My Two Cents
What a great thread! I've been sitting here for more than a little while reading and have learned a LOT. I have some experience with combat firefights, but never with a shotgun, and no experience with home break-ins. I'm not particularly concerned about traditional break-ins, but I do worry that the future may contain threats from large groups of displaced and hungry people as states go bankrupt and entitlements like welfare and food supplements disappear. I'm not really worried about the oddball junkie breaking in my door. I'm more worried about the "Magnificent Seven" bandito possibility. This SHTF scenario may never happen but, then again, I have flood insurance too. I never fired a weapon until I joined the Army in 1970 and never owned one of my own until November 2008, long after retirement. Here's my two cents:
I believe in layered defense. With no artillery available, I have weapons chambered in 308 so that I can discourage bad guys from outside the envelope of their own weapons. Failing that, I see shotguns as an essential tool for a closer fight, that offer something of an "area" effect, rather than the precision of a rifle. For a final defense, we have sidearms too. This is all based on the presumption that we'll be out of the city and at our retirement place in the boonies by the time any trouble starts.
With this in mind, my primary shotgun is a Mossberg 930 SPX. With 7+1 capacity, it offers a large amount of firepower. I've seen the positive comments here about double barrel shotguns, but I just don't get it. Whenever I have found myself facing a real and determined enemy, I want all the ready rounds I can get. I'll trade off the weight for the bang. I like the "cylinder bore" feature so I can fire whatever round I want... you never can tell what might or might not be available. Some specific issues:
1.) Tritium or glo-paint sites - I go for the tritium. Its alwaya ready. You don't have to ask the bad guys to wait a minute while you hold your sights under a flashlight.
2.) Lights - There seems to be a consensus against these things here. I have spent two years in Iraq as a civilian and you could always tell the REMF's who lived inside the wire and the folks who lived outside the wire. The folks in the fresh, clean uniforma had lights, lasers, rangefinders, key chains, washing machines, etc., dangling off their weapons. The raccoon-looking folks (from goggles in the dust) had only a CCO (Close Combat Optic) on their weapons. I agree with the folks here that doodads and thingamajiggies just add weight and can be a beacon to make you a target.
3.) Slings - I like those slings that carry ammo. They are easy to detach if you want and become simply a source of ammo. I don't see myself ever being "in the attck" so laying them down next to you in a defensive position is fine. I also spent a long time in the Army and never saw anyone do the TV cop thing with a sling wrapped around your elbow, up your arm and so forth to provide stability for firing. When a firefight turns into a knife fight, its not something you want to be burdened with.
4.) Speed - Someone said speed was essential. I could not agree more. That's why I chose the 930 SPX. A local LEO told me he could put 8 rounds downrange in 2 seconds... as fast as he could pull the trigger. I haven't done that myself with this old trigger finger, but I do my best. Shooting from the hip is obviously less than optimal marksmanship. But sometimes, with a bunch of BG's coming at you, there is no choice. Practice it. I believe a red dot sight makes you faster. Depending on how much money you can spend, a halographic sight may even allow you to shoot accurately without aligning your eyeball to the weapon in the traditional manner, at all.
5.) Mixed Loads - Someone here spent a lot of time describing the mix of 00 buck, #4, slugs, etc. I would suggest that when you're in a firefight, you have no clue what round is where. You're doing good in all the excitement and drowning in adrenaline, to realize that you're pulling on an empty chamber and its time to reload ANYTHING.
6.) Tailoring - Someone had a GREAT post about living in rural, city, and suburban environments and how the differing THREAT should result in differing weapon/ammo configurations. SO TRUE!! (My wife is a proponent of using 00 Buck at all times. "We'll worry about redecorating later.")
7.) Stealth - The "chik-chiK" of chambering a round may scare off a wayward kid breaking into your house, but won't do much against a determined enemy with some buddies in tow. I'll take the semi-auto (that "auto-loader" phrase is so unnecessary) any day. Sound, like light, tells the bad guys where you are.
My backup shotgun is a Mossberg 500. I recently bought one in a "package" which included the 18.5" tactical barrel, a longer hunting one, chokes, and pistol grip as well as a stock. This "3-in-1" (defense, hunting, cruising) combo is a great package. I had intended to buy the "JIC" (Just in Case) package but was sidetracked by the better deal. By the way, if anyone knows where a JIC container can be purchased, please let me know. Mossberg won't sell them separately and I have searched the web. The JIC container would make a wonderful addition to a BUGOUT BAG. It should be noted that the 500 easily accepts a Picatinny Rail, with holes already bored and screws already provided. The 930 SPX comes out of the box with a rail.
One last comment. I totally agree with folks here that say the training is the most important aspect of this subject. One post talked about shooting clays with an 18.5" tactical shotgun. The poster said it may not get great scores but was great practice. That is very useful advice. I would go a little further. Target practice is important, but bad guys move, maneuver, bob, weave, seek cover, and most important of all... SHOOT BACK! Since I don't plan to be in the attack anytime soon, I believe it useful to preplan primary, secondary and alternate firing positions where you live as your own version of bobbing and weaving. Soldiers spend years learning things like how to work together with friendlies (wives?) to provide supporting fire, how to analyze where the bad guys might come from (avenues of approach), what they might hide behind (concealment), what might protect them (cover) and even how to preplan shooting in the dark (aiming stakes that you can place in daylight and bump up against in the dark to place your weapon properly; knowing where your weapon is pointed when you line it up against a doorway and the end of a couch in total darkness is worth a LOT!). Pre-planning where your family members should go in case of a crisis (kids in the bathtub? throw cat in the closet?) can also prevent confusion in the dark and "friendly fire" casualties. This type of "Situational Awareness" is a big deal in the Army these days and is saving lots of lives.
Feedback welcome!