Best shotgun for newbie

Another vote for not mixing 12 gauge and 20 gauge in the house.

How about a Ruger PCC 9mm carbine for the wife and a 12 gauge for you? I sent one of these to my sister and family in Michigan to use for home defense. Light weight, accurate, fun, and easy to use for new shooters. Ruger makes a variant for just about every state to include NY and CA.

https://www.ruger.com/products/pcCarbine/models.html

I picked up one for myself as well just so I could answer any questions. Here's a 1 minute 3 second video I made for the family on the basic operation:

drobs said:

Another vote for not mixing 12 gauge and 20 gauge in the house.

How about a Ruger PCC 9mm carbine for the wife and a 12 gauge for you? I sent one of these to my sister and family in Michigan to use for home defense. Light weight, accurate, fun, and easy to use for new shooters. Ruger makes a variant for just about every state to include NY and CA.

https://www.ruger.com/products/pcCarbine/models.html

I picked up one for myself as well just so I could answer any questions. Here's a 1 minute 3 second video I made for the family on the basic operation:

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Been thinking seriously of getting one.Nice Video. Must be nice to shoot off back porch. I guess that is your "Compound"? Thanks. (became your 2nd subscriber)

Since I have one, 995TS gets my vote if we are talking about a 9mm carbine.

Don’t buy anything yet.

Find a reliable certified firearms instructor and learn to handle and store guns safely. Then learn rudimentary marksmanship. You really don’t know how anyone will react to recoil and the sound of gunfire, which is much louder than depicted in the movies and on TV, until it is experienced.

After getting training and experience, you will be better prepared to evaluate the firearm recommendations above.

Your wife might prefer a youth stock. Many women I know prefer these because it balances the weight closer to an adult’s body. Take her along when you shop.

I always recommend shopping for gently used 870 Wingmasters. Premium gun, but often sold at a price below a new Express.

Don’t just punch holes in paper or cans. Trap, skeet, etc are not just fun in their own right (and for some couples date night) but teach things like target acquisition, lead, swing, & help with critical decision making.

OP, the biggest issue as I see it is how many of the posters on this thread have ever fired a gun in a HD situation? We can all give advice but I dare say the preponderance of suggestions are based on what we’ve read and what we think we would do.

I think shotguns are dandy for HD. I prefer a semi over a pump because I’m notorious for short stroking and secondarily because of the recoil attenuation. The three shotguns you are pondering will work just fine. Finding one with a youth/compact stock for your wife is good if she needs it and the majority of women do. The comb on standard shotgun stocks is too low for most women but that is easily addressed.

20 gauges can kick harder than a 12 depending on a couple of variables.

Whatever you do, LET your wife pick out her own firearm.

cdb1 gave excellent advice. Especially about letting your wife pick out her own gun. What fits you most likely will not fit her. He is also correct in that most people on this (or any forum) have never had to use a gun in a HD/SD situation. I haven't had to in a HD situation but have had to while in the military. Best advice is get what fits you and your wife and practice.

Now as far as shotgun ammo, I would advise against using bird shot for HD. I recommend buckshot. One thing to remember, you do actually have to aim a shotgun, especially at home defense ranges. Once you decide on what type of firearm to buy, get some training.

Some kind of classes or research can provide good information.

There are some collapsable stocks available for Remington 870's. My 5'2" wife fits the shotgun well at the most collapse setting. At a longer setting, the stock works well for me.

1 oz and 7/8 oz commercial loads are available for 12 ga shotguns which makes the 12 ga feel more like a 20 ga. Unfortunately, I'm not sure what is available in shot sizes larger than #9 or #8 in these loads. But, if one reloads, larger shot sizes can be used.

The Mossberg 500 shotgun is another good pump shotgun but I'm not sure what aftermarket goodies are available for the platform.

A 20 gauge shotgun from either s Remington 870 or a Mossberg 500 would be a good choice.
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A .410 shotgun is not appropriate. It is really too difficult to make reliable hits with the small gauge shotgun.

I also wouldn’t use birdshot or a .410.

Ernie Bass said:

Been thinking seriously of getting one.Nice Video. Must be nice to shoot off back porch. I guess that is your "Compound"? Thanks. (became your 2nd subscriber)

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Thank you Sir. I have a 25yd range off my back porch with a decent size hill as a backstop.

If you want an immediate solution now, albeit not a great one, go buy a Ruger 10-22 rifle, a few SR-25 magazines, and 500-1000 rounds of ammo.

This gun is inexpensive, reliable, and a great way for you and your missus to get out and shoot and get in some trigger time to learn the basics of gun handling, trigger control, and marksmanship.

I am NOT saying this gun is a great or even good choice for home defense, but this gun is better than a sharp stick or a cop 30 minutes away. And no one wants to get shot with anything, including a .22...

It is a great way to take the first step...a “start” on your firearms ownership journey.

cdahl383 said:

We’re both new to all guns. Never owned or shot a gun in my life, same with my wife.

I’ll look into some of these other guns mentioned above. Looks like there is a lot to learn like anything new you get into.

Regarding training and shooting, id like to start going to the range a few times per week to get the hang of it all. I know this is a crude comparison, but when I first started drag racing my car, I’d goof up my burnout, or cut a bad light, etc. The more passes I made and the more often, the easier and more consistent I became, to the point where it’s all subconscious now when I pull up in the staging lanes. I’m guessing that’s how shooting is. If I just go once a month for a little bit, I probably won’t be as good at things as if I went several times a week for a while to get everything engrained in my head. Between the shooting ranges nearby and my friend who has one on his property, I should be able to get a lot of time in. The gun won’t be much use if when I need it I forget steps and goof stuff up.

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Well, interesting choice then, a shotgun for 'home defense' PLUS..yes, shooting a SG at the range but they are kinda 'one and done', particularly with buck shot. I think you'll be checking things like felt recoil(quite a lot, BTW) and reliability.
I'd suggest a couple of handguns for HD tho..maybe with lights..easier to handle, smaller, VERY effective..remember, 'home defense'..SG can be a great HD gun but I think handguns would be more versatile. IMHO

You may want to consider a pistol caliber carbine, such as the Ruger pc. They are easy to use, and do not have the same "blast and recoil penalty" of a shotgun, along with a higher ammunition capacity. Whatever you choose, I strongly suggest you mount a light to it so that you can identify and engage targets in the dark, since you can't hit what you can't see (its dark about 50% of the time on this planet). Most importantly, GET SOME TRAINING!

cfullgraf said:

A .410 shotgun is not appropriate. It is really too difficult to make reliable hits with the small gauge shotgun.

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You are correct when it comes to hitting targets with bird shot. And yes the 410 is more difficult to use for hunting or skeet since you have less shot.

Now when using slugs or buckshot at very close ranges like found in home defense situations, it is a different story. You do have to aim the shotgun no matter what. Yes you even have to aim the 12 gauge properly if you want a center mass hit at 15 yards or less which is the typical home defense range.

I know that the 410 is not for everyone. But for someone that is very recoil sensitive or disabled, a 410 with the proper 3" shell does make sense. 5 pellets of buckshot moving at 1100-1200 feet per second will work just as well as 9 pellets of buckshot moving at 1200-1300 feet per second out of a 2 3/4" 12 gauge shell.

Whether you are using a 12 or 20 gauge or a 410, you still have to aim, and you still have to practice.

My advice is to get what fits each individual shooter taking into consideration size, physical strength, and health.

OP
Have you considered a 12 gauge for you, and a 9mm carbine for her?

While the Mossberg 590 shotguns are cool, I'd recommend you get yourself a shotgun that comes with 2 barrels. 1 longer barrel with chokes for shooting clays and hunting and a shorter cylinder bore barrel for home defense.

Both Mossberg and Remington sell 2 barrel sets. I've found that it's cheaper to buy a shotgun with 2 barrels from the start than to add additional barrels later.

Some examples:
https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/mossberg-500-field-security-combo-12-gauge-shotgun

https://www.rkguns.com/mossberg-mav...combo-12-gauge-pump-action-shotgun-31014.html

https://www.cabelas.com/product/sho...pact-pump-action-shotguns/709956.uts?slotId=8

Whatever you do, LET your wife pick out her own firearm.

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Exactly.....Both read CorneredCat.com:
https://www.corneredcat.com/

great reading for both of you. Your wife might decide (after renting and trying things) that she wants an AR or handgun; whatever she chooses, SHE needs to determine what will work best for HER. If she is unsure or afraid of a particular type of gun she will not practice, won't become proficient, and in a stress moment, bad things then happen.........

Based on price alone, a Maverick 88 or Pardner Pump would be good options. Much of that will depend on what you want to do with the firearms afterwards. For example, the Maverick is based off the Mossberg 500, so they will accept mini shells with the Opsol adapter. The Pardner comes drill and tapped so if you are adding a top rail/optic/better sights that is the easier one to do. The safeties are also in different places, and that alone can play a huge impact on choice. I personally hate the tang safety on the Mossberg 500 so I went with the Mav 88 as that safety is a crossbolt safety in front of the trigger, where I prefer it.

When it comes to spouse shopping, you will always be wrong. You may recommend one thing and they will go to something different. Have her try shooting a few. Make sure she is comfortable doing mandatory stuff like pumping the action for loading and failure drills, taking off the safety etc.

cdahl383 said:

Lots of info to digest. Thanks everyone!

Going to go over to my buddy’s house this weekend to shoot some guns. He said he’d show me the ropes and let me fire some different guns like a 12 gauge, 22 rifle, handguns, etc. Maybe after that I’ll have a better idea of what I like and stuff.

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GREAT idea..be a 'guy' and buy, bring, pay him your ammo..

I would definitely pay for the ammo and maybe even a 12 pack of his favorite beer for after you are done shooting.

The OP is exactly right. Practice and good training are key.

If you decide to stay with the shotguns, lay in a supply of reduced-recoil buckshot ammo. It's much more body-friendly for the amount of practice and training you'll want and need to do.

Shooting a lot of full-recoil buckshot through a pump gun is a good way to make you wish you had chosen a handgun or pistol-caliber carbine for home defense.

For basic practice, I wouldn't even opt for reduced recoil buck but instead for light target loads. This will help in becoming more familiar with the workings of the gun without the punishment of recoil. secondly, basic target loads are a lot cheaper so the OP and his wife can practice even more for the same amount of money.