http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2010/12/mecosta_county_homeowner_fires.html
Homeowner shoots intruder 4x with birdshot load. Thief still around not seriously injured.
If nothing else, you can also read the thief's hilarious defense.
ntg
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"I have long hair and tattoos, so automatically I'm the bad guy". That, and you clearly broke in and entered into the guy's home. Yeah, that makes you the bad guy.
Don't know how many times he hit him, could have been one shot, if I remember right. Hit in the hand, butt, and....where else? Anyway, doesn't sound like shot placement was great. Anyway, I would prefer buckshot. The last thing you want to see, after shooting someone to defend yourself, is to see the person still able to fight back. I'll have to read the article again. I'd like to know how far away he was, what type of shot he used, etc. But yes, I use buckshot in my shotgun.
?
How about someone who took two rounds in the upper right chest and just kept on, 'motorboating' along!
This is exactly what I've been saying to people on this board since the day I signed on; however, (1) nobody else seems to have any real world experience with birdshot and people. (2) Everybody thinks he's the one who's right; and (3) nobody seems to actually listen. (Or, maybe, it's the general membership's sub-par literary comprehension and language skills - I really don't know?)
If nothing else, former Vice-President Dick Cheney's hunting accident should prove - beyond any shadow of doubt - that birdshot ain't made for self-defense.
WC
At self defense distances of 25-40 ft., birdshot fired from an 18.5" barrel 12ga. is mkre than adequet, if properly placed. The shot pattern doesn't spread until about 45-50 ft., so you can do plenty of damage with bird shot at close range.
eferrell01
It doesn't matter. slug or shot, if you don't hit the guy, he will not be injured badly. Nobody has 40 foot rooms in their house and a dead center load of even #9 shot will tear a hole you can stick your hand it. If he had been using anything else, he probably wouldn't even have hit the guy at all. If they wanted a sensational story some photos of the room where the shot went would be great. I guarantee something that stopped the shot had way more damage than the crook. A one ounce load of shot @1200 fps from a shotgun has more energy than a 230gr .45 @ 850 fps.
Dana H
2 quick responses come to mind.
- Most gunshot incidents result in no fatalities. (only 10% fatality is what I've read for statistics and you have to figure the shooters in that 10% bracket were usually very determined or made a chance shot.)
- The intent of self defense should always be preservation of self and home. The home owner accomplished that. How would he feel with a fatality on his hands and an unarmed intruder and what would the legal repercussions have been? (nothing in Colorado, just emotional aftermath) Even cops get pretty torn up when they kill someone in the line of duty.