I tend to get a number of comments on my YouTube videos but this one made me want to investigate it a bit deeper and explain my opinion. So much about home defense things are situational and it’s important to understand the situation. The comment came in from Anthony Gonzales. Thanks for your comment it was a great question.
What type of ammo do you prefer for home defense ?
Anthony Gonzales
In my opinion, there are two factors that help me decide. Those two factors are
- Do you live alone?
- Do you have loved ones living with you?
You might think, Why does this matter? Well, I think if it’s just yourself that you’re protecting it is one type of ammo and if you live with loved ones in your home it’s another type of ammo. Let me explain fully. Typically in the 21st century, most homes are built the same way; interior walls of a house are made up of drywall, 2x4s, and insulation in between. If you have a home invasion while loved ones are in the home you would have to think about where they are located. The last thing that I would want to do is shoot an intruder and a loved one at the same time. I’m not suggesting you are unaware of where your kids or loved ones are sleeping. I am saying in the heat of the moment, life or death, it would be hard to not just point and shoot.
That brings me to my decision on the best ammo for home defense. If you have loved ones in your home I would say 2 3/4″ #8 BirdShot. If you do not have loved ones in the home then 2 3/4″ 00 BuckShot.
The scientific reasons are these: Space and Kinetic Energy
- Space: Unless your house is a mansion your farthest distance from wall to wall is likely less than 25-30ft, or closer to 15-20ft. Basic birdshot will do a lot of damage at those ranges.
- Kinetic Energy: It is much more likely that birdshot rather than 00 Buckshot will be stopped by the walls in your home. This makes Birdshot much more safe in the event of a home invasion.
Those are the reasons to choose birdshot if you’re living with loved ones. If you are living alone then I would step up to the 00 Buckshot. The reason for this is purely knockdown power and lethality. Living alone allows for no area to be off-limits. 2 3/4″ birdshot and 2 3/4″ 00 Buckshot likely have close to the same velocity but the mass of the bb vs the nine 00 Buckshot pellets is where the kinetic energy changes per pellet.
I hope that puts a little bit better perspective on what I think is the best home defense ammo. Do you agree with me or disagree? Comment below what your thoughts are.
Outdoor Jack 