Do You Keep A Shotgun Available For Home Defense

What roll does a shotgun play in your home defense preparations?

  • A shotgun is my primary HD weapon

    Votes: 66 30.0%
  • A shotgun is a secondary HD option (or barricade weapon)

    Votes: 93 42.3%
  • A shotgun is an reserve option, but not really part of the plan

    Votes: 40 18.2%
  • A shotgun plays no part in my HD plan

    Votes: 21 9.5%

  • Total voters
    220
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Yes, I do keep a shotgun, but not for the usual reasons. My primary shotgun type threats are 4 legged, and mostly a danger to my chickens. #4 buck or BB lead are effective medicine for 2 or 4 legs, so there it sits in the corner. I will say that in a serious outdoor gunfight, I'd rather have a 12 Guage than just about anything. Indoors that could be problematic
 
I think a lot of the strong shotgun support is due to the fact that the poll is in the Shotguns sub forum.

Post this same poll in Rifle Country or Handguns: Autoloaders and I bet you get somewhat different poll numbers. It would be interesting to see.
 
Shotguns definitely have their place but I see them as a specialty weapon not a general purpose weapon. They don't have the maneuverability I want for close quarters and they aren't the easiest to mount optics, slings, and lights etc.

For me either a pistol with a light or an AR pistol/SBR, preferably with a suppressor, would be my choice.
 
My introduction to shotguns was through duck hunting from a blind and later some field walking for birds. I was never very good at either but I still have the shotguns from that long ago period. They are all 20 gauge, one old hand-me-down pump, an old hand-me-down semi and a brand new at the time Spanish SxS.

I'm almost always armed with a handgun and have been for a long long time but a shotgun at close range really has some very important to me advantages. First, it is a point and shoot firearm rather than an aim firearm. Second, the SxS StarGauge is only slightly longer than my carbine size rifles (all 22LR these days, sent the larger caliber ones to Forever Homes) even with its 26" barrels. With one barrel a Mod choke and the other a Full choke and at room range even #4 Upland Bird shot can ruin someones day.

The shotgun though resides in my bedroom for several reasons. If I'm awakened from a sleep odds are I won't be wearing my glasses and my handgun will be on the bedside table rather than my hip. The shotgun is a perfect device to get someone to pause and perhaps rethink the situation giving me enough time to put on my glasses and get the handgun. It's simple, effective, short enough to maneuver but with a long enough barrel to get the full effect from the shells.

In a case of a home intrusion the only thing I would fight to protect is my life (or my family's lives). There isn't anything else worth a firefight and I would be perfectly happy if they simply took stuff and left. I will never go after intruders but if they come after me I will do my best to change their mind.

I have cameras covering most interior and exterior spaces (multiple views in most cases) and all the lights can be remotely controlled from my bedroom allowing me to remain in the dark while selectively controlling what is illuminated. The cameras all record and store in the cloud. The house has a whole house external generator to maintain power. Entry ways are made to be as difficult and noisy to breach as reasonable ad still simply allow general entry and egress.

Finally, I don't have and have never even desired an AR pistol/SBR other than one of my 22LR carbines. I do have the shotguns.
 
I think a lot of the strong shotgun support is due to the fact that the poll is in the Shotguns sub forum.

Post this same poll in Rifle Country or Handguns: Autoloaders and I bet you get somewhat different poll numbers. It would be interesting to see.
I would think that general area would be the most diverse. But as most people that are replying to the poll are shotgun owners and users do to being in the shotgun area it should gather decent statistics.
 
I think a lot of the strong shotgun support is due to the fact that the poll is in the Shotguns sub forum.

Post this same poll in Rifle Country or Handguns: Autoloaders and I bet you get somewhat different poll numbers. It would be interesting to see.

I suppose not everyone looks at THR via the "new posts" button like I do. I hadn't considered that others might completely ignore a thread, not based on the title, but based on the sub-forum it is in.

But yeah, you might be right.
 
Yeah, I have always viewed by sub-forum.
Didn't even know about a "New Posts" button.
Old habits die hard...


THR went to Xenforo a while ago, but looks like vBulletin (like TFL still uses) has a similar feature.
 
Handgun is primary HD weapon. Easier to use one handed.

I started keeping a 12ga on top of the dresser about a week ago. It is loaded with 13 mini shells and has 6 mixed shells in a side saddle.
 
Make sure those mini-shells feed properly!

I bought a box to try long ago (Aguila) and found them to be a novelty at best.
 
I have both a pistol and a shotgun loaded and ready while at home. I use my 410 Mossberg Shockwave and 410 Mossberg 500 loaded with 3" 000 buckshot which works well for me and my wife. We are both disabled so the 410 works better for us. I did enough testing that 5 pellets of buckshot out of a 410 gets enough penetration out to 25 yards and they will hold a nice tight pattern out to 15 yards. The pattern opens up to about 12-14 inches at 25 yards.
I don't have the .410 Shockwave, but I have both the 12 and 20 ga ones. My ex-wife is also disabled and often is wheelchair bound. I initially bought the 20 ga thinking it would be a good option for her, but it was a little stout. Rather than get the .410, I loaded the 12 ga with mini shells and that works like gangbusters for her. Plus it gives her more capacity. Glad the .410 works for y'all.
 
My 870 resides I my bedroom. But my primary weapons are placed throughout the house for quick access.
 
I own a very nice shotgun but I don't really "keep it available for home defense." I bought it right before I wrecked my right shoulder; as of today I'm still on work comp, fifteen months after my injury. It's highly likely that my shottie will be a good option for HD but as of right now I haven't run it sufficiently to rely on it. If someone tried to kick in my door right now I'd be grabbing my carbine.
 
I was never that keen on a shotgun. Buckshot is a solid ball at ranges measured in feet and doesnt open up much in a matter of yards. A pistol cal lever action suits me better, less blast, less recoil, similar aiming speed. I always saw the 'shot pattern' aspect of a shotgun more advantage as it is in the field, eg ranges more like "front yard'' level or targets moving across the line of vision, which is moving away from defensive purposes...
 
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