hollywoodfl
Member
I am looking to purchase a home defense shotgun, but do not have much experience with shotguns. I will of course take it to the range and probably seek instruction. Thanks again.
Newish Shooter needs help picking a SD Shotgun
- Thread starter hollywoodfl
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Mr. Designer
Member
I am also looking into buying my first shotgun for home defense. Just a few things I found.
1) Remington 870s, Mossberg 500s and 590s are good guns. I am leaning toward a 870 because they have been around for a while and have a good reputation.
2) You can get a good deal on a used shotgun, just look around.
3) The difference between a 870 Express, Tactical, Wingmaster & Police is mostly the level of inspecting and finishing. The 870 Express being the less finished and the 870 Police being the most finished.
4) 12 or 20 gauge for home defense is best.
5) I think pump shotguns are best for home defense, although there are varying opinions. Pumps are less complex which will help when operating under stressful situations.
Hopefully some of the "elders" will post some info here as well.
1) Remington 870s, Mossberg 500s and 590s are good guns. I am leaning toward a 870 because they have been around for a while and have a good reputation.
2) You can get a good deal on a used shotgun, just look around.
3) The difference between a 870 Express, Tactical, Wingmaster & Police is mostly the level of inspecting and finishing. The 870 Express being the less finished and the 870 Police being the most finished.
4) 12 or 20 gauge for home defense is best.
5) I think pump shotguns are best for home defense, although there are varying opinions. Pumps are less complex which will help when operating under stressful situations.
Hopefully some of the "elders" will post some info here as well.
sm
member
I recommend not buying a shotgun.
Yet.
I don't care if the shotgun is for serious situations, clay games, or hunting.
I recommend not buying a shotgun.
Yet.
Shotguns are dangerous tools, and no tool is ever any better than user of said tool.
Motor vehicles are dangerous tools and one should not just get one, without knowing how to drive, the safety rules and regulations, sitting in the motor vehicle to see if it fits them, if they can reach all controls and ...
Buying something just because someone else uses it, is another wrong reason for buying a tool.
Tools must fit user, for task, for their environment.
Just because the Swedish Bikini Team shoots a certain gun, does not mean that gun and equipment is best for you, your tasks and environment.
Awerbuck says it best - I will not be at your gunfight.
When one has taken all the preventative steps to the best of their ability to keep evil away, did not go to where trouble was, evaded when trouble showed up, and now the only recourse a prudent person would do in this situation is to deal with evil...
That shotgun has better be like a body part to you. It needs to fit you, you need to be able to run the gun without looking at it, you will be in a living hell and motor skills will erode, sensory exclusions will happen, you cannot hear, and your mouth is like cotton, you are in total fear of life and ...
It does not matter what I use, or recommend.
It does not matter what Dave McC, Lee Lapin, PJR, Okiecruffler, Gordon, Striker, rcmodel, TrapperReady, Will Fennell...and others around here use.
It does not matter what the Swedish Bikini Team uses, Special Forces, Rangers, Seals, Local Police, Sheriff , State Police, FBI, US Marshall, ATF, or anyone else uses.
You are going to be in that situation, nobody else is going to be there with you.
You may get shot, knifed, injured, maimed, dead...you might survive, you might not.
One is wise to not just go get something , one is advised to investigate and verify.
Find seasoned shooters that can assist, that know about gun fit, various pro's and con's of platforms, that can assist in gun fit to you, correct basic fundamentals and so much more.
Take a class, borrow a gun, see if the class has guns to let students use, anything - just never take on blind faith what others say or recommend is best for you.
Investigate & Verify.
The worst of all deceptions is self-deception. - Plato
Yet.
I don't care if the shotgun is for serious situations, clay games, or hunting.
I recommend not buying a shotgun.
Yet.
Shotguns are dangerous tools, and no tool is ever any better than user of said tool.
Motor vehicles are dangerous tools and one should not just get one, without knowing how to drive, the safety rules and regulations, sitting in the motor vehicle to see if it fits them, if they can reach all controls and ...
Buying something just because someone else uses it, is another wrong reason for buying a tool.
Tools must fit user, for task, for their environment.
Just because the Swedish Bikini Team shoots a certain gun, does not mean that gun and equipment is best for you, your tasks and environment.
Awerbuck says it best - I will not be at your gunfight.
When one has taken all the preventative steps to the best of their ability to keep evil away, did not go to where trouble was, evaded when trouble showed up, and now the only recourse a prudent person would do in this situation is to deal with evil...
That shotgun has better be like a body part to you. It needs to fit you, you need to be able to run the gun without looking at it, you will be in a living hell and motor skills will erode, sensory exclusions will happen, you cannot hear, and your mouth is like cotton, you are in total fear of life and ...
It does not matter what I use, or recommend.
It does not matter what Dave McC, Lee Lapin, PJR, Okiecruffler, Gordon, Striker, rcmodel, TrapperReady, Will Fennell...and others around here use.
It does not matter what the Swedish Bikini Team uses, Special Forces, Rangers, Seals, Local Police, Sheriff , State Police, FBI, US Marshall, ATF, or anyone else uses.
You are going to be in that situation, nobody else is going to be there with you.
You may get shot, knifed, injured, maimed, dead...you might survive, you might not.
One is wise to not just go get something , one is advised to investigate and verify.
Find seasoned shooters that can assist, that know about gun fit, various pro's and con's of platforms, that can assist in gun fit to you, correct basic fundamentals and so much more.
Take a class, borrow a gun, see if the class has guns to let students use, anything - just never take on blind faith what others say or recommend is best for you.
Investigate & Verify.
The worst of all deceptions is self-deception. - Plato
Fred Fuller
Moderator Emeritus
Hi hollywoodfl,
Save your money for a few weeks, and get some trigger time on shotguns belonging to friends and family members, if you have any who are shotgunners. If you do get to go to the range or gun club with them, of course it's good manners if you buy your own ammo. Ask ahead to see what light birdshot loads their gun likes, and pick up a box.
You have a hatful of decisions to make and things to sort out before you buy, and you're much better off being an educated consumer before you put your hard earned money down on the counter and sign the paperwork. You need to know pretty much what you want before you buy anything. You need to know what proper gun fit is for you, gun fit is a critical element of shotgunning and shotguns are made in a 'one size fits most' fashion. Factory standard might not fit you though, and you need to know what modifications if any you need.
Now if none of yor family or friends are shotgunners, don't feel bad. Beginners run into that problem every so often, but it isn't insurmountable. Some ranges rent long guns- look around. Some gun clubs have a rental rack too. And in the meantime, if worst comes to worst, you can be a pest at various gun shops, getting your grubby fingers on various shotguns. I suggest you stick to the used rack for that though 8^).
You need to get yourself a little education in gunhandling, if you don't have it to start with. You'll need to learn the basic controls on various makes and models, where they are and what they do. Sound like a huge task? Don't be silly. Most manufacturers put their owners manuals online- all you have to do is read them. Safe gunhandling is a must, be sure you have the Four Rules firmly engraved in your mind. What Four Rules? http://thehighroad.org/library/safetyrules.html .
Once you have actually looked at, handled, hefted, mounted, manipulated and even fired various makes and models, you'll be a LOT closer to being able to make an informed decision about what's right for you.
I encourage you to look for training. You might be able to find help at a local gun club. There might be someone teaching that your favorite gun shop can suggest to you. There are NRA basic classes for shotgun as well as pistol and rifle ( http://www.nrahq.org/education/training/basictraining.asp ). The NRA also has a good class called Personal Protection In The Home that I recommend- you can find instructors, perhaps near you, at the same URL above.
Good training will drastically shorten your learning curve and help keep you from learning bad habits early along. If you don't have anyone around you who will do it for the sake of passing the skills forward to a new shooter, it's worth finding and paying a pro IMHO.
Good luck to you, and Always Stay Safe,
lpl/nc
Save your money for a few weeks, and get some trigger time on shotguns belonging to friends and family members, if you have any who are shotgunners. If you do get to go to the range or gun club with them, of course it's good manners if you buy your own ammo. Ask ahead to see what light birdshot loads their gun likes, and pick up a box.
You have a hatful of decisions to make and things to sort out before you buy, and you're much better off being an educated consumer before you put your hard earned money down on the counter and sign the paperwork. You need to know pretty much what you want before you buy anything. You need to know what proper gun fit is for you, gun fit is a critical element of shotgunning and shotguns are made in a 'one size fits most' fashion. Factory standard might not fit you though, and you need to know what modifications if any you need.
Now if none of yor family or friends are shotgunners, don't feel bad. Beginners run into that problem every so often, but it isn't insurmountable. Some ranges rent long guns- look around. Some gun clubs have a rental rack too. And in the meantime, if worst comes to worst, you can be a pest at various gun shops, getting your grubby fingers on various shotguns. I suggest you stick to the used rack for that though 8^).
You need to get yourself a little education in gunhandling, if you don't have it to start with. You'll need to learn the basic controls on various makes and models, where they are and what they do. Sound like a huge task? Don't be silly. Most manufacturers put their owners manuals online- all you have to do is read them. Safe gunhandling is a must, be sure you have the Four Rules firmly engraved in your mind. What Four Rules? http://thehighroad.org/library/safetyrules.html .
Once you have actually looked at, handled, hefted, mounted, manipulated and even fired various makes and models, you'll be a LOT closer to being able to make an informed decision about what's right for you.
I encourage you to look for training. You might be able to find help at a local gun club. There might be someone teaching that your favorite gun shop can suggest to you. There are NRA basic classes for shotgun as well as pistol and rifle ( http://www.nrahq.org/education/training/basictraining.asp ). The NRA also has a good class called Personal Protection In The Home that I recommend- you can find instructors, perhaps near you, at the same URL above.
Good training will drastically shorten your learning curve and help keep you from learning bad habits early along. If you don't have anyone around you who will do it for the sake of passing the skills forward to a new shooter, it's worth finding and paying a pro IMHO.
Good luck to you, and Always Stay Safe,
lpl/nc
Dave McCracken
Moderator In Memoriam
The Swedish Bikini Team shoot 870s.
Seriously,Hollywoodfl, see what sm and Lee have writ. Follow it.
Trust me....
Seriously,Hollywoodfl, see what sm and Lee have writ. Follow it.
Trust me....
MaterDei
Member
Do what sm, lee, and mccraken say. good advice from all of them.
I agree with Materdei. The Trio have never misguided me. I would also have to agree with the suggestions to get to know shotguns well. Maybe, to simulate darkness (which it probably will be if a person breaks in), you could close your eyes, and (using a snapcap for safety reasons) go through the process of getting a shotgun ready to fire. This will make you more adept under such a situation, I figure. I need to try that myself, to see how I would do.
chris in va
Member
Ok, wow. Talk about over analyzing.
My suggestion, get an 870 or 500 with a dual barrel set. 28" and 18" for HD. The longer barrel can be used for some range time with clays which helps tremendously with familiarization.
But I will agree with one thing, find one that is easy to operate and fits you pretty well.
Personally, if I had to choose the 'best' HD shotgun, I'd get a Saiga 12 or 20. But that's me.
My suggestion, get an 870 or 500 with a dual barrel set. 28" and 18" for HD. The longer barrel can be used for some range time with clays which helps tremendously with familiarization.
But I will agree with one thing, find one that is easy to operate and fits you pretty well.
Personally, if I had to choose the 'best' HD shotgun, I'd get a Saiga 12 or 20. But that's me.
rocinante
Member
say SAIGA. SIGH GA
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