Since this is an area where there is a lot of confusion, and where inaccurate information abounds, let’s compare a tactical shotgun’s abilities to that of a handgun and also a submachine gun:
A standard 12-gauge shotgun rifled slug (bullet) contains 473.5-grains (1-oz) of lead. In essence, the shotgun slug is a whopping .73” diameter (caliber) bullet that travels 25% faster, is more than twice the diameter, and weighs 3-times more than a 9mm bullet. This represents a staggering amount of stopping power.
Even when comparing a tactical shotgun to the performance of a 9mm submachine gun, the tactical shotgun stands toe-to-toe and excels—except in regard to the time it takes to reload.
A 9mm submachine gun bullet is approximately .36-inches in diameter, is 124-grains in weight, and exits the barrel at around 1,205 feet per second. Most submachine guns have the capacity to shoot 30-shots (+/-) before they must be reloaded.
Now, compare this to a standard Benelli M2 tactical shotgun, loaded with six 3-inch 00-Buck shells. This fully-loaded shotgun can shoot 90 pellets vs. 30+ in the submachine gun, and the shotgun pellet is traveling at the same speed as the 9mm bullet—and it is nearly the same diameter as the 9mm bullet.
Most people don’t realize that a shotgun can spit out 3-times the amount of on-target projectiles in less time than a submachine gun. To improve accuracy, a submachine gun is usually fired in a series of 3-shot bursts; whereas a M2 Tactical shotgun can, with each pull of the trigger, send 15 similar-size projectiles downrange.
Now, if you compare a tactical shotgun to a 9mm handgun, well, there’s no comparison. The tactical shotgun is in an entirely different league than a handgun when it comes to stopping power. No other legal-to-own-without-special-license weapon comes anywhere close to the performance of a tactical shotgun. Consider the shotgun vs. handgun attributes in the below chart. (You may need to rotate your reader to “landscape” orientation to properly view this chart):
Comparison: Shotgun vs. 9mm Bullet |
Diameter |
Weight |
Muzzle Velocity |
12-ga Rifled Slug, 3-inch 12-ga 00-Buck, 3-inch |
.73-inch .33-inch (x 15 pellets) |
438 grains 54 ea pellet / 810 grains |
1,760 fps 1,225 fps |
9mm +P Hollow-Point |
.36-inch |
124 grains |
1,220 fps |
There is actually a lot more to calculating stopping power than these numbers, but I’m giving you these details to make a point. You don’t need a complex computer program, or a NASA scientist to explain it to you. The above chart simply confirms the obvious; there is a huge difference in stopping power between a shotgun and a handgun.
As interesting as this is for the professional law enforcement officer, this is also the #1 reason why a tactical shotgun is also the best gun for self-defense at home. A shotgun loaded with buckshot “sprays” a cone of pellets (bullets) rather than a single projectile. A handgun bullet which is less than a half inch in width, vs. a shotgun-pellet pattern that can be 10-inches in width even at close range (25’). On-target hits using the shotgun are therefore far more likely, and more on-target hits delivered simultaneously provide greater stopping power.
Some gun enthusiasts express frustration that they can’t have a submachine gun for self-defense. But for self-defense at home, the tactical shotgun is actually a far better choice.
In addition to the superior firepower of the tactical shotgun, there is another important benefit. It is easier to hold a tactical shotgun on target while shooting, too. And, since a semiautomatic shotgun can deliver more projectiles on-target in 6-seconds than a submachine gun, it is clearly the best gun for self-defense at home.
Since reloading a shotgun is so slow, the submachine gun does provide an advantage to soldiers and police officers engaged in a firefight. But for home defense, the tactical shotgun excels. Plus, a shotgun doesn’t have the legal challenges inherent to owning a fully automatic weapon.
A fully-loaded submachine gun typically holds 30+ rounds of ammunition in one magazine, whereas a fully loaded 9-shot tactical shotgun like the Benelli 3-Gun or Mossberg 590A1 have the capacity to deliver 135 bullet-size pellets in a few seconds. (3” 00-Buck shells contain 15-pellets in each plastic shotgun shell. A tactical shotgun with extended magazine can hold as many as 8-shells in the magazine, plus 1-shell in the chamber, for a total of 9-shells. 9x15=135 pellets). Talk about firepower!
Another important point of comparison is in regard to penetration. In my experience, bullets such as the 9mm, whether shot from a submachine gun or an ordinary handgun, are more likely to penetrate the interior walls of a house than the soft-lead of a 00-Buck shotgun pellet. This is true even if the 9mm bullet is a hollow-point and designed to expand on impact. Therefore, in real-world shooting situations, the handgun bullet can oftentimes be more dangerous than a shotgun when used inside a house, particularly if there are innocent occupants in adjacent rooms.
This issue of penetration can be a serious problem for those who want a gun for family protection. This over-penetration issue is a particular concern with FMJ 9mm and certain 9mm hollow-point bullets. But it is important to remember that penetration through walls can still pose a serious threat to family members and others who are nearby, no matter what gun is used.
Other popular self-defense handgun calibers such as: .357 Sig, .40 and .45 ACP, even when using hollow-point ammunition, can still penetrate the interior walls of most houses. At in-home self-defense shooting distances, both Buckshot from a shotgun and bullets from a self-defense handgun will likely penetrate an interior wall. However in my experience, and in my testing, the pellets from a shotgun will generally stop sooner, and with less penetration, than one of these handgun bullets shot at the same distance and angle.
Whether you are using a handgun or shotgun, it is important to remember that each shot which misses or passes through your assailant, still goes somewhere. Since all of these projectiles are capable of penetrating multiple interior walls, they can easily strike innocent people inside or outside your home. Shotgun pellets made of soft lead often deform on impact, and generally don’t penetrate like a pointed FMJ or metal-clad hollow-point handgun bullet, but they can still penetrate walls. (Be sure to read the firearm safety rules at the end of this e-book).
Therefore, whatever gun you are using, you need to know what is behind your target. With this potential problem in mind, in advance of the emergency situation, you need to identify where you can and can’t shoot within your home.
And remember, the bad guy can miss when he is shooting at you, too. So in advance, you need to select viable fields of fire. This field of fire needs to include wild shooting by the criminal, as well. Choose your location of engagement.
If you are arming yourself because you want to protect your family, you probably need to shoot first, as soon as you identify life-threatening danger. The crook generally doesn’t care who he kills, whether it’s you or your child asleep in a bedroom behind you. If you give him the opportunity to shoot first, even if he misses you, that bullet may penetrate a wall and kill one of your family members.
There is no serious debate that a shotgun chambered for 12-ga shells is the best gun for self-defense at home. But there are other shotgun shell choices in addition to 00-Buck for personal protection. Another popular self-defense shotgun shell is #4-Buckshot. (Not the same as #4 Shot). Though #4 Buck boasts an impressive number of pellets (27-pellets in a 2-3/4-inch shell, and 41-pellets in a 3-inch shell), the much smaller diameter pellets (.24-inch) have much less knock-down power.
These #4 Buck pellets are not much larger than the bullet of a .22 pistol, which can still be deadly, but it certainly doesn’t deliver much of a knock-down punch unless most of the pellets hit your assailant. Yet, some experts swear that #4 is the best choice for self-defense as each shot fills the air with more pellets. That acknowledged, nearly every police department I’ve assisted with training, uses 00-Buck in their tactical shotguns.
A good defensive firearms overview course, taken from a first-rate school such as Texas Republic Firearms Academy (www.TexasRepublicFirearmsAcademy.com), will give you the opportunity to fire various pistols, revolvers and tactical shotguns. Plus, you will be able to actually observe ammunition tests which compare different types of ammunition. Even if you’re not new to firearms, an overview course which focuses on the use of firearms for personal protection is well worth the money.
When training with a shotgun, the cost-per-round (per shot) is generally not much different than a hollow-point handgun cartridge, so training is affordable. Professional training is a big plus, but regular practice is essential.
Because shotguns are so popular, there many different ammunition manufacturers, and dozens of shell types in addition to 00-Buck and #4 Buck. These shell types range from standard variations such as 1-oz rifled slugs, or sabot loads (bullet or rocket-shaped slugs designed for long-range shooting, which provide greater in-flight stability or barricade-penetrating ability).
With a little searching, you can find an assortment of 12-gauge specialty and odd-ball shells, too. This includes such shell types such as tear gas projectiles, less-lethal rubber bullets and bean-bag shells, Cherry Poppers designed to scare bears, Super Rhodesian which combine 00-Buck with birdshot, Buck and Ball shells which hold nine 00-Buck pellets plus one 58-caliber musket ball, Ball and Chain shells that have two balls connected by a steel cable, Flechette shells which contain dozens of 1-inch steel darts, .50BMG bullets in a sabot configuration, Dragon’s Breath to turn your shotgun into a flame thrower, Armor Piercing, and Incendiary shells. Though interesting and with aficionados to be sure, none of these are in common use. There is a reason for this: They simply aren’t as effective for routine self-defense use as the tried-and-true 00-Buck and #4 Buck self-defense loads.
A noteworthy exception is the relatively new PDX1-12 Defender specialty shell made by Winchester. (See cut-away illustration of shell, and shell with projectiles after launch). It is an exceptional hybrid shot shell which contains a 1-oz rifled slug (huge) and 3 metal-plated 00-Buck pellets. Though impressive and innovative, and despite the fact that this delivers unsurpassed stopping power, in my opinion the Winchester PDX1-12 produces too much power and penetration for routine use. At least too much power for in-home self defense use as it can easily penetrate multiple interior walls. For more information: http://www.winchester.com/Products/New-Products/Pages/pdx1-12.aspx
For outdoor use, and for the police or military that use the tactical shotgun for Close Quarter Battle and guard duty, the PDX1-12 is earning its place in their ammunition inventory. Nevertheless, for most people it is a poor choice for family and personal protection in the home.