My only centerfire semi-auto rifle is an RDB (I know, I need an AR and/or an AK.) Fun thing of it is, if I take most of my shots from one position, it creates a literal pile of brass. Handy for cleanup, for sure.
I wondered if that was just a coincidence but from watching a few of Paul's videos... he doesn't leave much to chance or happenstance in his presentations. Legend Confirmed.
I'm pretty sure that had I tried to test the velocity of my shotshells I would have proven that both lead and non-lead shot are viable self-defense loads against chronographs.
Don't feel bad. I, myself, wouldn't try my luck with an expensive chronograph and a rifle. I just KNOW I would cut one of the guide wires in half (if not blow apart the unit itself). I probably couldn't hit a wire if I *TRIED*, but if I *WANTED* to not hit it? I'd hit it.
@@angry_zergling It's amazing how bad a reduced load 9mm hitting one of the wires for the sun shade will wreck the whole chrono. I repaired one after being hit 3 times (it was my brother's, he winged it with a 357, I nicked it with a 9mm and caught it again with 9mm, the last time probably did it in). Even though we got it back up and running after the first hit it never seemed to read correctly. Crazy sd numbers, 100-200 fps on fairly precise loads. A rifle might actually not damage it as much, if it cleanly shears the rod in half. The 9mm made the rod look like a #7, absorbed a lot of the energy.
"Now, it's easy in all this excitement to miscount your shots(please bear with any gunfire you may hear in the background) But I DEFinitely only fired 5 shots. At this point our meat target may begin to feel sigNIFicantly less lucky"
I misread the title as “seed birdshot” and I was trying to figure out if Paul had a pigeon problem or if he just wanted to feed the birds from a distance. Me me small brain
@@Thee_Sinner doing that by hand must be a nightmare, seeing one pellet roll over from the mound of already counted and paul going "wait, i've seen you before"
Those are America’s number 1 enemy anyways. Causes diabetes. Jokes aside, I’ve never tried Shasta cola, never have seen one either. Pepsi, Coca, and RC Cola’s I’ve tried.
I wish I'd never bought a shotgun for home defense in 2020. Is it effective? Yes, but I got a massive headache from trying to figure out which ammo to use. There's #4 buckshot, #4 birdshot, dozens of permutations of target loads, slugs, #1, #2 , #3...#9 of Every kind of shot. I ended up buying a tactical light and nightstand safe for my Glock 17 as primary home defense instead. At least I have hundreds of rounds of hollow points and 1,000s of rounds of target (although this is dwindling because I need the range at least twice a month to keep my sanity). My shotgun ammo is stocked pretty well with #4 steel birdshot and a very small amount of 00-buck, but since I live in a suburban area it should work ok with 5 birdshot loaded + a 00-buck finisher for stubborn targets. I'll still grab my Glock first because I can empty and reload in my sleep, but I would say a shotgun is fine for home defense, and I prefer steel birdshot because overpenetration is a real concern in my neighborhood.
The worrying thing about steel shot for defensive use is that steel tends to bounce instead of smash flat like lead if you hit something hard like metal or even sometimes wood. This can be very dangerous for the person shooting the gun. It would make me happy if you would do a video testing different loads and calibers potential to ricochet .
Steel shot in self defense is better than harsh language... Even though there will be a %#&$ load of that as well. You can throw the Judge and Jury for a loop by claiming that _"Well, they left me no choice, but at least I did it in an ECO-FRIENDLY manner... Gotta be GREEN these days, it's the only planet we have"._
Love Barry and IV8888, but I wouldn't use any modified ammo like that for home defense, might land you in legal trouble. Plain old 00 buckshot is the best option for home defense 99% of the time.
Agree 100%. I've some very disappointing results with super high end ammo in different chokes and good results with middle of the road ammo through the same choke and gun.
@@dannydevito2275 No, it just didn't work well with the choke on that particular shotgun. All patterning it would have done was show that it didn't work well.
Steel shot penetrates poorly and ricochets badly on hard targets. Started duck hunting with lead, in 91 steel was mandatory, frankly it sucks. Steel never impressed me but government says you gotta use it for waterfowl.
@Jim Alley lead goes a ways but not all the way to south America. 🤣 either way both critters are under a fair amount of dirt in a timely fashion so they dont stink up the yard...
@@geraldhemming9317 thought the general rule was 2sizes bigger steel... there is a fair amount of other "non toxic" shot that is as or more dense than lead.
His shooting action where he pumps the gun with the recoil of the shot is a thing of beauty, he's ready to get back on target as soon as the recoil is done. Very impressive.
@wee bastard78 I wear glasses and shoot guns and haven't had any issues. Granted, I had glasses ever since I was a kid so I never fired guns without glasses.
Just go do it yourself... I did. Lol ot varies a bit as some come apart I side and some penetrate a ways and some hardly at all. Think it depends on the way it hits the target.
Just shot a hole completely through an old vehicle hood using 2 3/4" #7 birdshot. At close range, birdshot can indeed be lethal, according to all my experiments.
Rick C really it depends on what he means by ‘no shot’. I don’t think ‘no shot’ is 0% effective. Could be a blank or just a powder load with no pellets. Could be an empty shotgun. Could just be your bare hands. While I would certainly rather have shot than any of these things the effectiveness of even bare hands is above zero.
I ordered a bunch of steel birdshot because I dislike leaded ammunition for health and environmental reasons. But for self defense I’ve mostly kept lead buckshot in mind.
Sorry for having the most "bullshit" but thanks to your knowledge of firearms the difference in ages is taken care of. I'm 78 years old owned a gun shop for over 35 years and was raised on a working cattle ranch in SW Kansas. My first shotgun was a Model 42 Winchester when I was 10 years old, a Model 11 20ga at 12 and my Grandfathers Model 11 and had the freedom to use and grow with the firearms industry through the 1990's, before my Dad passed and we closed the shop. I have been a member 0f the ATA for over 50 years and was around active shooters this period of time. I want you to know, your approach to the present period of time, is the best on the internet, so far. Keep up the good work and "be safe".
@@freshfowler1398 well since Yeager said it would barely break the skin in a defensive shooting and he's usually wrong. I had to try it out😂👍No I've seen a lot and killed some pretty good size stuff with it in a pinch. We were dove hunting once and a bunch of wild hogs came out my middle brother smoked a bunch of them with #6 lead shot. Even though Yeager said it was not lethal.... I don't believe that particular bunch of wild hogs seen his video so they all went ahead and just died right there😂👍🇺🇸
There’s another benefit to steel shot: it’s easier for Doctors to remove them without much additional tissue damage, by using strong magnets to draw them back out the way they went in. In 1962 I was hunting with my best friend-we were 12-when out of the blue he cried out, grabbed his face and fell down. We hadn’t even heard the shot that delivered the single pellet into his eyeball. We rushed back and he was taken to the hospital where he lost his eye. He now has a glass eye. The surgeon explained he would have been able to save the eye had it been a steel pellets. For years Docs had been asking manufacturers to put even a tiny amount of steel in their lead rounds, but were denied. I assume it would have added a lot of cost.
Paul, I stumbled upon your videos and love them. I make them a part of my everyday viewing, trying to catch up on what I have missed. I have recommended your tutorials to my brother and my friends who are hunters, competitive shooters, and all conceal carry. I am lucky enough to live in a state where I can open/conceal carry. I have firearms in my home for my self protection, and I train regularly so I know how to use them. Bravo to you, and keep up the great work. BTW, I am a 67 year old widow. You just never know who you might reach.
@@bigsean2473, and yet it is still enough to get the job done. I want to see the 327 fed mag's effectiveness on the meat target/chronograph compared to that proven round that's considered "weak" but still effective.
God damn, Paul! The plaid suit you wear in the intro while you fire off a round in the taking-a-dump-in-the-middle-of-the-forest squatting position made you look like an 80's action star! That was pretty cool.
A video would be much appreciated on effectiveness of 357 mag carbine rifle for woods deer hunting: is it ethical/effective and if so, what is the maximum effective range for deer hunting? Related to the deer in my state (blacktail and mule deer).
My first hunt, I took a deer, broadside, double lung shot, from a laser-range-findered 49 yards away, with my Taurus 608 6 inch 357 revolver. A carbine will kill what you can see, but I'd keep it 60-80yrds (which around here in Ohio is about the furthest you're doing to get anyways). Deer was maybe 2-3yrs old, brought home about 70Lbs of meat. He bedded down to die after about ten seconds of running. Buffalo Bore 180gr flatnose.
.357 magnum (with the right ammo and at reasonable distances) is very effective and ethical for deer hunting. Several of the crew have killed deer with .357 magnum.
As of August 1 2020 the only ammo available in my home town is STEEL OR LEAD BIRD SHOT , SO before investing money, I simply checked this channel for guidance because PAUL is proper GUIDANCE
Thanks for making this video. It’s pretty common for steel shot to make a significantly tighter pattern than lead shot. I’m not sure why your shotgun showed so much more spread with the steel versus the lead. The opposite should be true. Could you suggest why your results are opposite of so many other comparisons of steel versus lead shot? Thanks.
@@dannydevito2275 Patterning doesn't affect the performance of a particular cartridge/shotgun combination, it only shows if that combination is suitable for your chosen use. If you have changeable chokes you can choose the choke that works best with that particular load, but other than that patterning a shotgun isn't like sighting-in a rifle.
I’m curious about 10 Gauge: I’ve heard people say “modern 12 Gauge is just as powerful as 10 Gauge,” and also say that “at close range, 12 Gauge is just as powerful as 20 Gauge,” and ALSO that “at close range buckshot and birdshot preforms like a slug,” so what IS the difference in power between, say, a 10 Gauge slug and 20 Gauge buckshot? I’m also keeping in mind that Paul said a giveaway of a Fake Expert is if they say that one round is “just as powerful” as another.
I see it this way: Even if 10ga is noticeably more powerful than 12ga, which I believe it is, what does that extra power actually do for me over 12ga? Or another way, is there some deficiency in 12ga that can be solved with the extra power of 10ga ( similar to Paul's comments on carry capacity, "Is there a situation you can solve with 8+ shots in an autoloader that you couldn't with the 6 in a revolver?" ) I can't readily think of any. However, is there a downside to 10ga? Yes. The shotgun will be bigger/heavier. In many places it may not be available. Even if it is, you'll likely spend a LOT more money on the ammo. It also comes with extra kick and recoil. That to me is not a worthy trade-off for marginal extra power that won't be useful in most situations. Given my choice for defensive shotgun, I'd go with a semi-auto 20ga modified choke loaded with #4 buckshot. It's lightweight, often shorter than 12ga, light recoil for fast follow up shots, and something a smaller person ( smaller spouse, or even small teenager ) can more readily handle. Still plenty of hurt going downrange. Same reason I want to switch my primary pistol from .45 to 9mm. I can still shoot .45 well. I'm a big guy. I don't have arthritis. It doesn't hurt me. But I can shoot 9mm faster more accurately, the ammo is a lot cheaper, and there's essentially no difference in terminal ballistics with modern propellent and bullet design. And while my wife won't touch my 1911, she will experiment with rental 9mm at the range.
I'm a big fan of 12ga, 2 3/4, high brass, lead BB. At 35ft and under it's very nasty from a 1187 and 870 with a modified choke. It seems to be very hard to find in stores so I order it online or buy it at gun shows. Have you ever tested or shot any duplex turkey loads such as BBX4 and so on? I have found them to be wicked and hard hitting.
I'm not a great fan of American firearm videos. You on the other hand are definitely different. You're not macho or in your face, just informative, educated and a down to earth gentleman. I'm sure you must have Welsh blood somewhere down your line. Very calm and pleasant to listen to. Please keep up your fantastic and helpful videos. I'm useing your videos for the boys I take shooting. Thank you for all your advice and help, invaluable!!!
Ive done test @ 21 feet with Winchester super X 12 Guage 3" steel BB shot. And results are amazing! It will blow holes into anybody or doors or tree's! Also the remington 3" high brass BB shot is great for home defense! Or make any birdshot into a slug by making cutshells
I have a Remington model 11. Belonged to my grandfather. The stock is chipped off in the grip just like every other example of the gun I have ever seen, and also some Browning Auto 5's. Anybody make replacement wood for this gun? I would love to restore it. It fires just fine last I checked.
@@PaulHarrell Very informative video. How would a larger caliber (.58 or .71) musket compare to the revolvers in a home defense situation? Would exterior wall penetration be an issue? How does reloading speed compare? Curious because my home defense firearm at the moment is an inherited 1851 Prussian musket.
Musket for home defense would be fine, as long as the intruder gave you about a weeks notice to allow you time to load for them, then they stood perfectly still for you to shoot them. Musket's smooth bore accuracy is poor on a good day compared to a rifled anything. Let alone when you are half asleep, no glasses on, startled from a dead sleep, with a good dose of adrenaline induced shake. On second thought, maybe standing perfectly still may be their safest action while you fire your musket. Personally I want at least 5 shots minimum available without reloading, and of course more is always better. Anyone dumb enough to attempt to rob a house here, usually is still smart enough to at least bring a friend or three.
I swear more ducks died from being shot and flying away to die than have died by lead poisoning. It just doesn't hit as hard as lead shot... But if it's what you have it can do the job. Just not as well as it's "toxic" counterpart. Great video as always
@00:46 "why would you use steel shot?" Because you live in California, you panic-bought a shotgun, and after the 10 day waiting period when you came back to pick up your gun all there was left on the shelf was steel birdshot.
Hi Paul, I would like to compare BB Bismuth to #4 Lead shot or even BB lead shot if you can find it. Kent has 3 inch bismuth BB. Great film you made as usual. Mike
Sounds like Steel shot is a good choice for the first couple of shells if you're in an urban or suburban environment (and worried about over penetration). After that... it's buckshot and slug time.
If I was a home intruder I wouldn't feel optimistic about getting shot with a .20 ga. compared to a 12 ga. Think they would both hurt, and I don't think I would be able to distinguish between whether or not the homeowner used lead or steel.
Why don't you set up your camera more on your left side or a little forward of your left side when you are doing chrono testing? you wouldn't have to turn so far if even at all to face the camera I think it would go faster still, though I really like the slightly faster pacing on this video
@ironhorzmn I believe lead bb would be adequate for home defense range, if I could find it in lead instead of steel I would get some as well, I definitely would not feel unarmed with it.
Why not the bigger gauges of birdshot like 12 gauge BB, or BBB or even #1 shot? Specially now with what’s going on buckshot is hard to find so a possible second option is BB, BBB or #1
I'm certainly not Paul, but... If you're looking to purchase one, check out the PTR-91 made in North Carolina. They've gotten mostly favorable reviews and are reasonably priced. From my (limited) experience, they're not horrible rifles but the G3/PTR-91 is an older design whose features have been surpassed by a variety of AR-10 clones. They feel heavier than they actually are due to the center of balance being quite a bit forward and having a lightweight buttstock, so the rifle always wants to fall forward, out of your hands. For similar money, a PSA AR-10 Gen 3 would probably work as well or better with better ergonomics. I would recommend going down to a gun store and handling them side by side. I did several years ago and ended up going home with an AR-10 clone.
My 7yo cousin came out to shoot one day. Of the two AR15s, 12g shotgun, 10-22, and bolt action 22, he said the CETME was his favorite. Smooth, light recoil, big bang, makes the steel sing and swing. Plus, how could you not like those classic curves? 😉 But yes, it is a 60yo design. AR 10 would be more capable of more things.
Great video as always! I would like to see the long anticipated home defense tactics video. Can you also demonstrate the effect of those steel ammunitions on walls?
Paul's groupings of ejected spent casings on the ground are better than my on paper groupings.
Timbo Slice 😂😂😂👍👍👍
My only centerfire semi-auto rifle is an RDB (I know, I need an AR and/or an AK.) Fun thing of it is, if I take most of my shots from one position, it creates a literal pile of brass. Handy for cleanup, for sure.
is there an angel down that will jam it ? ( I really want one - Hate the AR 15 )
Mark Miller
Too much CNN? Lol
But seriously, if you don’t mind my asking what makes you hate the AR-15?
He sure is smooth.😉
I wonder if Paul's family get tired of picking pellets out of ribs at the BBQ?
LMBO ... Or their grapefruit in the morning
Thats served to range customers at a premium
Why do you think he switched to steel pellets? The lead ones ruin the meat!!
I'll be his family are vegans
@timmybmn That's weird, my girlfriend loves the grapefruit diet i put her on ;p
I'm picturing Paul slashing open these shells and counting the 162 pellets on the ground like Rainman.
Wait, there’s two pellets still in the shell.
Paul is still trying to cope with not being able to buy his underwear at K-Mart anymore.
He counts them mid air as he shoots the meat targets:)
@@jeffhuntley2921 pretty sure you're right
162....162......162......yes, 162.....162...these are not my underwear!
Showing off birdshot while also giving us the bird at 9:31. What a legend
I wondered if that was just a coincidence but from watching a few of Paul's videos... he doesn't leave much to chance or happenstance in his presentations. Legend Confirmed.
.....priceless...
it's really 9:30 but anyway
whiskey papa ,
LOL.... I didn't even see that!
Watching Paul use the chronograph and then decimate his meat target..... Never gets old
It’s why I keep coming back.
Amen! Anyone else catch the freaked out bug @10:20 ?
Christopher Alston lol.
steak and sizzle lmaoo
I'm pretty sure that had I tried to test the velocity of my shotshells I would have proven that both lead and non-lead shot are viable self-defense loads against chronographs.
Yup. For me it would take them out every Time.
same here
45 Auto those chronographs are pretty easy to take down
Don't feel bad. I, myself, wouldn't try my luck with an expensive chronograph and a rifle. I just KNOW I would cut one of the guide wires in half (if not blow apart the unit itself). I probably couldn't hit a wire if I *TRIED*, but if I *WANTED* to not hit it? I'd hit it.
@@angry_zergling It's amazing how bad a reduced load 9mm hitting one of the wires for the sun shade will wreck the whole chrono. I repaired one after being hit 3 times (it was my brother's, he winged it with a 357, I nicked it with a 9mm and caught it again with 9mm, the last time probably did it in). Even though we got it back up and running after the first hit it never seemed to read correctly. Crazy sd numbers, 100-200 fps on fairly precise loads. A rifle might actually not damage it as much, if it cleanly shears the rod in half. The 9mm made the rod look like a #7, absorbed a lot of the energy.
Paul I've been watching your videos non stop for a couple of days. You are the Elvis of Guntubers.
5:47 "Did he fire six shots or only five?" Well, to tell you the truth, in all this excitement, I've kinda lost track myself...
"Now, it's easy in all this excitement to miscount your shots(please bear with any gunfire you may hear in the background) But I DEFinitely only fired 5 shots. At this point our meat target may begin to feel sigNIFicantly less lucky"
I came straight to the comments at that point, you sir (or Madam) did not let me down :-)
"Well to tell you the truth, my shotgun holds 9. Still feelin lucky, punk?"
You beat me to it!
Do you feel lucky, punk?😂😝😁
I misread the title as “seed birdshot” and I was trying to figure out if Paul had a pigeon problem or if he just wanted to feed the birds from a distance.
Me me small brain
Smugly 😂😂😂
He just wanted to feed them quickly
too funny
shout out to paul for being so dedicated to lecture people on the subject he counted around 450 shotgun pellets
A1pha Ch3rnovak
I think it was more around 700-800 considering just the 12ga steel shells each had ~200 pellets
@@Thee_Sinner doing that by hand must be a nightmare, seeing one pellet roll over from the mound of already counted and paul going "wait, i've seen you before"
He eyes the errant pellet sternly, and it stops and rolls back onto the pile obediently.
1339 pellets in total
@@matnowak4797 🙏 🌧️ ♂️
I laughed when he mentioned Shasta Cola. Because I know his favorite way to serve that particular beverage....
What's that? Splattered everywhere, including the lens?
By osmosis, And partical phyiscs
You want that cheeseburger to go? ITS GONE!
Those are America’s number 1 enemy anyways. Causes diabetes.
Jokes aside, I’ve never tried Shasta cola, never have seen one either. Pepsi, Coca, and RC Cola’s I’ve tried.
Note to boss:
I’m gonna be watching a Paul Harrell video today so please bare with the sound of gunfire in the background and coming from my office...
Paul's left arm is fully semi-automatic
🤣
Does he rack as he shoots or is he using the recoil to his advantage
@@aftonm693 It's a technique he's previously discussed known as "pullracking".
@@Bubben246 what video is that?
@@ahandgrenade3640 It's a video on shooting and reloading a pump shotgun I think
Stopped watching a documentary on the F-14 Tomcat to watch this video. FINALLY my notifications are working in a timely manner!
That must be a hard decision... ;)
I had to stop the preacher at my wedding...
Where?
I wish I'd never bought a shotgun for home defense in 2020. Is it effective? Yes, but I got a massive headache from trying to figure out which ammo to use. There's #4 buckshot, #4 birdshot, dozens of permutations of target loads, slugs, #1, #2 , #3...#9 of Every kind of shot. I ended up buying a tactical light and nightstand safe for my Glock 17 as primary home defense instead. At least I have hundreds of rounds of hollow points and 1,000s of rounds of target (although this is dwindling because I need the range at least twice a month to keep my sanity). My shotgun ammo is stocked pretty well with #4 steel birdshot and a very small amount of 00-buck, but since I live in a suburban area it should work ok with 5 birdshot loaded + a 00-buck finisher for stubborn targets. I'll still grab my Glock first because I can empty and reload in my sleep, but I would say a shotgun is fine for home defense, and I prefer steel birdshot because overpenetration is a real concern in my neighborhood.
Never know what’s coming out of those coat pockets. Reminds me of Captain Kangaroo!
But much more attractive :-)
Or Bugs Bunny.
@ Charles...Indeed, indeed
Jesse Pinkman's Capt Kangaroo
Paul gave us all the "Bird" shot in this episode!!🤣👍🇺🇸
When Paul enumerates his points, the second one is usually the best.
The worrying thing about steel shot for defensive use is that steel tends to bounce instead of smash flat like lead if you hit something hard like metal or even sometimes wood. This can be very dangerous for the person shooting the gun. It would make me happy if you would do a video testing different loads and calibers potential to ricochet .
Steel shot in self defense is better than harsh language... Even though there will be a %#&$ load of that as well.
You can throw the Judge and Jury for a loop by claiming that _"Well, they left me no choice, but at least I did it in an ECO-FRIENDLY manner... Gotta be GREEN these days, it's the only planet we have"._
I don't know about that. I once saw a grandmother shame the hell out of a mugger. He gave her purse back right quick.
you can't kill anything with steel shot... the box clearly says " NON-TOXIC SHOT" right on it.
That just means you don't get the +5 poison damage lol
Too funny! 👍🌝
One of barrys cut shells will make any birdshot a hell of a round.
So true! RIP Barry
Barry will be missed but never forgotten.
That's the only way I would use it for self defense other than in an extreme emergency. He really was a wealth of knowledge.
Without Barry they seem behind the times all the time
Love Barry and IV8888, but I wouldn't use any modified ammo like that for home defense, might land you in legal trouble. Plain old 00 buckshot is the best option for home defense 99% of the time.
I never get tired of seeing how quickly Paul pumps another round in after the shot. You almost miss it.
Lightning fast
Its a really good idea to pattern ANY shotgun BEFORE hunting & avoid cheap ammo.
Agree 100%. I've some very disappointing results with super high end ammo in different chokes and good results with middle of the road ammo through the same choke and gun.
So is that why the steel 12ga preformed so badly, he didn't pattern it first?
@@dannydevito2275 No, it just didn't work well with the choke on that particular shotgun. All patterning it would have done was show that it didn't work well.
Steel shot penetrates poorly and ricochets badly on hard targets. Started duck hunting with lead, in 91 steel was mandatory, frankly it sucks. Steel never impressed me but government says you gotta use it for waterfowl.
#2 Steel BUCK for the environmently sensitive home invaders and raccoons.
Ducks dont really eat dead home invaders or raccoons so should be fairly safe to use lead if you want.😉
@@hammerslammer3006 In The Great White North steel shot has been the only choice for some time. Load up 1; choke down 1 and no Damascus barrels.
@Jim Alley lead goes a ways but not all the way to south America. 🤣
either way both critters are under a fair amount of dirt in a timely fashion so they dont stink up the yard...
@@geraldhemming9317 thought the general rule was 2sizes bigger steel... there is a fair amount of other "non toxic" shot that is as or more dense than lead.
His shooting action where he pumps the gun with the recoil of the shot is a thing of beauty, he's ready to get back on target as soon as the recoil is done. Very impressive.
You know the maker of a you tube fire arms channel is OUTSTANDING when you give the video a LIKE before you even watched it
Be careful about that. Google might find a way to ignore those premature Likes.
great info
@wee bastard78 I wear glasses and shoot guns and haven't had any issues. Granted, I had glasses ever since I was a kid so I never fired guns without glasses.
I get notified of Paul Harrell video.. I watch it
I never watch Paul without learning a thing or three
I would love to see a cut shell interact with the meat target
Yes please. Berry will be missed.
Can we Paul, can we?
Just go do it yourself... I did. Lol ot varies a bit as some come apart I side and some penetrate a ways and some hardly at all. Think it depends on the way it hits the target.
Just shot a hole completely through an old vehicle hood using 2 3/4" #7 birdshot. At close range, birdshot can indeed be lethal, according to all my experiments.
paul harrell thank you so much for the great content!!!!
1000% more effective than no shot at all.
1000% (or 1100% for the pedantic) of 0 is still 0.
Rick C really it depends on what he means by ‘no shot’. I don’t think ‘no shot’ is 0% effective. Could be a blank or just a powder load with no pellets. Could be an empty shotgun. Could just be your bare hands. While I would certainly rather have shot than any of these things the effectiveness of even bare hands is above zero.
The Master. No other reviewer/commentator or RUclips maker can hold a candle to him. VERY professional, and always very informative. Thank you, Sir !
I ordered a bunch of steel birdshot because I dislike leaded ammunition for health and environmental reasons. But for self defense I’ve mostly kept lead buckshot in mind.
Thanks for making the Steel Birdshot for home defense video.
Sorry for having the most "bullshit" but thanks to your knowledge of firearms the difference in ages is taken care of. I'm 78 years old owned a gun shop for over 35 years and was raised on a working cattle ranch in SW Kansas. My first shotgun was a Model 42 Winchester when I was 10 years old, a Model 11 20ga at 12 and my Grandfathers Model 11 and had the freedom to use and grow with the firearms industry through the 1990's, before my Dad passed and we closed the shop. I have been a member 0f the ATA for over 50 years and was around active shooters this period of time.
I want you to know, your approach to the present period of time, is the best on the internet, so far. Keep up the good work and "be safe".
Suck day at work. Come home find a brand new Paul Harrell video. Day just got a whole lot better.
I think Paul was making a statement to YankeeMarshal at 9:31 when he proclaims "very disappointing."
Uh oh the old birdshot for defense thing. It'll dang sure kill you at across the room distance👍🇺🇸
I'm not asking how you know...😉😂👍✌🇺🇸
@@freshfowler1398 well since Yeager said it would barely break the skin in a defensive shooting and he's usually wrong. I had to try it out😂👍No I've seen a lot and killed some pretty good size stuff with it in a pinch. We were dove hunting once and a bunch of wild hogs came out my middle brother smoked a bunch of them with #6 lead shot. Even though Yeager said it was not lethal....
I don't believe that particular bunch of wild hogs seen his video so they all went ahead and just died right there😂👍🇺🇸
It will peal the skin like a potato, trust me 12"X12" @ 20'.
Were you meaning to use a US flag?
@@andyjohnson7408 indeed sir
8 likes and zero views. 'Nuff said.
Paisley Prince Those 8 people were probably watching the video and the view count hadn’t registered yet. At least that’s my theory.
One thing to be said - Patreon.
Might want to recount commentary.
I liked before watching, only because Paul Harrell. And scatter guns.
It says more about YT's update cycle of statistics than anything else.
There’s another benefit to steel shot: it’s easier for Doctors to remove them without much additional tissue damage, by using strong magnets to draw them back out the way they went in.
In 1962 I was hunting with my best friend-we were 12-when out of the blue he cried out, grabbed his face and fell down. We hadn’t even heard the shot that delivered the single pellet into his eyeball.
We rushed back and he was taken to the hospital where he lost his eye. He now has a glass eye.
The surgeon explained he would have been able to save the eye had it been a steel pellets.
For years Docs had been asking manufacturers to put even a tiny amount of steel in their lead rounds, but were denied. I assume it would have added a lot of cost.
How about dilithium crystals? Can you do a video with dilithium crystal birdshot?
Only on taco Tuesday during a month with an "R" in it.
@@PaulHarrell wat.
@@EuroRhodes he probably means any taco tuesday during all the months other than May through August
@@StevenL00 Ah, nice.
Salt...
I'm a simple hillbilly. I see a video by Mister Paul, and hit like and watch the presentation.
then proceed to make an entirely original comment
A gun is a gun. Politicians not using any bullets to take all your rights. WELL DONE. Do you deserve to live in America? #YouMoving
10:20 - notice how freaked out that bug on the table is when the shotgun blast comes down range...
Paul hand loads kryptonite in #4 buck 12 gauge just in case. Devastating in pork chop pectorals.
Birdshot is for birds
Very disappointing 🖕😂 love your videos thanks for all you do for us.
I noticed that as well. ROFL
I'll take steel bird shot over a pointy stick for any defensive situation.
Far better than a loganberry! Though not as intimidating as a banana...
Paul, I stumbled upon your videos and love them. I make them a part of my everyday viewing, trying to catch up on what I have missed. I have recommended your tutorials to my brother and my friends who are hunters, competitive shooters, and all conceal carry. I am lucky enough to live in a state where I can open/conceal carry. I have firearms in my home for my self protection, and I train regularly so I know how to use them. Bravo to you, and keep up the great work. BTW, I am a 67 year old widow. You just never know who you might reach.
Please do a review of the .327 federal magnum and make a comparison of it to the 38SP +P. Great video on home defense ammo considerations/theories.
it kills the 38+p. even in +p38sp is still weak
That's an interesting topic!
@@bigsean2473, and yet it is still enough to get the job done. I want to see the 327 fed mag's effectiveness on the meat target/chronograph compared to that proven round that's considered "weak" but still effective.
I can’t find any 327 magnum.
@@j.t.4072 hell all rounds are effective with the right shot. even 22shorts
God damn, Paul! The plaid suit you wear in the intro while you fire off a round in the taking-a-dump-in-the-middle-of-the-forest squatting position made you look like an 80's action star!
That was pretty cool.
A video would be much appreciated on effectiveness of 357 mag carbine rifle for woods deer hunting: is it ethical/effective and if so, what is the maximum effective range for deer hunting? Related to the deer in my state (blacktail and mule deer).
My first hunt, I took a deer, broadside, double lung shot, from a laser-range-findered 49 yards away, with my Taurus 608 6 inch 357 revolver. A carbine will kill what you can see, but I'd keep it 60-80yrds (which around here in Ohio is about the furthest you're doing to get anyways). Deer was maybe 2-3yrs old, brought home about 70Lbs of meat. He bedded down to die after about ten seconds of running. Buffalo Bore 180gr flatnose.
.357 magnum (with the right ammo and at reasonable distances) is very effective and ethical for deer hunting. Several of the crew have killed deer with .357 magnum.
@@PaulHarrell The video could cover that subject of "right ammo and reasonable distance". Thank you Paul Harrell for all you do.
Even the topics that don’t interest me or apply to me get an instant watch and like from me. Paul has me conditioned like a dog to a bell.
Paul Pavolov? who knew? lol
D exactly 🤣
As of August 1 2020 the only ammo available in my home town is STEEL OR LEAD BIRD SHOT , SO before investing money, I simply checked this channel for guidance because PAUL is proper GUIDANCE
Thanks for making this video. It’s pretty common for steel shot to make a significantly tighter pattern than lead shot. I’m not sure why your shotgun showed so much more spread with the steel versus the lead. The opposite should be true. Could you suggest why your results are opposite of so many other comparisons of steel versus lead shot? Thanks.
He probably hadn't patterned it correctly, I feel like if he got a smaller group the 12 ga would be very powerful
@@dannydevito2275 Patterning doesn't affect the performance of a particular cartridge/shotgun combination, it only shows if that combination is suitable for your chosen use. If you have changeable chokes you can choose the choke that works best with that particular load, but other than that patterning a shotgun isn't like sighting-in a rifle.
I’m curious about 10 Gauge: I’ve heard people say “modern 12 Gauge is just as powerful as 10 Gauge,” and also say that “at close range, 12 Gauge is just as powerful as 20 Gauge,” and ALSO that “at close range buckshot and birdshot preforms like a slug,” so what IS the difference in power between, say, a 10 Gauge slug and 20 Gauge buckshot? I’m also keeping in mind that Paul said a giveaway of a Fake Expert is if they say that one round is “just as powerful” as another.
I see it this way:
Even if 10ga is noticeably more powerful than 12ga, which I believe it is, what does that extra power actually do for me over 12ga? Or another way, is there some deficiency in 12ga that can be solved with the extra power of 10ga ( similar to Paul's comments on carry capacity, "Is there a situation you can solve with 8+ shots in an autoloader that you couldn't with the 6 in a revolver?" ) I can't readily think of any.
However, is there a downside to 10ga? Yes. The shotgun will be bigger/heavier. In many places it may not be available. Even if it is, you'll likely spend a LOT more money on the ammo. It also comes with extra kick and recoil. That to me is not a worthy trade-off for marginal extra power that won't be useful in most situations.
Given my choice for defensive shotgun, I'd go with a semi-auto 20ga modified choke loaded with #4 buckshot. It's lightweight, often shorter than 12ga, light recoil for fast follow up shots, and something a smaller person ( smaller spouse, or even small teenager ) can more readily handle. Still plenty of hurt going downrange.
Same reason I want to switch my primary pistol from .45 to 9mm. I can still shoot .45 well. I'm a big guy. I don't have arthritis. It doesn't hurt me. But I can shoot 9mm faster more accurately, the ammo is a lot cheaper, and there's essentially no difference in terminal ballistics with modern propellent and bullet design. And while my wife won't touch my 1911, she will experiment with rental 9mm at the range.
As always another
epic video from Paul... And it's never redundant to see you shoot the meat target......
I'm a big fan of 12ga, 2 3/4, high brass, lead BB. At 35ft and under it's very nasty from a 1187 and 870 with a modified choke. It seems to be very hard to find in stores so I order it online or buy it at gun shows. Have you ever tested or shot any duplex turkey loads such as BBX4 and so on? I have found them to be wicked and hard hitting.
I'm not a great fan of American firearm videos. You on the other hand are definitely different. You're not macho or in your face, just informative, educated and a down to earth gentleman. I'm sure you must have Welsh blood somewhere down your line. Very calm and pleasant to listen to. Please keep up your fantastic and helpful videos. I'm useing your videos for the boys I take shooting. Thank you for all your advice and help, invaluable!!!
Sooo...coming next perhaps, Paul's You Tube video, Bismuth For Home Defense video ?
I have too many "home defense g**s" the last thing I need during a home invasion is the burden of choice... XP
Flip a coin every night and see witch one gets to sleep in the bed with ya and witch one has closet duty.
Cause google
Ive done test @ 21 feet with Winchester super X 12 Guage 3" steel BB shot.
And results are amazing!
It will blow holes into anybody or doors or tree's!
Also the remington 3" high brass BB shot is great for home defense!
Or make any birdshot into a slug by making cutshells
The fact that this man counted every pellet is commendable in itself.
I have a Remington model 11. Belonged to my grandfather. The stock is chipped off in the grip just like every other example of the gun I have ever seen, and also some Browning Auto 5's. Anybody make replacement wood for this gun? I would love to restore it. It fires just fine last I checked.
Please do an evaluation of a blackpowder musket for home defense.
We have a video on cap and ball revolvers for concealed carry/personal protection.
@@PaulHarrell
Very informative video. How would a larger caliber (.58 or .71) musket compare to the revolvers in a home defense situation? Would exterior wall penetration be an issue? How does reloading speed compare?
Curious because my home defense firearm at the moment is an inherited 1851 Prussian musket.
Musket for home defense would be fine, as long as the intruder gave you about a weeks notice to allow you time to load for them, then they stood perfectly still for you to shoot them. Musket's smooth bore accuracy is poor on a good day compared to a rifled anything. Let alone when you are half asleep, no glasses on, startled from a dead sleep, with a good dose of adrenaline induced shake. On second thought, maybe standing perfectly still may be their safest action while you fire your musket.
Personally I want at least 5 shots minimum available without reloading, and of course more is always better. Anyone dumb enough to attempt to rob a house here, usually is still smart enough to at least bring a friend or three.
I swear more ducks died from being shot and flying away to die than have died by lead poisoning. It just doesn't hit as hard as lead shot... But if it's what you have it can do the job. Just not as well as it's "toxic" counterpart.
Great video as always
Andy Stampfli a solid point that most people miss. Now Hevi-shot, that will jack some waterfowl up if you can afford it
Paul I’m addicted to your videos man. You gotta give us more!
@00:46 "why would you use steel shot?"
Because you live in California, you panic-bought a shotgun, and after the 10 day waiting period when you came back to pick up your gun all there was left on the shelf was steel birdshot.
9:29
Now THERE'S the finger we've all become accustomed to :-}
Hi Paul, I would like to compare BB Bismuth to #4 Lead shot or even BB lead shot if you can find it. Kent has 3 inch bismuth BB. Great film you made as usual. Mike
Who describes ammo better than Paul Harrell? Nobody.
What about waxed birdshot loads? (Basically a frangible round made from birdshot held together with wax. Crayons are perfect for this)
You should do a video on wax slugs! Love your videos! You’re so informative and you do things really scientifically compared to other RUclipsrs
Sounds like Steel shot is a good choice for the first couple of shells if you're in an urban or suburban environment (and worried about over penetration). After that... it's buckshot and slug time.
5:32 Look at the muzzle flash from that shot!
As always Paul. Great video. Now bring out the black powder. Semper Fi
I prefer depleted uranium shot.
The collision energy won't be sufficient for spalling to occur. DU slugs would be fun.
Mercury is more dense than lead too.
If I was a home intruder I wouldn't feel optimistic about getting shot with a .20 ga. compared to a 12 ga. Think they would both hurt, and I don't think I would be able to distinguish between whether or not the homeowner used lead or steel.
The only type of birdshot available in the coronavirus era, good video.
Ive never had a semiauto shotgun that worked reliably and consistently enough to consider use for personal defense.....
That really suprise ed me the steel shot spread so quickly...7 yards...
I thought steel shoots one choke tighter on average.
@@adamtarbaux7769 20 gauge rocked it, 12 gauge blew out..i wouldnt have thought that
@@williamrauch4464 same I guess as the shot column left the barrel the escaping gases threw the shot wider because the steel is lighter then lead.
At household distances, wouldn’t you prefer a wider pattern to make sure you get something on the target even if not perfectly aimed? Just curious.
Chili's needs to offer a meat target special.
A little rough on the teeth.
pointing out what most people that know ballistics already knew.....bird shot is for the birds.
Just me or is Paul now talking too fast? Let’s bring back the Shatneresque
Pauses
What's that? I'm forced to use birdshot for defense? Where did I put those crayons...
Very interesting video. I do have a 12 gauge as part of my home defense so I really appreciate the test results you came up with.
Why don't you set up your camera more on your left side or a little forward of your left side when you are doing chrono testing? you wouldn't have to turn so far if even at all to face the camera I think it would go faster still, though I really like the slightly faster pacing on this video
So the two boxes of 12 ga 3" BB steel I bought today as "last ditch" ammo wasn't a total waste. The ammo you have is better than the ammo you want.
Looks like it would work better than the option of no shot.
3" steel BB is plenty adequate for home defense.
@ironhorzmn I believe lead bb would be adequate for home defense range, if I could find it in lead instead of steel I would get some as well, I definitely would not feel unarmed with it.
SHTF Fan situation. 3 inch Magnum Steel. BBs do What I could not get #4 Buck to do.
I just came to see Paul's exaggerated draw while wearing a plaid sport coat.
Why not the bigger gauges of birdshot like 12 gauge BB, or BBB or even #1 shot? Specially now with what’s going on buckshot is hard to find so a possible second option is BB, BBB or #1
Hey Paul any thoughts on the G3 battle rifle? Please review
Love my CETME.
I'm certainly not Paul, but... If you're looking to purchase one, check out the PTR-91 made in North Carolina. They've gotten mostly favorable reviews and are reasonably priced. From my (limited) experience, they're not horrible rifles but the G3/PTR-91 is an older design whose features have been surpassed by a variety of AR-10 clones. They feel heavier than they actually are due to the center of balance being quite a bit forward and having a lightweight buttstock, so the rifle always wants to fall forward, out of your hands. For similar money, a PSA AR-10 Gen 3 would probably work as well or better with better ergonomics. I would recommend going down to a gun store and handling them side by side. I did several years ago and ended up going home with an AR-10 clone.
MagicSquid I second the AR-10. I would take a Garand over a new production G3. $3 20rd mags are nice though
South Carolina* and apparently the 91 is an older model.
My 7yo cousin came out to shoot one day. Of the two AR15s, 12g shotgun, 10-22, and bolt action 22, he said the CETME was his favorite. Smooth, light recoil, big bang, makes the steel sing and swing. Plus, how could you not like those classic curves? 😉
But yes, it is a 60yo design. AR 10 would be more capable of more things.
Lead buckshot 4 home defence... ☠️
They're not walking off.....!!!
Great video as always! I would like to see the long anticipated home defense tactics video. Can you also demonstrate the effect of those steel ammunitions on walls?
How about waxed slugs, not very practical, but could be effective
Never clicked on a video faster in my life