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This is not meant to start a caliber/gauge war.
I feel that all three popular shotgun gauges have their place in the role of defensive tools.
I happen to favor the .410 when properly set up for the task.
Here are the pro's as I see them.
#1: Light weight firearm.
#2: Low recoil even with serious defensive rounds.
#3: Ease of use by a wider section of shooters in regards to age and physical capabilities.
#4: Lighter weight ammo that has more than enough punch for it's size.
As with everything else in life there are down sides.
#1: Pellet count is low with defensive ammo due to case size.
#2: A cylinder choke barrel is needed for the best patterns when using larger projectiles.
#3: Pump and other repeating actions are few and far between, most are DIY projects.
#4: Few acceptable defensive loads on the market.
The .410 can work as a defensive arm if the shooter does his/her part. The majority of defensive actions happen at extremely close ranges inside a home or apartment, which does negate some of the down sides to using a .410. The inherent low recoil of the cartridge seems to be a good answer to the problem of finding an arm suitable for all members of a family.
I feel that all three popular shotgun gauges have their place in the role of defensive tools.
I happen to favor the .410 when properly set up for the task.
Here are the pro's as I see them.
#1: Light weight firearm.
#2: Low recoil even with serious defensive rounds.
#3: Ease of use by a wider section of shooters in regards to age and physical capabilities.
#4: Lighter weight ammo that has more than enough punch for it's size.
As with everything else in life there are down sides.
#1: Pellet count is low with defensive ammo due to case size.
#2: A cylinder choke barrel is needed for the best patterns when using larger projectiles.
#3: Pump and other repeating actions are few and far between, most are DIY projects.
#4: Few acceptable defensive loads on the market.
The .410 can work as a defensive arm if the shooter does his/her part. The majority of defensive actions happen at extremely close ranges inside a home or apartment, which does negate some of the down sides to using a .410. The inherent low recoil of the cartridge seems to be a good answer to the problem of finding an arm suitable for all members of a family.
Bottom line for me is versatility, you can do a lot more with a 12 or 20 gauge.
The way I view the three gauges are like this the 12 = .338, 20= .30-30, and the .410=.5.56/.223 rem
To me it's all about picking the right tool for the task, the right tool for the shooter and going from there.
And your choice isn't mine sir. I like the .410 because it meets my requirements, and I made this thread to try and help others make their own choice.
My reason for posting the comparison of popular rifle calibers and the three popular shotgun gauges was a way of saying that each has it's place in the grand scheme of things.
Also I don't think you have a full grasp of how much a 12 gauge with "00" buckshot will penetrate in the context of this topic (home defense), in which case I think you might want to do a little research on the subject. There is a reason I propose that #4 buckshot or it's closest available equivalent (#3 buck or #2 buck) should be used in any gauge, and that is to offer a better chance of hitting a vital organ or structure while reducing the chance of collateral damage beyond the threat (notice I said reducing the chance of collateral damage beyond the threat, because the possibility can't be removed entirely).