Every load will pattern different for you through your gun than through ny of ours. This is why it is imperative you pattern any load you choose to keep on hand.
There is no magic load that will effectively and reliably stop a threat and lose energy quickly enough to not penetrate some barriers though there recently has been some question about the effective lethality of the Federal FliteControl LE132 low recoil at 40 yards, or 120'.
If you're concerned you aren't proficient enough then buy a bulk pack of birdshot/target loads and go shooting. Once you're comfortable in your ability to handle and manipulate the shotgun efficiently and effectively, once it feels like an extension of your body, load up some 00 buck and start putting rounds on target at about 7 yards. You may have to learn to hold your sight slightly off the bullseye to center the load pattern on the target. You'll likely find that just because the bead is on target, that your gun will not pattern on center, that's not unusual. With shot from a shot gun, Point of Aim is not always Point of Impact, again, that's not uncommon.
Another vitally important fact that must be remebered is that not all loads are created equally. There are tremendous advantages to loads like Federal FliteControl both low recoil and full power as well as Hornady TAP LE (low recoil),Hornady Light Magnum/Critical Defense with VersaTite wad. The Fed loads are 1145 fps for low recoil and 1300 and some change for full power and the Hornady loads are 1100 and something and 1600 fps respectively.
I've found the Federal for $5.49 a box of five to as much as $9 a box and the Hornady LE stuff for as low as $8 a box of 10 and as much as $13 a box of 10 for the commercially available Critical Defense.
Man, I've been in some rough places with life here recently and haven't been spending a whole lot of time on here lately, but this is among those issues I care very much about. I can't tell you what to use. You alone are responsible for the round you load, but we're gonna be here to encourage you and provide you with as much of our own experiences as possible. We will strive to provide you with the best possible information so you are able to make the best possible decisions regarding your safety and the safety of your loved ones.
Remember, there is no perfect load to handle every scenario, so as has been said before, and I agree with, load for the worst.
Are you familiar with the FBIs standard for minimum penetration in bare gelatin?
For what its worth, I drive 45 miles to the farm to shoot.
