How do you keep your home defense shotgun?

[agdude]

I've got a pump 12 for home defense. I usually keep it sitting under the bed. My question is how do you keep yours? Do you keep a round in the chamber? Do you clear the chamber and pull the trigger so you can pump it if the need arises and make the intimidating noise? Any other ideas?

 

[648E]

Just a click away from a boom!

 

[Nimitz]

crusier ready, safety off, chamber empty, tube full.

Chad

 

[ArmedBear]

Unloaded and disassembled with a trigger lock on it, and an Al Gore for President sticker on the buttstock.

 

[Fred Fuller]

Not worried about using a shotgun to make intimidating noises by racking the action, we have 93 pounds of Brazilian Mastiff to make intimidating noises (which right now consist of snoring, BTW). It's our job to back her up with a shotgun, three of which are 'on the pegs' in cruiser ready condition around the house (3 rounds of low recoil 00 buck in the magazine, 4 Brenneke/KO slugs in the Sidesaddle, hammer down on a double-checked empty chamber). Cruiser ready is 1)because that's how I was trained, 2)because it leaves springs relaxed in the action and 3)because IMO it is a bit safer to require concerted large muscle movements before being able to fire a shot on being suddenly awakened from a deep sleep.

Anything that comes into the yard has to get through two layers of fences. Everything's posted as required, and the BEWARE OF THE DOG signs are right next to the posted signs. Nothing's going to get to us before we can be ready for it unless it comes in by air, in which case the bird dog will be all over it 8^).

lpl/nc

 

[nitesite]

hammer down (trigger pulled) on an empty chamber; safety off; seven 2-3/4" shells in the 8-rd capacity tube.

Buck - Buck - Slug - Slug - Slug - Slug - Slug (whew!).

Gun is absolutely out-of-the-box stock with no add-ons of any kind.

Oh, IMO the "intimidating sound" is not a self defense option in itself. It doesn't prove that I am any more serious than I already was.

 

[556A2]

Hammer down, safety off, chamber empty, and magazine tube filled with 6 shells of Remington Reduced Recoil 00 Buckshot.

 

[MACDD]

between nightstand and bed, chamber empty, slide locked, mag full of 7x2.75" #4 buck.

 

[Kingcreek]

The only intimidating noise I have confidence in is a very loud bang.
cruiser ready for me. I also have time to awake fully and plan my response.
rural house with only one approach, lights, 2 dogs- one in/one out, and an electronic security system.
I forgot to add, I also got a mean wife.

 

[ZenMasterJG]

Browning Auto-5, next to the bed, loaded 4 00 buck in the magazine, 1 in the chamber, safety on.

 

[kennedy]

mossberg pump empty chamber, safty off, loaded with bird shot and 00 buck, with sleeve on buttstock with 6 more 00 buck.

 

[DougW]

First line of defence. terrifying Pit ****zsu!

Downstairs, Remington 1100, 26" Mod barrel, +2 mag extension, 6 rounds Winchester Tac Low Recoil 00, chamber empty, safety on (the way I learned). Upstairs, Benelli M1 Super90 Tactical with 4 rounds same, chamber empty, safety on, "bag-o-ammo" next to it.

ANY weapon here may have a loaded mag, but the chamber is ALWAYS empty on all (except the CHL Bersa Thunder .380 and any revolvers). That way, there is no confusion on weather a weapon is loaded or not. All guns require intentional loading function to operate. Just my style.

 

[Black_Talon]

Hammer down, safety off, chamber empty, and 7 round magazine tube filled with 6 rounds of Federal 132-00 Reduced Recoil 00 Buckshot.

 

[shaggycat]

Agdude, I am not a big fan of your signature. Mixing alchohol and firearms is a practice that I am not comfortable with, even jokingly.

 

[agdude]

shaggycat

Sorry, didn't mean to offend you but it's just a joke playing off of the ATF. I think I saw it on a t-shirt once... not to sure. Relax about it. We all know that they obviously don't mix.

 

['Card]

Agdude, I am not a big fan of your signature. Mixing alchohol and firearms is a practice that I am not comfortable with, even jokingly.

Thanks for the meaningless positioning statement.

As for the question and point of the thread, mine is inside the bedroom closet, on pegs above the door where only my spouse and I can reach it. Both barrels are loaded, the gun is cocked but the safety is on, with 6 more rounds of buckshot in a shell-holder on the sleeve.

 

[Canuck-IL]

How do you keep your home defense shotgun?

Ready.

Now that I responded to the thread query, "positioning" on the other opinions expressed yields...."juvenile signature line."
/Bryan

 

[kmrcstintn]

mossy 500; 5 in tube; safety off; decompressed hammer (not cocked); against wall in closet~~
pick up; rack; chamber round; shoulder weapon; finger off trigger; low-ready position...the rest depends on the action/reaction of the perp in the apartment

addendum:

1) no children in household; shotgun gets secured if anyone comes over

2) no side saddle (multipurpose platform & side saddle would get in way when using scope on cantiliever mount barrel)

3) no buttcuff yet

4) #6 1 1/8 oz heavy game load

5) I do have #4 buckshot, but won't load it in tube; I will load it in buttcuff when I get one that doesn't slide around

6) I am not a proponent of the "intimidation by shucking sound" theory; I keep the chamber empty, decompressed hammer (not cocked), and safety off to keep pressure off the hammer spring and not having to manipulate the safety eliminates a "trip up" step out of the routine

 

[foghornl]

Maverick 88, 18-1/2" barrel, 5 rounds of #4Buck, cruiser ready.

 

[AmbulanceDriver]

It's in a hard case just at my bedroom door. 4 steps from the bed. (The hard case gives me time to wake up when something goes *BUMP*)

I will admit it might be a bit of overkill unless a horde of zombies attacks. But living where I do, hordes of zombies don't seem all that far out......

All buckshot is 2 3/4 inch Federal 0000 buck with the flight control wad

All slugs are 1 1/8 oz 3 inch magnums

one round buck in the chamber, safety on

5 rounds buckshot in the mag, with one slug at the end

5 rounds buck in the sidesaddle with one slug

in the speedfeed stock, one buck and one slug per side


For those of you keeping track, that's right, 17 rounds

 

[danurve]

Available.

 

[zogorion]

cocked, locked, and ready to rock.
#4B in the chamber
1 Slug, 2 00B, 3 more #4B in the tube.

 

[226]

Exactly like that and for the reasons stated (6 rd. capacity loaded with 5 rounds of Federal LE132 00 9 pellet low recoil with FLITECONTROL wad).

cruiser ready condition around the house (3 rounds of low recoil 00 buck in the magazine, 4 Brenneke/KO slugs in the Sidesaddle, hammer down on a double-checked empty chamber). Cruiser ready is 1)because that's how I was trained, 2)because it leaves springs relaxed in the action and 3)because IMO it is a bit safer to require concerted large muscle movements before being able to fire a shot on being suddenly awakened from a deep sleep.

...

 

[ArmedBear]

The whole "intimidating racking sound" thing is stupid.

Shotguns aren't toys. If you shoot someone at close range with 00 buckshot, he'll probably die. If you truly have the need to point one at an intruder, there are two possibilities:

1. He sees it and runs.
2. He tries to attack you.

In case 1, there's little need for any noise other than the sound of your phone dialing 911.

In case 2, you'd better fire the gun without hesitation or theatrics. This means it should already be pointed at him. Learn to rack the slide fast in case you need a followup shot. It is, however, unlikely that you will need one unless you miss.

 

[thebigc]

i leave my win 1300 with slugs and buckshot in the mag and nothing in the chamber safety off with a trigger lock on it.