home defense

[larry v.]

Any recommendations on a good home defense shotgun? Primarily for my wife who is 5'3" and 120lbs. Thanks for your help.
PS-- California resident

[aippi]

Remington 870 Model 81161. Is a 20ga with 18.75 Vent Rib barrel with Rem Chokes. Stock has a spacer kit so it can set at 12" LOP up to 14".

[-hanko]

Any recommendations on a good home defense shotgun? Primarily for my wife who is 5'3" and 120lbs. Thanks for your help.
PS-- California resident

This is calguns.net.

I predict the answer will be a Remington 870 or Mossberg 500/590, perhaps in 20ga.

The correct answer is, as always: Have your wife find a trainer, preferably female, who can actually make a recommendation based on your wife's needs.
Once the gun is selected, it's even more important to develop proficiencey and know when to shoot and know what the consequences of shooting might entail.

Like learning new software and wall papering, selecting a weapon is best done with your wife and a third party v. you and she doing it as a couple.

Let's wait and see what others think.

-hanko

[mrblah]

Has she ever shot a shotgun before? If not, she should go to a range and rent either a mossberg 500 or remi 870 in 12g and 20g, and you need to decide if a shotgun is a good home defense weapon based on the layout of your home. Many people are turned off by the recoil of shotguns, and manipulating a pump action during stress, does take practice.

As for choosing between a mossberg or remi 870, they have different placement of the safety that usually pushes one to choose which shotgun to go with.

[dexter9659]

Remington 870 express 20GA, 6+1. I use #3 buck.

[SDS-Ruger]

If she is turned off by the recoil of the shotgun, maybe look at a carbine of some sort. If you can find a Winchester 1894 with the 16'' barrel that could be a good option as well, it shoots 357 or 38 and has very little recoil, I don't remember how many rounds it holds. The recoil feels barley more than a 22LR IMO.

[Velazquez]

Strange...why do you need to keep homegun? is it so strane and awful to live where you life?

[zfields]

Strange...why do you need to keep homegun? is it so strane and awful to live where you life?

Really? Because bad things only happen in bad areas, right?

Sent from my Incredible 2 using Tapatalk

[Rockit]

Strange...why do you need to keep homegun? is it so strane and awful to live where you life?

Judging by the crappy English and questionable link in his sig line, I'm guessing it's a thinly veiled attempt at spamming.

[The War Wagon]

Because she's short/petite, I'm going to recommend a semi-auto shotgun; that way, she doesn't have to worry about racking another round under duress - especially if she's new to firearms in general. Simple is preferred.

[larry v.]

Good info, thanks. Will do.

[Montu]

make sure she shoots it first and I'm going to agree on the semi auto, my gf can't handle an 870 its just too big and awkward