The best Home Defense Shotgun/Ammo setup?
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aaronrkelly
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For me simple is better.....
I really dig my Maverick 88 with the 18" security barrel.
I use 00buck in the gun with slugs in an ammo cuff on the buttstock.
I really dig my Maverick 88 with the 18" security barrel.
I use 00buck in the gun with slugs in an ammo cuff on the buttstock.
Glockfan.45
member
I may be partial but I think the Remington 870 is the best shotgun for HD, if you want a auto loader try a 1187 also Remington. For HD ammo I use 12ga 00Buck. For accessories perhaps a light but thats all I would put on it. There is no need for a sing on a HD gun, also the stock sights will serve you well. A 18inch barrel is best for the CQB enviroment of most homes. Hope this helps, and remember the best shotgun in the world is useless without knowing how to use it effectively. Get some training, and lots of practice.
AStone
Member
Simple is better...870(P) + 9...
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Fred Fuller
Moderator Emeritus
What's best for me might not be best for you. Different people have different situations to deal with, come in different sizes, have different ideas about what works for them. Your job is to find out what works best for you in your particular situation.
With that in mind, you should work at experimenting with several different shotguns. Talk to friends and relatives, check around for ranges or gun clubs that rent guns, and try out other people's shotguns before you start shopping seriously for one of your own. You can get some small idea of what gun fits/feels better to you by handling them in a gun store, but your best bet is trigger time with different guns on the range actually shooting them. You will need to decide what gauge, what action type, what make and model work best for you. You'll need to see what you need in the way of gun fit.
After you get that settled then you can start worrying about ammo- that will be gun dependent and situation dependent also. Start out with the lightest loads you can find for whatever gauge you're shooting and work up from there. If you're brand new at shotgunning, get someone to teach you the basics of form and gun mount, and be sure whatever guns you are shooting fit you reasonably well.
Take care,
lpl/nc
With that in mind, you should work at experimenting with several different shotguns. Talk to friends and relatives, check around for ranges or gun clubs that rent guns, and try out other people's shotguns before you start shopping seriously for one of your own. You can get some small idea of what gun fits/feels better to you by handling them in a gun store, but your best bet is trigger time with different guns on the range actually shooting them. You will need to decide what gauge, what action type, what make and model work best for you. You'll need to see what you need in the way of gun fit.
After you get that settled then you can start worrying about ammo- that will be gun dependent and situation dependent also. Start out with the lightest loads you can find for whatever gauge you're shooting and work up from there. If you're brand new at shotgunning, get someone to teach you the basics of form and gun mount, and be sure whatever guns you are shooting fit you reasonably well.
Take care,
lpl/nc
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Starter52
Member
If you're shooting a 12 gauge, use standard 2 3/4" shotshells for home defense. Don't go anywhere near the magnum shells. Home defense is strictly close-range shooting and magnum shells are not needed, wanted, or recommended.
I agree 100% with aaron and N870 - simple is the way to go. I firmly believe that a 20 gauge will serve just as well as a 12 for HD, but that's an individual choice.
I agree 100% with aaron and N870 - simple is the way to go. I firmly believe that a 20 gauge will serve just as well as a 12 for HD, but that's an individual choice.
AStone
Member
I agree with Starter there.
Only reason I went with a 12 is for slightly greater ammo availability in a situation involving ammo shortage.
{Well, OK, and because it makes a bigger hole than a 20.}
Annother vote for double ought buck. It seems like I saw some specialized home defence shells on TV a couple years ago... Might be worth looking into.
If you want to mount a light, I don't think it would hurt... I wouldn't mount a sling as stated above.
I have a remington 870 express. Dunno if it I'd call it the best choice for home deffence. It'd be better if I put a shorter barrel on it.
I certainly wouldn't feel undergunned with a 12 or a 20 guage... The 20 may be better for the recoil sensitive to practice with...
When I hear a bump in the night I usually grab my .45 (Ruger P90). It's right by the bed, loaded with hollow points, and I feel it's a more versital choice for indoor, two legged protection.
If you want to mount a light, I don't think it would hurt... I wouldn't mount a sling as stated above.
I have a remington 870 express. Dunno if it I'd call it the best choice for home deffence. It'd be better if I put a shorter barrel on it.
I certainly wouldn't feel undergunned with a 12 or a 20 guage... The 20 may be better for the recoil sensitive to practice with...
When I hear a bump in the night I usually grab my .45 (Ruger P90). It's right by the bed, loaded with hollow points, and I feel it's a more versital choice for indoor, two legged protection.
TheHardcase
Member
I went with a Mossberg 590 pump. I used it in the Army, and since this particular purchase was for a purely defensive shotgun, I decided to go with something I already knew how to use.
I use Federal 9-pellet 00 buckshot in 2 3/4" loads with a six-round side-saddle loaded with addition 00 rounds and a five-round butt cuff on the stock with rifled slugs.
If that doesn't stop the BGs, then I surrender.
I use Federal 9-pellet 00 buckshot in 2 3/4" loads with a six-round side-saddle loaded with addition 00 rounds and a five-round butt cuff on the stock with rifled slugs.
If that doesn't stop the BGs, then I surrender.
AStone
Member
Hardcase,
I'm asking this purely out of curiousity.
1) Do those army-use shotguns have side-saddles on them?
(Trying to decide whether to add a saddle to my 870.)
2) Would you be willing to offer a few words about how shotguns are used in the army?
(Mostly defensive, mostly offensive, entry weapons, etc...)
Thanks,
Nem
I'm asking this purely out of curiousity.
1) Do those army-use shotguns have side-saddles on them?
(Trying to decide whether to add a saddle to my 870.)
2) Would you be willing to offer a few words about how shotguns are used in the army?
(Mostly defensive, mostly offensive, entry weapons, etc...)
Thanks,
Nem
People disagree with me, but...
I keep it loaded with #4 buckshot. Just moved up from #6 birdshot after reading the box 'o truth. Though at the ranges I'd likely need it at, they probably do about the same damage.
I keep some 00 and a slug on the saddle just in case the situation changes.
There's a tac light on it (hard to see from the photo) with the beam focused on the center of the shot pattern.
I know most people dislike folding stocks, but I've got a very tight hallway to navigate in my HD plan, and the shotgun needs to be able to cover that hallway while the rest of the family traverses it. For me it's quicker to get pointing down the hallway than my conventional stock.
Pre-emptive flame responses:
Yes, I practice with it.
Yes, I've patterned it.
Yes, I can shoot it with the stock folded and not hurt my wrist.
Yes, I can point it well enough folded to hit someone in a hallway at less than 7 yards.
No, it's not my primary HD weapon, it's for barricading a room when I know there's a BG in the house. I use a .45 for investigating bumps in the night.
No, I'm not a chairborne commando.
No, I don't think gadgetry and shotgun adornments will make it unnecessary for me to practice regularly.
Yes, I do occasionally shoot it with one hand and rack it with one hand just to feel like the terminator, and no, I don't think that's practical.
Fire-extinguisher is charged. Flame on.
I keep it loaded with #4 buckshot. Just moved up from #6 birdshot after reading the box 'o truth. Though at the ranges I'd likely need it at, they probably do about the same damage.
I keep some 00 and a slug on the saddle just in case the situation changes.
There's a tac light on it (hard to see from the photo) with the beam focused on the center of the shot pattern.
I know most people dislike folding stocks, but I've got a very tight hallway to navigate in my HD plan, and the shotgun needs to be able to cover that hallway while the rest of the family traverses it. For me it's quicker to get pointing down the hallway than my conventional stock.
Pre-emptive flame responses:
Yes, I practice with it.
Yes, I've patterned it.
Yes, I can shoot it with the stock folded and not hurt my wrist.
Yes, I can point it well enough folded to hit someone in a hallway at less than 7 yards.
No, it's not my primary HD weapon, it's for barricading a room when I know there's a BG in the house. I use a .45 for investigating bumps in the night.
No, I'm not a chairborne commando.
No, I don't think gadgetry and shotgun adornments will make it unnecessary for me to practice regularly.
Yes, I do occasionally shoot it with one hand and rack it with one hand just to feel like the terminator, and no, I don't think that's practical.
Fire-extinguisher is charged. Flame on.
Easy B.... I think that's an excellent HD setup... #4 shot to the face or chest is for sure gonna make the BG rethink his choices, If he happens to live. Plus you have less worries of over penetration than those with 00 buck or slugs.
I don't think #4 is technically considered "Buck Shot" though. Isn't it more for small game, like rabbits and racoons and such?
I don't think #4 is technically considered "Buck Shot" though. Isn't it more for small game, like rabbits and racoons and such?
Skofnung
Member
I also think simple is better (for me).
I use an Ithaca 37 Riot gun with no bells or whistles. I might add a light to it one day, but for now it works just fine.
I use an Ithaca 37 Riot gun with no bells or whistles. I might add a light to it one day, but for now it works just fine.
I don't really know what it's for. The box does say buckshot, but I doubt the 27 pellets in the round would bring down a deer at a good distance (but then again I'm not a hunter, yet). Maybe it's for hunter-ninjas who can get in close enough to actually drop a deer with it?
Skofnung
Member
Sounds like you have 4 Buck, not #4 Shot.
I like my set-up. It's a 12 ga. Remington 870 HD model (synthetic stocks, 18" barrel with front bead, and 6 round mag), and I keep it loaded with single 0 buck for the first 5 rounds, and 00 for the last one. There are also 4 rounds of 00 on a butt cuff, along with a 3" slug. you know, just incase a crack addicted "smash and grab" moose comes to break into my house here in central CT. It's obviously a big concern.
Honestly, it's more than I'd EVER need. But I trust it. I know that a round of 12 ga. 0 buck will end a threat. Period. And just incase, there are the rounds of 00. Anyone who can survive that, is one bad-ass MoFo, and has earned the right take anything that he wants.
By the way, I came to all these conclusions by reading threads on forums around the internet just like this. Don't take my example as something unique, or based on my vast amounts of experience. I am merely a parrot of those far wiser, and more experienced than I. A well armed parrot, but a parrot nonetheless.
Honestly, it's more than I'd EVER need. But I trust it. I know that a round of 12 ga. 0 buck will end a threat. Period. And just incase, there are the rounds of 00. Anyone who can survive that, is one bad-ass MoFo, and has earned the right take anything that he wants.
By the way, I came to all these conclusions by reading threads on forums around the internet just like this. Don't take my example as something unique, or based on my vast amounts of experience. I am merely a parrot of those far wiser, and more experienced than I. A well armed parrot, but a parrot nonetheless.
Glockfan.45
member
None that I ever encountered had side saddles. The shotguns I saw were mostly short 870's affixed to the under barrel of M4's for breaching doors. Other than that the only other time I saw shotguns in the military was in the hands of squids on guard duty.
RNB65
Member
Rem 870 Marine Magnum with 6rds of 00Buck is plenty fine for me. Please a few extra shells riding in a shell carrier on the stock.
Number 4 shot is bird shot, smaller than number 2, larger than number 6, something you might use on ducks or pheasants. Number 4 buck is pellets of .22 in diameter, somewhere around 40 to a 2&3/4 in 12 gauge shell. A close up deer or home defense load.
Boom-stick
Member
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- Oct 4, 2005
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- 872
Bought my first stock pile of slug last week. slug would get my vote,
Slug makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside
Slug makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside
if you are new to firearms your best bet would be something relieable and inexpensive(mossy,maverick,etc.)a good training vid/book or two,and fire it as much you can afford.buying buck in bulk will save you alot of money.also take in careful consideration what a shotgun is capable of(putting out a whole lot of lead) when you make your hd plan.as far as ammo goes, read over the threads that deal will this issue. it is well covered in this forum,good luck!
benelli12
Member
#4 buck is a great median between birdshot and 00 buckshot
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