Penetration of Birdshot?

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arizonaicedtea

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In a situation where (god forbid) I would have to eliminate someone who was about to murder me or my family in cold blood (botched robbery, home invasion, roaming drug addicts, you name it) I was wondering if birdshot would be an acceptable substitute for buckshot. My worry with buckshot would be over-penetration. I'm going of the logic here that since you are attempting to hit the targets vitals, and more projectiles into a small area=more potential for incapacitation, that birdshot would (I assume) not exit out of the rear of the target with any sort of velocity. My only concern is that the shot may not penetrate to the heart, lungs etc and that some tweaking drug addict could then kill the people I love.
Please understand I am not the type of person looking to shoot people who invade my home, but if its them or me I would like something that would do the job without a fuss.
Any answers/input very much appreciated.
 
Bird shot will take a rabbit's head off at 6 feet...

At close range I imagine it would be more than fatal on a person. However, I wouldn't count on it not penetrating walls or doors within a house.
 
saw a guy shot in the back at about 20 ft with 7,1/2 shot few years ago.
Did not kill him him or penetrate too deep but he sure was screaming in pain alot.he wa s not too interested in anything but getting an ambulance
One criminal shooting another criminal,not a big loss
but as the other guy said it would be better than throwing rocks
 
The idea in a self defence situation is to stop an intruder/attacker as quick as possible!

Birdshot will not do that unless you hit him in the face leaving opportunity for the attacker to hurt you or your family.

Get something heavier than birdshot even lighter buckshot.

If birdshot is all you have then by all means go for it and if penetrating walls is a big concern than it might be about the least likely to overpenetrate, but it is not ideal.

There are many factors that can change things such as the mental state of the intruder, but its hard to believe an intruder would keep coming at you after taking a load of birdshot anywhere.
 
OK, thanks for the answers everyone. I read through a section of 'Understanding firearms ballistics' and it more fully understand the penetrating and wounding characteristics of buckshot and birdshot.
I was under the impression that the small pellets would reduce 'stopping power' (or whatever you want to call it) but increase likelihood of a pellet striking the heart. Reading the book though (written by Robert A Rinker) I understand that this was wrong.
Thanks everyone!
 
No birdshot will provide the minimum of 12" penetration in 10% ballistic gelatin that is required to ensure that major organs will be reached from different angles.
 
At the range you are thinking of (< 20 feet (7 yards) in most houses) #2 or even #4 steel/lead shot would be more than enough to stop a man. At ranges under 10 feet, it would still essentially be entering the intruder in a group almost as a "slug" as it would not have had the time to start spreading out into a traditional pattern, but would likely (my own assumption here) not exit with any usable energy as each pellet would have to make it's own path through the body.
 
Other "situations" could call for you to shoot through a wall or door...

So, "over-penetration" worries could become "thank fvckin' gawd i didn't load my shottie with birdshot today!!!"
 
IMagius said:
At the range you are thinking of (< 20 feet (7 yards) in most houses) #2 or even #4 steel/lead shot would be more than enough to stop a man. At ranges under 10 feet, it would still essentially be entering the intruder in a group almost as a "slug" as it would not have had the time to start spreading out into a traditional pattern, but would likely (my own assumption here) not exit with any usable energy as each pellet would have to make it's own path through the body.
Click to expand...

Just because the pellets are travelling together does not mean they will behave like a solid slug!!!

Penetration is about sectional density and birdshot even in a tight pattern doesn't have the sectional density to penetrate like a bullet!

Just because it makes a nice small hole in paper doesn't mean its gonna do that to a person.

Like I said there are situations where I would say it's reasonable to use birdshot, and the likelyhood of an intruder continuing to come at you after being hit with a round of birdshot is next to none, but it is not going to stop someone dead in there tracks like a slug or buckshot will.
 
Just for fun, what happens when the badguy is wearing a heavy leather jacket or even a denim jacket?

I have shot grouse at less than 10m and still not had much penetration into the breasts. The grouse flap around and struggle for a bit despite the birdshot. That is shooting slightly high of course but still doesn't boast much for penetration of birdshot.
 
And another thing to think about is wether or not you are shooting to kill or not?

In this country that is the only thing that is acceptable and only when your life is in immediate danger!

Hitting someone with birdshot and having them live to testify against you might not be a good idea!
 
mlehtovaara said:
And another thing to think about is wether or not you are shooting to kill or not?

In this country that is the only thing that is acceptable and only when your life is in immediate danger!

Hitting someone with birdshot and having them live to testify against you might not be a good idea!
Click to expand...

I didn't realize it wouldn't kill, but thats what my intention would be in that sort of situation. Shooting to wound could give the implication that you didn't think your life was in enough danger to warrant deadly force, and I have a feeling that would end badly.
 
http:/ www.theboxotruth.com/docs/theboxotruth.htm

This guy Does numerous tests, each one ends the same. If you want to stop/drop a "Bad Guy" you shouldn't use Birdshot.
 
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