Thread: Best Weapon for Home Defense is

Originally Posted by sappersgt

Question about "door buster" rounds. When and when not, how and what to look out for? Yeah sure I can RTFM but you've been hands on!

I can't speak much for what they use or prefer today, but we had four primary loads we used. Powdered lead was mainly used for blowing door strikes or hinges if necessary. It would at least soften up the strike enough to then be kicked in. WHEN to use it instead of a ram mainly has to deal with how much room you have to manuever outside the door. Something you have to watch out for when kicking in doors is to make sure it sturdy enough to be kicked. It really dangerous when you put your foot THROUGH a door and get stuck. Something you will rarely see on unedited video, but it happens often.

After your in its basically what I use now. Either 00 or 000 buck and slugs. We had rubber bullets available but found that the powdered lead could stun pretty well from a few feet without killing.

We did not use #4 buck as it was established by the California highway patrol back in the 70s, during confrontations with Hells Angels MC members, that at various distances, #4 would not penetrate leather jackets sufficiently to take them down. BB shot is .18cal, #4 is .24 cal balls. Both lose so much energy so quickly that they would be ideal for say 20ft or less and would be ideal for domestic in home use. From 5 to 10 feet, it is hard to tell difference btwn them or the larger cal buckshots when it comes to wounding capability.

Most all use 1.25 oz of lead and that just makes for a nasty wound at close range no matter. My issue and reason for using 000 buck in a 3in shell is if the intruder manages to take cover behind a wall, door or some furniture. 00 and 000 will penetrate light to medium cover easily without over doing it but enough to end the threat.

I actually forgot I had changed out my 12ga loads the first of last year and I went with 3in shells, the first four are S&B, 00buck, 1 1/4 oz shot, about 1300 fps. This is equivalent to 12, .33 cal bullets being fired at once and above normal pistol velocities. I like it!!!

The last two are Winchester 3in 1oz, 50cal Sabot slugs. These are a hollowpoint, lead/copper round at 2000 fps. I have shot baseballs off a rail at 100yds with them. Overkill? Maybe, but I bet it get the job done.

Yeah, if the five rounds didnt do it then get get serious! I've had a penchant for the 12ga auto, BBs and #4s. Some like the pump, easier to clear, two quick reloads in pinch.

I find the 12 ga pump to be the most versatile and reliable firearm there is. A must for a home protection arsenal and it is the first one up in line in out of the safe. Always loaded, always test my aimpoint red-dot and the light about once a week.

Like the man said, "Anything worth shootin once is worth shootin again!". How are the frangibles vs FMJ or HPs on a "target" ? PM if you want.

The frangibles make the AR-15 a practical home defense weapon IMO. They will not go through a full wall, even drywall. When it hits the first solid thing, even as solid as 1/2 in drywall, it frags into little pieces with no energy left. But shoot flesh and it tears it up. Not like a ball ammo and certainly not like HP, but it frags when it enters causing some really good wound ratings. I saw the 5.56 I use tested in ballistics gel some time ago and it is what convinced me to buy it. Clothing didn't seem to affect it and it feeds well. Price tag is no more than any premium HP ammo.