I sheepishly admit that I would love to do that, if I could figure out how to afford the insanely expensive ammunition. All shotgun owners must have relatives that work at the Fed and slip them the interest rate data a week early. I'm sure it makes you much better at hitting moving targets.
PS Is someone eventually going to bring the shotgun into the 19th century with some high-pressure ammo, or are we going to go straight to energy weapons instead?
I don't understand this post. Clays expensive? Whadda ya shoot, 100 rounds at 4 bucks a box from wallyworld? Heck, our club shoots country doubles occasionally and we only shoot five sets each for ten rounds. Get a box of Winchester super speed 7 1/2s from Walmart like I hunt doves with for less than four box, 25 rounds. It's cheaper'n reloadin' the stuff! It's a LOT cheaper than handgun or rifle ammo.
Um, bring the shotgun up to WHAT? Whadda ya mean by "high pressure ammo"? This doesn't really apply to shotguns. Shotguns are about shot in the pattern/pattern density. Bigger the shot, the more "power", but less density. There have been huge advancements in shotgun ammo in my lifetime. Plastic hulls replacing paper was HUGE. I can remember shooting paper when I was a kid, it'd get damp and swell up and you'd just have to chunk it. There have been advancements in slug guns, rifled barrels, saboted hour glass shaped slugs that can shoot 2 MOA and take deer to 150 yards or so. Since the advent of non-toxic shot rules, they've recently come out with Federal Tungsten-Iron, Remington Heavy Shot, Bismuth, all BETTER than lead for taking hard to take game at longish ranges like geese, which I love to shoot. We aren't even close to the 19th century with shotgun technology today. Sounds like you need to do some reading and educate yourself about scatter guns.
Now, as to HD with shotgun vs rifle, I won't consider a rifle in town for any sort of defense. I keep a .38 special by bedside, carry either that .38 or a 9mm daily. I'll put the 9 down on the table by the bed if that's what I'm carrying, as I have been today. I don't keep a long gun for home defense in my tiny home, but have an old double sitting in the corner with five rounds if I'm barricaded in the bedroom and someone breaks in. Takes a second to drop in the rounds and wait for the bedroom door to get kicked open. The round are 00 buck, should do the job at 12 feet I reckon. I don't really practice on stationary targets. Hitting is NOT a problem with a scatter gun on a stationary target. I shoot some clays, duck hunt a LOT in season, shoot doves when I get a chance. My range practice is handgun practice and I play with my rifles out there.
If you're new to shotguns I'd suggest you find a club and get some instruction on wing/clay shooting. It's a TON of fun and when you get to where you can hit a majority out of 25, a stationary target becomes quite boring.
You might not need another hobby, but clay shooting is FUN and you should try it just to learn how to handle the shotgun. It will make you a much better shotgunner. If you can possibly get some instruction, it would really help you getting started. Wing/clay shooting is a technique thing and it helps to learn the skills and techniques from an accomplished shotgunner.
