Home Defence Shotgun

[BRANCHER]

I have had some of the same issue but for my dad who is in his 70's with shoulder issues. The 870P I gave him pounds him and he did not like any of my semis in 12 gauge either... And I have had him shoot my Benelli M4, FN SLP, and 1100 Police (I am just missing a Saiga 12).

There are a few 20 gauge shotguns for home defense that are not too expensive.
See http://www.americanrifleman.org/arti...hotgun-review/
Also Saiga 20 (with BB which make slow reloading but 10 rounds is still a lot)

I have been thinking about a pistol carbine. My only issue is he doesn't like anything that is evil black gun (go figure) which cuts out most semis (including shotguns). I have been thinking lever 357.

And don't rule out a 223 rifle with right ammo it has a lot less penetration in house versus shotguns or even most pistols. Just try to get a non-bullet button. like a Saiga 223, Benelli 223, Keltec SU16 (not sure if I would trust the Keltec with life (and yes I have one)).

Lots of options for recoil sensitive.

If I could ever get my wife to shoot I might be in same boat with my 12s...

[Pfletch83]

To the O.P.

Any of the three gauges with the correct ammo will be up to the task as long as the user does their part.

I like a .410 for Home defense because it is lighter weight,has lower recoil,and uses the same ammo as my defensive handgun (I don't live in Cali.)

There are plenty of good scatterguns made in 12 and 20 though.

But I'll leave the choice up to you on which.

No matter which gauge you choose make sure to pattern your gun with different ammo to get a feel for how it's going to act with a given load.

I will say this though,birdshot is good for manual of arms training,but for defense use buckshot.

#4-Buck is a good urban defensive load in any gauge,it will put plenty of hurting on a bad guy at close range and will offer a reduced (notice I said reduced) chance of pellets slamming completely through your intended target.

#1 buck-'000' buck is good if you don't live in an area where over penetration is a worry.

Slugs- If you live on a ranch or an area with no other homes for miles a slug can be a very good option for extended range defensive use.

[IPSICK]

What did you not like about the Winchester pump?

Recoil and/or size?

12ga recoil can be mitigated a great deal by things like a Limbsaver recoil pad or like some have suggested a gas operated semi-auto. For the latter, many action shooters are saying that the Remington VersaMax is the softest shooting semi-auto shotgun they have ever tried. One drawback to any semi-auto (except Benelli M2) is the weight as compared to a pump action.

Size can be an issue as well because how you and the gun fit together can affect how comfortable you are with it. Fitment can be adjusted by a competent gunsmith.

[Bad Kitty]

selector switch

Kel-Tec KSG if you can get your hands on one. Bill pup configuration so it's small. Two 12ga tubes that hold six rounds, and one in the chamber and that's 13 shots for home defense.

It that switch wasn't manual, but switched over automatically when one tube emptied, I would be all over this gun. But watching the video and seeing him work the switch killed my enthusiasm

[RoundEye]

It that switch wasn't manual, but switched over automatically when one tube emptied, I would be all over this gun. But watching the video and seeing him work the switch killed my enthusiasm

Yea, I agree. But, with some training like anything you'd be able to flip switch in less than a second and not even have to look.

[standby77]

HD

I'm new to the forum as of today and I'm looking for the shotgun that you should be looking for. Rossi 12 gauge stagecoach with 20" S by S barrels. You can hold this gun at your hip and fire both barrels at once and will not knock you over or hurt you, however I would save the other barrel for the next guy that comes in after him, they come in pairs just like the rabbit ear external hammers that you can have cocked with the safety on. This was the best gun I ever had for HD but sold it when I moved to So CAl. BTW have an extra front door on hand to replace your front door. Bob

I'm looking for a HD Shotgun. I'm 5'4 135 lbs My husband has a 12 ga Winchester Pump which I do not like. He says a simi-auto would be best for me. I shoot a G19 and Sig P229 9mm. Will I like a 20 ga or the simi-auto 12 ga better? Please help. Thank You.

[junior40er]

You and I are almost the same height/weight. I have a Remington 870 6+1. Go shoot one, youll like it

pics or it didnt happen.

[junior40er]

personally I think a pump action is way to go as less chances of a failure when really need it.

[BadKitty]

I'm looking for a HD Shotgun. I'm 5'4 135 lbs My husband has a 12 ga Winchester Pump which I do not like. He says a simi-auto would be best for me. I shoot a G19 and Sig P229 9mm. Will I like a 20 ga or the simi-auto 12 ga better? Please help. Thank You.

Just to go back to the OP's first post.


Here's the thing, yes, ideally we want her to be comfortable with the shotgun, sure. And who here doesn't advocate for "mo guns = mo better"? LOL But, really, if her purpose is for home defense, then why does she need a second shotgun just for her? She didn't say that she couldn't pick it up, or that it was too heavy to hold, or that it knocks her to the floor. She said that she "didn't like it". I interpret that as it probably has too much kick - uncomfortable, but shootable.


If she said she was also hoping to use the shotgun for trap shooting or hunting, ok cool; however, she didn't say that. "Home defense" is one of the those once-in-a-lifetime incidents where some dude breaks into your house. All she has to do it pick the shotgun up, point it in the direction of the intruder, pull the trigger and remain standing long enough to either run or rack it again. The fact that she'll later realize she has an "owie" on her shoulder should not be a reason for buying a "lighter" shotgun for home defense.


If her husband already has a solid 12ga Winchester for home defense; just use that one. Seriously. When the poop hits the fan moment comes, you're going to be so scared and amped up that you're probably not going to notice the "kick" anyway.


BK

[SilverTauron]

While the following is a user dependent constant, I would oppose the use of long arms for home defense on two grounds, including shotguns.

One; the size of the weapon itself. A 16" shotgun can be an unwieldy gun to swing around corners no matter who's holding it. While the layout of your residence will determine how bad or good this situation may be in your case, very few homes and apartments ive visted and lived in would be suitable defending using a non-NFA long arm. There is a good reason many SWAT and LE agencies use short barreled M4's. Sometimes spaces can be so tight even a full size pistol can be awkward, to say nothing of a shotgun.

Two, a handgun is much easier to conceal. Why would you need to conceal a home defense weapon?

Because not every noise at 2AM is a threat to your life. A knock on your door at that hour could be a home invader ......or it could be a LEO warning you of a bad guy that's on the loose. That is of course predicated on it being nighttime-many criminals have wised up to the modern pattern of man and woman being away from home during the day, so the current pattern of many home invaders is to ring the doorbell and see if their mark's home at mid-afternoon.

Walking up to the door with a shotgun may be exercising prudence, but the freaked out pizza delivery driver may not see things that way! A handgun can be carried and even held without the person on the other side of the door knowing so, which goes a long way to preventing frivolous calls to 911 from scared neighbors about the psycho woman with a shotgun.

Reason three is that a pistol is much easier to transport around the residence then a long arm, shotgun or otherwise. Toting around a 20 gauge as one eats, showers, watches TV, and cooks food would be quite tiring. A handgun the OP can shoot well may be carried about the home with little disruption to one's daily routine. I emphasize this point because when sugar turns to sh**t it frequently does so on the drop of a hat. A 20 gauge located upstairs is worthless when the Uzi-packing rapist is coming through your window 3 feet away!

[junior40er]

I always have my remington 870 shotgun ready as well as a 9mm pistol. Late night noise to check out I always use my pistol. I hear glass or door breaking in and its for sure a suspect noise I grab both with shotgun in hand and pistol in waist.

[sdkevin]

(there's a plug you can remove)

Is that legal?

[Librarian]

Is that legal?

The plug is for restrictions placed on hunters - if you're not hunting, or in a place where the Fish and Game folks think you might be hunting, then removing the plug is legal.

[elSquid]

I'm still tempted to get one of these for myself...

-- Michael

[RunsWithGuns]

I know this is an older thread but wanted to "chime in" since our home situation has light frame to military size people. If you decide on a shotgun, be aware that Mossbergs and Remingtons (we have a Mossy) can be customized or purchased for the smaller frame person and a larger frame person usually finds the smaller firearm comfortable anyway. Most importantly, if you are getting something for home defense THINK ABOUT YOUR OWN SITUATION. You will hear lots of "you must..." or "all homes must..." For example, maybe you do or do not need a light attachment. Think about how/where the gun will be stored at the 3 most likely times you'd need access and how that affects the choice of gun, safe or holding device, and OTHER actions such as increased security (how to prevent, deter, or slow down for example) as possible attacker. Pre-thought and pre-planning are important. Start with the 3 likely scenarios and work back from there? Just my thoughts.