[Rob96]

So who here has decided to use a shotgun for civil defensive purposes rather than some variant of a semi-auto carbine? If so why?

[sm]

It depends...define Civil Defense.

How mentored and how my lessons went. I am mobile, flexible and blend in.

Handgun is actually my primary.

Real Events and I do what mentors gave lessons to me:

Handgun to blend in with the crowd I was against, in order to evade and evacuate myself and other from a situation.

Shotgun, to shoot firebombs, before they could reach a structure.

Carbine, and my preference, a Model 94 in 30-30.
Recently with tornado's and in the wee hours, this is what I carried.

Armed Robbery, and I was sneaky with handgun, to access another area, and have had in hand a Shotgun with slugs, Model 94, or Model 70 in '06 with BGs in the iron sights.
They can take the goods, just do not shoot anyone, or take anyone hostage.
One time, I was able to get a pregnant employee out, and to safety and then snagged a 30-30 to watch the get-a-way car while I was on speaker phone to Cops.

Shotgun as a kid, turned looters away, slugs do that.

I have a bit of trigger time with a shotgun, and I have my reasons for wanting a traditional stocked one,as again I want to be mobile, flexible and be able to shoot moving and stationary targets.

There were no gun schools when I was coming up, and we had our lessons before the events today , come to be, such as there was no such thing as 3 gun...

We had our lessons and quality practice on a hot range.

[Rob96]

It depends...define Civil Defense.


Well most likely scenario to happen in our country besdie home invasion, I am thinking Rodney King riots, Katrina. That type of defense.

[41magsnub]

Everything is situational. If defending property against a mob I'd want an AR-15 or something similar. Odds are they would have guns too and I would not want to let them get too close. As SM said a shotgun with slugs would be good as well.

For home defense? I'm happy with buckshot, hope I never need it.

For civil defense as in a super unlikely Red Dawn thing or some such the AR-15 again I suppose. Deer rifles would be pretty good as well, using hit and run tactics.

[sm]

I have been through riots, tornadoes, flooding, escaped convicts, gang activity, armed robberies, attempted armed robbery, attempted kidnapping and some other fun and wonderful stuff.

Tools in the tool box - plural.
I like options

So my take is to not get focused on one physical thing to keep me safe, as that tunnel vision might not allow me to see and think clear other options that are best for a situation.

I do believe one has to access their environment, any limitations and skill sets. One should be proficient in tool/tools for them in that setting.

City dweller, restricted to a wheelchair is going to differ from a wheelchair bound person in a semi-rural or rural setting.

Apt, Condo, and those in homes each have different concerns.

My deal has always been entering and exiting a structure and answering the door for instance.
I cannot walk around with a long arm slung. So for me a handgun is primary, then transition to a long gun, appropriate for setting, situation.

Money.
From experience, and how raised.
New folks can afford and get up to speed fast with a single shot shotgun, and revolver, just a good used police trade in.

Civil unrests, tornadoes, and the like - and folks cannot get their guns, or they are blown away, under rubble, the single shot and revolver are two platforms that can be passed out to like kind to stay safe...

Lever Action carbine, Single shot rifles, Marlin 60, Nylon 66 are others.
No mags - do have a positive role when matters get serious.

So a single gal, single mom, college student that has a CCW pistol can (hopefully) defend, and others arriving can toss her a single shot shotgun.
If she is qual'd and one is available, a lever action.

We try to keep this simple. See it might be best for folks, even kids to shoot .22s and allow someone to run a truck up to a widow women's house, extract her to a more safe place with others.

As a kid, I was taught to put down cover fire in lessons. I was taught defensive shooting too.
I get bigger, same lessons we pass on.

I know have kids shoot .22 rifles, the truck comes up, I had the widow women/ downed person, and I got to them with a handgun, sneaking in.

1. This person is extracted with me giving cover fire with a long gun, with/w/o kids shooting.
2. I have to be extracted, so I may run a shotgun/ Lever action as I pulled out by a rope by a truck.
3. Both me and the other are pulled out, and again, I shoot , handgun, shotgun, rifle as we are extracted.

Yes, I am shooting while being pulled out by a rope, to get "across the street" type lessons.

We stay flexible, run what you brung is how raised.
Shooting from the back of a moving truck with all 3 platforms.

Lesson might be, we have to go to a site, and I don't know what gun is in the truck, if I am going to drive, be passenger or in the bed.

Run what you brung...

Lesson might be escaped convicts are at a rural home...Looters are coming in at dark...

City...I have gone along with Politics I did not agree with, with a crowd, long enough to break off to safety.
Handgun concealed the tool for that "civil unrest".

They hurt a cop, and being in fear me and another chanted, "pigs", "heat", "the man" and other things I/we did not believe in. Two of us, and about 40 of them.
Survival meant doing what needed doing...
She grabbed a broomstick, I had a pc of pipe...blending in, until we reached a place to evacuate, evade and get with like kind.

A new shooter has to get correct basic fundamentals with a platform, continue quality lessons and practice.

Shotguns are less monies , in the good used market. A good used lever action carbine is as well.
Handguns, again, good used police trade-ins are proven.

Not many new shooters are best to buy a new AR, nor should they a tricked out shotgun with all the bells and whistles.
They do not have the correct basics and skills sets.

For the price of a AR, or tricked out shotgun, a person can get a handgun and shotgun...for instance.
Maybe good used Lever action if in a more rural area and good used revolver.

Two guns, one being a handgun, affords more options and versatility.

[kentucky_smith]

You forgot to mention the tactical wheelbarrow...

[Dave McCracken]

Read an old thread I started called "When Shotguns Are Used Like Rifles (http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=1699424#post1699424)". It has some stuff on this.

[JShirley]

I'm a big fan of carbines now.

I was a small game hunter growing up, and used a 20 gauge Topper, Jr. until I was big enough to take one of the family's pumps.

My disillusionment with the SG started on the hunting trip when I killed my first deer at 16. For starters, I missed being able to take a shot at three fine bucks, all in a row, because I only had buck in my gun, and they were maybe 65 yards out. Too far for responsible shooting.

Since then, with lots of trigger time on carbines, I realize that an intermediate rifle round recoils more softly, so is more controllable, holds more rounds, is quicker to train a newbie on, and is actually probably more effective (especially with expanding rounds) at all but contact distance.

If you shoot a shotgun often, and it's like a second extension of your body, maybe it'll work great for HD for you. (I like reduced recoil slugs, personally. I have almost no faith in shot.) If you're just getting into shooting, a decent carbine will probably be a much better defensive choice.

John

[rantingredneck]

Multiple shotguns with multiple bandoliers full of slugs and buckshot. If I have to shoot more than 100yds away that's what the scoped 700's are for. Even at 100yds buckshot can be effective. Yeah it's an area weapon at that range, but even if pellets are just clipping ankles and wounding aggressors it's still making them less effective in their aggression. My 20" IC RS 870 will hold 5" groups with Brenneke's at that range too.

[Rob96]

Read an old thread I started called "When Shotguns Are Used Like Rifles". It has some stuff on this.


A very good read. Thanks.