What shotgun ammo to use for CQB

[DEADTIMEMember]

While in the Army one of the many things I did after being retired from tanking was teach CQB (close quarters battle)  and in CQB the shotgun is still used, its effectiveness makes it one of the kings of the room to room/house to house fight.

During training an investigation was done of just what shotgun load was really the most effective in killing an opponent. The top 2 rounds were found to be #1 buckshot and a combo called buck and ball. #1 buckshot was found to create a 77% greater chance of a single hit creating a fatal wound channel, while buck n ball was found to be terminal with one hit 86% of the time due to massive blood loss, kinetic wave blood vessel disruption and wound channels that are enormous. (Note the above percentages were from center mass hits)

#1 buckshot is probably going to be easier to find and much cheaper to buy but 2 companys do sell buck n ball to the public, it’s Winchester under the 12 gauge PDX line Or Centurion under the multi defense name. The Winchester 12 gauge PDX shell contains one 1 ounce hollow point lead slug and 3 00 buckshot, it will ruin a good day for a bad person.

Heres the rub, if your worried about over penetration I’d go with the #1 buckshot load it wont pass through most sturdy walls and wont enter other homes. If however you are not and you want the bad guy dead and in a very messy way the go for the PDX Buck n ball.

If you can’t find Winchester PDX or want a cheaper round Centurion makes the multi defense which is also a buck n ball load and is almost on parity with the PDX Some even prefer the centurion to the PDX so you might like to try them both.

• This topic was modified 3 months ago by  DEADTIME.

[MaryBMember]

Nearest neighbor is 75 feet away, 00 buck is in my shotgun.

[AGXIIKMember]

Mary B   You’re talking my language.  I love the Centurion Buck N Ball.  I bought a goodly amount and distributed it to my shotgun friends. They love it.  One small issue. It kicks like mule.  Rifled slugs for bears and OO buck for general purpose.  I keep a few bandoliers with a mixed set of shells for general purposes.  thank you for the post

   Sometimes its better to have a 20 gauge for the ladies who don’t like the punch.  20 gauge can be round in decent amounts at several outlets  Big 5 Walmart  Plenty of 7 and 8 shot plus some slugs and OO   I’m thinking of getting a 20 or 16 gauge.

Do you recommend saving shot shells for reloading. I don’t reload but some others do

[MaryBMember]

I reload, to hard to find slugs right now and they are a must for deer hunting. Typical season I use 10 sighting in and then at most 3-5 hunting. I have an ancient Pacific 366 shot shell reloader that is almost as old as I am. Reloading 9mm and 7.62x54r also with a lee 4 hole turret press.

 

Reloads are really cheap for shotgun, maybe 12 cents total if I cast my own buck and slugs. I buy 4 shot for small game/pheasant hunting and reload that also. When my nephews come down they always want me to take them to the trap range, tired of them using up all my ammo, they are getting  a class in reloading! They went thru 250 rounds of 7 1/2 trap loads and 150 rounds of 9mm last time they were here. Also 200 rounds of 7.62x54r but that was from the crate I made them pay for.

[Ed_BMember]

My Mossy 590 is loaded with 7 rounds of Fiocchi #4 buck.  This is a 27 pellet 2.75″ round that gives a great pattern at 10-15 yards but without a lot of over-penetration.  Also have a few rounds of 9-pellet 00 buck and slugs.

[Ordinary JoeMember]

CQB loads need to be determined by the battlefield.  If you are talking interior of a typical home as your battlefield, then #4 buck would probably be your best load in order to cut down on over penetration but still have enough power and shot to create significant wounding.  Clint Smith of Thunder Ranch has a good video out that contains some useful information.  Personally, I would use #5 bird shot in my home for the first 4 rounds, then “00″ for 2 then slug for the final  round.

I have also read that CQB in an urban environment does require a different load pattern.  I believe they use slugs first for door breaching then “00″ for the remainder.

[MaryBMember]

Being the only one in my house other than my 2 cats I am not worried about over penetration. Take them down as fast as possible.

[Silver DollarMember]

If I may add this: #4 buckshot either clad in copper or nickel is supremely effective, but difficult to obtain. A Winchester load marked Luberloy is copper clad. An alternative that is relativly cheap and plentifull is Steel shot.

I prefer #2 steel shot. Velocities on modern waterfowl loads are far superior to any lead load ever sold. Penetration with these loads is unmatched. Foot pounds of knockdown power is (velocity x projectile weight).

Ammunition stored properly has a verrrrrrrrrrry long shelf life. If you can find copper or nickle plated #4 buck, buy it.

[undeRGRoundMember]

Great Info, Y’all!

Another great thread starter for you, DeadTimeZ!

 

Arming Up for my new Mossy590, I also find the Buck and Ball available at

Cabela’s, made by Herters. .65″ lead ball and some 00 Buck. Most of these

exotic loads were just over $1 per shell, not too bad for CQB loads I guess.

Not in this current climate of scare-mongering…  :-(

[Author]

Posts