Shotgun for Home Defense??

[Killer Bee]

either of these suit me just fine

I'm known as no big fan of plastic, but the added control of a pistol grip inside the home or any confined space has benefits..

also orientates better in the dark or with sleepy eyes than a standard stock..

Benelli M4 full mag tube and royal arms brake


FN TPS full mag tube and ported barrel

[RandyD]

If you have a round chambered, and you rack the slide, does not the chambered round eject?

Like bigbearbear, I'm more in the keep-it-loaded, rack the slide after firing camp. But it's only a camp, not a cult!

I keep my shotgun in the same condition that I was taught in attending the police academy back in 1988. Magazine is fully loaded; in my shotgun that gives me 6 rounds. The chamber is empty. Hammer is not cocked. Safety is off. In this condition, three things must happen for an accidental discharge; 1) pull the slide to the rear, 2) push the slide home which chambers a round, and 3) pull the trigger. In this condition, I am very comfortable that my shotgun will never be accidentally discharged. To chamber a round takes less than one second. The chambering of a round on a pump shotgun is a universal sound, and it is a clear warning to an intruder. My primary intent is to avoid having to shoot someone. Since I alone bear the responsibility for my actions, I have thought through these choices and decided the above condition of my shotgun is best for me. If someone else selects another condition to store their home defense shotgun, I really don't have an opinion on the matter, because there is an infinitesimally small chance that it may have an impact on my way of life. However, I value these threads where others convey their thoughts and opinions, which gives all of us more options to consider.

[I Swan]

Some of you took your training from Delta Force Ninja Elite Commando Instructors who told you that racking the Slide will give your position away. Well "Where the hell else are you going to be at 3am but in the bed room". Also 99% of the time someone breaks into you home it is because they thought you were not home. Simply calling out "who's there" will send most all of them running. Armed home invasions are most always Drug related rip offs or for some reason it is believed you have large sums of cash on hand and that is usually because your are doing something else wrong. Of course for someone out to commit a sexual crime the victim needs to be present. Other wise armed home invasions are very rare.

So you Commandos that are not going to rack the slide are what, just going to sneak up on him and shoot him with out warning. Your the ones that are going to shoot when it was not necessary. Or maybe when you hear someone in your house you don't have time to rack the slide because you are to busy putting your "Tactical Vest and Kevlar" on.

Any deterrent to using lethal force is what every one of you (except you real killers) should be thinking off and if racking a pump shotgun and calling out " We are armed and on the phone with the Police, get out of our house" will prevent you from having to shoot someone then that is what you should be planning to do.

As for dumping the first round when you rack a pump. That only happens if you are foolish and store it with one in the chamber. So think about what you say before sharing your wisdom, or what you think passes for wisdom with us.

You sure throw out a lot of opinions and insults. What is your background that does likes to pump the shotgun first, law enforcement? Also why do you think having a round chambered is foolish? Do you carry handguns without a chambered round?

I think both conditions can have their merits and depends on personal preference.

[crufflers]

I think both conditions can have their merits and depends on personal preference.

My Mossberg slide is pretty loud. Sometimes I just carry it around unloaded holding the slide release and rack it off repeatedly. I think I'll just do that if I need a gun in the middle of the night. Should send them running even faster than one Click Clack.

Seriously though, I have Glocks handy. Should I do the same with the Glocks? Racking the slide of the Glocks is pretty loud too. Click Clack, Click Clack. I might just invest in a motion-activated whole house speaker system. Gotta decide which sound sample to use. Leaning towards the pump shotgun sound, but I do like the way my Glock 40 slide sounds too. Click Clack!

You guys who invested in Semi-auto shot guns are missing out! Suckers. Or should I say NINJA's, hahahah.

[m14forme]

I keep my shotgun in the same condition that I was taught in attending the police academy back in 1988. Magazine is fully loaded; in my shotgun that gives me 6 rounds. The chamber is empty. Hammer is not cocked. Safety is off. In this condition, three things must happen for an accidental discharge; 1) pull the slide to the rear, 2) push the slide home which chambers a round, and 3) pull the trigger. In this condition, I am very comfortable that my shotgun will never be accidentally discharged. To chamber a round takes less than one second. The chambering of a round on a pump shotgun is a universal sound, and it is a clear warning to an intruder. My primary intent is to avoid having to shoot someone. Since I alone bear the responsibility for my actions, I have thought through these choices and decided the above condition of my shotgun is best for me. If someone else selects another condition to store their home defense shotgun, I really don't have an opinion on the matter, because there is an infinitesimally small chance that it may have an impact on my way of life. However, I value these threads where others convey their thoughts and opinions, which gives all of us more options to consider.

I fully agree with this post. Except with the mag extension, I get seven shells.

You guys who invested in Semi-auto shot guns are missing out! Suckers. Or should I say NINJA's, hahahah.

I guess you never heard the ominous sound of a shell being chambered in a autoloader.

[JagerDog]

My HD 870 has a speedfeed pistol grip and is stored safety off, muzzle down and one on the ramp. The act of picking up the shotgun and sliding the forearm forward in one rather continuous motion and it's ready to bark.

I'd be fine with an automagic in similar configuration.

I didn't pick up the shotgun to scare anyone.

[Killer Bee]

My Mossberg slide is pretty loud. Sometimes I just carry it around unloaded holding the slide release and rack it off repeatedly. I think I'll just do that if I need a gun in the middle of the night. Should send them running even faster than one Click Clack.

Seriously though, I have Glocks handy. Should I do the same with the Glocks? Racking the slide of the Glocks is pretty loud too. Click Clack, Click Clack. I might just invest in a motion-activated whole house speaker system. Gotta decide which sound sample to use. Leaning towards the pump shotgun sound, but I do like the way my Glock 40 slide sounds too. Click Clack!

You guys who invested in Semi-auto shot guns are missing out! Suckers. Or should I say NINJA's, hahahah.

nah, this sounds pretty good

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=99A_gcl3OBE

[Bobby Ricigliano]

The entertainment meter in this thread is permanently stuck on high. I'll keep my reply short and to the point:

1. The supposed terror that the racking slide sound will cause is Hollywood nonsense. Maybe it will spook a bad guy. Assume that it won't.

2. Pump vs. Semi vs. Side by Side: Dealer's choice....Use what works for you and train with it. All of my shotgun training has been with pumps. That is what I like and that is what I own. YMMV.

3. Many people keep loaded shotguns in dusty closets that may have been fired once when new, or maybe not at all. This is a result of the false confidence people have that they will react competently and skillfully if and when the time comes. Nope. Confusion, degraded fine motor skills, and plain old panic will overtake them and they'd probably be better off with a golf club or a bat.

4. I prefer a loaded magazine with an empty chamber. A deliberate act of readying the weapon is my comfort zone. Yours may be different, and again YMMV. Just don't forget about the fog and confusion of being awoken from a deep sleep in your tactical plan.

[bigbearbear]

Also why do you think having a round chambered is foolish?

There is a sound reasoning behind this actually, most shotguns, certainly the Remington 870, are not drop safe. With a round in the chamber, there is a possibility that the round can go off if you drop the shotgun or bang it hard enough.

Hence the term "Cruiser Ready", coming from the law enforcement where shotguns are mounted in police cruisers with no round in the chamber to prevent the shotgun going off if the cruiser gets into an accident. When the police office is expecting trouble, he gets out the cruiser with his pump shotgun and racks it to put a round in the chamber.

Over time, and with the help of Hollywood, this action becomes a symbol of "tough guy" and aggressiveness. In popular culture today, it is becoming the equivalent of flipping someone the bird, with a shotgun.

[WMG]

I have a cut down 870 with Win low recoil 00 loads for the house.
Isn't really the firearm I am grabbing first.
It's just around for the job I gave it.
Wears a tru-glo front sight and is the only firearm I have with an attached light.
Interesting enough the center of the light beam is the exact center of the 00 pattern.
I also shortened the L.O.P a tiny bit for the lady.
The 00 loads are about equal to light field loads and pattern very well.

[Killer Bee]

yer slackin' bobby, I am disappoint

[cindynles]

Just yell out "fix bayonets" when the bad guys kick in your door. That will send all of them running

https://www.inland-mfg.com/Inland-Shotguns/M37-Trench-shotgun.html

[jimmykan]

Just yell out "fix bayonets" when the bad guys kick in your door. That will send all of them running

https://www.inland-mfg.com/Inland-Shotguns/M37-Trench-shotgun.html

WWI trench sweeper... That's gnarly, no lie.

[shooting4life]

Shotguns are too long to use in many homes, especially the older homes in the Bay Area of LA with narrow hallways and multiple doors located next to each other.

[XVIga_Rob]

I'm in the 870 cruiser ready camp. Many years of hunting, clay's, & tactical use with it. Run what ya brung!