot many deer with 00 and had good penetration. All other shot will not penetrate as deep. There maybe more pellets with smaller shot but I'll stick with 00.

 

[lampern]

Interesting that most buckshot loads are loaded the same today as in 1982.

There are some exceptions but most buckshot in plastic hulls seems to be not much different decades later.

 

[Jester896]

that may be the reason so many use #4 in home defense is less penetration...even on harder objects. A human chest is half the thickness of a deer chest...doubt it would need as much penetration to kill it at 15-20' heaven help them under 10'

remember what @chase870 mentioned I think it was...about shotgun paterns...at 10' the shot wad is about 10" in diameter

 

[sleepr71]

From what I’ve seen…At 10’ most loads have a pattern the size of a tennis ball.!

 

[bighonkinjeep]

P.S. Copper plated shot as well as steel and other modern shot materials pattern much tighter than standard lead shot. At about 20 yards the swine I spoke of took 875 grains of copper plated lead confined into about a 6-8" pattern at roughly the velocity of a .357 mag to the head. Graphic but it turned off like a switch.