The Best 12 Gauge Ammo for Defense

If there is one firearm in a home, it’s likely a 12-gauge shotgun. Powerful and versatile, this gauge has become the American standard for deer, upland bird, turkey, and even small game.

With countless load options, a trusty twelve has another purpose: home defense. Whether you own a pump action bird gun or a semi-automatic defense shotgun, your 12 gauge easily becomes a home protector.

When using a 12 gauge for home defense, load selection is critical. Here are our picks for the best 12-gauge ammo for home defense:

Best Overall: Hornady Critical Defense, 8 pellet 00 buckshot, 2-3/4 inch shell

Most Devastating: Remington AccuTip 385-grain Bonded Sabot Slug

Top Value: Sterling, 9 pellet 00 buckshot, 2-3/4 inch shell

Low Recoil Defense Option: Federal Force X2, 6 pellet 00 buckshot, 1-3/4 inch shell

“Less-Lethal” Load: Sellier & Bellot Rubber Ball, 2-5/8 inch shell

Best Overall 12-Gauge Ammo for Home Defense

Hornady Critical Defense 8 Pellet 00 Buckshot

Load: Eight 00 buckshot pellet
Shell length: 2-3/4 inch
Muzzle velocity: 1,600 fps

Advantages:

Blazing muzzle speed of 1,600 feet-per-second
2-3/4 inch shell brings well-balanced power
00 buckshot is an ideal threat-stopping projectile

Disadvantages:

High cost compared to many home-defense and deer-hunting loads.

Various 12-gauge pellets sizes will be effective for home defense, but the 00 buckshot is considered the ideal load. This shell in particular has been specially loaded to deliver effective power and penetration to a threat, and it can perform without needing modification to your shotgun.

This Hornady shell is loaded with a special wad that ensures a tight pattern from barrel to target. The round maintains a pattern smaller than an adult torso with 25 yards, creating a threat-stopping impact at moderate shotgun distances.

The only notable disadvantage is the price, as it costs two to three times as much as a similar buckshot load. However, if you are using the load for personal, family, and home defense, the reliability, speed, and power is well worth the cost.

Most Devastating 12 Gauge Load for Home Defense

Remington 385-grain AccuTip

Load: 385-grain AccuTip sabot Slug
Shell length: 2-3/4 inch
Muzzle velocity: 1,850 fps

Advantages:

One of the largest slugs you’ll find on the market
Extremely fast for a shotgun round

Disadvantages:

Heavy load with fast speed means over-penetration and high recoil

With a 385-grain slug, this 12-gauge round is one of the most capable and destructive loads you’ll ever fire. Leaving the barrel at 1,850 feet per second, the heavy slug has a muzzle energy of 2,926 foot-pounds, making it more powerful than many popular rifle cartridges.

In competition handgun shooting, there is a concept called “power factor,” which seeks to gauge a round’s recoil potential and difficulty. The measurement uses a round’s muzzle speed and grain weight to make a specific calculation; most 9mm rounds have a power factor of roughly 130, while .40 S&W loads are usually around 150 to 160. Using the calculation (grain weight x muzzle speed / 1,000), we see that this 12-gauge load has a power factor of 712!

If over-penetration is at all a concern, this is not the 12-gauge load you should be using. However, if you want the most destructive force from a shotgun, one that will stop virtually any threat, this is the best option for your home-defense shotgun.

Best Value for 12 Gauge Home Defense

Sterling, 9 pellet 00 buckshot, 2-3/4 inch shell

Load: Nine pellets of 00 buckshot
Shell length: 2-3/4”
Muzzle velocity: 1,296

Advantages:

Excellent price, especially when ordered in bulk
Nine 00 buck pellets deliver effective ballistics

Disadvantages:

Less speed and power than other defense options

Unlike brands such as Remington, Winchester, and Hornady, Sterling is a relatively unknown name in the firearms industry. However, this Turkish company provides excellent ammunition for a variety of purposes, including home defense.

Often the well-known brands (Winchester, Federal, etc.) provide the cheapest ammunition, but these 00 buckshot loads are available for a fraction of the typical cost. If you want to stock up on deer-hunting or turkey ammo, but also want something that can be used for home defense, a 200-round box of Sterling 12-gauge ammo is a fine choice.

Best 12 Gauge Low-Recoil Defense Load

Federal Force X2, 6 Pellet 00 Buckshot, 1-3/4” Shell

Load: 00 buckshot
Shell length: 1-3/4”
Muzzle velocity:1,245 fps

Advantages:

Light recoil makes shooting manageable
Far less chance for over-penetration
Shorter length means more shells can be loaded into a tube magazine

Disdvantages:

Less stopping power
May struggle to cycle in some shotguns; weapon modifications could be required

If you want something light but effective, yet still want to use your trusted 12 gauge for home defense, this is a great option. The 1-3/4 inch shell is smaller than most options, and it packs six pellets instead of the typical eight or nine. This means lighter recoil and less chance for over-penetration.

While the load only pack six pellets, each 00 buckshot is designed to segment. This creates two wound channels for each pellet; 12 in total when the pellets perform as intended.

Of course, with reduced recoil comes reduced stopping power. That said, this round provides many tactical advantages, including more rounds per magazine and less muzzle rise from each shot.

Best “Less Lethal” Defense 12 Gauge

Sellier & Bellot Rubber Ball, 2-5/8” Shell

Load: One rubber ball
Shell length: 2-5/8 inch
Muzzle velocity: 886

Advantages:

Less lethal option reduces the chances of killing an intruder or assailant
Low recoil thanks to a light load and less muzzle speed

Disadvantages:

Greater chance that a home invader or assailant will not be stopped

Less lethal ammo is controversial. Critics say it’s completely unacceptable, as your main priority should be stopping a threat regardless of the life-changing consequences. This argument has merit; after all, if someone chooses to invade a home, they have, by their own actions and choices, put their life in danger.

We won’t settle the debate here, but we will provide our favorite less-lethal 12-gauge ammo: the rubber ball load from Sellier & Bellot. A great option for law enforcement and personal defense, this round loads a ball that measures 0.69 inches in diameter. With a muzzle speed of 886 fps, it can inflict a painful wound that is less likely to kill an intruder.

“Less lethal,” it should be remembered, can still maim and kill. Users must maintain the same safety standards even when packing this rubber-ball option.

The 12-gauge shotgun is a reliable tool for home defense. With the right load from ammotogo.com, you can protect your home and family from any threat.