I recently got a great deal on a nice shotgun. However, I just can't get excited about shotguns.
-If someone broke in during the night, I'd grab my revolver first because I know it's 100% reliable, more maneuverable, and leaves me a free hand to open doors, hold a flashlight, or make a phone call.
-If there was a threat outside on my property, I'd be more hesitant to use a shotgun because there are more stray projectiles to account for going off target into neighbors' houses.
-Its 7 + 1 capacity is less than most non-bolt action rifles. It's also slower to reload.
-Even though it has an improved cylinder barrel, it's only effective out to 25 yards with buckshot. With rifled slugs the effective range could be pushed to approximately 100 yards for larger targets, but a rifle would offer better ballistics, range, accuracy, and value.
-I will never need to "sweep" a room.
-It seems that police are moving away from carrying shotguns in their cruisers (perhaps because it's too heavy to routinely carry like a pistol and outperformed by a rifle when a dangerous situation arises that allows you to choose a better firearm)
-Except for fowl, it seems less efficient to hunt with.
-If I had to grab one firearm in a SHTF scenario, it wouldn't be a shotgun. The ammunition is bulky and heavy.
-Skeet shooting is more expensive and using paper targets just doesn't seem as fun as with a rifle.
-I don't think racking the slide is as disabling to trespassers as some make it out to be.
So, I really want to like the shotgun (especially after reading Cormac McCarthy books), but it isn't taking. I recognize that shotguns are usually more inexpensive and in less danger of legislation than black rifles or handguns, but still. Why do you like the shotgun? Help convince me that it's a great firearm and that my new shotgun won't just be an investment to be sold off later down the road.
-If someone broke in during the night, I'd grab my revolver first because I know it's 100% reliable, more maneuverable, and leaves me a free hand to open doors, hold a flashlight, or make a phone call.
-If there was a threat outside on my property, I'd be more hesitant to use a shotgun because there are more stray projectiles to account for going off target into neighbors' houses.
-Its 7 + 1 capacity is less than most non-bolt action rifles. It's also slower to reload.
-Even though it has an improved cylinder barrel, it's only effective out to 25 yards with buckshot. With rifled slugs the effective range could be pushed to approximately 100 yards for larger targets, but a rifle would offer better ballistics, range, accuracy, and value.
-I will never need to "sweep" a room.
-It seems that police are moving away from carrying shotguns in their cruisers (perhaps because it's too heavy to routinely carry like a pistol and outperformed by a rifle when a dangerous situation arises that allows you to choose a better firearm)
-Except for fowl, it seems less efficient to hunt with.
-If I had to grab one firearm in a SHTF scenario, it wouldn't be a shotgun. The ammunition is bulky and heavy.
-Skeet shooting is more expensive and using paper targets just doesn't seem as fun as with a rifle.
-I don't think racking the slide is as disabling to trespassers as some make it out to be.
So, I really want to like the shotgun (especially after reading Cormac McCarthy books), but it isn't taking. I recognize that shotguns are usually more inexpensive and in less danger of legislation than black rifles or handguns, but still. Why do you like the shotgun? Help convince me that it's a great firearm and that my new shotgun won't just be an investment to be sold off later down the road.