Even among experts there is a difference of opinion as to which ammunition is the best choice for shotgun self defense. To help you evaluate these options, I personally conducted the below tests, primarily to illustrate the difference in the size of pellet-spread created by 00-Buck compared to #4 Buck, the two most popular self-defense ammunitions for shotguns. (As a point of reference, 99% of all police departments use either 00-Buck or #4 Buck in their tactical shotguns). Since there is a lot of buzz about the new Winchester PDX1-12 self-defense shell, I included that in this test as well.
This side-by-side comparison test was conducted using both Remington and Winchester shotgun shells since they are the most common. To avoid an unnecessary volume of data, only the Remington results are included in the below chart since the two brands produced nearly identical results.
Since most self-defense shootings occur at a distance of between 12-21 feet, I used the distances of 12-feet and 21-feet for this test. For most people, the results of this test are surprising because they expect the spray of pellets to be wider. But a tactical shotgun, even one equipped with a short barrel (18-20 inch barrel), does not produce a wide spread of pellets at in-home shooting distances. Yet, even a modest size spray of pellets, coupled with the knock-down power of a shotgun, is what make a tactical shotgun so desirable for self defense at home. This is why these test results are so important. Please consider these results before you select the ammunition you will carry in your shotgun.
You will find my specific recommendations on ammunition selection below the chart, but to summarize, the 3” 00-Buck shotgun shell provides the best combination of stopping power and size of pellet spread, but it does produce slightly greater recoil.
For those who don’t trust their ability to shoot accurately, the 3” #4 Buck might be a better choice. It produces a slightly wider spray of pellets, which means it’s easier to hit your target. In any case, as you evaluate the chart data, consider the pellet count and the size of each pellet. This is important information. But for most people the far right column, “Spread (inches),” is the most significant point of comparison. Keep in mind that for most people, the wider the spread of pellets, the greater the likelihood of hitting the target. (If the below chart does not display properly, rotate your reader to “Landscape” orientation and reduce the text size).
Brand / Model |
Size |
Type |
Pellet Count |
Pellet Size |
Velocity |
Range |
Spread (inches)* |
Remington Express, Managed-Recoil |
2-3/4” |
00-Buck Managed Recoil (MR) |
8 |
.33 Caliber (60-grains each) |
1200 |
12-ft |
1.9” |
Rem. Express |
“ |
00-Buck |
9 |
“ |
1325 |
“ |
2.9 |
Rem. Express Magnum |
3” |
“ |
15 |
“ |
1225 |
“ |
4.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rem. Express Managed-Recoil |
2-3/4” |
00- Buck Managed Recoil (MR) |
8 |
“ |
1200 |
21-ft |
3.5” |
Rem. Express |
2-3/4” |
00-Buck |
9 |
“ |
1325 |
“ |
3.9 |
Rem. Express Magnum |
3” |
“ |
15 |
“ |
1225 |
“ |
7.3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rem. Express |
2-3/4” |
#4 Buck |
27 |
.24 Caliber (16-grains each) |
1325 |
12-ft |
3.8” |
Rem. Express Magnum |
3” |
“ |
41 |
“ |
1225 |
“ |
4.7 |
Rem. Express |
2-3/4” |
#4 Buck |
27 |
“ |
1325 |
21-ft |
7.3 |
Rem. Express Magnum |
3” |
“ |
41 |
“ |
1225 |
“ |
9.3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Winchester PDX1-12 |
2-3/4” |
1-Slug (1-oz lead) with 3 00-Buck Pellets |
1-Slug + 3 Pellets |
.69 Caliber Slug (437.5 grains / 1-ounce) + 3 -.33 Caliber Pellets |
1150 |
12-ft |
2.8” |
Winchester PDX1-12 |
2-3/4” |
1-slug with 3 00-Buck Pellets |
1-Slug + 3 Pellets |
“ |
1150 |
21-ft |
5.6 |
* These tests were conducted using a Remington 870 Tactical shotgun equipped with a 20-inch barrel. When repeated with a Mossberg shotgun equipped with an 18-1/2 inch barrel, the slightly-shorter barrel provided only modest improvement in pellet-spread. When shooting the shorter-barrel Mossberg at 12-feet, the shot pattern increased by ¼ inch when using 2-3/4 inch 00-Buck. As would be expected, the maximum improved spread using the shorter-barrel gun was achieved using 3” #4 Buck at 21-feet. At this range the Mossberg produced a spread which was 7/10-inch wider.
Conclusions:
If the operator of a shotgun can handle the added recoil, there is a clear advantage to using 3-inch shells rather than 2-3/4-inch. The 3-inch shotgun shell contains more pellets, plus the spread of pellets is wider, and these are critically important attributes. It’s also worth noting that the capacity of most tactical shotguns is the same whether the gun is loaded with 2-3/4 or 3-inch shells. However, 3-1/2 inch shells generally reduce the capacity of the gun by one shell. And, these longer shells also produce dramatically more recoil than the other two lengths, making the 3-1/2-inch shell less than optimal for most users. Further, many tactical shotguns are only chambered for 2-3/4 and 3” shotgun shells. If you want to use the 3-1/2 inch magnum shells, be sure to check the ammo options which are stamped into either the receiver or barrel of your gun. It’s critically important for you to verify that you can use the larger and more powerful magnum loads in your gun.
The “managed-recoil” or “reduced-recoil” shells are a particular disappointment,
primarily since they produce a much smaller pellet spread. If reducing recoil
is important to you, your goal is better achieved by using 2-3/4 inch shells in
a gun which is outfitted with a recoil-reducing stock. The Benelli tactical
shotguns equipped with the optional ComforTech stock is the top
performer for recoil reduction. (See the chapter, “Gun Recommendations:
Top-10 Best Shotguns for Home Defense” for additional details regarding guns
with recoil-reduction features).
Recommendations:
If the operator is unskilled and using the shotgun indoors in a house or confines of an apartment, the wider spread of the 3” #4 Buck (not the same as #4 Shot) makes this a good choice. For typical in-house situations encountered by users with a higher degree of competence, 3” 00-Buck is probably the best choice as it provides greater stopping power. For the highly experienced operator who is not worried about secondary penetration of walls, etc., the PDX1-12 may be the optimal choice.
Conversely, when operating outdoors and at greater distances without backdrop concerns, or if greater penetration is needed to puncture vehicles or obstructions, the PDX1-12, rifled slugs or sabot rounds are the best choice. This is particularly true if the tactical shotgun is equipped with ghost-ring or rifle-type sights as these make it possible to achieve greater long-range accuracy. If your tactical shotgun only has bead-sights, 3-inch 00-Buck may still be a better choice.