Comments on: Shotgun Ammo: The Problem with No. 4 Buckshot for Home Defense

By: Greg

Greg — Sun, 18 Jan 2026 20:57:07 +0000

One problem is that #4 buckshot may over-penetrate walls.
Next point, #4 buckshot may under-penetrate bad guys.
That is confusing to me. How can you have it both ways? If it can over-penetrate walls, then it could surely penetrate a bad guy at home defense ranges. A slingshot with a metal ball can be deadly at those ranges. We are talking about a weapon that kicks like a mule here and small buckshot is not effective on humans at close ranges?

By: Steve Bean

Steve Bean — Sun, 30 Nov 2025 21:30:07 +0000

In reply to Leam. one serving each with 00 buck is sufficient....

By: Scott

Scott — Fri, 28 Nov 2025 15:59:45 +0000

I agree with the authors concerns over more pellets equals more chances of an unwanted hit. But his testing is at 15 yards (45 feet) and how much energy is a #4 buck pellet carrying vs a 12 ga pellet at that distance? Enough to get through the 8 layers of drywall BEYOND 45 feet? My closest neighbor’s home is 150+ feet from my home and I seriously doubt #4 buck will be dangerous at that distance after exiting my homes walls. And since I only have myself and my wife to account for at home, I will stick with my 20 ga and #4 buck. Otherwise great article.

By: TDHofstetter

TDHofstetter — Thu, 27 Nov 2025 01:19:57 +0000

Is there some particular reason “.40 cal Booger” is still permitted to post here?

By: TDHofstetter

TDHofstetter — Thu, 27 Nov 2025 01:19:10 +0000

In reply to SemperFido. 10 feet isn't even all the way across the room. 45 feet is a perfectly normal range at which to shoot an invader in your house.

By: TDHofstetter

TDHofstetter — Thu, 27 Nov 2025 01:17:30 +0000

In reply to Void. I live in a nearly square house (5/4 cape) and 30 feet is perfectly realistic orthogonally. Diagonally, a 30-foot house turns into a 45-foot house.

By: TDHofstetter

TDHofstetter — Thu, 27 Nov 2025 01:15:15 +0000

In reply to Leam. You won't have much time to do that. Best just load up with #4 and be done with it. Trust me, chances are very, very good you'll have multiples. Crackhead and meth freaks are like that.

By: TDHofstetter

TDHofstetter — Thu, 27 Nov 2025 01:13:09 +0000

In reply to Mark Freburg.

I’ve looked at #1 buckshot loads. They’re limiting. If you use shot cups (you probably do) in 2-3/4″ shells, you’re limited to 7/8oz, 1-1/8oz, and 1-3/8oz loads. There just aren’t any good ways to stack pellets for any other load weights. Both #4 and #00 give you four choices, at least… of which the biggest / baddest one for 2-3/4″ shells is a full 1-1/2oz load. Even in brass hulls with buit-up wad columns, you still have a lot of choices with #00… less with #4. But then… I load #4 in shot cups. That’s 30 .25 caliber pellets downwind compared to your (at most) 14. My magazine contains 30 shots, yours contains 14. I’d say I have the advantage.

By: TDHofstetter

TDHofstetter — Thu, 27 Nov 2025 01:00:09 +0000

The 12-inch penetration standard, first off, is for fat boy targets. You’re not likely to have fat boy targets entering your house, holding their nine em ems horizontally and bellowing at you to get down on the ground. Instead, you’re going to have crackheads and meth babies coming in all hot, and they’re going to weigh about 120 pounds and be about 6 inches thick.

Second, you’re totally failing to take into consideration the fact that you don’t have to hit “heart, brain, and spinal cord” to make the bad guys sit down and quit fighting. Have you ever had an arterial bleed? I have. It happens FAST. You make a big red pool in no time at all, and you lose strength and energy and motivation just as fast. Now guess where all your arteries are? That’s right. They’re inside your skin. Perhaps comedically, two of your most vulnerable arteries are in your thighs, below your parka. How thick are your thighs? Are they thicker than 20″? If not, then 10″ penetraction will reach to, or past, centerline… making a vast puddle out of your femoral arteries. You know how fast a person shot in the femoral artery sits down and quits fighting? Clue: it happens before you can say “GET DOWN ON THE GROUND FACING AWAY FROM ME M— F—“.

What’s more, those 27 #4 buckshot pellets give you three times greater likelihood of nicking a femoral (or other, depending upon where you aim) artery than the nine #00 pellets give you.

“Don’t hit below the waist” HMPH. Stop being polite and survive.

By: Mark Freburg

Mark Freburg — Fri, 21 Nov 2025 21:26:07 +0000

As I read this I grew more and more frustrated. Back when I was in law enforcement my agency issued No.1 Buck, but here we are comparing No.4 with 00 Buck. Finally, at article’s conclusion, there is a mention of No.1 Buck. I tested No.1 Buck in my own defensive shotgun and stocked up my ammo cabinet with it decades ago. You won’t find me using 00 OR #4 Buck.