Defensive Rifle For Strict Locales?

[LoonWulf]

For pure self defense in urban situations with heavy restrictions nothing beats the versatility of a pump action shotgun. Even in a Ferguson-style riot situation you're unlikely to have to defend your home at a range greater than 50-60 yards, which should be just fine for a slug. And it's pretty hard to miss a perpetrator at 10 yards with buckshot.

I don't own a shotgun but I would if I lived in an urban area.

The only thing i disagree with in this statement is that its hard to miss at 10yds. The patter from any of my shotguns with buck shot at 10 yds was measured in inches, and at that less that 10.
Under stress, and operating on the premise that a shotguns scatter will be fairly wide at that range (this comes back to practicing with your chosen weapon enough to be completely familiar with it and its loading) making a solid body hit becomes questionable.

Where i see the shotgun having a major advantage in these situations is the increased wounding potential. slugs or good buckshot will put serious lead on target if properly aligned.
Good defensive ammo reduces the amount of recoil youll need to cope with and will help you get back on target faster, but again without practice I feel the shotgun losses the advantage to a short semi auto rifle (why my wifes getting the highpoint).

 

[armoredman]

I qualify with an issued shotgun loaded with birdshot and buckshot every year, and yes, you can miss at ten yards, if you're not aiming at the target! I've seen people miss at 25 yards, because the pattern at that distance is about chest wide from a 20 inch long tube. Unless you have a SPAS-12 with a diverter tube, that pattern is going to take some distance to spread out wide.

 

[Mitlov]

I have no personal experience with it, but another option to at least consider is the Troy PAR. It's a detachable-box-magazine-fed pump-action rifle in .223/.556. Ships with 10-round magazines but can fit any AR mag. Looks like an AR-15, and can take many AR-15 accessories, but obviously mechanically very different. Because it's not semi-auto, it's 50-state legal.

 

[Maverick223]

It's been said before, but it deserves repeating...the M1 Carbine is an excellent HD carbine. I'm not in a location that greatly limits my choices and/or magazine capacity and I had one for a primary HD carbine for years (loaded with 110gr. softpoints). Alternatively the VZ.58, in neutered form (fixed 10rnd magazine fed with stripper clips like an SKS) meets the requirements for some if not all strict localities. It would, without question, be my choice where permissible (loaded with some Hornady V-Max if you can find them). In fact, a non-neutered VZ.58 as well as a PS90 are my current HD carbines.

 

[dh1633pm]

Wow, so many answers and opinions. I am going to add mine. If you want something for home defense the shotgun is hard to beat. I live in New York and the 870 sits close to the bed. Double 00 is the load of choice. If you looking for semi rifes, the SKS, Mini, Siaga, and others fall under the radar. Don't forget a good lever gun in a pistol caliber. You can shoot a good ten rounds in no time at all. 45 Colt is my caliber of choice.