One item I may have to rely on, one that I practice least with, is the shotgun. I had mentioned before that, on returning from New Orleans in September '05, my first purchase was a Remington 870. Another 12 gauge in the house is a compact 'coach gun' which, although limited in capacity to 2 rounds, disassembles into two compact parts facilitating transport and secure storage. This gun I had kept in a small safe at my 'home away from home' work apartment, configured as illustrated.
Now done with the apartment, and having spent three range days recently with the 870, I though to look again at the likely effectiveness of the side by side with either 4 Buck or the larger 0 or 00 Buck load at the range near home.
The gun has two triggers associated with a modified choke barrel (right) and full choke barrel (left). One round of #4 buck and one 0 buck was fired from each barrel at both 10 and 20 yards. The results, from this gun/ammunition combination at least, demonstrate that 'just because it's on the web don't make it so'.
Example:
Two observations: 1. choke made a significant difference in pattern density. 2. even the larger 0 buck at 20 yards with the Remington load and full choke was delivering only 6 of 12 pellets, each with roughly the equivalent of .22 LR energy in a 9 inch circle. Adequate to instantaneously stop an armed assailant from firing his weapon? Depending on pellet location ... maybe. #4 with modified choke or less at 20 yards? Drawl your own conclusion.
So, little surprise, buckshot, 4 or 0, or likely the slightly larger 00, is significantly range limited. Likely much more so than some advertisers claim.
BUT - across the span of a small apartment? I expect it would have served.
how about bb shot?
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