It’s the Math, Stupid
Find out why buckshot and birdshot are better than handgun, or even .223 Rem. loads for home defense.
By
Kyle Wintersteen (RSS)
September 24, 2012
You’ve likely heard some blowhard rattle off the old cliché “man-stoppers start with four,” a suggestion that anything smaller than .40-caliber is insufficient for personal defense.
Funny thing is, it seems many of those fond of the phrase don’t even carry on a regular basis. If you encounter someone who’s intent on this game of “my gun’s bigger than your gun,” and you aren’t opposed to tricking the simple-minded, turn the tables by asking what his home-defense gun is chambered in. He’ll likely stick his chest out and say “.45 ACP.” That’s when you shake your head and scoff.
“What?” he asks. “What’s in your safe?”
“A shotgun loaded with double-aught buckshot,” you reply with a grin. “Man-stoppers start with 12.”
Then share with him the following information regarding the shotgun’s impressive external ballistics, and compare them with popular handgun and rifle calibers.
Shotgun vs. Handgun
Let’s start with the handgun chambering by which all others seemingly are judged—.45 ACP. Energy at the muzzle of a personal-defense .45 ACP round is usually about 400-450 ft.-lbs., depending on the weight and velocity of the bullet. At the high end, according to company literature, Hornady offers a .45 ACP +P load that sends a 200-grain bullet out of the barrel at a scorching 1,055 fps, resulting in muzzle energy of 494 ft.-lbs. In terms of raw energy, the .40 S&W actually stacks up fairly well to the .45 ACP, while the .357 Mag. exceeds it by a lot, averaging 540-600 ft.-lbs. Now, here’s where our loudmouthed adversary has a bit of a case: The average 9 mm packs 330-350 ft.-lbs., while the .38 Spl. averages just 230-250 ft.-lbs.
Does the 9 mm pack significantly less power than the .45? Perhaps, but it’s negligible when both are compared to a 12-gauge shotgun. A fairly standard personal-defense shotgun load throws nine 00-buckshot pellets at a muzzle velocity of 1,200 fps. Bigger, badder loads are out there, but this one is a good compromise between manageable recoil and maximum lethality. Each .33-caliber pellet weighs .123 ounces (53.8 grains) for a total payload of 1.107 ounces (484.3 grains). Given the pellets’ weight and velocity, we can determine their energy using the formula E = .5 x mass x velocity squared.
Starting with the overall payload of 1.107 ounces, we find an almost frighteningly high energy of 1,547 ft.-lbs. Mr. “Man-Stoppers Start with Four” can keep his 1911, because a single shotgun blast is comparable to four simultaneous rounds of .45 ACP.
The numbers are equally impressive for individual pellets. Each .33-caliber sphere possesses 172 ft.-lbs. of energy—meaning a single pellet strike hits harder than a .32 ACP handgun and not much softer than the popular .380 ACP (about 200 ft.-lbs.). That is awesome lethality, folks.
Shotgun vs. Rifle
There was a time when few considered AR-style rifles suitable for home defense. This was due more to prejudice than design flaw, but thoughts have changed, and recent loads such as Hornady TAP make the black rifle a far more viable home-defense option. In terms of raw energy, the shotgun wins, but the .223 Rem. does stack up pretty well—most loads hover around 1,300 ft.-lbs. at the muzzle. However, the shotgun separates itself from the .223 Rem. in its ability to dump that energy into a close-range target. Today’s rapid-expanding .223 Rem. rounds come close, but I have not seen a ballistic gelatin test in which it outperformed 00 buckshot. And ultimately it is the transfer of energy—whether a car striking a deer or an ounce of shot smacking a burglar’s chest—that kills.
There are plenty of rifle calibers that exceed the shotgun in terms of energy, though. A hot .270 Win. or .30-’06 Sprg. load, for instance, has nearly double the energy of our example shotgun configuration. Heavy rifles are plenty powerful, but can be impractical for close-range combat.
Thoughts on Smaller Pellets
So packed with energy is a 12-gauge buckshot load, some question whether it’s too much for their needs. There’s no such thing as stopping a threat too quickly, but keep this in mind: Buckshot really penetrates, and that is a concern if you have neighbors or children on the other side of the drywall. Folks in these scenarios frequently opt for No. 7 1⁄2 shot to reduce penetration while preserving close-range lethality. Is No. 7 1⁄2 shot sufficient? Let’s consider a 1-ounce load that achieves 1,200 fps. As it exits the muzzle, the overall payload packs a 1,398 ft.-lb. wallop. That, my friends, will stop a bad guy. However, proper patterning is all the more essential with birdshot in a self-defense scattergun, since the smaller pellets create a wider pattern than buckshot at equal distances. And you must center their breadth on the target, because while more pellets exit the gun (350 No. 7 1⁄2 pellets per ounce of shot), individual pellets carry less than 4 ft.-lbs. of energy—a glancing blow may not get the job done.
Still, at 10 yards, I’ll trust my life to birdshot over any handgun caliber—even one that starts with “four.”
Tags: ballistics, birdshot, buckshot, self-defense, shotguns
I have to disagree with this article. While a there is no doubt that a 9 pellet 00 buck load is a man stopper, birdshot has insufficient penetration to be trusted to stop a human aggressor. High energy transfer is not a predictor of how a weapon will preform in the real world. Will bird shot probably kill someone if you shoot them in the chest from 20 feet away? Yes probably will, But that is ideal circumstances and you can’t expect to have ideal circumstances in a home invasion. Your ammunition should be capable of reaching the perpetrators spinal cord from less than ideal angles or behind cover. If your worried about shooting through walls and hurting someone you didn’t mean to, tuff, anything that is going to penetrate to an intruders vital organs will easliy pass through dry wall.
I love the turning the table on those who boast of the power of the ,45 ACP as the ultimate manstopper. However everything fails. Know of a undercover police officer armed with a shotgun loaded with 00 buckshot shooting a suspect twice in the chest and neither shot stopped him. The guy was on crack and the damage just did not bother him.
I have to call B.S. on that story. Unless you provide researchable evidents of the event, then it didn’t happen. Crack cocaine makes people high, but it does not make them super human or amune to the laws of phisics. If you tell the truth without adding drama, then you will be a more credible person.
Sorry pal, but I see your kind of post all the time on the internet and you have no idea what you are talking about. My experience with people on crack or any kind of other drug is that they fall down like bowling pins when meeting any kind of resistance. Their elevated blood pressure, pulse rate, and overall poor health makes their system very fragile and certainly not robust enough to withstand a shotgun blast in the chest.
I’m sorry..what exactly is your experience? I am a former firearm and use of force instructor and have to disagree with your post. Persons under the influence of stimulants normally are more aggressive and will continue the fight after they are addressed with deadly force. I can refer you to several case studies on the topic if you like.
Anyone claiming to be a firearm and use of force instructor and then claiming that someone on some type of stimulant will keep coming after being addressed by deadly force just proves that anyone on the Internet can claim to know anything. Granted the original story could be true if a short barrel was used at any distance and that is a good possibility considering cops aren’t very intelligent. I have an old seriously choked 12 gauge Browning that will blow a 2×6 in half at 25 feet using 2 3/4 shells so take all the drugs you want, you will stop with one centered shot. As far as everyone with there 40′s, 45′s and 357′s vs 9mm, my 9mm 115 +P+ Gold Dots custom loaded to +1400 fps produce 500+ ft lbs. They will drop a deer in it’s tracks. In all this big slow bullet stopping power fad that everyone has jumped on lately there is one thing they don’t understand, the shockwave created by velocity and damage it does. Something learned in 30 years of shooting guns and training in the martial arts. An extremely fast punch to the head from a small fighter will break bones and drop someone like a rock. A slow punch from a big strong fighter will push someone’s head, bruise them and piss them off. Does a 45 have more stopping power than a 7mm mag? Lop sided yes but it’s the point. Slow makes holes, fast makes holes and displacement, really fast makes thing explode from excessive displacement. Ever seen a 50 cal sniper hit at a half mile? Part of the person is thrown through the air like a ragdoll. That would be the part that didn’t explode from the shockwave created by the velocity of the bullet.
Home defense- hallways with corners, doorways and children or elderly to guide, push to safe room…all with a long gun in both hands? Hold a flashlight? No, a shotgun is great if you’re holed up or backed up in a saferoom, but to defend a family you need the mobility and free hand that a good handgun gives. I won’t get into the caliber beef, training and willingness make the difference, not hollowpoints versus birdshot.
Point goes to Mr. DiSilva.
Even qith a pistol-gripped, 18′ barreled Mossberg it’s two hands on the weapon at all times. I have a flashlight/laser attached, but I have a light/laser on the Springfield .45 as well, and have a hand free to pound out 911.
Good arguments. I have always preferred the handgun for home defense because it is compact for tight corners and rooms and leaves a free hand plus shot placement is the most important thing anyways. However, the Kel-Tec KSG completely changed my view. It is compact, has high capacity, and can be carried and fired (but not racked) one handed if needed.
Very good article and also great comments. Both sides are valid even them45 guys. Like they say the best defensive weapon is the one you have in your hands at the time and thats how I personally address this question. 357 snubby is a lot easier to have close by either in a haulster attacked to me or in the night stand by my pillow. The 12 gauge is a little more work to get to but in the same room when I sleep. So 357 when seconds count but Prefer BOTH when possible. This fits MY needs maybe its the wrong way but we all have different needs and situations but thank God there are a LOT of guns to choose from
Oh and my favorite the AR15 will be used last in home defense, Don’t really wanna see how that could affect a prosecutors mind when they clear me of any wrong doing.
having had a career in police work, i can tell you what actually counts is training, training, training. practice practice practice.
where the round/s go is the all important thing. when the stuff hits the fan, if youve had no training or do not practice under stress, you will/may not succeed in your endevor. of course you MIGHT get lucky.
Ok folks, I have to agree with the author about the shotgun being the most effective man stopper, but the revolver or pistol is the easiest to handle. Sometimes our finer sex has to handle the weapon, whereas the shotgun in this case kills on both ends. Thus the handgun would be better for all around home defense. Pray that neither has to be used, but in this day and age,who knows. But training and being effecient with whatever you are using are more important than size.
this is all dependent. I live in a townhome and have a .223 caliber rifle for home defense. the over-penetration for this round is minimal, which keeps my neighbor’s kids safer and allows an effective defense. I am sure Joe Biden did not account for ballistics in his 12-gauge shotgun statement.
I only have one issue after a firefight in the home ,I find myself 800 meters from my target. I will bet my life on a 5.56mm over any OO buck anything..
Whoever did the comparison only emphasize on energy, while did not account distance and accuracy into the equation. I’ll take a 223 ar over any shotguns at 75 yards and beyond. While slug shots
Shells can be effective at 100 yards, 200 yards will be the limit. I’d take a single shot pistol/riffle anyday. There is one more situation shotguns are at a disadvantage. Hostages. Can’t shoot accurate enough to fire behind a hostage
How many of you folks. Claiming my gun is better than your gun, cuz I’m a certified space ranger instructor’ have ACTUALLY been in a sustained firefight?! Cuz ill be straight up with y’all. Sounds like a d*ck measuring contest between y’all.
I’ll bet you’d sh*t your pants if bullets started flyin.
Someone breaking into your house. Can be stopped DEAD with a F’ing pellet rifle!
Never mind a damn street sweeper.
And for the Einstein that wants to start corkin off his 5.56. Yeah good luck with that sizzle chest! Ammunition is different than BRAINS. You only have limited amount of the latter obviously.
Yes a shotgun is best for home defense.
And no you don’t need two hands to operate one. Hence the invention of the semi automatic shotgun.
We all have opinions on which size shotgun is best. But me Ill defend my home and close quarters. With a .410 shell in my Circuit Judge. Oh sure someone will say ‘ it’s only got to such and such range.’
Yeah…. True. But awake, you won’t be gettin that close.