"Ask the Rabbi" by R. Mermelstein

Winchester loads a 2 3/4 '', .410 shotgun shell with #000 buck as a self defense load. Could you tell me something about it's stopping power when fired from a 20'' barrel. What do you think of this load in a double barrel for an easy to use set up for a gender of smaller stature?

I also wondered why they picked 2 3/4'' ( not 3''?) and #000 buck?

Thanks for all your advice!

Allan Schisel

A #000 pellet is .36 caliber. Factory velocity for .410 shotshells, 2 3/4", is about 1200 fps. That's even 80 fps faster than the velocity obtainable with 124 gr. 9 mm projectiles fired from the 9 mm Parabellum in factory loadings. For home defense, especially for use by those intimidated by recoil, this ought to be a potent package. The 3" .410 shotshell wasn't introduced until 1934. Its possible that the manufacturer of the shotshells you refer to wanted their product to be useable in older .410 bore guns made with the shorter chamber.

Sincerely,

R. Mermelstein