A question from a pistol man

He should do his own research.

Tell him to get some defensive shotgun training if he is driven by cliches and buy a known quality gun.

I was in agreement with the two responses to this thread until I went to the Gforce website. The very first statement on the site says, “YOUR AUTHORITY FOR QUALITY FIREARMS”.

There are two shotguns listed on the first page of of the GForce website. Gforce recommends using ammunition with 1300 FPS velocity or higher. Using the scientific method I learned sitting at Skylerbone’s knee I then looked up the velocity of a number of 12 gauge Buckshot loads on Midway’s website. I’d say the majority of loads had a listed velocity of 1325-1350 FPS, but a number of loads from the major producers had a stated velocity that was in the 1200-1250 FPS range. It didn’t leave me with a comfortable feeling. So I agree even more with tws3b2 and Gem.

I would go with a known entity that has parts and service readily available from pretty much any gunsmith.
Has your friend ever fired a shotgun, especially one with buckshot? He might want to do that before he spends his money.

Yeah, does the friend have any experience with long arms? Shooting 12 gauge is not trivial. Not to restart the carbine vs. shotgun flame war but the semi shotguns are used a lot in competition. Clearly such is not a trivial exercise. A defense long arm in 223 is so much easier to use.

I'd really steer a new person (if he is such) against this gun. BTW, running a pump under stress isn't trivial either.

The 12 gauge shot gun is the deadliest gun in the world. At 20 feet it will cut a man in half with light hunting loads, and those loads will not penetrate a wall. Shotguns are slow and awkward in a room to room search. In very kind words the GForce is an inexpensive gun. If you want something to shoot occasionally for fun and pass on to the kids, you will want to spend twice that amount or more even on a used gun.

I hope you are being satirical at first or else we would have to delete this. If so you are making good points about new folks who buy into shotgun mythology. Most pro SD shotgun shooters are going for the Beretta 1301s.

My best advice is to point your friend towards the sticky at the top of this board on fighting shotguns... Dave McCracken says it all there... Yes, it will take some time to read through but most of what's said about shotguns being sold these days isn't exactly for the buyer's benefit...

Thomasss said:

The 12 gauge shot gun is the deadliest gun in the world. At 20 feet it will cut a man in half with light hunting loads, and those loads will not penetrate a wall. Shotguns are slow and awkward in a room to room search. In very kind words the GForce is an inexpensive gun. If you want something to shoot occasionally for fun and pass on to the kids, you will want to spend twice that amount or more even on a used gun.

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The part of your statement I bolded is pure BS. They only do that in Hollywood movies, not real life. The rest of it I agree with 100%.

If he did not have any guns, I'd say a GForce 12 ga. would be better than a sharp stick, but only if he knows how to use it. Since he has some pistols and a shotgun already, I suggest you give them back to him, Brubz, so he has something.

In my opinion a shotgun is not the best defensive weapon for a novice shooter. I think I would advise anyone who wanted a home defense weapon to get a Ruger Charger in 22LR plus 2 thirty round magazines. If someone 9or more than one) breaks in you just get in target and keep pulling the trigger until the perp drops. Low recoil, rapid fire, a lot of rounds at short distance is a good formula for a novice who is unlikely to properly train with a gun.

Well....shotguns have been the go to for self defense for the untrained masses for centuries. It's not rocket science. You don't need combat training. Being used to and comfortable shooting one and not being afraid of it is pretty much enough. I think just about any modern shotgun would suffice for the OP's friend initially until he gets back into it and can chose for what works best for himself.

That 16 gauge double barrel he owns that you are storing for him is far from a bad choice and a much better one than some import with a dubious pedigree.

From the lowly 25 auto to the S&W 500 mag. From the 22 to the 50 cal. From the 410 to the10 gauge. They are all capable of doing the job if the shooter is. Which is best??? Depends on the shooter.

Brubz said:

An update: Just talked to my friend. he took my advice and went to a LGS in his town . They have an outdoor Rifle and Shotgun range and the owner's son is the Range Marshall\instructor.
The owner recommended a 20 Gauge Mossberg Pump Shotgun. When I come up Saturday to return his guns we will go the LGS to check it out. also get some exercise for the Double Bbl.
I cleaned it and oiled it for him but it looks good was in a soft case and in my gun safe all these years.

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That's a good recommendation. Just make sure there's 20 gauge ammo to be had.

Brubz said:

Yeah the shop holds back ammo for each gun they sell but that would be like what five shells?

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Good question. But I'd surely want more than 5 rounds of whatever.

Look around for something to feed that 20 gauge before he buys it. Also make sure he buys plenty of it. Otherwise, that Mossy's pretty much an expensive door stop.

He can practice with basic target ammo to get the feel of the gun (and have some fun breaking clay targets) and save the scarce and expensive SD ammo

entropy said:

The part of your statement I bolded is pure BS.

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I could be wrong but I’m pretty sure his statement was tongue in cheek.

tws3b2 said:

He should do his own research.

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Best answer so far. If self-defense is so important to him, he should do his own investigation into what is best for HIM, and then properly train for it, regardless of what he chooses. There is no perfect HD weapon, and the techniques employed in their use are as important as the weapon itself.

He doesn't have to visit gun forums, and as uncertain as he seems to be, they'd only serve to confuse him even more. He can get information about the firearms from the manufacturer websites, and there are any number of sites specializing in defensive training. Youtube has videos from trainers and reviewers, and it would be up to him to determine which is valid and which is not.

The NRA and many reputable gun experts have stated over a very long time a 12 gauge shotgun is the most dangerous weapon in the world to use in short distance (home defense.) Cutting a guy in half is definitely an intended exaggeration. And although the FBI doesn't like small bird shot because it's lack penetration for tactical use,(they require 9 to 15 inches), they do admit at 7 to 15 ft., lead bird shot will disrupt an area up to 3 inches in diameter and produce 3 to 5 inch penetration. #4 lead shot in a utube video showed 5 to 8 inch penetration and disintegration of ballistic gel in the first 3 to 4 inches. Imagine being hit with 124 projectiles all at once. The 2 3/4 shells were Remington Long Distance Pheasant loads @1330 fps. Other types of projectiles, such as tungsten or copper plated shot will have even a greater effect.

cdb1 said:

I could be wrong but I’m pretty sure his statement was tongue in cheek.

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As he says above, it was. but when you mix hyperbole, sarcasm, and fact within the same statement, sometimes it's nice to add an appropriate emoji.
As for shot size, I personally believe that shot smaller than #4 Buck should not be used as an anti-personnel load except when nothing else is available.