Of all these special shotguns, which are best for home defense?

[TTv2]

By special shotguns, I mean all the smoothbore firearms that are longer than 26 inches OAL and have barrels under 18 inches (Shockwave, Tac-14, Black Aces, etc), the Kel Tec KSG, the new IWI TS12, and the SRM1216, which are the best choices for home defense?

 

[Bigmike79]

Go spend $275 at a pawn shop and get one of these.




Then take the rest of the money you were going to spend and go on a vacation........my 2 cents

 

[TTv2]

That's too long for my place, need something shorter.

and vacations are a waste of money

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

Not really my thing but a friend has the KelTec and it is pretty nice.

 

[Bigmike79]

and vacations are a waste of money

I used to think the same thing when I was younger. I think the older we get the more we realize that we can't take it all with us, and our memories are all we really have in the end.

Anyways, back on topic. If a patrol shotgun is too long you can always just slap a pistol grip on it. If you are dead set on a tacti-cool short shotgun, I would get a Saiga with a short barrel.

By the time you're paying that much money for a shotgun, it may as well be an autoloader, and what's another two hundred bucks for a stamp?

 

[paulsj]

That's too long for my place, need something shorter.

and vacations are a waste of money

Some live to work some work to live. I would take 20ga Shockwave or its Remington eqivalent.

 

[TTv2]

I used to think the same thing when I was younger. I think the older we get the more we realize that we can't take it all with us, and our memories are all we really have in the end.

Anyways, back on topic. If a patrol shotgun is too long you can always just slap a pistol grip on it. If you are dead set on a tacti-cool short shotgun, I would get a Saiga with a short barrel.

By the time you're paying that much money for a shotgun, it may as well be an autoloader, and what's another two hundred bucks for a stamp?

I don't think I can take the recoil without having a buttstock against my shoulder, nor do I feel I can aim as accurately. I'd rather spend the extra $200 or more giving it to a company that worked for the money than give it to an entity that does nothing and tells me what I can and can't do with my property.

As for the can't take it with you thing... speak for yourself. I plan to live forever.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

I would suggest something more traditional. I had one of those and found out that I had few places to shoot it once I moved. Makes training hard, so I sold it and bought a short hunting gun. Not tactical but I shoot it a lot more and therefore know it better.

The special ones are good if you are well trained on them, or if you buy one that is the same operating system of what you hunt or shoot more.

Of what you listed I would get a 20ga Shokwave or the Rem version in 20 and find a place to shoot it a fair amount.

 

[Bigmike79]

I don't think I can take the recoil without having a buttstock against my shoulder,

I hear you

My daughter had the same problem until she was in jr high.

Have you considered a Taurus curve?

 

[earplug]

Which one would you train with? I had a brand X loaded in my home for many years until I realized I hated to shoot the dam thing. I competed monthly with a AR type firearm and figured out i'd be better prepared with a AR in the home.

 

[TTv2]

I would suggest something more traditional. I had one of those and found out that I had few places to shoot it once I moved. Makes training hard, so I sold it and bought a short hunting gun. Not tactical but I shoot it a lot more and therefore know it better.

The special ones are good if you are well trained on them, or if you buy one that is the same operating system of what you hunt or shoot more.

Of what you listed I would get a 20ga Shokwave or the Rem version in 20 and find a place to shoot it a fair amount.

So you would say a Mossberg Shockwave with a Sig brace? Been thinking about that too, but a the price for the gun and a brace, the KSG is smaller and holds more shells.

But, I trust the Mossberg design more than Kel Tec.

 

[PapaG]

None of the above. Give me an old 870 with a riot barrel, extended mag, flex tab trigger, and I will be happy. Light, easy, smooth and no gimmicks.
I have over 300K rounds out of my trap versions and am totally comfortable with the platform.

 

[Browning]

If I was actually going to be keeping one of those for long term use I'd probably go with the IWI TS12, just cause I think it's the coolest out of the bunch.

That's if I *HAD TO* though for the sake of the exercise. Personally I think if you buy any of those it'll get sold once the novelty wears off though.

I'd just buy a conventional pump or auto shotgun that's been out for awhile that has a bunch of parts and accessories available for it and have at it and learn to shoot it, but that's just me.

 

[TTv2]

I had no idea that shotguns under 35 inches long were so useless. Thanks for the advice, I'll go get a Maverick 88 now.

 

[John Joseph]

What does your local PD or SO use?

 

[Panzerschwein]

Meh. BAH HUMBUG!!! Ain't ever been no better defensive shotgun than my rusty but trusty gen-yew-wine OLD SCHOOL blunderbuss!!

 

[entropy]

As for the can't take it with you thing... speak for yourself. I plan to live forever.

Good luck with that. You could do what I did; I have vowed that I will not die until the Vikings win the Super Bowl, therefore, I am immortal.
The Shockwave-type guns can be shot effectively, but it takes some training. An SBS is more effective, but if the space you are defending is really so small that an 18" barreled 870 is too big for you, sounds like a handgun is a better choice.

 

[Ironhand54]

My brother had a Kel-Tec. Pretty cool at first, then we ran it through speed drills. We found it was way too easy to short stroke and end up with a empty chamber. He sold it.

If you want a short shotgun that is cheap and reliable, look at a coach gun. I know it won't hold half a box of shells but we are talking home defense not spec ops. After 2 rounds of buck anyone that ain't dead is running for the door.

A good double is less expensive, easier to find, easier to operate and almost unbreakable. Plus, since it does not have a receiver, a double is 3-4 inches shorter than a repeater of the same barrel length.

Of course if 2 rounds just ain't enough you can always get one of these.

IronHand

 

[Bigmike79]

if the space you are defending is really so small that an 18" barreled 870 is too big for you, sounds like a handgun is a better choice.

I had no idea that shotguns under 35 inches long were so useless. Thanks for the advice, I'll go get a Maverick 88 now.

I would trust my life to a Maverick 88 before I would to that Kel-tec KSG.........just saying

If you hurry right now you can buy a Maverick combo that comes with a short barrel for defense and a 24" barrel to hunt with all for just $219.95
It's not a deal, it's a steal...

https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/ma...uge-pump-action-shotgun#repChildCatid=4894651

 

[TTv2]

^ I've long had the opinion that the only Maverick worth getting is the 20 inch with 8 round tube. An extra inch and a half for 3 more shots is worth it.

I have no use for the 28 inch barrel.

As for the KSG, I have similar concerns. If I knew it would work reliably 100%, I might get it over something else, but I have never liked how it has to be loaded under the buttstock. To me, it looks awkward and not fast enough and also difficult to put a single round into the chamber under stress. At least with a standard pump it's simple enough to throw a shell into the ejection port and rack a round into the chamber.

And that's the sole reason I don't hate the IWI TS12, it looks easy enough to pop a shell or two into the tube and fire under stress.

 

[TTv2]

Good luck with that. You could do what I did; I have vowed that I will not die until the Vikings win the Super Bowl, therefore, I am immortal.
The Shockwave-type guns can be shot effectively, but it takes some training. An SBS is more effective, but if the space you are defending is really so small that an 18" barreled 870 is too big for you, sounds like a handgun is a better choice.

True on the handguns, it's why I have so many of them, but I of course feel more sure of a shotgun's ability to stop a threat. I have considered the Shockwave with a Sig brace, I think that's as reliable and simple a small shotgun one can get and operate, but I'm waiting on more feedback with how the Sig brace feels on them. I do not feel confidant shooting the Shockwave if it's not against my shoulder.

Vikings will win one after the Rodgers guy retires in 7 years.

 

[bannockburn]

TTv2

I agree with PapaG: a typical pump action shotgun, like the Remington 870, Mossberg Model 500, or Maverick 88, with an 18" barrel, would serve you better than any PGO type shotgun.

 

[Hasaf]

Seeing at the KelTek was mentioned, and you are expressing a concern about overall length. I want to point out that you can get Bull Pup stocks to put on both the Remington 870 and the Mossberg 500.


I have never used one, or seen one in use, but it may be an option.

 

[entropy]

True on the handguns, it's why I have so many of them, but I of course feel more sure of a shotgun's ability to stop a threat. I have considered the Shockwave with a Sig brace, I think that's as reliable and simple a small shotgun one can get and operate, but I'm waiting on more feedback with how the Sig brace feels on them. I do not feel confidant shooting the Shockwave if it's not against my shoulder.

Vikings will win one after the Rodgers guy retires in 7 years.

The problem with putting a SIG brace on a Shockwave is while they are fine for .223, and maybe even .300 BO, they may not stand up to 12 or 20 ga. recoil, or possibly ATF scrutiny, either. Even if it withstood that amount of recoil, the lack of surface area on your shoulder will make recoil very uncomfortable, particularly with the typical loads used for HD.

As for the part of your statement I bolded, perhaps this may encourage you:

Clint Smith showing proper technique for firing the Shockwave.

 

[FL-NC]

Its just a shotgun. At typical home defense ranges, the effects on the target will be similar. The "best" is what you say it is. I def. recommend a light on said shotgun.