Can a BPS stalker with a 26" barrel make an ok home defense gun. I want to go with the Stalker because I will be able to change barrels for different sporting needs, something you can't do with most tacticals. Basically I want a shotgun for sport and home defense and my minds made up on getting a Browning.
26" BPS For Home Defense?
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JFrame
Member
I imagine that any functioning shotgun "can" be a home defense weapon.
26 inches of barrel sounds a bit unwieldy -- likely to bang into walls in tight corridors, making quick turns less likely, etc., unless one has a really large and spacious house. But in a static defensive position, I imagine it would do okay...
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26 inches of barrel sounds a bit unwieldy -- likely to bang into walls in tight corridors, making quick turns less likely, etc., unless one has a really large and spacious house. But in a static defensive position, I imagine it would do okay...
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glwanabe
Member
Short answer: Yes, you can use a 26" barrelled gun for home defense.
How you employ any weapon, and all the variables of the situation takes a much longer answer.
This is my opinion on using a sporting length barrel for home defense. Pick a spot to hunker down, and defend that spot within your home. Call local LEO, and wait for the Cavelry to arrive.
How you employ any weapon, and all the variables of the situation takes a much longer answer.
This is my opinion on using a sporting length barrel for home defense. Pick a spot to hunker down, and defend that spot within your home. Call local LEO, and wait for the Cavelry to arrive.
Chopdoktor
Member
If you don't mind explaining, why are you dead set on a Browning? There are nearly infinite tried-and-true examples of Mossberg 500's and Remington 870's making killshots on wild game and bad guys alike, plus, the parts are abundant and cheap. For the price of your BPS, you could easily have a used 870 or 500 AND an extra 18'' barrel to swap in for home defense. I keep a beat up Mossberg 500 with an 18'' barrel around, and then swap in a 24'' rifled slug barrel for hunting season. I have both an 870 and a 500, and I doubt either will ever catastrophically fail me, but if they do, there are many more parts "on hand" in places to fix it than there are for a Browning.
oneounceload
member
Unless you feel the need to play cop and "sweep or clear" your house, your barrel length is just fine. Hunker down in a room, barrel pointed to the door, someone calling 911 - barrel length doesn't matter. Some may need to get to the other side and have to traverse narrow hallways, but most of us would be better off just to plant our butts in one room and guard the door
Thanks for the replies. The reason I am going with Browning is because I have had bad luck with Remington and Mossberg. The Remington started to rust on me even though I kept it oiled and clean like I was supposed to, and the Mossberg had to be taken apart and put back together by my local gunsmith because it came from the factory assembled wrong and there were scrapes all over the safety and trigger guard. I have nothing against either company, it's just that I want to see how my luck goes with Browning.
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ThePunisher'sArmory
Member
As far as the rust on the remmy goes. Do you keep it in a case, or bag. If so discontinue this practice cause it will cause rust no matter the amount of oil. I just cant seem to get this through my step dads head, and yet every time I borrow one of his guns........you guessed it.....it has rust on it. One just happens to be an 870. To answer your question the browning will work but I would suggest getting an 18" barrel for it. I love my SX2 that of which is brownings sister company.
chas08
Member
Sure it can, especially in a fortify and defend scenario. But be aware that extra barrels for a Browning are pricey when compared to a Mossberg or Remington costing, in some configurations, almost as much as the gun. They are a great pumpgun. I've had a 10ga BPS for 20+ years with no issues that a good cleaning didn't take care of.
JohnBT
Member
All of my shotguns have 28" barrels. They aren't THAT long. Well, maybe the one on the 3.5" SX-2 Waterfowl is.
Snarlingiron
Member
Your proficiency with the weapon is what is really critical. Is a short barrel more desirable for home defense? I think it is, but that doesn't mean that slightly longer ones won't work. Home and hearth have been effectively defended for hundreds of years with long double or single barrel shotguns.
The best gun to fight with is always the one you have.
The best gun to fight with is always the one you have.
MovedWest
Member
Funny you should bring this up now. This weekend I heard a thump downstairs. Normally I take my 44, but this time I decided to grab my 12ga BPS Hunter in 28" barrel. After clearing the house and returning to the bedroom, I fell back to sleep thinking about whether or not to get the 870 Marine Magnum or Police Magnum.
It drops birds from the sky like it's raining, but my 28" BPS is NOT going to be my first choice to clear the house again. The length isn't the issue - it's the balance and maneuverability of it if you need to use it.
-MW
It drops birds from the sky like it's raining, but my 28" BPS is NOT going to be my first choice to clear the house again. The length isn't the issue - it's the balance and maneuverability of it if you need to use it.
-MW
shuttlehead
Member
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26" BPS For Self Defense
My best ever shotgun for the money was a very early Browning Citori which I bought at Sears for $170. The second best was a 32" BPS (1981) which had a 24 " rifle sight slug barrel included for about $20 extra.
I attached the 24 " barrel just to see if it would make a good police carry weapon. I seemed like it would be a good quail gun but a bit too long for home defense or duty use.
Remember that most shots taken within the home are going to be at 15 ft. or less. The pattern of a cylinder choked shotgun at that distance is only an inch or two. Unless you live alone it might be a good idea to consider the possibility of wall penetration. Even a light target load will easily put a hole through a normal wall.
If you anticipate searching through hallways and around corners a short barreled shotgun or handgun is more maneuverable and more difficult to be taken from you.
Outside the home the long barreled shotgun is ideal.
Regards,
My best ever shotgun for the money was a very early Browning Citori which I bought at Sears for $170. The second best was a 32" BPS (1981) which had a 24 " rifle sight slug barrel included for about $20 extra.
I attached the 24 " barrel just to see if it would make a good police carry weapon. I seemed like it would be a good quail gun but a bit too long for home defense or duty use.
Remember that most shots taken within the home are going to be at 15 ft. or less. The pattern of a cylinder choked shotgun at that distance is only an inch or two. Unless you live alone it might be a good idea to consider the possibility of wall penetration. Even a light target load will easily put a hole through a normal wall.
If you anticipate searching through hallways and around corners a short barreled shotgun or handgun is more maneuverable and more difficult to be taken from you.
Outside the home the long barreled shotgun is ideal.
Regards,
As others have said yes it could be used for that purpose.
It is however, far from ideal.
1) it is longer and that makes it a bit more unwieldy, particular inside in tighter spaces
2) If you have it set up for hunting it is unlikely to have the things that are nice for a fighting gun to wit:
a. a mag extension. All other things equal more rounds = better in a gun fight
b. a good light set up
c. side sadle: you could use a butt cuff some will say but the way I (most people ?) run a pump makes a side saddle a better set up. I also like a source of ammo on the gun because when you grab it for that pump in the night what you have in/on the gun is typically what you've got and a shotgun is a low capacity weapon. Some will say you will not need more than what is in the tube. That is pure conjecture. Its impossible to be sure.
In sum, if you are just going to leave it in the closet. Sticking with your current set up probably isn't much of disadvantage apart from length. If you are going to learn to run a fighting shotgun then a shotgun set up for that offers notable advantages.
d. gun set up to fit the "tactical" style shooting as opposed to field shooting
Personally I am philosophically moving away from the idea that a shotgun is the best choice for HD (and I am certain that universally it is not). That said it is a good weapson system with some distinct advantages (as well as disadvantages).
If you want to use a shotgun, persoally I would suggest one set up for the task. There are common features among fighting guns but there is no one right set up. How the gun is set up is largely driven by how you will run it and various personal preferences.
Good shotguns are cheap. You can by a used wingmaster for example for $200 and a barrel for $100, or have the one on it chopped and thread for chokes. Then as you learn/decide how you will run that gun (and this is very different from field shooting operations) set it up accordingly.
As others have said if HD equals hunker behind cover and/or concealment then the existing gun is more workable
I like when people have the idea that everyone lives in the same type of house as them under the same circumstances. There are plenty of legit reasons to move short of "playing cop". Say to go to a location where another family member is.
It is however, far from ideal.
1) it is longer and that makes it a bit more unwieldy, particular inside in tighter spaces
2) If you have it set up for hunting it is unlikely to have the things that are nice for a fighting gun to wit:
a. a mag extension. All other things equal more rounds = better in a gun fight
b. a good light set up
c. side sadle: you could use a butt cuff some will say but the way I (most people ?) run a pump makes a side saddle a better set up. I also like a source of ammo on the gun because when you grab it for that pump in the night what you have in/on the gun is typically what you've got and a shotgun is a low capacity weapon. Some will say you will not need more than what is in the tube. That is pure conjecture. Its impossible to be sure.
In sum, if you are just going to leave it in the closet. Sticking with your current set up probably isn't much of disadvantage apart from length. If you are going to learn to run a fighting shotgun then a shotgun set up for that offers notable advantages.
d. gun set up to fit the "tactical" style shooting as opposed to field shooting
Personally I am philosophically moving away from the idea that a shotgun is the best choice for HD (and I am certain that universally it is not). That said it is a good weapson system with some distinct advantages (as well as disadvantages).
If you want to use a shotgun, persoally I would suggest one set up for the task. There are common features among fighting guns but there is no one right set up. How the gun is set up is largely driven by how you will run it and various personal preferences.
Good shotguns are cheap. You can by a used wingmaster for example for $200 and a barrel for $100, or have the one on it chopped and thread for chokes. Then as you learn/decide how you will run that gun (and this is very different from field shooting operations) set it up accordingly.
As others have said if HD equals hunker behind cover and/or concealment then the existing gun is more workable
I like when people have the idea that everyone lives in the same type of house as them under the same circumstances. There are plenty of legit reasons to move short of "playing cop". Say to go to a location where another family member is.
Pete D.
Member
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- Sep 13, 2010
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- 2,660
+1 about that.
Understandable, yes. I doubt, though, that an eight inch difference in barrel length will make any difference.
The "balance" thing......this is the first time that I have read that a short barrelled shotgun balances better than a longer barrelled gun. I know that HD is not shooting Trap but you still have to bring the gun up and point it. I have both kinds and find that the standard length guns point more accurately.
That being said, it sure is true that many/most "tactical" SGs have shorter barrels. I have always attributed that to ease of storage - in a squad car, a jeep, a Hummer, etc.
Pete
Virginian
Member
Anything I grab will have either a 28" or 30" barrel, and I won't feel hampered. While I prefer a Remington, there is no doubt the BPS is a very good gun also. I had 3 that never missed a beat in some pretty rugged conditions. I don't have any extended magazines - not allowed for waterfowl - and I like being able to throw a 4th shell in a Remington versus having to feed one thru the magazine with the Browning. Now don't anyone tell me how you can turn the gun over and move the handle just right and load a BPS directly to the chamber, please. In a goose blind or a home invasion? I don't think so.
The BPS is a good quality shotgun. I've got a BPS trap with a 32" barrel - and a 22" barrel for the up close and personal stuff.
22" BPS barrel
And the nice thing is that I practice with it every week at the trap range. If I ever need it, I'll certainly understand how to use it.
22" BPS barrel
And the nice thing is that I practice with it every week at the trap range. If I ever need it, I'll certainly understand how to use it.
Fred Fuller
Moderator Emeritus
Something to keep in mind with any bottom ejecting defensive gun- when using cover/concealment (like a bed or a car hood), remember to back off your cover enough to clear the ejection port. Crowding your cover might cause the gun to jam if empties can't clear the ejection port.
Same thing goes with side ejecting models as well, when the cover is on the same side as the ejection port...
fwiw,
lpl
Same thing goes with side ejecting models as well, when the cover is on the same side as the ejection port...
fwiw,
lpl
Sebastian the Ibis
Member
+2
Think about how you would really use this in a HD situation. If you are looking for something to defend the chicken coop a 26 inch barrel sounds as good as any other option, same deal if you live in a studio apartment and just need something to point at the front door. However, if you actually need to move through your house and move around corners, a shorter barrel is better.
Youngster
Member
I don't know about the BPS but I just ran some dummy rounds through my Ithaca 37 and it'll eject and feed just fine unless the bottom of the reciever is sitting so flat on a surface that you wouldn't be able to get a paw underneith the pump handle.
My Ithaca is a 28" BTW, and I feel perfectly fine with it as a home defence piece even though I have shorter shotguns, including a 12.5".
My Ithaca is a 28" BTW, and I feel perfectly fine with it as a home defence piece even though I have shorter shotguns, including a 12.5".
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