Best defensive shotgun ammo - Hornady Critical Defense 12 Gauge 8 Pellet 2.75 in Buckshot Shotgun Ammunition

In my non-professional opinion, the top two defensive shotgun loads are Hornady Critical Duty and Federal Flite-Control. While any 00 buck shotgun load is effective in that role, the difference between these two options and others are the tight patterns that don't send one pellet off is some unexpected direction when they collide in flight. Since you are responsible for where every pellet ends up, it's certainly safer to have a tight pattern. Between those two top choices, the Hornady has a considerably higher advertised velocity. Does that make a difference? I don't know. Maybe? But I would consider this one of my two top choices and I'd give an edge to the Hornady because of the velocity.