A reason not to use birdshot in a defense shotgun ...
If I was going to try to imagine a guy getting emotionally invested in arguing for birdshot for home defense, I would picture him with a shortened 1897 with a bead sight. You got a safety orange NRA hat somewhere?
______________________________________________ "If the truth shall kill them, let them die.”
Endeavoring to master the subtle art of the grapefruit spoon.
June 17, 2026, 07:23 PM
parabellum
quote:
Originally posted by 1860ARMY: here is what I think you are slinging..
Well, I'll tell ya- if that's true, it's my place to sling it, isn't it?
No, I didn't watch your videos. I don't need a video to confirm or deny something I know quite well. Your position on this matter is preposterous, truly.
And for a guy who was "listening, out..." you have a funny way to stop monitoring this thread.
June 17, 2026, 07:47 PM
trapper189
What about rock salt, besides that it burns up the grass?
June 17, 2026, 08:24 PM
egregore
For that matter, who needs a shotgun?
June 17, 2026, 10:19 PM
oddball
quote:
Originally posted by 1860ARMY: A guy in our department was almost killed by a round fired inside a house that went through the kitchen wall, front door, caught him in the arm pit while he was on the sidewalk...Laughable, yeah I'll bet he is sill laughing...
60
You realize pistol calibers such as 9mm are more prone to over penetration in a house than 5.56, and 9mm is likely the most popular H.D. round? But judging by your posts, of course you don't
"I’m not going to read Time Magazine, I’m not going to read Newsweek, I’m not going to read any of these magazines; I mean, because they have too much to lose by printing the truth"- Bob Dylan, 1965
June 18, 2026, 05:58 AM
RichardC
Hey, guys, I like the silly posts! Can I play too?
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92FStech, "And based on what I saw, a #6 field load isn't right for anybody."
I agree , if your home invader is using 2 1-gallon milk jugs for a tactical vest. Or maybe is a matronly type in a triple-HHH blue denim brassiere.
In either case, if all you've got is your rabbit gun, improvise, adapt, overcome:
Shoot lower. Seriously. Really. No kidding.
June 19, 2026, 10:39 AM
Sigforall
#9 shot is .08 inches. F shot is .22 inches.
Both used as "birdshot".
Also shot isn't just lead and copperplated lead anymore. Heavyshot, Tungston and Bismoth are harder and heavier than lead.
I once killed a 25 pound Tom Turkey at 74 yards with #5 Heavyshot. Also killed a coyote at 25 yards with the same load.
I do prefer #4 buck .24 inches 25ish pellets in my hd 870 police magnum.
"Profanity is the linguistic crutch of the illiterate motherfucker."
June 19, 2026, 04:42 PM
sourdough44
My issue with this thread is not all ‘birdshot’ is equal.
Test out ‘T’ hevishot or HD then report back.
After that we can talk about BB , 2 and the rest.
June 19, 2026, 04:47 PM
sourdough44
I was coyote hunting with a buddy. It was 12 noon so we setup for crows. That included hi power #6 shot. Low & behold a coyote showed up. He was shot in the face with the #6 shot, DRT.
Just saying, one often doesn’t need the textbook solution.
June 19, 2026, 11:13 PM
egregore
quote:
Heavyshot [sic], Tungston [sic] and Bismoth [sic] are harder and heavier than lead.
quote:
Test out ‘T’ hevishot or HD then report back.
Ain't happening. This makes neither tactical nor economic sense. Some of these loads are over $100 a box. To fill my 8+1-round Mossberg would take two of them.
June 20, 2026, 07:19 AM
OttoSig
quote:
Originally posted by sourdough44: I was coyote hunting with a buddy. It was 12 noon so we setup for crows. That included hi power #6 shot. Low & behold a coyote showed up. He was shot in the face with the #6 shot, DRT.
Just saying, one often doesn’t need the textbook solution.
A happenstance encounter with a coyote while bird hunting has no bearing on whether your shotgun should be loaded with bird shot for self defense.
One offs will always happen, that doesn’t change any truth about birdshot being inferior for self defense.
