Coach Gun for home defense?

[rbernie]

I am aware that the two situations (African bush hunting vs. Home Defense) are not identical, but there is something to be said about a double bbl rifle being used against charging rhinos and elephants.

Let's not forget that these hunters travelled in groups, with more than one rifleman and with gun bearers to hand the PH a loaded backup rifle and to reload the first, after the PH spent his first two cartridges.

Sadly, I have no such luxury in my bedroom. My wife will likely be on the phone with 911 when I need a gunbearer.

 

[Elbert P . Suggins]

I bought a Norinco SXS external hammer coach gun for cowboy action shooting. I also use Model 97 pump action Winchesters. But the coach gun for me is faster. Just polish the breech so your empties come flying out. I put a shot sleeve with six 00 buck shells handy on the stock and keep it beside my bed. That is 8 quick rounds of destruction. If it has a cross bolt safety, grind it down so it is flush with the frame. Because if your safety is off and you lay it down on the left side the safety is pushed back on, so you might pick it back up to fire and find out the safety is on. That safety still works you just have to push farther. You also have a tang safety. These are great home defense weapons. Don't discount their usefulness in that regard. For the guy that cut his stocks off. Please forgive me but I almost stumbled trying to get to the bathroom in time. You've spent way too much time in front of the television.

 

[1911Tuner]

IMO...A coach gun with exposed hammers is close to ideal for a house gun. It can be stored loaded with the hammers down, making it much safer, and it can be stoked with different munitions to suit different scenarios...with the choice being the shift of a trigger finger away. I like #4 buck in one barrel, and 000 in the other. #4 for the invader who is exposed...000 for the one who is trying to kick in the bedroom door.

For the "multiple attackers" argument...it doesn't really hold much water in a home invasion. For one thing, it's likely going to be a low-light situation, and it's going to be crowded. All members of the team probably aren't going to be able to see you or what type of armamant that you have. All they'll know is that someone is riddling their comrades with fire. Given that they're also not likely to be well-trained and able to mount a coordinated assault, complete with flanking maneuvers...there's a very high probability that they'll unass the AO at the first opportunity after seeing their homies clutching at their bellies, and screaming for mama.

It's easy for these questions to lead to fantasies of running gun battles, with Happy Harry Homeowner cleaning house and taking out all the bad guys just as the cavalry arrives, but that's mostly Hollywood stuff...and badly written and directed at that.

So...Load your coach gun, and keep your pistol close at hand just in case you actually need to fire more than one barrel.

 

[CZ 42]

Don't go out of your way to buy an obsolete gun just for style. I can talk from experience on this.

Yesterday I went and shot my great-grandfathers' sxs (hammerless, extractor, ~27" bbl) as well as my FNH Police Shotgun (inertia pump, ejects itself if you don't touch the slide, 8 shot, 18" bbl). My first surprise was that they weigh about the same fully loaded. However, you're talking about 6 more rounds of 00 in the FN. The SxS has one advantage- more immediate stopping power. I imagine I'd hold it at hip or higher and pull both triggers once I saw the BG, and I would probably hit. The thing patterns much worse than the removable-choked FN, and the longer bbl means more velocity to spread the shot. However, there are plenty of detractors to this ancient design. First, they are finicky about opening up again after you fire. Something to do with expanded hulls, I'd guess. Second, you'll be bangin' that 27 incher on everything in sight (door frames, steps, anything) but since we're talking coach gun you'll get less of that. A SxS does make a good club, but so does my Mosin-Nagant, and it has a big pointy thing on the end. If I want to wail on an attacker, that's what I'd pull out. But for business, I believe there's no better gun in the world than my Police inertia-pump. If you get any pump, I don't think you'll be disappointed. But SxS do not impress me, they are dinosaurs. You will only be limiting your shooting ability by getting one. I recommend a cheap Mossberg, about 6 shot, 18".

 

[CZ 42]

And Greenr18, I understand you like them, but how silly would you feel trying to give a vicious buttstroke with those things? That is my non-lethal shotgun technique, apply rear sling swivel to attaking head. And the duct tape, not to insult, that is freaking ghetto. If you find a gangsta with a mac10 they are probably not your run-of-the-mill glockster so don't underestimate a full auto wielding banger.

 

[Gary A]

Greenr18 - I don't share your enthusiasm for the cut-down stock but I appreciate the fact that they work for you. Kudos to you for politely withstanding the heat. BTW, I do keep a hammerless coach gun around the house. Mine has rebounding internal hammers and is kept hammers down on loaded chambers on a high shelf. I would have to crack the gun open to cock it but that is far faster than loading it. I don't trust leaving a loaded, cocked coach gun relying only on the safety. The hammerless gun is faster than the hammered gun if more than two shots were required. It is not the only weapon available.

 

[heavyshooter]

I just figured it out. I saw Tombstone! You know the scene where Wyatt Earp goes out into the water with nothing but his Coach Gun and a six shooter on his side anf he kills like 30 guys. After seeing that I decided that I could used a Coach for HD.

Of course I'm kidding.

 

[Gary A]

I'm not a great hunter. Or, really, even a great shooter. I mostly hunt small game, birds and such and around here the places to go and the pickings are slim, at best. So, eventually I figured out that I go hunting in order to go hunting. I go hunting to be outdoors and have fun. I began to experiment a bit more. I have been lately hunting much more with single-shots and with inexpensive double-barrels. I tried my 28" Spartan SPR220 but realized quickly if I'm going to trudge through the fields and the woods for perhaps several hours and probably shoot 0-4 times, that gun "feels" heavy, muzzle-heavy to me, i.e. my Winchester 1300 with synthetic stock carries better. OTOH, a Spartan coach gun carries in the woods and brush like a dream. An NEF single-shot, though longer, still carries like a dream and really doesn't kick nearly as much as people go on about, especially wearing a heavy coat and only taking a shot during the adrenalin rush of a flush. I carry an extra shell in my left hand and practice getting a reasonably fast reload but I'm aways off matching the old-timers at that. I figure, if I have one shot and miss, it's a good day for that bird. If I have one shot and hit, I have hunted. No different than if I were bow-hunting with flu-flu arrows.

To me, there's no reason not to keep the technology in line with the game. Simple. I mean, it ain't about my survival but about my enjoyment. I've heard a pheasant flush in the field and it sounded like the skies over Baghdad during the First Gulf War. Poor bird! Even then, some of them get away because the hunters sprayed better than they prayed.

In the future I plan to hunt quite a bit with both a coach gun and single-shots. If someone looks down their nose at my choice, not my problem.

If I can't have fun with this stuff, I wouldn't want to do it.

But, back to defense. I think any firearm that we use enough to be comfortable handling, shooting, reloading, etc., is viable for defense. Ergo, hunting, clay-shooting, etc. are all good things to do with the gun, or the type of gun we plan on using for HD.

 

[JImbothefiveth]

I answered for the last option, but realisticly, a coach gun could be an effective home defense weapon, if a pump-action is too complicated.

However, if you are going to practice with your gun, which you should, a pump shotgun is far better.
And why settle for "might be good enough" when your possibly trusting your life to this?

Stoegers website has a video of a cowboy action shooter shooting

I bet a 3-gunner of equal skill shooting a pump or autoloader could do a lot better.

I'll take that guy who was reloading and shooting the coach gun about every three seconds

That's 2 rounds in 3 seconds. With a pump gun, that's not such an incredible feat. I can load my pump gun as fast as a competition shooter loads his coach gun. Someone better than me at shotgunning could probably load their pump a lot faster. (Mr. McCracken, how fast can you load your 870?)

Have you guys that use coach guns ever tried the Aguila mini shotgun shells? I was thinking of going to a coach gun for this very reason less muzzle blast in a house.

You'll need longer bbls to reduce muzzle blast, a coach gun can be the same length as a pump gun but with longer bbls, so it might be good for that.

I did not expect so many "yes" votes. I'm picking that thing up ASAP

The people voted it was "viable" as in "it could be used" not "It's better than a pump-action.". Get a pump-action or autoloader instead, assuming your going to practice.

 

[amd6547]

I'm not too big on ductape, but I get the same effect with the Speedfeed whippit grip on my Mossberg 500. I am quite accurate at close range with it. Out to 20 yards, slugs or buck is no problem.
As for the coach gun, I have wanted one for a long time.

 

[MCgunner]

Gary A

I agree. One thing about light guns and hunting (a little off topic, but hey, sue me), the coach gun or single shot will be balanced more between the hand and is quicker, but this also makes the barrels a little whippy. I really have to concentrate on doves with my 20 guage Spartan, but in a way that's a good thing. I KNOW I need to concentrate and that sorta makes me do it. LOL The more front heavy auto or pump will help the mechanics of the sustained lead and help your follow through, normally. I seem to do about as well as my 12 gauge pump buddies on doves, though, and I held my own on a goose hunt with my bud and his boy this year shooting my NEF 10 gauge on snows. I used that same spare in the off hand technique and was able to get off a second shot several times and actually downed a cripple with that second shot. I couldn't get around there to pat myself on the back for that one, but it was cool.

Yeah, if you hunt with it, you know it. I've hunted with doubles most of my adult life and used a 16 gauge single shot when I was a kid. I feel confident in the little Spartan. I can get the job done with it. Like I say and Vern said, they ain't an invading team of Delta Force, they're stupid gang members at the worst and more'n likely a crack head trying to support his habit, unless you ride with the Banditos or something and have people that are trying to kill you. If that's the case, burn your colors and get out of town.

 

[Black Dime]

And if you really, really practice.........


http://www.spencerhoglund.com/worldrecords.html

Click around, specially on shotgun. Be careful on some of the other links. PG13.

 

[Ohio Gun Guy]

If you let go with 2 barrels and there is something still standing, One of you is in deep do do.

The only thing you may want to do is record the sound of a pump shotgun, just to be fair, give the perp the chance to get the Heck out of dodge. My brother growing up, had a double barreled 12 ga. Sometimes we would shoot both barrels at the same time into our "Burn Pile" and watch the whole thing just jump with lead shot. Its a very impressive sight.

 

[Guero4179]

I don't like loaded chambers so I voted for a pump then you have double the rounds or more and an empty chamber.

 

[FoMoGo]

The first rounds I put out of my coach gun were slugs... both barrels at the same time...
Put one hell of a grin on my face.


Jim

 

[JImbothefiveth]

For the "multiple attackers" argument...it doesn't really hold much water in a home invasion

Really?
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=5263482#post5263482

 

[1911Tuner]

Really?

Really...unless you plan to enter into a room-to-room houseclearing operation...which is a really good way to get shot all to Helen Gone...instead of ensconcing yourself and covering the door.

 

[JImbothefiveth]

House clearing is generally a bad thing, but if you barricade yourselfd against multiple attackers, multiple rounds are good, so as to avoid getting swarmed. Sometimes it even takes multiple rounds to stop one person.

 

[ccsniper]

Sometimes it even takes multiple rounds to stop one person.

i dont mean to be rude, but from a shotgun at in house range, it will only take one.

http://www.myoutdoorchannel.com/outdoorchannel/blog/media/video/index.one?a=view_video&vid_id=178321

 

[MCgunner]

Kinda reminds me of the revolver vs wondernine thing, or single stack vs wondernine. People sometimes put too much faith in firepower and not enough in skill sets. I don't feel unarmed on the street with a 5 shot .38, either. In fact, I feel quite well armed with it because I know I can use it.

 

[JImbothefiveth]

i dont mean to be rude, but from a shotgun at in house range, it will only take one.

If a deer can be hit with a slug and still run 50 yards, I'd still like to be able to shoot twice.

And while a coach gun or single-shot shotgun could be used succesfully for defense, why take chances?

 

[45B@cav]

I think UH YEAH! I never thought about using a Coach gun for HD. Great idea. I needed one anyway now I have to get one.

 

[Tamlin]

I've been thinking about picking up a coach gun - I found a beautiful Stoeger SxS with an 18" bbl. But I already have a pump shotgun that holds 4 rounds which I use for HD. The coach gun looks cool as hell, but to me there is nothing like grabbing your shotgun and racking it to let the perps know what is coming. I don't care what the perps are armed with - when they hear the rack of a pump, I know they are thinking, "oh ****!" Better for them to run away then for me to clean blood out of my rug and pick pellets out of my wall.

 

[Girodin]

make sure with the stock cut off itll be 26 inches or longer and if so then cut that thing off, and whoalah, badass home defense gun

Why in the world would you want to do that. I'll take practical over bad ass any day. It never fails to amaze me that people actually think a PGO shotgun is a good idea for anything other than a limited number of very specific applications.

A coach gun is a very serviceable weapon. I really like the ability to keep the hammers down on loaded chambers. I think for a gun fight I would rather have a pump but I wouldn't worry too much about only having a SxS for HD. I like coach guns and have wanted to get an exposed hammer coach gun for a while.

 

[heavyshooter]

Sometimes it even takes multiple rounds to stop one person.

One shell of 00 Buck is what, nine pellets. I'll take my chances. If he takes two of those I should be making my way to the back door ASAP.