Byrd666
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Get the shotgun and save your pennies for the 1911 later. I would much prefer a shotgun for home defense.
Should I get a shotgun or a handgun?
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leadcounsel
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My advice for someone with only a pistol is to get the shotgun. Diversity and ability to do different tasks is important. Two pistols doesn't further your home defense ability like a pistol and shotgun does. A shotgun is a whole 'nother class of weapon over a pistol.
Every basic collection should have a pistol (for nightstand and/or carry/car carry vs. carjackers, etc.), shotgun (serious home defense/barricade/hunting - birds, rabbits, up to medium game like deer, etc.), and a rifle (depending on the rifle, you can use if for home defense/barricade/SHTF/hunting).
Shotty's are arguably the best home defense gun, and loaded with 00 buckshot will give you immediate fire superiority over all but the most well-armed thug. I have a large assortment of handguns, rifles, and shottys. My go to gun for a serious home defense situation would be a Remington 870 with 00 buckshot - just rack one in the pipe, barricade the door, and call 911. I'd pick that over even .308 rifles, 5.56 rifles, handguns, etc.
And if you watch the classifieds, you'll easily find a Mossy or Remy for $250 or less. I see them about 4 or 5 days a week on classified adds. Both are good, I like and have both. You can't go wrong with either if it's in good shape. And at that price they are a real bargain. Heck, I just read a post that Walmart has the 500's for $200!
Buy a bulk box of 00 and go to the range and pattern your shotty. And get a few boxes of birdshot for the clays and practice a lot.
Every basic collection should have a pistol (for nightstand and/or carry/car carry vs. carjackers, etc.), shotgun (serious home defense/barricade/hunting - birds, rabbits, up to medium game like deer, etc.), and a rifle (depending on the rifle, you can use if for home defense/barricade/SHTF/hunting).
Shotty's are arguably the best home defense gun, and loaded with 00 buckshot will give you immediate fire superiority over all but the most well-armed thug. I have a large assortment of handguns, rifles, and shottys. My go to gun for a serious home defense situation would be a Remington 870 with 00 buckshot - just rack one in the pipe, barricade the door, and call 911. I'd pick that over even .308 rifles, 5.56 rifles, handguns, etc.
And if you watch the classifieds, you'll easily find a Mossy or Remy for $250 or less. I see them about 4 or 5 days a week on classified adds. Both are good, I like and have both. You can't go wrong with either if it's in good shape. And at that price they are a real bargain. Heck, I just read a post that Walmart has the 500's for $200!
Buy a bulk box of 00 and go to the range and pattern your shotty. And get a few boxes of birdshot for the clays and practice a lot.
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bushmaster1313
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Kendal Black
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The pump gun is the best self defense weapon on earth. The 1911... Well, the design is a hundred years old, and I raise an eyebrow at people who say there has been no progress in pistol design since then.
My favorite automatic pistol? The SIG.
My favorite automatic pistol? The SIG.
RX-178
Member
Here's my thinking on it.
A handgun is the most versatile defensive tool you can currently get, because it can go into a glove box as a vehicle gun, a nightstand as an HD gun, and in a holster as a carry gun. The MAIN advantage of this, is as a carry gun.
So first, the key question is, can you comfortably carry your Sig P229 on your person? If you can, or already do carry your Sig P229, then you have that base covered. Getting the shotgun enhances your ability to defend your home, over using your P229 for that role.
The shotgun's also cheaper than the 1911 by a couple hundred bucks. I use a Mossberg personally, but it's practically splitting hairs. Don't overlook the even less expensive Maverick 88 or NEF Pardner Pump 18" though. They're copies of the 500 and 870 respectively, and in my experience they're as good as the originals (the NEF gets the slight advantage for being more compatible with 870 parts than the 88 is with Mossberg 500 parts).
A handgun is the most versatile defensive tool you can currently get, because it can go into a glove box as a vehicle gun, a nightstand as an HD gun, and in a holster as a carry gun. The MAIN advantage of this, is as a carry gun.
So first, the key question is, can you comfortably carry your Sig P229 on your person? If you can, or already do carry your Sig P229, then you have that base covered. Getting the shotgun enhances your ability to defend your home, over using your P229 for that role.
The shotgun's also cheaper than the 1911 by a couple hundred bucks. I use a Mossberg personally, but it's practically splitting hairs. Don't overlook the even less expensive Maverick 88 or NEF Pardner Pump 18" though. They're copies of the 500 and 870 respectively, and in my experience they're as good as the originals (the NEF gets the slight advantage for being more compatible with 870 parts than the 88 is with Mossberg 500 parts).
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