Good home defense shotgun or rifle for one arm?

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Some thoughts to consider:

I'm betting that your right arm is well-developed and your right hand is vise-strong. And that you can hold just about any long gun for a while. But that shorter and lighter is still easier.

If you want plenty of ammo capacity:

My suggestion is a light-weight pistol-length AR. If chambered in 5.56/.223, it should have a 10.5" barrel. If chambered in 9mm or 300 blackout, the barrel can be shorter. Install a light plastic Magpul fore end that is as short as possible. You don't need it!

Iron sights are not needed. Install a light red dot instead.

An AR for you should be equipped with a Battery Assist Device (BAD lever) so that you can close the bolt using only your right index finger. With the BAD, AR controls are very right-hand and single-hand friendly.

The pistol braces (or rifle buttstock on an SBR) allow you to create a second point of contact with your body (on your shoulder) that helps to stabilize the weapon in use. The forearm straps don't add much in my opinion.

If the pistol grip on a standard AR doesn't work for you, check out a "featureless", California-compliant stock. No pistol grip, no adjustable buttstock. That might suit you better. Something like this:

https://moriartiarmaments.com/custom-orders/ar-bravo-featureless-stock-kit-wt07b

Shotguns have less ammo capacity, but probably still enough to end a fight. Pumps are out, of course. The only way that you're going to find a light, short, autoloading shotgun will be to pay the $200 tax stamp and create an SBS (short-barreled shotgun). Even then, that gun will be relatively heavy, especially when loaded with a magazine tube of heavy shotgun rounds.

If you can live with low ammo capacity:

Go the SBS route, and cut a side-by-side shotgun down a lot, like Mad Max. Devastating at close distance. And when you have fired both rounds, just drop it and draw your handgun.

500px-MadMelSawed.jpg
 
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While it only takes me about five seconds for that process...that's an eternity under pressure. Plus pressure causes errors without practice, and true self defense of life with a firearm is obviously not something you can just practice. It's like combat sports. I know so many guys that are killers in the gym but can't function under pressure when it actually counts. They make minor mistakes and sometimes it results in getting knocked out in front of everyone by a lesser skilled opponent. The luxury of sanctioned fighting though is that you can always try again. The sad thing is that some guys with years of training and many fights never learn to cope with pressure.

My experiences have been fighters often function better than average when it comes to pressure. Not saying a heavyweight boxer automatically makes a good swat team member, but the military still encourages its combat sports -boxing, wrestling and these days BJJ and MMA, because taking a beating in front of others whilst completely exhausted is still one of the best adrenalin de-sensitizers out there.
 
My experiences have been fighters often function better than average when it comes to pressure. Not saying a heavyweight boxer automatically makes a good swat team member, but the military still encourages its combat sports -boxing, wrestling and these days BJJ and MMA, because taking a beating in front of others whilst completely exhausted is still one of the best adrenalin de-sensitizers out there.

A lot of them do. My point is that I've been around many guys who seemingly had everything you'd want in a combat sports athlete, but they couldn't put it together in sanctified competition, when an amateur or professional record was on the line.

It’s not the majority. Most have enough confidence that their training and attributes will prevail...but then they find out they're fighting a knockout artist, or an elite level collegiate wrestler. Again most will still be relatively calm, but many won't. Some will make a really dumb fight ending mistake. Others may have a huge adrenaline dump early on and become exhausted within minutes. Maybe I shouldn't compare the pressure of fighting for sport to life and death but it's just something I've been around enough to know how easy it is to make a detrimental mistake.

My point is simply that nobody never really knows how they'll react to a very specific type of pressure until they actually face it. I'm sure I'd be fine with any gun if someone broke in. As long as they're not armed or capable of stopping a single leg, it shouldn't be an issue. The thing is though if I'm going to use a firearm for self defense, I just want to make sure I'm prepared for something more...like two armed men. Is it likely to happen? Probably not. It could though and I don't wanna be unprepared.
 
OP, don't know where you're at, but I have a PCC with the standard forend (not the Charger model), a 9 mm sub2k, and an AR pistol in .223 with no arm brace I would offer for a range test if you have a mind and are local to mid MN
 
No matter how big a guy you are, firing a 12 gauge shotgun one handed and having control of it is almost if not impossible. And zombie shooting apocalypse aside, making sure your first shot counts when needed is the name of the game be it hunting or self defense. Trying to hold onto a semi auto 12 gauge one handed could end...disastrously. You would still be in recoil mode trying to control it with a finger on the trigger...
A few years ago I found a single shot 20 gauge carriage gun ( a former facility guard unit weapon) with a 18 " bbl. It handles like a pistol and with a light slug or shot load is very controllable, and can easily be reloaded with one hand. It is the most accessible firearm to grab at my camp, and even the 20 gauge bore is plenty intimidating to stare down.
The single shot aside, a light compact .22 semi such as the Ruger 10-22 would be single hand controllable and reloadable. And say what you want in comparison to other rounds, I sure as hell dont want to get burned by several fast placed cci mini mags .
 
And I think you can put a "brace" on it; the which are commonly used as stocks; you don't have to tie yourself to it. If we lose that option, you can discard it and use as above or get it registered as a SBR.
 
Do you have enough function in the left hand for a hi point carbine? The bolt that holds the little dingus on that serves as a bolt catch and knob could easily be replaced with a bigger and better knob and that leaves you essentially unfazed by working the gun. It’s just a thought, but it depends on if you could work that doohickey or not.
 
Not the same situation, but as an example of perseverance and equipment adaptation, consider Nubs. He has both arms but no complete hand. I doubt you will find a more cheerful and self deprecating athlete.
 
OP, don't know where you're at, but I have a PCC with the standard forend (not the Charger model), a 9 mm sub2k, and an AR pistol in .223 with no arm brace I would offer for a range test if you have a mind and are local to mid MN

Thanks for the offer. I would definitely be interested if I wasn't in TN.

No matter how big a guy you are, firing a 12 gauge shotgun one handed and having control of it is almost if not impossible. And zombie shooting apocalypse aside, making sure your first shot counts when needed is the name of the game be it hunting or self defense. Trying to hold onto a semi auto 12 gauge one handed could end...disastrously. You would still be in recoil mode trying to control it with a finger on the trigger...
A few years ago I found a single shot 20 gauge carriage gun ( a former facility guard unit weapon) with a 18 " bbl. It handles like a pistol and with a light slug or shot load is very controllable, and can easily be reloaded with one hand. It is the most accessible firearm to grab at my camp, and even the 20 gauge bore is plenty intimidating to stare down.
The single shot aside, a light compact .22 semi such as the Ruger 10-22 would be single hand controllable and reloadable. And say what you want in comparison to other rounds, I sure as hell dont want to get burned by several fast placed cci mini mags .

Well I put an Escort 12 GA bullpup on my layaway today. Again, it's not the recoil that bothers me. I know this as I have shot many shotguns. It's just the time it takes to get on target with so much length and weight out front, and how fatiguing it is. Also I hate to say these things because it's the internet but I lift a lot. My picture on here for years was my real life picture. I removed it because I felt like a tool. My right arm is pretty strong. My core is very strong. I can promise you that the recoil itself is not a problem. I shoot big bore revolvers as much as anything. I've owned and shot the 50 AE Desert Eagle (no muzzle brake) more than any other firearm.

I really hate posting this stuff. I don't want to sound like I'm being arrogant. It's just that I know the recoil is not a issue for me. I appreciate the concern but the entire reason I'm looking into this so much is because of concerns for safety and practicality. Not the opposite.
 
Then again, how about a bullpup design like the Keltec RDB? I believe they make those with and without pistol grips, are fully ambi, and downward ejecting.
I can vouch that a Tavor SAR bullpup (non-X95) with a sling can be run *completely* one-handed. You can configure the forward-placed charging handle to the right side if you want, but it’s a cinch to cycle the action with the handle on the left side by catching the charging handle on your belt and shoving the rifle sharply down; the trigger-style mag release is operable with the forefinger of the hand that grabs the mag for a reload with retention, or with the back of the hand if you want to drop a mag with the hand in firing position (let the rifle hang from a 2-point sling to change mags); the bolt release is operated with the thumb of the hand that inserts the mag. The rearward weight balance makes it easy to shoot one handed, and with a red dot I think I could hit at 100 yards one handed, though I haven’t tried it.

Another good bullpup option would be the FN PS90 (smaller and lighter than the Tavor). You’d have to experiment with the controls layout on an X95, AUG, or RDB to see if they are as conducive to one-handed operation.

Here’s an overview of the layout...you can see how the mag release and bolt-hold-open work, as well as how it balances. The X95 has an AR-style mag release instead (operated by the trigger finger), but that would make a reload with retention harder one-handed.



Here’s someone shooting an X95 one-handed; a regular Tavor balances similarly.

 
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Maybe this is straight out of the bad-ideas department, but what about the Remington Tac-13?

I wouldn’t have thought it would be pleasant one-handed, but didn’t look all that terrible in the Hickock45 video. Saw another review with some impressive patterns using Federal buckshot. (Flight control?)
 
The only friend I have that lost his “strong arm”, runs a 1911 and AR’s for the most part, bird hunts with a pump and drives a manual transmission truck.

We met up one day behind a buddy’s barn, after the match was canceled and played a little. This one was two stars with the black dot being a no shoot and had to hit one plate on each before a 2nd on either, to get them moving. You have to excuse the crummy video but it’s all I have that shows his technique.



He also was the only one to hit an 8” steel plate at 100 yards that afternoon with his pistol, on the first shot.

As an “Expert class” shooter with only one arm and not originally his “strong arm” he remains one of the few I admire.

I miss, pistol shooting, 3 gun and dove hunting with him almost as much as just hanging out and having a few beers.
 
I'm thinking about a Remington Tac-13 with a modified arm brace. The modification would be like the saddle arm wrap on a 1/2 crutch. That would give you position support while shooting ,but would easily dislodge from your are for reloading. They also make this model with a box magazine making reloading much easier with one arm.
 
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