Hand Held Shotgun

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ACbutch

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I Need some advice, I'm looking to purchase a light weight easy to use shotgun for home protection.

I have never owned or shot one, which would be better for my purpose, pump action or semi automatic, 12 guage or 20 guage.

I would appreciate some insight on what brand and model to buy and the price range.

thanks in advance:
butch
 
Go to your local range and rent it first. Personally I would prefer a 12 gauge pump for home defense...nothing like the cha chunk sound in the dark to scare the piss and willies out of ya. Sometimes that alone is enough to stop an intrude and if not...well Mr.12 gauge loaded with double buck ought to be.

I am still working on getting this 12 gauge 870 police, sweet gun, tried and true. Semi-auto may be a little hazardous for the house...wouldnt want to knock out the wife's china cabinet "but honey, the porcelin figurine had a gun...well it looked like one"
 
A couple of points here on my opinions on the issue

1) get a 12 gauge, In the highly unlikely event you will need to use it you may as well push as much down range as possible

2) if you don't have a lot of experience with shotguns I would suggest you nix the "light weight" specification off your list. I don't find the recoil of a 12 gauge to be bad but lighter guns will have a significantly higher perceived recoil. (I may be incorrect but i think it's a logarithmic function)

3) I would suggest a pump shotgun over a semi-automatic shotgun, just because in the heat of the moment it's a lot easier to clear out a malfunction with a pump shot gun.

I would strongly suggest you look at the Remington 870.

And finally, welcome to the high road.
 
In general the pump is preferred for defense because it does not rely on recoil to chamber the next round. You can shoot any round you like and chamber the next one manually. A 12 gauge is the way to go unless you have an orthopaedic problem that precludes it.

The standards are the Remington 870, Mossberg 500 and Winchester 1300. All three are good shotguns. The debate over which is best will soon commence, but in the end analysis, the important thing is the training the shooter received, not the gun he holds.

If you are going to use a shotgun for HD, you must train with it. I highly advise a course on defensive shotgunning. We do this with pistols everyday, but often folks expect to buy a shotgun, load it up, stand it in a corner until trouble arises. Then they expect it to hop into their hands, and show them how to use it effectively. Don't fall into that delusion. Get training.

Home Defense Shotguns
Shotgun Home Defense Ammunition
The Remington 870 vs the Mossberg 500
The Shotgun vs the Handgun
 
Most popular and flexible is the Remington 870 and Mossberg 500. They come in a variety of sub-models; get something billed for home defense. One advantage is the range of modifications you can make later with manufacturer and third-party parts, letting you tweak it as you see fit.

My personal specific recommendation is the Mossberg 590 Mariner with ghost ring sights. High capacity, easy & accurate, tough. Just get one, it will do.
 
Is your wife or sig other

going to use it?

If so go with a pump 20ga, less recoil and easy for a women to use.

I have no douht that you can use a 12, but if your away think about the wife!
 
This should be moved to the Shotgun forum...

Do NOT get a pistol gripped shotgun. You need a full stocked shotgun.

I advise a pump shotgun, 12 gauge, loaded with either 00 Buck in 2 3/4" shells or slugs of the same size, even if your shotgun will accept 3" shells...Do NOT try to fire 12 gauge marine flares with it. Read the manual well.

Pattern the shotgun. Buy ammo, use up, repeat. Get a cleaning kit.

Big Three models are the Remington 870, Mossberg 500/Mavrick 88, or the Winchester 1300. I prefer the Mossberg 500 simply because of the controls and the shell elevator. All three are sold in home defense models, get one of those, even if it costs a little more. Do your research. You are looking at $200 for the basic field models at Wallyworld, more for a specific defensive model at a dealer (have him order a defensive model if he has none in stock). If he has one used, look at it carefully, but do not be too worried. It takes a lot to permanently hurt a pump shotgun! The field models sometimes come with a plug in the magazine to limit capacity to two rounds. Remove it.
 
If so go with a pump 20ga, less recoil and easy for a women to use.

I have no douht that you can use a 12, but if your away think about the wife!
Click to expand...

Lower powered 12 gauge ammo recoils about as much as a 20 gauge, and if you own a 12 gauge you can get more potent loads for it. Frankly 20 gauge self defence ammo,i.e buckshot,selection sucks.

Get a 12 gauge.
 
Antihero: In my case it was not about 12 vs. 20 for my wife. She is of very short stature and cannot even shoulder my 12ga let alone take the recoil and be back on target for an effective second shot. So I HAD :D to buy her a 20, and still make mods for her size, for the bedroom. Just something to consider.

It is important to look at who all will be trained and have access to the gun in an emergency situation that can dictate the size of the weapon chosen more than anything in my opinion.

Billyp
 
Personally, I am partial to the Remington 870 pump 12 Ga., and for home protection I use a Remington 870 Marine Magnum (electroless nickel plated).

I added a side saddle and a shoulder-stock with a built in pistol grip...

Like was said, lightweight might not be your best bet... but renting or borrowing some shotguns will give you an idea what you like better...

all in all, my sugguestion would be a pump, because they will feed anything you wanna throw in them... (an 870 12 GA. with a 3" chamber will feed and fire ANYTHING from Aguila mini-shells through 3" Hevi-shot, and slugs/buckshot, and EVERYTHING in between, with no problems or adjustments...
 
why the cha chunk?

"Personally I would prefer a 12 gauge pump for home defense...nothing like the cha chunk sound in the dark to scare the piss and willies out of ya."




Come'on!!! At my house you will never hear that. Might as well keep a ball bat instead of the shotty. It isn't any good if it ain't loaded.:banghead:


achey
 
Any common 12 gauge pump with a 18-20" barrel will work. The things I would reccomend are a "youth" stock, because a full sized adult stock is much to long for social encounters. Also a light. It doesn't have to be a fancy 300 dollar light mounted to the forend, a cheapo clamp system will work fine. An extended magazine also wouldn't hurt.

Above all else, practice.
 
My turkey hunting shotgun does just fine for H/D its a Mossberg 835 pump from WallyWorld it has a 24" bbl with a ACCU-MAG ULTI-FULL choke and shoots 3 1/2 Mag in #4 shot and will hold a 12" pattern out to 30yrds and will cut a man in half . :evil: :neener:
 
I have a Remington 870 with 18 inch barrel and folding stock. It is my "black bear counter-insurgency interface". I tried a pistol grip only but I found it useless for any type of accuracy. I settled with a folding stock for the best compromise...
 
Personally I would prefer a 12 gauge pump for home defense...nothing like the cha chunk sound in the dark to scare the piss and willies out of ya. Sometimes that alone is enough to stop an intrude and if not...well Mr.12 gauge loaded with double buck ought to be.
Click to expand...

I am not sure I get your meaning here. Are you suggesting that a 12 pump sounds different than a 20 pump?

I am still working on getting this 12 gauge 870 police, sweet gun, tried and true. Semi-auto may be a little hazardous for the house...wouldnt want to knock out the wife's china cabinet "but honey, the porcelin figurine had a gun...well it looked like one"
Click to expand...

Huh????
Semi autos are more/less hazardous for the house? No way.

here's the deal, Semi-autos are more ammo finnicky and a bit more difficult to clear if they jam. But on the flip side, a pump shotgun you have to pump, which while quite simple, can often be forgotten by a non-shooter in a pinch. (wife, teenage offspring, etc) Also, even for those more familiar, it can be ease to forget to pump ALL THE WAY BACK. "short stroking" is a common problem with a pump.



12guage vs 20 guage. 12 will hold it's resale value better.

Both 12 and 20 are heads and shoulders above handguns in terms of power. With exposure, anyone can learn to handle the recoil of a 12 guage. However, not everyone wants to take that time. A 20 gauge sill recoils, but less. Still takes time to get a feel for it, but less.

Also, it is usually easier for a big person to handle a too small shoulder weapon for him than it is for a small person to handle a too big shoulder weapon for him. Most 'youth' models come in 20 guage. For a gun that everyone can shoot, youth models seem to be the way to go, their shorter stock works not just for teens but also women, and for men that are shorter than 5' 6", which in some immigrant communities, is a lot of people.
 
Antihero: In my case it was not about 12 vs. 20 for my wife. She is of very short stature and cannot even shoulder my 12ga let alone take the recoil and be back on target for an effective second shot. So I HAD to buy her a 20, and still make mods for her size, for the bedroom. Just something to consider.
Click to expand...

Well i cant really argue when there is a need to buy another gun.:D

Seriously a light load in a 12 gauge has the about same recoil as a 20. If the stock doesnt fit get a youth stock. Also 20 gauge buckshot is something like #3 right? Thats a .25 caliber, i would much rather have 00 which is .33 caliber or 000 which is .35 and there is a much better selection of 12 gauge defence ammo including low recoil. And then you can work your way up to heavier loads if possible.
 
...and the cowboys chime in with remarks about 12guage SxS coach guns.:cool:

Seriously, as much as I've liked 870's... Express or Wingmaster... and I've looked at the Mossberg 500 too... I'd just as soon have a 12guage 20" double-barrel with both chokes the same and loaded with 00buck. They're simple. Jam clearance??? What jam?:cool: And if you must plug your critter, they'll be just as perforated as if you used the latest greatest most tacticool weapon in the store.

This discussion was about home/self defense, right?

There was mention of a semi-auto 12guage... they're not bad, but not something you want to deal with in the dark and under extreme stress. I tend to agree the pumps would be better in the defensive role, but they still offer you the opportunity to forget how they work. Either way, I'd be wanting a 20" barrel. I haven't wanted a weapon-mounted light, but if you have your hands full of that shotgun and no other light sources, you'll be wanting one. And don't forget the ghost ring sights... you do have to aim because contrary to popular notions, that shot collumn isn't going to spread out that much inside 10-15yds so also contrary to those notions, you're not going to point the weapon in the door and take out the whole room.

Now, this talk about "what if your wife/gf/whoever..."... okay, this assumes the wife doesn't know how to shoot or can't handle 12guage recoil. We don't know everybody's significant others on here, so we can't assume anything. She might find a .22LR painful or she might like a 4bore. Women can be hard to figure either way, but if a lady's of a mind to, she can shoot anything us guys can. And us guys aren't all recoil junkies either. I'm a guy and I've been known to shoot 12guage, 20, and 16 at different times and liked or hated the 20 depending on what gun it was. My sister's been known to shoot a 20guage 870 with 3" magnum #6 loads. I know a petite lady at the gun shop who shoots a lightweight deer rifle and also turkey hunts. A girl I know... met her because of barrel racing... shot trap for four years in high school. I ought to ask her for some insight on her preferences and get back to ya'll with some more perspective.

I'm sure I'll think of more later.
 
20 gauge

This is a great forum with many experts and I am not about to disagree with anyone. My own personal preference is a 20 gauge because both my wife and I can use it for home defense. We use #2 buckshot in 3" shells. Also, I was pleased that the "Box-O-Truth" suggests that penetration with the 20 ga is acceptable for HD. See http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot22.htm.


E
 
For me, it's a 12 gage Mossberg Persuader...but as others have said, Remington 870's are great too. It'll just depend on which one is better for you. I'm more into handguns and rifles, but I do consider a shotgun to be best for home defense.
There seems to be a lot of debate as to whether the sound of loading a shell is effective.

As far as shells, I use Federal low recoil .00 buckshot. "Low" recoil is pretty subjective, by the way. The recoil is still pretty stout! However, I don't shoot this much...just enough to keep in practice.

I load the tube (the Mossberg holds 7 in the tube and one in the chamber...totalling 8) with 6 rounds. I leave the chamber empty and the safety off.

As others have said, a pistol grip is not the way to go. I do have a pistol grip/folding stock on mine, but that's for storage purposes. You will control the gun better with a standard stock. I'm writing this because the Mossberg Persuader (if you buy that one) comes with a standard stock installed and a pistol grip you can switch to, if you wanted to. Learn to shoot it with the standard stock before you consider anything else.

Although many here don't have much use for a .410 shotgun, I do like them (although I don't own one). If someone broke in your home, your intent should be to make them leave, not necessarily kill or wound them (too badly). I won't be sounding a warning if someone broke into my place...I'll be shooting first (and dialing 911). But if the intruder leaves with just a minor wound...he's still out of my home. I doubt if he's ever come back either.
Anyway, back to the point...a .410 is light recoil and, in an inside a home situation, would be adequate to motivate the intruder to leave.
So, that's another option to consider.

Good luck with your choice!
 
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How's this for short handheld? This is a Serbu Shorty. Available in 20 or 12 ga.

super_shorty_870.jpg
 
I have one question though. The title of this thread is "Hand Held Shotgun". To my knowledge, all modern shotguns are hand-held. With the exception of my old phantasy 10guage belt fed tripod mounted deal, I've yet to see a shotgun (excluding the old punt guns) that wasn't hand-held. Ya'll keep in mind that a shotgun is a two-handed shoulder-fired weapon, unlike a pistol or revolver. I don't care what Ahnuld the Guvernator did in the movies. And he didn't have a belt-fed shotgun mounted on a bipod either. [/rant]
 
One thing about semis is that they'll have less perceived recoil than a pump. But they are more finiky about ammo, so the truth of practice with your ammo is doubly true.
 
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