Do You Keep A Shotgun Available For Home Defense

[Shimitup]

An old Winchester defender loaded with 00 buck is at my immediate disposal in the bedroom.

 

[herrwalther]

Shotgun has now been demoted to third option in home defense plan. Primary is EDC handgun. Secondary AR pistol loaded with M193 per wife's request.

 

[hawg]

Shotgun has now been demoted to third option in home defense plan. Primary is EDC handgun. Secondary AR pistol loaded with M193 per wife's request.

You may want to rethink that AR pistol unless you're going to use ear protection. Have you ever fired a 16 inch AR outside without ear protection? My hearing is bad and my hunting rifles(30-06) don't bother me without ear protection. I fired my AR once without it and I'll never do it again and a 10 inch pistol barrel fired indoors would be twice as bad.

 

[herrwalther]

Have you ever fired a 16 inch AR outside without ear protection?

Yes I have. I have permanent hearing loss and tinnitus from using 14.5" M4s indoors. I don't want my hearing to get much worse so I will be getting a can for it.

 

[Appalachiannative]

I keep my .45 sitting on my nightstand magazine loaded. It's a double action auto with the de cock safety. The shotguns aren't in my bedroom. If I found myself surrounded in some kind of home invasion scenario I suppose I'd go to the next room for the shotguns and rifles but the odds of me encountering a single intruder are low enough let alone the aforementioned scenario so I think my pistol should be enough. I live out in the country my house is on a dead end road with the only other house, my in laws place, being right past it

 

[Autodidactic]

Shotguns seem less and less popular for home defense these days. Perhaps a fundamental shift towards higher capacity, easy of reloading, lower recoil, longer range capabilities, etc?

I've always kept one around for home defense purposes, but have recently become more interested in practice with actually running the gun, and have been doing some research towards that end. In doing so, I've found the stickies on this sub forum to be very informative in more ways than I was anticipating.

But it's brought me to wonder, given how effective 9 pellets of 00 buck seems to be at the sort of ranges one could reasonable expect to find in their own home - and the devastating wounding such a load can inflict - how popular are shotguns amongst THR members?

If you don't keep a shotgun for HD, why not? And what do you prefer instead, and why?

I do, a old riot 12 gauge. Just bought a new 500 too.

 

[Autodidactic]

My basic home defense set up at night is a 12 gauge riot shotgun, and a 9mm Glock with a laser/light combo in a bed holster

 

[westernrover]

I've considered a shotgun for HD, but have postponed it until my kids are out of the house (they're teens now, well trained, hunt, but I'm still not giving them unrestricted access to loaded guns). It's easy to keep my handgun on my person by day and in a bedside handgun safe at night. I could get a quick-access shotgun safe, but the whole package isn't that great of a value proposition in addition to what I've already got. The shotgun will never replace my handgun for concealed carry away from the house, and the handgun is perfectly suitable for home defense, so I focus on that for training and practice. Any effort I put into the shotgun is better spent on the handgun because it's always with me.

 

[ilbob]

I used to think that a shotgun was probably just about perfect for home defense but over time I have begun to believe that any long gun has issues in the confined spaces of typical homes.

I think a handgun is easier to keep close to your body where it's not going to get caught on furniture or walls or countertops or whatever.

I think the mystique of the pump shotgun where people believe that racking the the gun will result in miscreants immediately fleeing is probably not the case.

I think if you want a long gun for self-defense in the home, a pistol caliber carbine is probably a better option.

However, I'm pretty sure that a couple of rounds of just about any shotgun at home defense ranges will likely result in a big hurt being put on someone bent on harming you.

 

[jamesgs4]

shotgun only comes out of the safe for a match. primary HD is a suppressed 300blk AR, secondary is my g26 carry gun.

 

[Pete D.]

Yes. I keep a semiauto 12 with an extended magazine in a corner of the bedroom. I keep a Ruger Vaquero loaded with .45 Colt ammo next to my head while I sleep and a short barreled Mossberg pump gun 12 ga loaded with buckshot next to that.

 

[Blue Jays]

I absolutely love my upgraded Remington 870 Police Magnum. Slick action, reliable, and totally accurate.
Over the years I have become convinced it will sit tight unless scenario happens where we literally hear glass breaking downstairs. That way our family can be gathered as we call 9-1-1 and we "wait it out" upstairs.

Concur with others who mentioned confines of a home. Shotgun is ideal if whole family is safely barricaded in a nice closed room. Pistol is easier for transitional areas between residence, barn, garage, and property when no problem currently exists yet is conveniently ready to go if something arises.

 

[CoalTrain49]

I have a few shotguns but all of them are in my safe. It would take too long to access one in an emergency. I never really liked the idea of a shotgun for home defense anyway. I train with a pistol every week or so and reloaded pistol ammo is a lot cheaper than reloaded shotgun ammo. Buckshot was $3.50/lb the last time I looked. That comes out to be about 0.25 a shell just for the shot. Or you can just buy commercial ammo for a $1/rd.

 

[BushMaster-15]

Having been as in past tense , an avid shotgunner Trap sporting clays skeet currently setting atop 2,425 lb. of shot from #9-2's with all necessary materials as well as abilities to produce shells ,not to mention O/U's SxS , Pumps and Semi Autos ; My 9mm or .45 Pistol are primary defensive weapons of close quarter . However IF I suspect a need for Greater firepower , a Short Dbl barrel coach gun is readily available along with a attached bandolier ,of carefully selected assortment of constructed loads including slugs .

God forbid should any of those fail ,None of you want to know what else is available I'd allow you to interview some of our local raccoons
however at the moment , there AREN'T any !. They unfortunately incurred the wrath of the Wife one late evening some weeks back and She wasn't happy being woken from beauty sleep apparently . For those of you who don't know about Women's Scorn , Hell ,Fury and Wrath ; LOOK IT UP and I can attest Love has NOTHING to do with any of it . She had simply had enough of their mess making and RECTIFIED IT !.

I'm only on duty should two legged critters lurk about , including political morons ,bears ,Zombies, Crocodiles , charging Rhino's or Cape Buffalo should stampede ; Otherwise Live and let live is MY Motto

 

[uuolf]

I've got one hidden around... Looking at auto loading bull pup designs now... 10 round mags in a shortish config looks useful to me.

 

[CharlieFox42]

My old Mossberg 500 stands ready in the corner of my closet as my "artillery" - there's nothing outside our bedroom that I have to retrieve anymore (like kids). Anything that decides it needs to come through the door will be met with a hail of 00 buck. If it survives, it'll have to contend with the 11 rounds of 9mm in my G26.

 

[grampster]

I have an Ithaca xl900 with a full choke shot barrel. I use #4 shot as it is suitable based on the layout of my house. It usually is in the safe unless things get sporty around town as it has now and then. I have other means handy the rest of the time.

 

[Y-T71]

I have an Ithaca xl900 with a full choke shot barrel. I use #4 shot as it is suitable based on the layout of my house. It usually is in the safe unless things get sporty around town as it has now and then. I have other means handy the rest of the time.

I have an XL900 as well.

I've thought about putting it in my HD lineup but have a couple of Mossberg 500's; one 12ga in dedicated HD format and one 20ga that wears an 18.5" bbl.

I have a 30" full choke, 28" modified and a 24" cylinder bore with rifle sights for my Ithaca.

Need to load it up with some 00 or #4 buck and take it out to see how it does.

Problem is, if I would ever have to use it in a self defense scenario, I don't want to lose it to an evidence locker, possibly forever.

 

[grampster]

My xl900 came with a Deerslayer barrel too.

 

[old fart]

My 12 gauge pump is my primary defense gun at home with my 9mm as second. I see no reason to change to a rifle even tho some will say the rifle has more range. The defense in self defense will need to be proven in a shooting and unless the threat is close that defense may not hold up in court. I was told this by my instructor when taking my permit test.

 

[KahrDriving]

I am never very far from a shotgun. I save the 00 buck or slugs for when I go up to the cabin. In town I prefer #4 buck, or even a 1 1/2 ounce load of #4 shot behind a modified choke. Self defense distance inside the house is not going to be more than 7 yards anyway. Everyone is different, that is just my preference.

Yea, at home defense ranges (20 or 30’), doesn’t really matter too much what size shot your shooting, it will do the job !

 

[herrwalther]

My 12 gauge pump is my primary defense gun at home with my 9mm as second. I see no reason to change to a rifle even tho some will say the rifle has more range. The defense in self defense will need to be proven in a shooting and unless the threat is close that defense may not hold up in court. I was told this by my instructor when taking my permit test.

Your instructor did you a vast disservice. I say, being in the industry myself as a trainer. A 9mm fired at a 45ish degree angle can be deadly for about 2400 yards based off what Google tells me. Which is why we strongly discouraged "celebratory fire" when overseas ie firing into the air for holidays/celebrations. While self defense is (legally) limited to short range threats such as an intruder say within 50 yards, the weapon is unlikely to play a role. Can you shoot 50 yards with buckshot? I can, most others can. Rifle? Easy. Handgun, tougher but doable. But a 12ga is harder for others in the family who may not be as well versed in firearms. My personal philosophy that I share as being a trainer is: HD weapons should be easy to use by anyone capable. The Mrs who has had a few classes, maybe a teenager who has played a few video games to gain interest and done instruction with a parent. A shotgun will recoil harder than an AR. Doesn't matter what kind of ammo you use. Just does. A bad guy in your house or lawn dead within 50 yards is going to be just as dead whether you shot them with a pistol, shotgun, or AR. What matters is how good you are with each. And when it comes picking a weapon for HD, there are criteria to consider such as recoil, accuracy, capacity, and a few dozen others.

Here is John Lovell doing a similar breakdown of pistol vs shotgun vs AR.



As a trainer, when I do consults, I want to see what my student can do. If they handle a handgun well, I can develop that. If AR, same thing. Shotgun (rare but does happen) same thing. I don't have as many first time gun buyers any more. A lot of my business comes from referral. New shooter, buys a gun, needs help being familiar. That is where I see most work lately. New shooters just don't do well with a shotgun. Between the recoil, pump manipulation (like short-stroking), safeties in different spots etc. I have seen new shooters get a shotgun based on bad advice and nearly give up owning firearms altogether because of recoil and poor hits at a range. But get an AR or a comfortable pistol, and all the results and attitudes change.

Now, I am not saying a shotgun is the worst choice. Or even a bad one. It just has limitations based on the advice I can and do give. There is bad advice out there that a shotgun is the best at home defense because you just point it in the direction and fire. Or just fire two blasts in the air...



The TLDR version is this. The choice of HD weapon between an AR pistol, handgun, or shotgun is not about range. Its about the criteria John talks about: recoil, handling etc. Your choice of firearm pick should be way down the list anyway. Teach and practice with your family. If the door gets kicked in or a window gets shattered from outside...do "this". Whatever your plan is. I recommend consolidate your family into a safe location, defend with a thought out HD weapon, and call 911. A trainer will impart knowledge on someone based off their own biases. A good trainer will take your strengths and make them better