Wow, this thread is like the town bar whore... the one that we all keep coming back to for another round when we're lonely.
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KirStang, doesn't take a genius to understand that birdshot isn't going to do any real damage to a human-sized target. I've been hit in the face by child-stealing-sized large insects while doing 90+ on my Sabre (*SLAP!*) and I'm sure it hurt about the same as birdshot. It's a simple mass + velocity equation.
Should you use it in your home defense shotgun? Probably not, but it also depends on your intent with the shot and overall philosophy.
Are you trying to scare / piss off an attacker or kill them? The boring old
what you can get away with legally proud homicidal type argument aside... the escalation of force doesn't always have to be zero to kill in one trigger squeeze. It may be philosophy of many here because they have a wife and kids, but I'll play devil's advocate and suggest that a hit with anything will send 90% of attackers heading for the nearest door / window / prone position.
I'd rather scare the shit outta Mr. Burglar than kill him and deal with all the bullshit paperwork. Granted, I'll have that hot-hot plan to neutralize him should he not be sufficiently impressed by the muzzle end of a 12 gauge, but killing someone isn't something I'd want to do in my residence. Too messy.
I keep the Mossberg 590 (Rem 870, etc.) loaded with Sellier & Bellot rubber 00 buckshot for that reason. If an intruder can take that up close and still possesses the desire to keep coming, they're entitled to the next magical surprise in the mag tube: Federal copper-plated lead 00 buckshot.
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Now, keep in mind that I'm a big operatactistrategery dummy... and I throw that out there so as to not come off as another gun-board Know-It-All (KIA).