Need a home defense shotgun primer

[cybernorris]

I have practically no experience with shotguns but am considering one as my first non-handgun purchase. The purpose would be strictly home/personal defense.

I went trap shooting once during middle school (70s) and did well with both the 12 gauge and 410 gauge. The Army taught me how to shoot the M16 and M9 in the 80s. However I have no real knowledge of shotguns beyond:

they are big
they can kick
they are used for bird hunting
there's something called a choke

Can someone point me to a good wiki or basic shotgun primer?

Thanks!

[winston smith]

GOOGLE:

HowStuffWorks "How Shotguns Work"May 19, 2005 ... All shotguns have some of the same basic components. Starting from the end nearest to the shooter, there's often a stock that allows you to ...
science.howstuffworks.com/shotgun2.htm - 67k - Cached - Similar pages

Shotgun - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaAfter World War I, the United States military began referring to all shotguns as riot guns. Due to the cramped conditions of trench warfare, the American ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shotgun - 156k - Cached - Similar pages

What Is the Best Type of Shotgun for Me?All types of modern shotguns have the potential for sufficient reliability ... Given that, all shotgun types have equal reliability in a tangible sense when ...
www.chuckhawks.com/best_shotgun_type.htm - 14k - Cached - Similar pages

O.F. Mossberg & Sons, Inc. - Firearms, Shotguns, Rifles ...Rugged and reliable, the 535 ATS™ is the ultimate, all-around pump gun, loaded with features usually found on shotguns costing much more, all built into a ...
www.mossberg.com/products/default.asp?id=11 - 50k - Cached - Similar pages

best all around shotgun | Outdoor LifeMay 14, 2009 ... Rate Thread0%0%I am looking in to getting a new shotgun for turkey and realy anything else.im fourteen and have been using a 20 guage and i ...
www.outdoorlife.com/forums/guns/shotguns/best-all-around-shotgun - 62k - Cached - Similar pages

Top Manufacturers of the Best Pump (Slide-Action) Shotguns in the ...Crossbolt safety in front of trigger. Made 1912-1980, in many configurations. Possibly the most collectable of all pump shotguns. It was made in 12, 16, 20, ...
hunting.about.com/od/shotgun/tp/top_pump_shotguns.htm - 26k - Cached - Similar pages

Top Semi-Automatic 12 Gauge ShotgunsBeretta's gas operated semi-automatic shotguns are all based on the same action, the 391. Built in a variety of variations, including one that handles the ...
hunting.about.com/od/toppicks/tp/tp_autoshotguns.htm - 26k - Cached - Similar pages

You can also go to your local public library and ASK for books on shotguns, which are even better than the Internet stuff.

Good Luck!

[cybernorris]

Thanks!

[Lee Lapin]

Start right here: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=2766

Then try http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=355528 .

That ought to get you started...

lpl

[jakemccoy]

My approach with a shotgun was to get involved with sporting clays, and then use that same gun (or model) for a home defense gun. I feel comfortable with handling my 870 at night after being awaken from a deep sleep. I also plan on taking a substantial course for self-defense with a shotgun.

If you live in a state like California, it would be a good idea to have a primary purpose like "sporting clays" or "hunting", as opposed to "self-defense". Make your lawyer's job a bit easier after you shoot someone. By the way, if you're getting a gun for home defense, you should be thoroughly familiar with your state's laws regarding self/home defense, and then simplify those laws into a one-liner. My one-liner here in California is "I may point a gun to shoot a human only if that human is physically trying to kill me." The law may be a bit broader, but this one-liner keeps me safely within the law.

[cybernorris]

Lee, thanks ... I found this thread incredibly insightful:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=355528

Jake, I'm in Tennessee... a state where LE encourage dragging the wounded invader back into the home.