Lucked into some #4 Buck today at the local fun store.
For self-defense rounds, all I have ever shot are slugs and 00 Buck so I’ll be interested to see how #4 Buck performs. I thinking I might use it with my Versa Max Tactical for home defense based upon the ranges involved and save the 00 Buck and slugs for longer distances.
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April 12, 2021, 08:01 PM
cmartin
Wouldn’t mind trying some in my Shockwave. Regular pump has 00 and slugs.
April 12, 2021, 08:26 PM
BB61
^^^^ That would seem to be an even better platform than mine for 4 Buck based upon how fast this opens up compared to flight control or standard 00 Buck - at least from what I have read.
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April 12, 2021, 08:41 PM
FlyingScot
My 20 Gauge Shockwave has #3 Buck loaded. Honestly at home defense ranges even birdshot is pretty lethal - Paul Harrel had a nice video on different loads, cannot recall if he had 12 gauge #4 buck in that comparison.
Nice score, Federal too!
“Forigive your enemy, but remember the bastard’s name.”
-Scottish proverb
April 12, 2021, 08:42 PM
Sigmund
quote:
Originally posted by cmartin: Wouldn’t mind trying some in my Shockwave...
My 12ga Shockwave has 8+1 of the Federal 04 buck mini-shells, good luck finding any now.
I haven't seen any #4 in forever. Every now and then I'll see some 00. My favorite is Federal flitecontrol #1 but loads like that have completely disappeared.
No one's life, liberty or property is safe while the legislature is in session.- Mark Twain
April 12, 2021, 10:29 PM
MikeinNC
I use #4buck for home defense I have some rounds of it in the maverick in the corner and two rounds in the coachgun behind the headboard(also have some slugs and 00 buck on a shot card)I figure it will do what I need; and quoting Chris Baker at Lucky Gunner, “ A single round of buckshot to the torso almost always results in an immediate change of behavior.” And that works for me.
"Violence, naked force, has settled more issues in history than has any other factor.” Robert A. Heinlein
“You may beat me, but you will never win.” sigmonkey-2020
“A single round of buckshot to the torso almost always results in an immediate change of behavior.” Chris Baker
April 12, 2021, 10:35 PM
RNshooter
quote:
Originally posted by Sigmund:
quote:
Originally posted by cmartin: Wouldn’t mind trying some in my Shockwave...
My 12ga Shockwave has 8+1 of the Federal 04 buck mini-shells, good luck finding any now.
I just found some #4/#1 buck mix mini-shells on Ammoseek. $100 for 20 rounds. Pass.
Bruce
"The designer of the gun had clearly not been instructed to beat about the bush. 'Make it evil,' he'd been told. 'Make it totally clear that this gun has a right end and a wrong end. Make it totally clear to anyone standing at the wrong end that things are going badly for them. If that means sticking all sort of spikes and prongs and blackened bits all over it then so be it. This is not a gun for hanging over the fireplace or sticking in the umbrella stand, it is a gun for going out and making people miserable with." -Douglas Adams
“It is just as difficult and dangerous to try to free a people that wants to remain servile as it is to try to enslave a people that wants to remain free." -Niccolo Machiavelli
The trouble with fighting for human freedom is that one spends most of one's time defending scoundrels. For it is against scoundrels that oppressive laws are first aimed, and oppression must be stopped at the beginning if it is to be stopped at all. -Mencken
April 13, 2021, 09:33 AM
Sigmund
Slight thread drift: Has anyone ever seen snap caps for 12ga mini shells? I cannot find them anywhere, a reloader pal was unable to make some from empty cases.
April 13, 2021, 01:36 PM
RNshooter
I haven't but it would seem simple to cut down plastic snap caps to 1 3/4".
Bruce
"The designer of the gun had clearly not been instructed to beat about the bush. 'Make it evil,' he'd been told. 'Make it totally clear that this gun has a right end and a wrong end. Make it totally clear to anyone standing at the wrong end that things are going badly for them. If that means sticking all sort of spikes and prongs and blackened bits all over it then so be it. This is not a gun for hanging over the fireplace or sticking in the umbrella stand, it is a gun for going out and making people miserable with." -Douglas Adams
“It is just as difficult and dangerous to try to free a people that wants to remain servile as it is to try to enslave a people that wants to remain free." -Niccolo Machiavelli
The trouble with fighting for human freedom is that one spends most of one's time defending scoundrels. For it is against scoundrels that oppressive laws are first aimed, and oppression must be stopped at the beginning if it is to be stopped at all. -Mencken
April 13, 2021, 04:40 PM
94hokie
Have had federal reduced recoil #4 in my Wingmaster for years, that stuff is legit.
April 15, 2021, 08:27 AM
Sig209
Son -- ya done good !!
nice score
that's pretty much the ideal load for home defense (toss up between that and #1 IMO)
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Proverbs 27:17 - As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
April 15, 2021, 11:07 AM
bald1
quote:
Originally posted by Sig209:
that's pretty much the ideal load for home defense (toss up between that and #1 IMO)
Never looked at #4 (not sure why) as I always went for #1. Have a case of Sellier & Bellot 12x2¾ #1 Buck (12 pellets @ ~1215fps). May not the best #1 available but for home defense / close range it is more than up to the task.
As an aside the Winchester Super-X in like size carries 16 pellets @ 1250fps.This message has been edited. Last edited by: bald1,
Certifiable member of the gun toting, septuagenarian, bucket list workin', crazed retiree, bald is beautiful club! USN (RET), COTEP #192
April 15, 2021, 01:55 PM
BB61
quote:
Originally posted by Sig209: Son -- ya done good !!
nice score
that's pretty much the ideal load for home defense (toss up between that and #1 IMO)
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I had my choice of 4Buck, 00 Buck, or slugs. I have plenty of the latter two so I jumped on the 4 Buck. Price was almost pre panic pricing as well.
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April 16, 2021, 11:42 AM
REdwin89
LGS here has #2 Buck, 9 pellets, in 25 rnd boxs. Picked up 2 for my 20 gauge Security pump yesterday. Got some #5 shot also for little target practice.
________________________________________________ "Things are more the way they are today than they've ever been before"
"I don't know a lot but I can zero beat the V's on an R390."
April 16, 2021, 01:27 PM
BB61
What type of pricing did you see?
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April 16, 2021, 01:41 PM
REdwin89
Lets see, the #2 buck was 34.95 a box (25) and the #5 shot was 19.95 also for 25. 9mm was 39.95 for an off brand. New 20ga on the way and this was the only shells I could find. Not many on-line dealers will ship to here.
________________________________________________ "Things are more the way they are today than they've ever been before"
"I don't know a lot but I can zero beat the V's on an R390."
April 16, 2021, 04:41 PM
jhe888
quote:
Originally posted by FlyingScot: Honestly at home defense ranges even birdshot is pretty lethal
I wouldn't ever use birdshot for self defense if I had anything else. You risk a nasty looking, but relatively superficial wound.
Of course, it goes without saying that big lead shot for geese would penetrate better than number 8s, but still. Lead BBs are only .180". Steel F shot is .22" and is steel and penetrates less than lead of the same size. Even a number 4 buck pellet is .24".
I don't want to get shot with any of it, but use buckshot, or slugs.
The fish is mute, expressionless. The fish doesn't think because the fish knows everything.
April 16, 2021, 04:49 PM
bald1
quote:
Originally posted by jhe888: I wouldn't ever use birdshot for self defense if I had anything else. You risk a nasty looking, but relatively superficial wound.
Of what's available, this one strikes me as quite interesting. https://essentialgearoutfitter...ock-salt-ammunition/ "The 12 Gauge 2 3/4″ Rock Salt and Pepper round contains rock salt and Israeli Police pepper compound. The Rock Salt and Pepper provides a very effective less lethal double punch not found in a regular rock salt round. On target contact, the Rock Salt will break the skin with intense stinging and the Pepper Blast will burn like Hell’s fire. It is used as an alternative less than lethal force. It is suitable for animal control and home defense."
All that said I'll stay with my #1 Buck.
Certifiable member of the gun toting, septuagenarian, bucket list workin', crazed retiree, bald is beautiful club! USN (RET), COTEP #192
April 17, 2021, 10:18 PM
Scooter123
First Paul Harrell can be a bit irritating at times and I'm sort of on the fence about whether I like him or think he's a meathead. However his Meat Target tests are both interesting and illustrative. So following are links to two of his video's, one featuring #4 Buckshot and another featuring Birdshot Target loads. I would suggest watching both. Because even a 1 ounce 12 gauge Target load for Skeet can be quite devastating under 20 feet.
