The Mesa Tactical LEO stock has an optional Crosshair hydraulic recoil buffer available. The best feature here might be the ATI T3 shotgun stock, which allows for quick adjustment to the individual shooter. As Mas notes above, these carry 20 #3 Buckshot pellets per shell with a Factory-listed muzzle velocity of 1200 FPS. 175 Gr. Thank you! I really took the time to get to know this gun and attended the Gunsite Academy 260 shotgun class with the Mossberg 590 ATI Scorpion, and other than being a tad heavy at 8.4 pounds, I have no complaints. Take the gun out and shoot it … Get the top Shooting Times stories delivered right to your inbox. Shop our extensive collection and you'll quickly realize that there is no better place to get 12 gauge loads. This article originally appeared in the November 2017 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine. The only 12 gauge shells I was able to find today was at Big 5. This is just a sample of a test i will be performing. It also feature's Hornady's Versatite wad for tight patterns. The Rail Master Pro attaches to any shotgun that you can get a M1913 Picatinny rail or a Weaver-style accessory rail on. 12 gauge target load for home defense? This is a compact, durable light-and-laser combination with instant tap-on and tap-off activation, and controls for windage and elevation adjustments. $89.99 /$0.36¢ Per Round has some of the best 12 gauge shells on the market from trusted manufacturers. Visit the next page for more Shotgun … Best 12 Gauge Home Defense Loads Based on this testing, only one shotgun load is really good enough to recommend, but shotgun loads are more acceptable as a class than other ammo types – so here is a couple of options for #4 Buck you might want to look at. Switching to low-recoil loads in you home defense shotgun doesn’t really mean you’re sacrificing necessary power. Caribou Media Group may earn a commission from qualifying purchases. Learn how your comment data is processed. Heavy 3-inch slug or buckshot loads in a featherweight 20-gauge pump or O/U will likely produce more recoil than that of a 2-¾” 12-gauge target load in a heavy 12-gauge semi-auto. This brings up a problem with accuracy because even with a cylinder bore barrel you will find shot patterns to be surprisingly tight at short ranges. A 12-gauge shotgun is an exceptional all-around weapon for home defense, especially when you build it to your preferences. Estate Super Sport Competition Target 12 Gauge Ammo 2 3/4" 1 oz #8 Shot; Estate Ammo High Velocity 12 Gauge Ammo 2 3/4"- 1 oz Rifle Slug; Estate Buckshot Load 12 Gauge Ammo 2 3/4" 9 Pellets 00 Buck 250 Rounds; Estate Cartridge 12 Gauge Ammo 2 3/4" 1-1/8oz #7.5 Shot; Estate Cartridge 12 Gauge Ammo 2 3/4" 3 1-1/8oz #7.5 Shot 100 Rounds This target practice will allow you to see how powerful your defensive shotgun really is, and learn its true stopping power. The Rail Master Pro has four different operational modes for the light and the laser, and it’s powered by a CR2 Lithium battery. Get the 74th edition of the World's Greatest Gun Book. Winchester Xpert Steel Upland Game and Target Load 20 Gauge Shotshells. This is important. ATI T3 Shotgun Stock $121.99 brownells.com. Nothing about a gunfight should be ‘fair.’”. I believed these guns would be a good choice for home defense, but I felt they needed some help and here is why. Mossberg also attaches a machined, anodized aluminum, ATI Halo Side Saddle to the 590’s receiver. Get 12 Issues a year of the country's best firearms writing. €¢ 2¾-inch hull€¢ Nine 00 buckshot€¢ 1,325 fps velocity€¢ Retail price: $6 per box of 10. The MRO is a sealed reflex sight intended for use on rifles, carbines and shotguns. #8 Shot. Packaged exclusively for Cabela's, Estate Cartridge's 12-gauge 00 Buck load does double duty as a defense load or as a game load. The 12 Gauge shotgun is the over-all best gauge in modern shotguns. Wolf Power BuckshotFor those wanting a good, traditional lead-pellet double-ought buckshot load for a good price, this is your ticket. rifled slug, three Grex buffered 00 plated buckshot€¢ 1,150 fps velocity€¢ Retail price: $13 per box of 5. The forearm on the Scorpion is the ATI Akita, which is comfortably textured and easy to grasp. Traditionally, #00 Buck has gotten the nod in terms of home defense usage, and perhaps for good reason. Three rounds of 12 gauge 2¾-inch loads with 00 Buckshot delivers 24 .33-caliber pellets to the bad guy. €¢ 1¾-inch hull€¢ Seven #4 buckshot €¢ 1,200 fps velocity€¢ Retail price: $18 per box of 20. €¢ 2¾-inch hull€¢ 12 00 buckshot€¢ 1,180 fps velocity€¢ Retail price: $7 per box of 10. Match. Please note that prices are approximate, and velocities are factory figures that may differ from those found when fired in your gun. All Rights Reserved. A few years ago, Aguila Ammunition gave us the Minishell, a 12 gauge shotgun shell 1.75 inches in length. 12 gauge shotguns are most popular for home defense. Most of us need a shorter stock with less length of pull on the defensive shotgun as opposed to what we would use to shoot clays or waterfowl. 4.0 (26) Winchester Xpert 12 Gauge Upland Game & Target Loads. Winchester Model 70 Extreme Weather SS Review, Smith & Wesson M&P9 Shield EZ vs. Taurus G3c, 6 Best Classic Pump-Action Shotguns Ever Made, Ruger Custom Shop 10/22 Competition Rifle at 300 Yards, Precision Reloading Guide Part 3: Priming, Powder Charging & Bullet Seating, Black Hills Evolution of Rifle Cartridge: .308 Win. We look at long-range tech and see how to make shots previously thought impossible. The ATI cushioned pistol grip on this stock allows for good control of the weapon while firing, but it’s necessary to break your grip to operate the tang mounted safety located on the back of the receiver. This mount allows for a shell holder on either side of the gun with a Picatinny rail on top, on which you can mount whatever sight or optic you might choose. Both of these guns sport a 14-inch barrel and the Shockwave Technologies “birds head” Raptor Grip stock. Next we visit ISS Prop House in Hollywood. Even if you live in a mansion, you won’t need your home defense ammunition to cover that kind of distance. In my mind, there’s no doubt that the 12 gauge shotgun is the best home defense weapon, but hopefully, you will never have to wield The Hammer of God. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Aguila Mini-BuckshotBest suited for a pump or break action, this shorty load gives increased capacity and low recoil along with respectable performance. We've limited this selection to buckshot or combination buckshot/slug loads for reason of limited space. Six major concealed carry insurance programs are now available to the millions of Americans who carry concealed. Mount the shotgun to firing position, see the red dot on the target and pull the trigger. Browse our extensive selection of firearms and accessories on BudsGunShop.com. Rob has a custom Remington 870, and the first of the 20-gauge shotgun loads he shoots is a #3 buck, a 20-pellet load. Winchester's PDX1 12This 12-guage load combines the best of both worlds--double-ought buckshot and slugs--in one hull. €¢ 2¾-inch length€¢ Nine 00 buckshot€¢ 1,325 fps velocity€¢ Retail price: $19 per box of 25 from Cabela's. Federal Personal Defense BuckshotThis very consistent, effective load is piloted by FLIGHTCONTROL wads. The MRO will take anything you dish out. First, it’s widely available. No other weapon will deliver as much firepower in the brief time that most gunfights occur. What are defensive shotgun features and accessories you need to focus on? The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (BATFE) has confirmed the 500 Shockwave as a “firearm” — same for the Remington Tac-14 — per the Gun Control Act (GCA), but not a Class 3/NFA firearm. Here are a dozen of our favorite options for feeding your best backup buddy. Even a 12 gauge with a 1–3/4″ mini round can do decent duty as a self defense gun, but not have the energy to penetrate people and/or walls to affect targets downrange. The answer: You need a light and a laser. 175 Gr. Beretta 1301 Tactical The 1301 Tactical is Beretta’s newest gas-piston-operated, semi-automatic, 12 gauge shotgun designed for law enforcement and home defense. Centurion Multi-Defense BuckshotThis unique load features a .65-caliber round ball and six #1 buckshot, providing dual characteristics of knockdown power combined with shot placement forgiveness. If you should decide to upgrade your current shotgun, the good news is that all of the above items found on the Scorpion are available individually from ATI — the T3 adjustable stock, the Akita fore end, Halo heat shield, Halo side saddle and shell carriers … the whole shootin’ match. Therefore, I want to be armed with the firearm best suited for this work, and that my friend is a 12 gauge shotgun loaded with buckshot. $699. No doubt such things are hard to measure, but I can tell you that the reduction in recoil is substantial. Crimson Trace Rail Master Pro $349.00 brownells.com. For shotguns that starts at about #4 buckshot. There has been an error with your Email Subscription. OPSol of Texas devised a simple “rubber plug” that fits into the rear of the loading port of the Mossberg 500. €¢ 2¾-inch hull€¢ Nine 00 buckshot€¢ 1,200 fps velocity€¢ Retail price: $5 per box of 5. After ejecting the empty, the next round will turn within the action or, in the case of the Mossberg, simply fall through the receiver before it can be fed into the chamber. The shorter length of the shell allows for more ammo to be loaded in the magazine than with traditional 2.75-inch shells. Estate 00 BuckshotPackaged exclusively for Cabela's, Estate Cartridge's 12-gauge 00 Buck load does double duty as a defense load or as a game load. It has been extensively tested and engineered for in-the-home use. This is as low as we have seen them in months. Fiocchi LE Reduced Recoil - 12 Gauge - 2-3/4" 00 Buck: 00 Buckshot: Low-recoil: N/A: Home Defense if standard loading is to much power for the shooter. 28.0¢ per round. He holds dead center on the shot but the spread puts a couple of pellets out over the shoulder. Our stance is (or should be) different, and we’re not swinging on moving targets. On top of that, it’s very compact, and most importantly, it works. The Mossberg 590 Shockwave can now be loaded with nine rounds of Aguila Minishells, which are available in buckshot, 7½ birdshot or slugs. Shotshells. $699. While I’m not a big fan of a shell carrier on the same side as the ejection/loading port, if you train with this and are comfortable with it, more power to you. Give a Gift   All Shooting Times subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. Subscriber Services. This stock also helps with that old demon … felt recoil. It’s that fast. A 12-gauge 2-3/4 hunting shell loaded with 00 Buck is designed to kill a deer at 50 yards or so—you don’t need all that power when you’re talking about in-home distances to … The ATI heat shield covering the 18.5-inch barrel has two Picatinny rails, one on each side, which would serve to mount a light or a laser. In most places it is illegal to hunt migratory waterfowl with lead shot, and non-toxic … If you don’t want to add on to your current shotgun, the Mossberg 590 ATI Scorpion comes already dressed for the party. 2x4 duplex HD tungsten-bronze pellets€¢ 1,250 fps velocity€¢ Retail price: $30 per box of 10, Rio Royal Buck Low RecoilThis is a nice low-r. ecoil option featuring a traditional nine-pellet 00 buck load that gives up very little in performance to full-power loads. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. Using the formula Energy = .5 x Mass x Velocity2, we find a typical 20-gauge self-defense load of 11⁄8 ounces of buckshot traveling at 1,100 fps produces roughly 1,320 ft.-lbs. Unless you’ve been living under the proverbial rock, you know this is not a complete list of possible home defense shotgun upgrades, but it will give you a good idea of some of the best choices available. Here are a few out-of-the box options to consider, as well as some aftermarket accessories to trim out your scattergun to your personal preferences. When I went through the Gunsite shotgun class, I didn’t believe the Trijicon MRO (Miniature Rifle Optic) could be faster for target acquisition than a plain front bead. Visit the next page for more Shotgun Loads! So, how do we accurately fire the Remington Tac-14 or the Mossberg Shockwave? I like the Rail Master Pro because it’s a two-for-one deal with the light and the laser. When things go bump in the night, identifying your target is critical. Since they're not special, hi-performance, guaranteed to knock the b*stard off his feet at 40 yards, low-recoil, LEO-only Tactical Loads they only cost about $3 for 5 rounds. €¢ 2¾-inch hull€¢ Eight 00 buckshot€¢ 1,510 fps velocity€¢ Retail price: $14 per box of 10. OK, so we won’t call them shotguns even though they are both built on revered shotgun actions — the Remington 870 and the Mossberg 500 — and both shoot shotgun ammo. Quick view. www.cabelas.com. Capable of blasting assailants at close range, no weapon is more feared than the shotgun . Here’s another point of view, which was not presented in a manner designed to insult: https://youtu.be/i3sLHGduI3w. My advice to all who want to use a shotgun for home defense is to buy a variety of shells. Mesa Tactical will tell you this feature reduces felt recoil up to 70 percent. €¢ 2¾-inch hull€¢ One .65-caliber ball, six #1 buckshot€¢ 1,300 fps velocity€¢ Retail price: $10 per box of 10. Ballistic experts recommend using projectiles that will penetrate a minimum of 12″ of ballistic gel. Winchester Xpert Steel Upland Game and Target Load 12 Gauge Shotshells. Disclosure: Some of these links are affiliate links. My current “Home Defense” shotgun is a short-barrel Mossberg 20 Gauge pump loaded with Federal 2 3/4 inch Buckshot shells. The large aperture and tapered light path maximizes the viewing area and allows for better situational awareness and fast target engagement — from any shooting position. “I believe in using the weapon that will give me the most advantage over my adversaries. Larry Case is a contributor to Gun Digest the Magazine. Although both fit the need for a compact weapon in tight places, there’s a problem with how these guns are fired. The Mesa Tactical LEO Telescoping Stock Conversion Kit allows you to grab the adjustment lever and run the stock down until you’re nice and snug on the gun. The Remington Tac-14 and the Mossberg Shockwave both need a way to be aimed and fired accurately, and the Crimson Trace Rail Master Pro provides both. The firearm used in all tests was a 12 gauge Benelli Nova with an 18 inch barrel and a fixed improved cylinder choke. When we say we are going to use a weapon for home defense, we are defending our home and hearth, everybody and everything most precious to us. Neither the Shockwave nor the Tac-14 should be fired from a shoulder or eye level position, which means they must be shot from the hip. There are excellent supplies of different types of ammunition like bird shot (#1- #12), slugs (1oz), and buckshot (0,00, 000, and 0000). Trijicon optics are manufactured with military and law enforcement needs in mind. Most defensive shotgun instructors would agree that you need a light on your shotgun. The 25mm objective lens makes for a huge field of view, and when you learn to shoot with both eyes open, the tube of the optic seems to disappear. $699. The green laser diameter measures a half-inch on target at 50 feet, and the white light projects 100 lumens. For this reason, I believe in using the weapon that will give me the most advantage over my adversaries. ... the 9-ring of the silhouette target. A state trooper friend I worked with some back in the day was a great advocate of the shotgun. In short, Mossberg took the time-proven Model 500 action, added several ATI (Advanced Technology International) accessories and gave us a very well equipped defensive/tactical shotgun ideal for home defense. To state explicitly, “Anyone with a lick of sense knows that a shotgun is the best weapon for home defense,” – because everyone who has a different opinion is, in the author’s opinion, an idiot – indicates that the author is either an ignoramus or being intentionally inflammatory – a fool in either case, and influenced me to NOT read this article. I had some misgivings about the Shockwave and the Tac-14 at first. of energy. Since the theory is kinda based on the concept of the shot acting more like a solid projectile at short range, I figured it was a good idea to measure pattern sizes before I started blowing things to pieces.Here’s what I found. Then, take various items, like drywall, plywood or jugs of water and test what those loads do to them at the gun range, if allowed. 12 gauge ammo is a very popular caliber for hunters as well as shooters seeking an effective home defense round. ©2021 Outdoor Sportsman Group. Cheaper Than Dirt! €¢ 2¾-inch hull€¢ 1-oz. Sellier & Bellot BuckshotBy giving up a little velocity, this load provides 25-percent more 00 pellets than typical 2¾-inch hulls. €¢ 2¾-inch hull€¢ Nine 00 buckshot€¢ 1,145 fps velocity€¢ Retail price: $7 per box of 5. I was wrong. 12 Gauge Federal Power-Shok 2-3/4" 00 Buckshot 9 Pellet - ... $14.99. Birdshot #8 & Under. 12 gauge shotguns are also the choice of the U.S. Armed Forces and the vast majority of law enforcement. I figure it will do the job just fine without the blast and fury of a full power 12 gauge load. 20 gauge shotguns are the second most popular option for home defense. It features an 18.5-inch barrel, an oversized charging handle, a large textured bolt release and an oversized reversible safety. Compare 12 gauge ammo from the top online retailers to find the lowest price. The buckshot shoots a predictable cloverleaf pattern around the slug. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. 25 Round boxes starting at $7.59. Ammo Brief: .475 Turnbull Is A Modern Classic, New Gun: Springfield Releases XD-E In .45 ACP, Lighting Them Up With Laser Sights And Lights, 5 Affordable Over/Under Shotguns Worth A Shot (2021), Top 17 Affordable Precision Rifles — Bolt-Action Edition (2021), Best .22 Pistol Options Available Today (2021), 6 On-Target Concealed Carry Insurance Options (2021), 10 Affordable Double-Barrel Shotgun Options (2021), 8 Budget AR-15 Options: More Bang For The Buck (2020), Best Concealed Carry Handguns For Women (2020). There is an abundance of 12 gauge shotguns and various aftermarket upgrades out there designed and perfectly suited for home defense. Most of us cannot deliver this much carnage upon our foe in the same amount of time with a rifle or handgun. If you want a home defense shotgun, consider a 20 gauge, or even a .410, and load it with a self defense load. Out of Stock Compare. He’s shooting at a steel popper target about 30 feet away, admittedly farther than would be commonly needed for a home-defense weapon. Offering more power per pellet, the #8 shot remains popular for clay … Most of the major ammunition manufacturers, as well as many of the smaller companies, offer some type of 12-gauge #00 Buck round in a 2.75-inch format. The standard 12 gauge, 2 ¾ inch shotshell loaded with 00 Buck is designed to kill deer at approximately 50 yards. We can only shoot any firearm as well as we can see and acquire the target. ATI makes these to fit the Mossberg 500 and 590s, the Remington 870, the Winchester 1200 and 1300, and others. Here’s the deal: We don’t shoot a defensive shotgun the same as one for breaking clays or hunting. As a result, 20-gauge is often marketed as a good shotgun for female shooters. Recoil 30 ft.-lbs. Fiocchi High-Velocity Buckshot An inexpensive high-velocity load featuring nickel-plated pellets, this load trades a bit more recoil for increased terminal energy. The .300 Blackout is here to stay, and we take some time to look at new technology surrounding this cartridge. It coughs out 12 00 buckshot at 1,330 fps, resulting in high recoil and high terminal energy. When it looked like things were about to get real, he would always pick up the issued 870, which he called “The Hammer of God.” Enough said. Please try again. i was not able to get a hold of the materials for this shoot so melons had to do. €¢ 2¾-inch hull€¢ Nine 00 buckshot€¢ 1,325 fps velocity€¢ Retail price: $170 per case of 250. Less felt recoil means most shooters will not be afraid of the gun, which will translate to better accuracy and getting back on target quicker after the shot. Well-known defensive shotgun trainer Tom Givens of Rangemaster Firearms Training Services recommends 12-gauge, eight-pellet, 00 buckshot loads for personal defense because eight 00 pellets tend to stack more evenly in 12-gauge, 2¾-inch shotshells than do nine. Just be sure to check for function in your gun. Remington HD Ultimate Home DefenseDrawing on the best of Big Green's waterfowl shotshell technology, this load features a duplex mix of HD tungsten-bronze #2 and #4 pellets for excellent patterns and reduced danger of overpenetration. Use our advanced product search tool to find exactly what you are looking for! 28.0¢ per round. If we take the fight outside, usually we are talking less than 50 yards. |   They had Winchester 1200 velocity 7 shot “super target” load — and as a new shotgun owner I was wondering what opinions are on these for home defense until buckshot becomes more available. This is what I load my 870 with. 12 ga recoil is over-rated. Sportsman's Guide with a great price on Federal, Top Gun Target, 12 Gauge, 2 3/4", 1 1/8 oz. Nobel Law Enforcement BuckshotThis load from Italy's finest is not for the faint of heart. Unless you’re 7 feet tall and have arms long enough to play in the NBA, you need a shorter stock, which gives us a shorter length of pull. Match bullet. This prohibits you from “crawling up the stock” to maintain control of the gun. In a nutshell, it’s the distance between you and your enemy. €¢ 2¾-inch length €¢ Nine 00 buckshot €¢ 1,325 fps velocity €¢ Retail price: $19 per box of 25 from Cabela's. Mesa Tactical Stock Kit $169.99 brownells.com. Anyone with a lick of sense knows that a 12 gauge shotgun is the best weapon for home defense. The Mini Clip serves as a stop, captures the Minishell and allows it to be fed into the chamber. Find Bulk 12 gauge ammunition fast and cheap with Americas best ammunition search engine. Most home defense situations are going to happen in the length of a room. The recoil of a 12 gauge shotgun is manageable by most, though perhaps not particularly fun to shoot for everybody. €¢ 2¾-inch hull€¢ 1¼-oz. On most shotguns, a simple front bead fills the bill, but many of us can use all the help we can get. I didn’t run over this sight with my truck, but I didn’t baby it either. The red dot goes on the target, boom, work the action, and then move to the next target. You fire the shotgun with both eyes open while using this optic. This is where the shotgun shines in performance.