Home Protection

[d4v0s]

I read on this forum and others about what handgun caliber should you use for home protection. Wouldn't be easier to get a shotgun and be done with it? You wouldn't have to worry too much about where you're hitting. I'm not sure, just asking.

http://www.theboxotruth.com/

You can thank me later.

I think its admirable that your looking for information to protect your neighbors, truth is any bullet with enough power to neutralize a threat is going to clear quite a few walls.

Edit:I find it disgusting that people still recommend birdshot.. seriously WTF people... Birdshot wont even penetrate a salami sandwhich let alone hurt your attacker.. Take a physics class and learn something before giving advice that will kill someone..

[WDE91]

birdshot=little peaceful tweety birds
they dont even use "birdshot" on geese

birdshot produces a nasty, not very deep wound

stick to buckshot in a size that fits your needs from #4-000

[Wombats Are Dangerous]

a shorter LOP would be ideal. and a squared up stance gives you a more defined pocket for the shotgun to fit into. Better fit= lessfelt recoil,better control, faster follow up shot.

So how would you measure ideal LOP? I was told to use the bent elbow method and look for a trigger that between the first and second joint of my trigger finger. Is this possibly a measurement system for wingshooting and not a tactical defense shotgun?

Now I'm curious whether I should buy a shorter stock or cut down my current stock.

[BigDogatPlay]

So how would you measure ideal LOP? I was told to use the bent elbow method and look for a trigger that between the first and second joint of my trigger finger. Is this possibly a measurement system for wingshooting and not a tactical defense shotgun?

A shotgun fitter, that is a professional who makes their living fitting shotguns for clay shooters and hunters, has fitting stocks that can be adjusted to find the optimum dimensions. Length of pull is just one measurement.

LOP is the distance from the trigger to the end of the butt where it contacts your shoulder. Many manufacturers use 13.75" to 14" as the 'standard' which will fit most, not all, shooters. The bent elbow method is a simple test that gives a rough idea of what LOP could be for a shooter.

On a gun to be used for HD there is a large and growing school of thought that shortening LOP down as low as 12" is the optimum. This comes from a combination of the squared up stance that has become accepted doctrine and that .mil and LEO shooters are usually shouldering the gun up against body armor, load bearing vests, or both. The shorter LOP when all that additional padding is in place becomes a necessity. The squared up stance, by itself, seems to drive the need for some to shorten the stock but I've not found it necessary for myself as I am tall with very long arms and so shortening LOP is not a good solution, generally, for me.

If you feel like you are reaching out for the trigger and can't maintain a good upright head position with a proper cheek weld, then you might consider going a bit shorter.

Now I'm curious whether I should buy a shorter stock or cut down my current stock.

Shortening your current stock would mean additional work to fit the butt pad of your choice. And once you shorten the stock you can't put the material back on. If you are going to make the move, my recommendation would be to buy a shorter stock.

I'd also recommend shooting a few guns with shorter LOP stocks on them to see if that really is a good solution for you.

[Wombats Are Dangerous]

Thanks, BigDog! 12" seems so short, but I guess it will definitely make the gun more maneuverable. How do you practice with a 12" LOP without smacking your nose all day?


So, anyone know of a good fitter in the San Diego or Oceanside area?

Now I'm really curious to find out what's right for me. Would be a good excuse to buy another long gun too!

[crackerman]

Thanks, BigDog! 12" seems so short, but I guess it will definitely make the gun more maneuverable. How do you practice with a 12" LOP without smacking your nose all day?


So, anyone know of a good fitter in the San Diego or Oceanside area?

Now I'm really curious to find out what's right for me. Would be a good excuse to buy another long gun too!

No need for a pro stock fitter for a HD gun. GO to your LGS and try shouldering a Bantam stock. The 12" stock I had nearly broke my nose first shot. Usually meant for littler kids like teens, or small statured females. The have a length of pull about 13" manufacture depending. Like bigdog said most manufactures fit average stocks. Its just kind of weird how it works.

My Mossberg 500 for ducks has the regular stock and its great. When it was on my HD gun sucked. So I have a bantam stock for the HD gun and it fits great. Same guy, same gun, just different uses.

[Richard Erichsen]

I read on this forum and others about what handgun caliber should you use for home protection. Wouldn't be easier to get a shotgun and be done with it? You wouldn't have to worry too much about where you're hitting. I'm not sure, just asking.

For shotguns, most of the focus goes to the 12 gauge, though 20 gauge is a great choice for HD, a bit lighter and offers less recoil with small compromises that mostly don't matter much with a typical HD range of 3-7 yards and lighter shells being preferred over heavier full-power loads.

A basic 20 gauge pump will cost about the same as a 12 gauge from the usual suspects, which is why most folks just go for the bigger bore. Remington and Mossberg are the two most popular choices and for good reason, they make a LOT of models based on the same basic design. Everything applicable to the 12 gauge will also be applicable to the 20 gauge, there are just fewer 20 gauge shells to practice and test patterns with your shotgun relative to 12 gauge. The high quality reduced recoil 00 buck, #1 and #4 loadings you need are well represented though, so this isn't a big deal. Keep in mind no matter what gauge you choose, the "spread" of a cylinder bore HD shotgun isn't all that great at 3-7 yards (no more than the size of a golf ball). Aim is paramount if for no other reason because even relatively light pellets can pierce many walls before slowing down.

For $300 or so, you can have a Mossberg 500 or a Remington 870 with handy 18.5" barrel, 6 shot capacity and basic sights. For a bit more you can upgrade the sights, furniture and so on for a pistol gripped/fixed stock model which is about as far as I would recommend going. Add in several hundred shells for practice, a stout LED flashlight and mount and a 2-3 day course in how to use your new weapon (along with several hundred more shells) and you'll be well on your way.

Good luck.

[BigDogatPlay]

Thanks, BigDog! 12" seems so short, but I guess it will definitely make the gun more maneuverable. How do you practice with a 12" LOP without smacking your nose all day?

Don't roll your thumb over the top of the grip, if you are using a conventional stock. Work on laying the thumb along the top side of the grip, pointed forward. That will go a long way to keep from getting smacked in the nose by your thumb.

So, anyone know of a good fitter in the San Diego or Oceanside area?

Now I'm really curious to find out what's right for me. Would be a good excuse to buy another long gun too!

As above, I wouldn't worry at all about full on fitting an HD gun. It can get really expensive, for starters. I'd suggest spending a couple hundred bucks on a basic shotgun class and try working with different lengths, and an instructor, and see what fits best. Then go from there.