Dumb question 4 U: when/where/why would a person use slugs?

[SrA Scott]

I'm embarrassed to admit I'm clueless about this.

I keep my 12 ga 870 handy as my home defense "tool." All I have to feed it is 00 buck.

I would like to know for what purpose, tactical or otherwise, would a person with a shotgun be best off using slugs?

How do they work and what do they do?

What are they for?

Where, when, and why might they be a better choice than 00?

Thanks for the education, guys...

[Kahuna5150]

Slugs... When we were carrying them, we carried them in addition to the 00 buck that was already loaded. 00 Buck has a spread of .38 caliber pellets. Very good for closer ranges, but not so much at a distance (in most cases). Having a slug round allows you to use the shotgun more like a rifle and to take that shot that is beyond the safe/practical reach of a 00 buck spread.

I would also be more interested in shooting a slug at a vehicle coming toward me than 00 buck. A 1 OZ slug does a MASSIVE amount of damage... Hit a guy with 00 buck (1 or 2 pellets) and he may or may not go down. Hit a guy with a 1 OZ slug and I'm guessing the 1 shot stop ratio is very high. I've seen a slug vs many targets (in training) and I was actually shocked at the damage.

Everyone is afraid of high power rifles .223, 7.62mm, etc. Personally I'd add a shotgun slug right up there with the fear factor..

Kahuna

[SrA Scott]

Mahalo, Kahuna -- I really appreciate the info!

Correct me if I'm in error, but it looks like there's no reason for me to have any slugs, since my 870 is only to protect the home and I'm non-LE, anyway.

Still, I didn't know about them before and it's interesting reading what you posted. Good stuff!

Aloha, :shades:

Scott

[kenoshacop]

SrAScott,

I'd definitely go with slugs over buckshot, even for home defense. Like Kahuna said, your chances of the one stop shot with a slug are much better than with 00 buckshot. Plus you only have to worry about where 1 projectile is going vs. 8 with 00 buck. Kahuna hit the nail on the head with everything else he posted.

-Kenoshacop

[CanineCop]

I use #6 or #7 1/2 bird shot for home defense. At 15 ft the pellets will hit in a mass and cause massive damage. On the other hand pellets that miss the target won't go through 2 layers of sheet rock and still kill anyone. I also have a variety of slugs and buck available. Past 15-20 yards buck becomes unreliable as far as hit potential goes, you put less lead on target, so less stopping power. On the other hand a single pellet can travel 80+ yards and cleanly kill a nun or orphan (all stray rounds kill either nuns or orphans, never people that needed killing anyway).
My 2 cents, John

[DelC]

Even a perp with a bullet proof vest on, when hit in the chest with a slug is going to be dropped to the ground and not get up for awhile, as the slug has a lot of shock impact. Actually, the trauma of the impact could kill him.

The big advantage of .00 buck is you don't have to aim, just point and shot.

[Signal9TN]

Just remember...slugs penetrate ALOT. They have a tendency to go tru things like people, doors, walls, etc...

[Nuke Daddy]

A couple of observations here. First, with slug you only have to worry about 1 projectile at a time. Second, the shotgun with a slug in the hands of a competant marksman is lethal out to about 100yds. Third, buckshot can be effective out to about 40-45 yards (approx. 4 pellets on target) with a shotgun modified by Vang Comp Systems. Fourth, high brass 6 is a good load for around the house. My .02.

Nuke

(Edited by modereator, DelC - Please don't put active links to commercial sites in your post unless someone has asked)

[Sandles2Sidearm]

Game Wardens in our area carry slugs to euthanize (sp?) large game.

[Skipper]

Slugs are used for hunting, and alot of target shooting. Ive heard a slug knock down a 500 pound bear in 2 shots. And me and a buddy went to a local range where we setup a spinning target for plinking with a .22 Well we decided to hit it with the slug, completely destroyed the metal frame with one shot by twisting it.