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Hello, I just bought a Remington 870 12 gauge express home defense with some Hornady Zombie Max 00 z-shot shells for now. But what would you prefer to have for defense?

Also any tips or advice about the ammo or anything like that is always appriaciated.
Thanks.

Any 9 count 00 buck and/or slugs will work. Mine has always been loaded with rounds staggered between those two. Keep it chamber empty, trigger pulled, and safety off. Then, simply racking a round puts it in firing condition.

I like #4 Buckshot. I feel confident that it will stop anyone within my walls. While perhaps not so deadly to my neighbors. i have a couple of neighbors pretty close

Federal TACTICAL 00 buck with flight control wad. Patterns half the size of conventional 00 buck (4-5 inch spread at 15 yards vs 8-9 inch spread from Remington and Winchester basic loads)

Missing your intended target with one or two pellets out of 9 from a single shotgun trigger pull is just as potentially lethal to innocents and property as missing one or two shots with a 9mm.

Edit: correction to "tactical" not "premium" buckshot.

Chris wrote:Any 9 count 00 buck and/or slugs will work. Mine has always been loaded with rounds staggered between those two. Keep it chamber empty, trigger pulled, and safety off. Then, simply racking a round puts it in firing condition.

I don't do the slug thing. 00 buckshot only.

I prefer one in the chamber safety on myself if it is in the house. I do not buy into the racking before use. I just want them to see the flash before their lights go out.

When the grandkids come over I safe all weapons.

Any other time the chamber is empty. I carry a shotgun in my vehicles. Cheapo but reliable.

Anygunanywhere

These days I keep 4 rounds of 00 buck in the magazine, followed by 4 rounds of slugs. One in the chamber and similar to above, the last two sounds I want them to hear are the "snick" of the safety going off, and the "KA" without ever hearing the "BOOM."

Remington 870 with 00 Buck completely loaded and ready to go. I have a side saddle with 6 more rounds of 00 Buck at ready. I keep one in the chamber. The first sound they hear will not be me racking it because it is chambered. The second bad guy might here it rack.

My wife keeps her Remington 870 20ga with 00 Buck in the same condition.

I have the first round bird shot, 4 buckshot after that. Chamber empty. This is not a primary weapon but, I do believe in the intimidation factor of a shotgun slide racking.

Topbuilder wrote:I have the first round bird shot, 4 buckshot after that. Chamber empty. This is not a primary weapon but, I do believe in the intimidation factor of a shotgun slide racking.

Please don't take this the wrong way, but IMNSHO the intimidation factor is over rated, kind of like warning shots or racking the slide of your handgun.

Anygunanywhere

Remington 870 with 18.5 inch cylinder choke barrel loaded with S&B 9-pellet 00 buck. It takes a little distance, such as across a large room, for the pellets to start spreading out, so you still have to aim. NEVER believe that Hollywood junk about it being a "scattergun". I really wish I had someplace to properly pattern the thing because every shotgun is a little different with each load. But, for now, I go with what I've read and seen for myself in the past.

2/0 Buck indoors. Outdoors, slugs.

Topbuilder, you should rethink the birdshot. Birdshot is for bird hunting. Would you put a rubber bullet as your first round in a handgun? Racking the slide on a shotgun only intimidates those who would be intimidated by a loudly spoken command. A determined bad guy or one on drugs will not be deterred by sounds or birdshot.

A-R wrote:Federal Premium 00 buck with flight control wad. Patterns half the size of conventional 00 buck (4-5 inch spread at 15 yards vs 8-9 inch spread from Remington and Winchester basic loads)

Missing your intended target with one or two pellets out of 9 from a single shotgun trigger pull is just as potentially lethal to innocents and property as missing one or two shots with a 9mm.

I agree...I've tested this ammo and it is awesome. The Hornady equivalent with Versatite wad is good too and available at Academy (the Federal flight control is harder to find): http://www.midwayusa.com/product/116511 ... cm_vc=OBv1

is $1.2/rd a fair price, or let us say competitive for good self-defense rd for a shot gun?

Beiruty wrote:is $1.2/rd a fair price, or let us say competitive for good self-defense rd for a shot gun?

A buck twenty is pretty high. If you plan to shoot enough to really know what your gun will do. The 15 packs of Winchester or Remington 2/0 buck at Wallyworld is about 60 cents a shot. Try different brands until you find the one that patterns the tightest and go with that.

I don't use the gauge as primary home defense, but it is loaded, patrol ready, aka none in the chamber, but ready to rack a round and go. Sleeve on butt stock with more ammo. I use low recoil Federal LE 00 buckshot. It kicks less the bird shot.