Need expert advice

[MikeJ]

Hello all,
I have been thinking about a pump shotgun for home defense and have been reading the posts dealing with that subject. I have considerable experience with handguns, almost 20 years, but virtually no experience with a shotgun. Here's my dilemna; since the great majority of my shooting is done at an indoor range I know that I would not have the time to put in a lot of practice at the outdoor range which is quite a bit farther to travel to. With my schedule I can get out there about 10 times per year. From reading the numerous posts here it seems as if it requires considerable practice and experience to become adequately proficient with a shotgun for HD purposes. Here's my question; should I forget about getting a shotgun and just stick with handguns or is that sufficient practice to become familiar enough to operate a pump in a HD scenario? One last question, if a pump requires much more practice would a coach gun be a better choice with a simpler system? Thanks for your input, Mike

[Nippy]

I don't have as much experience as other guys but this is what I think I would tell myself if I had to do it again.

You know what might help is to take a class. When I took a class I borrowed a gun from the instructor and by the end of it I had a much better idea of what the shotgun was for me. The instructor said at the end "who would use the shotgun for home defense" and not everybody in the class raised their hands. So the shotgun might not be for you.

As for a shotgun I shot a lot of different ones. Most were guns that people were shooting in a trap club. I choose the one that fit me and I mess with it at home. You know do the drills they did in class, dry fire, load, clear jams etc.

I'm new to the game of shooting so I could be wrong but I think I learn and improve my shooting more by doing "dry" practice rather than going to the range. Man as I read that again it sounds kinda obsurd but thats just how I feel.. oh well I'm just a newbie Oops hahaha, the thread said "Need Expert Advice " sorry I guess I'm outta place hahaha.

[sm]

Thoughts...

Shotgun skills are aquired through practice, regardless of platform.

IMO, Gun fit is most important, so I really feel the new or used pump will be money better spent. Coach guns are great for HD, however, maybe not right now, but someday you may choose to hunt,participate in clay games...etc. So the pump with variable chokes is a better buy.

Practice, you may find in checking with others they too want to improve shotgun skills, someone may even have private property closer to allow practice.

If not, I spent a lot of time practicing in my garage, and an unused bedroom. I had "targets" I dry fired at , positioned to represent various stations. I also added weight to increase my stamina. I have been known to "shoot at a 1k targets in one day". More often, when not insane prepping for a big tourney, 100-200 each day.

Then- when I went to shoot -live, be it practice, tourney, or hunting-shotgun and I were like one...extension of me.

Better advice than mine will come from others...

[Dot_mdb]

I recently bought my first shotgun. But not for home defense use. I think that the shotgun is not the best primary home defense weapon. I think that the plain old fashioned revolver is best for home defense and the shotgun is great as a backup for the revolver.

Each weapon has its own advantages. The revolver's greatest advantage is that it is concealable so that if you have to answer the door or if for some reason you want to appear unarmed you are able to do that. Another big advantage of the revolver is that it is safe to keep loaded with a round in the chamber without the need for a safety. If I need to use a weapon in the middle of the night I want to be able to reach for the revolver and point it and pull the trigger. I don't want to have to ask myself about the safety being on or off or whether or not I have to rack the slide back and forth.

The shotguns advantages are well known. Brute power and psychological.

In my opinion I think you should go ahead and buy the shotgun and start getting some experience with it. But keep the handgun as your primary HD weapon.

Bill

[foghornl]

My primary HD weapon is the Springfield 1911-A1, followed by the Maverick/Mossberg 12Ga pump. (The shotty keeps falling off the bedside table)

The shotgun is probably the most versatile long gun around...with light loads, trap/skeet/sporting clays.

Slightly heavier loads for small game and birds like dove/quail/squirrel/rabbit.

Stiffer loads for ducks/geese/turkey.

Then buckshot/slugs for the variants of deer & perhaps bear.

And if I need something heavier than the Maverick pump for a HD scenario...well by then I have picked up the Most Serious Artillery...US Rifle Cal .30 M-1 popularly known as The Garand.

[Dave McCracken]

There's a few queries here, let me address them singly.

First, use of ANY firearm defensively DEMANDS expertise.Things tend to go tragically wrong when one employs a weapon one has only the vaguest idea of how to operate.

A shotgun is perhaps the best close range weapon, when used by a shotgunner. A shotgun is not a magic amulet, protecting by its mere presence. Here at Casa McC, I'm the only shotgunner. There's other measures available for the family.

There's plenty of places to shoot shotguns, and once one moves up the learning curve enough that he/she can operate and fire without pain, shotguns are huge amounts of fun. You may find yourself making room in your life for range trips more than 10X yearly.

As for a coach gun vs a big Four Pump, I'd go with a pump.The MOA isn't that complicated and the things last forever.