Gila Hayes - The Home Defense Shotgun For Women

[Fred Fuller]

A good article here, I think. Gila Hayes is definitely qualified to write it. She's a trainer at Firearms Academy of Seattle, where her bio states:

When you call us, it is probably Gila who will answer your questions. Her instructor credentials include the Lethal Force Institute, National Law Enforcement Training Center, the Heckler and Koch International Training Division, Glock, Inc., Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission's Police Firearms Instructor certification, American Women's Self Defense Association, and the National Rifle Association. She has taught at the annual training conference of the American Society of Law Enforcement Trainers and has presented at the International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors' regional training conference and the American Women's Self Defense Association. Gila served as training officer when she was a reserve police officer.

Over the years, she has studied with Massad Ayoob, John and Vicki Farnam, Clint Smith, Chuck Taylor, Gabe Suarez, Andy Stanford, Jim Jacobe, Ken Hackathorn, Evan Marshall, J. A. Keating, Jeff Cooper, Jim Cirillo, and Larry Smith.

As a free-lance writer, Gila authored two books, Personal Defense for Women and Effective Defense, was field editor for Women and Guns Magazine, and has work published in Police Magazine, Handguns, NRA American Guardian and Woman's Outlook, American Handgunner, Gun Week, GUNS Magazine, Combat Handguns Annual, Glock Annual, Smith & Wesson Annual and others. She has competed in a variety of handgun, shotgun and rifle venues. She currently divides her time between Firearms Academy and operating the Armed Citizens' Legal Defense Network, Inc. -- http://www.firearmsacademy.com/instructors

Part 1 - http://www.tacticalgearmag.com/page/the-home-defense-shotgun-for

Part 2 - http://www.tacticalgearmag.com/page/the-home-defense-shotgun-for-1

 

[jeepnik]

Pretty good articles. While she shows a preference for pump guns, I've found that a properly tuned semi reduces the things one needs to think about. My wife's favorite shotgun, and the one we keep as a home defense gun is a 20 ga Franch 48L.

Obviously, either of us may need to employ it. And the 20 ga is fine for my wife, and obviously no problem for me to employ. One barrel for it is an 18 1/2" cylinder choked. Yet, she can switch to a longer one with a tighter choke (sorry it predates all the fancy screw in choke tubes) for upland game.

The plus side of using her "bird" gun as a home defense gun is that she is intimately familiar with it. Without the plug, it hold four in the mag, with another in the chamber. One would be unwise to face an irate woman (if you broke in, she'd be much more mad than scared) with a shotgun loaded with #4 buck.

 

[Virginian]

Good articles. Glad to see someone address true Home Defense in lieu of mall ninja needs. I didn't see a bayonet lug on any of those guns.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Thanks, Lee. Good stuff, and if some sounded familiar to me, that's OK.

She's into dedicated practice and knowing the tool. So am I.