Top 5 Shotgun Ammo Options For Home Defense

Choosing the right home defense shotgun ammo can be the difference between life and death. When it comes to home defense, the ammo you choose is widely considered to be more important than the gun you choose. The main decision you will face will be choosing between 12-gauge , 20-gauge , or 410 bore .

12-Gauge

12-Gauge is the most popular choice among home defenders, bringing more power but also more recoil. 12 Gauge Ammo is generally the most widely available shotgun ammo, meaning the likeliness of finding 12 gauge defense ammo in stock is high.

20-Gauge

20 Gauge defense ammo is a good low-recoil alternative to 12-gauge. Although it packs less of a punch, 20 gauge ammo is still more than adequate for home defense.

410 Bore

410 Bore ammo is best kept to specialized firearms like the Taurus Judge or Mossberg Shockwave.

Shot Types

The next decision will be deciding between buckshot, slug, or a combination of shot types.

  • Slugs – Slug ammo offers the most energy potential among shotgun ammo types. Although it does carry the most energy, a slug is only a single projectile and will not have a spread like other ammo types.
  • Buckshot – Buckshot offers the benefits of both single projectiles and traditional shot. Buckshot offers big enough projectiles for deep penetration while retaining the benefit of spread in a defense situation.
  • Combination Shot – Combination shot offers the benefits of slugs, buckshot, and other types of shot in one shell. Most loads include a slug followed by buckshot or other shot types to give the ultimate blend of power and spread that gives confidence to home defenders.
  • Less Lethal – Less Lethal Shotgun Ammo provides plenty of power to stop and deter intruders or wild game while providing a less lethal alternative. These loads are intended to offer maximum protection without having to use lethal force. You'll generally find that rubber ammunition is the most common style of less lethal ammo, generally featuring rubber buckshot and slugs.

Here is our list of the Best Home Defense Shotgun Ammo. You’ll find products from trusted brands like Hornady, Winchester, and Reaper Defense.
1

Hornady Critical Defense 12 Gauge Buckshot Ammo 2-3/4"

"When Performance is Critical, You Need Critical Defense"

Hornady Critical Defense Ammunition 12 Gauge was purpose built for personal protection to ensure proper functioning in semi-auto and pump shotguns every single time .. Critical Defense Buckshot Ammunition is loaded with Hornady's Versatite wad technology that delivers tight patterns every time the trigger is pulled without any modification to your gun.

What Customers Are Saying

Much tighter pattern then standard 00

I did some pattern testing today comparing the Critical Defense 12 gauge to a standard military 00 round. I was using a Mossberg 500a with an 18.5" cylinder choke. At 7 yards the Critical Defense punched through the target making a single hole, the shot and wad had not yet separated. The Mil 00 created a 5" pattern at the same distance. At a distance of 10 yards the Critical Defense opened up to a 3.5" pattern. So if you have an 18" or 20" home defense shotgun that you want to pattern like it was fired from a longer barrel this is a good round. Keep in mind what you are going to be using your shotgun for, if you are likely to be in a close quarters confrontation you may prefer a standard pattering round. In a situation where you may need to take a 10 yard or longer shot this round should be more effective, especially if you are using a shotgun with actual sites.
- Jon, 9/25/2013

About Hornady

“Ten bullets through one hole” is the philosophy that brought Hornady® Manufacturing from a two-man operation in 1949, to a world-leading innovator of bullet, ammunition, reloading tool and accessory design and manufacture today. Change is their constant and daily challenge. They outperform their competitors by ensuring the products they make are the ones their customers need right now, and accurately predict what they’ll want in the future. They recognize trends, and respect when to leave well enough alone. Their workforce includes an ample number of hunters and competitive shooters, as well as veterans and former law enforcement officers. At Hornady® Manufacturing, ammunition is more than their livelihood. It’s a major part of their daily life.

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2

Hornady Critical Defense 410 Polymer Tip FTX Slug and Two Round Balls 2-1/2" Box of 20

Delivering effective shot patterns that place all projectiles on a man-sized target at seven yards, the Critical Defense 410 features a unique Triple Defense projectile column consisting of two 35 caliber round balls topped with one non-jacketed FTX slug.

Unique to the Critical Defense 410, the 41 caliber FTX slug actually engages the gun's rifling, and contacts the target nose-on, enabling the patented Hornady Flex Tip technology to assist in expansion for greatly enhanced terminal performance. Each 35 caliber round ball is made of high antimony, cold swaged lead to resist deformation and provide excellent penetration.

Critical Defense 410 Triple Defense - you be the JUDGE!

 

What Customers Are Saying

This shell will take down larger animals.

We have problems with wild dogs running in packs at night, our oldest miniature mare (Maggie) developed a habit of staying away from the heard and unprotected. The dogs got to her one night, by the the time we found her early next morning, she had suffered too much damage (from behind). Vet said we had to put her down, the sooner the better. Only gun we had with us at the time was a single shot .410, and all Dad had was bird shot and 000 buck. I had one of these new shells in my pocket (bought for my Judge pistol) planning to show it to Dad and suggested we try it over the others cause we didn't want to prolong her pain any longer than necessary. With the barrel just a couple inches from her head just behind the ear, one shot and she dropped dead instantly. I don't think she felt a thing other than injuries the dogs had done. So, if you wonder if these will take down a larger animal such as a deer or large dog, the answer is yes. This is pretty much what we keep on hand in the trucks now Dad with a C...
- Ricky the prepared., 8/16/2017

About Hornady

“Ten bullets through one hole” is the philosophy that brought Hornady® Manufacturing from a two-man operation in 1949, to a world-leading innovator of bullet, ammunition, reloading tool and accessory design and manufacture today. Change is their constant and daily challenge. They outperform their competitors by ensuring the products they make are the ones their customers need right now, and accurately predict what they’ll want in the future. They recognize trends, and respect when to leave well enough alone. Their workforce includes an ample number of hunters and competitive shooters, as well as veterans and former law enforcement officers. At Hornady® Manufacturing, ammunition is more than their livelihood. It’s a major part of their daily life.

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3

G2 Research R.I.P. 12 Gauge Fragmenting Slug 2-3/4" 303 Grain Box of 5

G2 Research is a premium self defense, and environmentally conscious defense/hunting ammunition manufacturer. G2 Research's vast understanding of material properties and utilization of complex geometries renders predictable and consistent results that maximize the effectiveness of its projectiles. The G2 Research R.I.P. (Radically Invasive Projectile) features a unique petaled-trocar design which gives it the ability to not only penetrate deep into a target but also fragment in fluid. Upon entering a gel or fluid the petals break from the base and create individual wound channels as the base continues on course. This penetration and separation delivers not only a maximum shock wave but wound path as well. In years of ammunition design there has always been a trade off between mass and velocity to accomplish the goal of effective stopping power. G2 Research added a third variable with the patented trocar design. The surgically designed trocars offer better barrier penetration thus maintaining a higher velocity when hitting a target, transferring more energy into the target.

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4

Federal Premium Personal Defense Force X2 12 Gauge Buckshot Ammo 2-3/4"

Federal Premium Personal Defense Ammunition is designed just for personal protection. The loads feature increased velocity and energy compared to standard shotgun loads. These loads also feature excellent penetration and stopping power making them a top choice for home defense shotguns and law enforcement use.

Protect yourself and your family if the unthinkable happens. Our variety of reliable buckshot loads use specialized payloads to produce patterns and penetration optimized to meet the unique needs of self-defense situations.

Features

  • Copper-plated shot
  • Buffering prevents deformation
  • Size and weight of buckshot and deformation of soft lead dissipate energy as the payload passes through walls, minimizing danger to bystanders

What Customers Are Saying

Well designed for personal defense, especially indoors.

This is my staple ammo for Personal defense. I tested it at 21 feet (outdoors) and it consistently had an approximate 8-inch pattern.
- Al, 12/19/2022

About Federal Premium

Federal Cartridge Company, as we know it today, started in 1922 when Charles Horn purchased Federal Cartridge and Machine out of receivership. Federal’s first products were shotshells, followed by rimfire in 1924. In 1976, Federal Premium was launched, combining boutique bullets with premium propellants and nickel-plated brass to create the “best of the best” in centerfire ammunition. Over a century later, MidwayUSA offers a complete spectrum of Federal ammunition, ranging from shotshell offerings like: Top-Gun, High Over All, Game Loads, Gold Medal Grand, and Prairie Storm; and centerfire rifle ammunition such as Fusion, Power-Shok, Gold Medal Match, Meat Eater; to centerfire pistol ammunition: HST, Punch, and American Eagle. Federal continues to manufacture rimfire ammo in the form of AutoMatch, Champion, and Game-shok. Federal supports handloaders with standard: small pistol, small rifle, large pistol, large rifle, 209 shotshell primers, and the Gold Medal-series match primers.

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5

Lightfield Home Defender Less Lethal 12 Gauge Rubber Slug 2-3/4" 130 Grain Box of 5

The Home Defender Rubber Slug load is intended for serious defensive use. The Rubber Slug is the most energetic of the Home Defender loads. Its rigid design will not deform on impact . The Rubber Slug will hold its velocity and energy over greater distances and has greater penetration potential. Though the Home Defender line of products is geared towards ‘room distance’ encounters, the Home Defender Rubber Slug load is effective at much greater distances.

 

Some level of injury should be expected and can range from serious injury or death to painful welts or bruising. Results can vary based on the weapon used, distance to target, clothing, body weight and part of the body hit.

 

For Cylinder or Improved Cylinder bores ONLY.

What Customers Are Saying

I would for home defense.

Bought these as less lethal option, test fired at 15 yds. & 30 yds. into new 1/2 inch chip board target back, penetrated both shots with ease, very lite recoil and accurate, but I would not consider them as less lethal. Would be very good for home defense.
- James, 2/8/2019 Shop Now