Even if the only available firearm in your home is your great grandfather’s 50-year-old single-barrel shotgun, you have one of the most versatile guns ever made. Not only can they be effective in intimidating an intruder, but shotguns are also incredibly reliable and deliver a powerful punch, even from a significant distance.

Why A Shotgun for Home Defense Is A Great Choice

A traditional 12-gauge pump shotgun, specifically, is one of the best multi-purpose firearms that you can own—and it requires minimal operational skill.

While it can be used for a variety of situations, a basic 12-gauge pump-action shotgun is really good at stopping a threat within relatively close range. Additionally, these bring impressive firepower to a fight with their detachable box magazine and an extended magazine tube.

If you intend to only whip out your shotgun in a home-defense situation, you won’t need to worry about the concealability factor. In the comfort of your own private residence, the priorities of reliability and effectiveness outweigh the need for discreteness.

Though compact handguns are convenient, they are inferior to shotguns in a few categories: tactical advantage, load versatility, and ability to fire multiple projectiles. Shotguns cast a broader shot pattern, increasing your chances of taking down an intruder.

Whether you already own a shotgun or are confused about what ammunition to load, we have compiled a list of some of the best shotgun ammo for home defense purposes.

What Makes Shotgun Ammo Special?

Ammunition is a critical consideration when using your shotgun for home defense. Because shotguns can fire a variety of standard and specialty ammunition, each type is geared toward dramatically different usage scenarios.

For example, slug rounds and buckshot ammunition would be more fitting for home defense than birdshot ammunition. However, because shotguns can work well with several different ammo types, you can feed your shotgun any load, depending on your preferences.

The world of shotgun ammo may seem confusing with so many kinds of shells, but the two main types of shotgun shells you need to be aware of are shotshells and slugs.

The most fundamental difference between these two types is that shotshells consist of multiple pellets inside the shotgun shell body (aka the “hall”), while slugs contain one solid projectile.

There are three things to consider when shopping for shotgun shells: gauge, length, and shot size. The gauge defines how large the shotgun shell is by either the diameter or the circumference.

Length is pretty self-explanatory as it is literally the length of the round from top to bottom.

Finally, the shot size is how you can determine how big the inner pellets are. A general rule of thumb for understanding and choosing shot size is to remember “the larger the number, the smaller the pellets.”

What’s the Difference Between Buckshot, Birdshot, and Slugs?

• Buckshot ammo holds bigger and fewer pellets. This type is generally used for hunting and is an excellent choice for pairing with a home defense shotgun.

• Birdshot ammo contains hundreds of tiny pellets that quickly spread out once they exit the muzzle when fired.

• Slugs are a cartridge filled with a single heavy piece of lead that is typically the size of the outer barrel. Instead of firing in bunches, as buckshot and birdshot ammunition do, slugs are shot individually.

Buckshot Ammo for Home Defense

Regarding home defense, many believe that loading your shotgun with buckshot is the best ammo you can use, because of the pellet size. Buckshot pellets are substantial and usually travel with enough velocity to stop an intruder.

Buckshot ammo was named after the primary target for which it was designed (“buck” being the operative word here). In other words, it was engineered for hunting large game, such as deer.

The size of the pellets amplify the lethality of the round, making it a strategic choice for home defense use.

These shells will be deadly for humans and deer. Should you find yourself up against an even “bigger” intruder, such as a bear, this is the ammo you want to use. Prepare to defend your property from bear intruders by stocking up on buckshot ammunition.

Best Buckshot Ammo:

• Aguila High Velocity 12 Gauge
• Fiocchi Defense Dynamics 12 Gauge

Best Slugs for Home Defense

There’s a reason why the police select slugs as their ammunition of choice when firing at a far distance. Shotgun slugs contain a large chunk of metal, as opposed to pellets.

Slugs are a deadly and effective option for guarding your home, but make sure you test the round in your weapon and verify that it cycles and chambers correctly before relying on it as your defense weapon. “Weaker” ammo that cycles fully is more effective than powerful ammo that’s jammed.

Some slugs to consider:

• Aguila Minishell 12 Gauge 1-¾” ⅞ OZ Slugs
• Winchester Super X 20 Guage 2-¾” ¾ OZ Rifled Hollow Point Lead Slug

Other Great Loads for Shotgunners

When choosing ammo for training with your shotgun, determine what kind of target shooting you’ll be doing. Whether it’s paper, steel, clay, or explosive targets, any target practice will help you fine-tune your skills in shotgun shooting.

You’d be wise to become a well-versed box reader to ensure the ammunition you purchase works with your gun.

Range Ammo:

Aguila Competition Lite 12 Guage ammunition will pair perfectly with your 12 gauge. Use this to get comfortable with your shotgun. The spread-out projectiles hit different distances, with the spread being dependent on barrel length and the choke used. The shorter the barrel, the wider the spread.

Specialty Slugs:

Federal PowerShok 10GA slugs provide accuracy and power at a bargain price.

Is Your Shotgun Ready for Home Defense?

Alright, fellow gunsmen, now you know what to fill your shotgun ammo inventory with. Remember, your ammo arsenal is as vital as the firearm itself.

Odds are, your home defense shotgun has a 12 gauge barrel, which makes the ammo search much more straightforward.

We believe that buckshot ammunition is the best choice for a tactical scenario. Buckshot is versatile, capable, and has an effective range. Testing through police and military agencies has been very effective against human-sized threats.

If a shotgun becomes your go-to for home defense, make sure to feed your firearm and protect your home from intruders.