12 GAUGE BARNES DEFENSE 2-3/4" 21 PELLETS #4 BUCK (5 ROUNDS)

About This Barnes 12 Gauge Ammunition

Barnes Defense Buckshot is made in the great state of Utah for one purpose: to keep you and your family safe. This 12 Gauge shotshell is not loaded with #4 birdshot like you would want to use for turkey hunting. It is loaded with #4 buckshot. You could use it for bagging coyote, but it offers some choice advantages during a self-defense scenario as well.

#4 buck is smaller than 00 buck – 0.24” in diameter as opposed to 0.33”. That’s the reason why this shell stores 21 pellets instead of the usual eight or nine, and that’s also why it creates a significantly denser pattern. And because this shell’s clean-burning powder pushes its approximately one ounce of shot to a muzzle velocity of 1,200 fps, its shot column’s combined muzzle energy exceeds 1,300 fps. That’s about on par with an AR-15’s 5.56x45 cartridge.

#4 buck is lighter than 00 buck – 20.4 grains as opposed to 53.8. The hard lead balls are still going to pack quite a punch at close range, but their comparably lower momentum means that they are less likely to pass through the threat and/or several layers of wallboard. That makes #4 buck the safer choice for home defense when you have your neighbors' safety to take into account, although we must emphasize that this shell is still capable of penetrating four or more walls.