Home defense long gun recommendation needed

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Food for thought. Below is a comparison of a 18 inch 12 gauge, a 16 inch AR15 with the stock collapsed and a Marlin 1894C. The Marlin is only marginally longer then the COLLAPSED AR15 and it is a good bit handier/lighter then both the AR and Shotgun.

1894compares.gif
 
Ok, first things first. Anything you shoot needs to penetrate the bad guy. Anything strong enough to penetrate the bad guy will penetrate drywall and enter other units of a townhouse or apartment complex. So if you have a deep concern about stray rounds entering other units you've pretty much ruled out any good defensive firearm.

Bird shot, BB shot and other light shotgun loads might put a hurting on someone but they aren't reliable man stoppers. I've seen this with my own eyes and it's been reported on enough that it's not really open to debate. However, unless they are seriously drugged up or hell bent on killing you then most people aren't going to be too excited about getting a chest full of ANY shotgun shell.

Given that you are most familiar with pump action long arms my suggestion would be to use what you know best. The saying is that in an emergency you don't rise to the occasion but that you are reduced to the level of your training.

I truly love my lever action .357, but I would recommend against it primarily because it's a different action type than you use most. If you want that caliber then I'd get a pump .357 instead since it's use would be second nature to you. I would also consider getting a pump action shotgun with an 18" barrel. Any of the major brands will work for you. If you want a rifle caliber weapon I'd get the pump action Remington 7615. With a 10 round mag it should be CA legal.

Your final option would be any semi-auto rifle that is CA legal. Any of these would be fine for home defense. If you are trying to minimize drywall penetration then I would use the shotgun with something like a BB load. However, you have to realize that it won't stop a determined attacker and accept that as the trade off.
 
I would go with a good 12 gauge shotgun first for home defense. Then a 20 gauge shotgun next. My third choice would be an SKS paratrooper model carbine. Those are good and dependable guns. Fourth would be a .44 magnum lever action Marlin saddle carbine. That is one sweet cowboy type carbine with good power and punch and very accurate. Next would be the .357 magnum lever action Marlin. Those are also sweet shooting and accurate guns. Next would be a big bore pistol.
 
Cameron,

What types of shotguns do you use for clays?

If you use a pump or semi auto then get a shorter barrel (does California have additional restrictions on barrel length on shotguns above the 18 inch federal requirement?)or seperate shot gun of the same type you are most familure with.

If you are using an O/U or S/S shot gun serch to see if there is an option for those models for a shorter barrel as a quail shooter might want.

When understress is not time to be trying to remember where controls are and what they do, if possible use what you play with.

Is there anything down stairs worth loosing your life over or taking some one else's life? You may want to consider just barracking yourself and loved ones up stairs and use the phone to call Law Enforcement.

Your 30 inch barrels should work just fine if you do not leave the room the gun was stored in.

-Bob Hollingsworth
 
I have a Browning Gold Evolve (autoloader), a Remington 870 Wingmaster Classic Trap (pump) and a Caesar Guerini Summit Sporting (over/under). All 12 gauge, all 30" barrels.

I could get a 18" barrel for my Wingmaster; I have to take the barrel off every time I come home to clean it, it'd be easy enough to just clean the receiver and slap the 18" barrel on it, then get back to cleaning the dirty 30" barrel.

I don't have a side-by-side, and the offerings from Stoeger wouldn't be that much more than a new barrel for the 870, and would be something different that I don't have already.

I do agree that there's no material thing I own that is worth risking my life or taking someone else's over, but should I feel the need to investigate downstairs, I want to have something I can bring with me. It's just nice to have options.

Cameron
 
Short barreled shotgun is probably the best overall choice. Marlin 1894C would be my second choice in that environment largely for political reasons.
 
Mine is a Marlin 1894 carbine with hot-loaded .38 Specials. But how about an 18" to 20" double-barrel shotgun? Or an M1 Carbine or SKS? (you could put a bayonet on those :))
 
I'd put a shotty at the top of the list, followed by a pistol caliber carbine/Winchester M92/Marlin in a pistol caliber.

If I was to choose rifle caliber it would be my M1 Carbine or a 223/5.26 cal mini-14 or M4 carbine.
 
look into a mossberg 500a super bantom. The stock is 2 inches shorter, you can get it in 12 or 20ga, and it has a 20in barrel. Birdshot in the head may not kill, but it will probably blind or at least be a major distraction and blur vision. Also, cycling a pump shottie will send the hairs of most if not all intruders on end because they know you dont have to see them very well to hit them. I have heard of intrusions where the sound of a pump being worked was enough to change the perps mind.

Also, if the super bantom is still to long, they may a pistol grip / no butt stock option for the model 500. You can actually fire from the hip and clear out the hallway if your wrists can stand the recoil.
 
Any of the carbines in a pistol caliber would work. My self, I would get a short barreled shotgun and load it up with # 4 buck shot if I lived in a condo.
 
get an 18" for your your 870 and load it up with #2 or # 3 bb's.
I load mine with 00 buck, but I also don't worry about penetrating my neighbor's inerds. If you are really worried about shooting through the walls, load the 1st shot with rubber buck which you can buy here in Ca, it is non-lethal and will cause the intruder to not attempt intruding again, and back the rubber buck with real buck if you need to put him to sleep.
The sound of your trap gun racking is probably enough to make them run.
 
In Cali, definately get an 18 inch Remi or Mossberg 12 or 20 gauge shotgun with nothing less than #3 or 4 buck. Extremely effective at close range, plus they look similar to your bird gun.:)
 
i vote for getting another barrel for your shot gun. if a shorter one is not available, find out what the minimum length is, and have a gunsmith cut that puppy off to that length + 1/2 ". you will never find a more terrifying sight than a man holding a sawed off shotgun pointing right at you!
 
double12.gif

These double barrel shotguns have an outstanding history of protecting settlers, Wells Fargo freight, banks, etc. I'm certain that California does not outlaw these guns.

TR
 
18" 870 HD model

Puma 92 16" barrel in .357. Very slick action.

Cant recommend a Marlin, because I dont own one..................yet ;)
 
Quote "Right now the only thing I can think of is get a pump shotgun and put a Knoxx stock on it. As long as the whole thing is 27" long when collapsed, it's still legal, but I would like to know what my other options are."



Actually, as long as the stock is "permanently affixed" (screwed/bolted on) your overall length MUST be over 26" when fully extended to be compliant with federal law. There is NO issue with overall length when in the collapsed/folded position. MANY rifles and shotguns are only 20-24 inches long in the collapsed position.

Remember, Rifles must have a 16 inch barrel. Shotguns an 18" barrel.
 
If you are really worried about shooting through the walls, load the 1st shot with rubber buck which you can buy here in Ca, it is non-lethal and will cause the intruder to not attempt intruding again, and back the rubber buck with real buck if you need to put him to sleep.
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Rubber shot is less-lethal not non-lethal. It can and has killed people. More importantly from a legal standpoint, it will most likely be viewed as a use of deadly force, even though it is much inferior in terms of physiologically stopping an assailant.

So from my perspective, it looks like this:

1. All the legal liability of using deadly force.
2. None of the stopping potential of real buckshot.

I would suggest that rubber buckshot is one of those items that has a very limited, niche use and home defense is not one of those.
 
Rubber shot is less-lethal not non-lethal. It can and has killed people. More importantly from a legal standpoint, it will most likely be viewed as a use of deadly force, even though it is much inferior in terms of physiologically stopping an assailant.
Click to expand...
I'm with you I would have a very hard time justifying its use. You should only be firing your gun if you're in fear for your life, if you're in fear for your life you probably want to stop your attacker as quickly as possible and that means something other than rubber shot.
 
T.R.: That side-by-side would be an attractive choice for me, except I've read tons of horror stories about the Baikal and Stoeger ones. I mean, what do you expect for a $350 doublegun. Last thing I need is the selective trigger not working or a firing pin breaking when I need it most.

I'll look into the Mossberg Bantam.

Cameron
 
If you're familiar with shotguns already a shogun would make sense. A shorter barrel for something you have would be the easiest.
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Some of the best advice in the thread.

If you're familiar with the 870 already, get another.

I'm not a huge fan of pistol caliber carbines - pistol calibers penetrate plenty of drywall and you're stuck with something not much more effective than a handgun. The benefit is the longer sight radius compared to a pistol, but, IMHO, that does not provide enough benefit to overcome the size.

If you can't swing an off-list AR, I'd also consider a Remington 7615 pump rifle that accepts AR mags. There are tons of options for 5.56/.223 ammo. For example, M855 wouldn't be the best choice for a townhouse, but a V-Max or frangible could be.

If you haven't already, check calguns.net for state-specific info.

Good luck!
 
Zeede, purchasing a shorter interchangeable barrel for your 12 gauge seems like the best and most economical option. I recommend a good buckshot load for self-defense since slugs, my favorite loading, could overpenetrate. The 12 gauge shotgun is a true powerhouse with the proper round. I consider a pump-action 12 gauge one of the most powerful self-defense firearms I have owned. Hopefully, you will never need to test this recommendation. Good luck.


Timthinker
 
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