True it's not; I didn't intended it to come out that way. And yes, legally it's still deadly force. Within 20 feet, it's every bit as deadly as buck. What I meant though is most wound profiles for birdshot show that distances further than 20 feet, birdshot won't penetrate as far.Keith B wrote:With all due respect, bird shot is NOT a less than lethal alternative. It is still use of deadly force.stsai465 wrote:If your son is in a life-or-death self-defense scenario (and it sounds like he is), then don't jack around with salt or rubber or neoprene. Use 00 buckshot (slugs if you're targeting the guy's car and need to penetrate). If you absolutely MUST try and use a "less lethal" round, then use birdshot. The other suggestion I would have is for your friend to try and have someone(s) else with him who can use a gun if he's truly expecting this guy to return with friends. The last thing you really want to be is in a situation where you're out-numbered as well as out-gunned.surprise_i'm_armed wrote:MoJo, from a post above:
My son is trying to strategize what to do is this gang banger and his friends comes back to the
neighborhood for revenge.
My son has a Remington 870 pump with both slugs and shot cartridges available. I thought his
question about less lethal ammo bore a little research. My son's thought process was that if the
gangsters came back he could start with less lethal rounds, then move to more lethal rounds.
He doesn't just shoot at cars that come to his cul de sac. Sheesh!
SIA
Here's an interesting link; scroll down to the shotgun sections. Like any commentary, you can agree or disagree, but it's a valid discussion.
http://www.chuckhawks.com/ammo_by_anonymous.htm
As a non LEO, IMO there is only one reason to discharge a firearm at another individual, and that is to stop a deadly force attack against you or another you are defending.
In terms of a reason to discharge, the original post about the son sounds like he is defending himself from a deadly force attack. My main point was that if the son is in a situation that justifies discharging a shotgun (defending himself from a lethal attack), then don't trust your life on something like rock salt or rubber pellets.