Well the future wife wants a shotgun for home defense

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MagnumDweeb

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My fiance(been dating for over two years, she in medical school, me in lawschool, we are both about halfway done) decided after hearing Miranda Lambert's "Gunpowder and Lead" that she wants a shotgun.

I'm lucky enough that she finally came around to developing a joy for shooting, only problem is she's all but taken over my Ruger P90 .45ACP and won't shoot anything else and when I sold a couple of European cheapies to a female cousin of mine she tore me a new one over not being allowed to sell her my P90("Yes sweet, you're right sweet").

So anything I get for a shotgun I plan to never really shoot, but will certainly take care. Her birthday is about four months off and she doesn't own any guns, in part she can't afford one as she believes (cause of school) and also because she won't normally let me buy her one.

But we were at a gun show a couple weeks back and she got googlied eyes over the shotguns on display and started making the sales people nervous the way she ran through them picking them up and putting them down, I had to remind her to be gentle on that which she had no plan to buy.

I've got a twelve gauge Remington 870 clone I put ten shells through a month just to stay proficient with slug shot for aimed shots out to twenty yards and rapid rack and fire out to twelve, keeping the shots tight and center mass. Well I let her have a few goes, and after the third shot her shoulder was done and they were lightly loaded shells as far as the gun range guys said(I usually get the hotter loads for myself because I like 00' for home-defence), the shots were well placed in center mass at seven yards(first time out) so she can handle it quite well but my main concern is mechanics. She wants to shoot it again when we go back out to the range next week so she hasn't been scared off by it thankfully.

She had trouble keeping track of safety, racking, aiming, and then doing so all in one motion from the hip. Luckily she likes the look of double-barrel shotguns, sexy was a word she used and I think they are good pick for the unsophisticated yet able shooter.

It'd be a gun to go with us once we are married a couple years from now and I imagine would be the first home defender when I'm not home. So my questions is does anyone know if double barrels are able to load any good home-defense rounds (sabots and special-whats) in 3" shells or should I just accept that maybe all I could fire out of most of them would be ligthly loaded 00' lead pellets or slug shot (don't like the idea of bird shot for defense).

I'm thinking a Spartan 12 gauge Coach Gun, with the exposed hammers to increase simplicity and 20" barrel as I see them advertised. I can't really think of any other below $400 dollar that would have a short enough barrell to allow for home defense use.

I'd like to avoid getting a Rossi single shot 12 gauge for her, because this is meant as gift she can grow into. I'm happy enough if all she ever shoots is Ruge P90s(I'm working on turning her onto 1911s but no luck) and double-barrel shotguns.
 
can she handle a 12guage ok?

i have a spartan 12guage and love it but it kicks pretty good

i think maybe a 20guage stoeger would be best with a lower price tag than the spartan
 
Leave the 3" mangler stuff to the goose hunters, number one, and stick with 2 3/4" shells for practice and 'duty' use in HD. Plain vanilla 00 buck and slugs in 2.75" loads is all you need for HD, no """SPECIAL!!!""" $5 each ammo need apply for that job. If neessary there are reduced recoil loads available in 12 gauge, a wide variety of them. And there are light 7/8 ounce birdshot loads that will do better for low recoil practice and training.

Job One is to get whatever boomer she picks out, properly fitted to your SO. THE primary issue in shooting comfort with a shotgun is gun fit, followed closely by learning good form in mounting and firing the gun. Adding a premium recoil pad is a really good idea too. And if you plan to buy new, it might be worthwhile to get a competent gunsmith who does CAS (cowboy action shooting) work to slick up the action a touch, so she doesn't have to fight with the gun to get it open for reloading. Some of the new doubles are pretty stiff.

Nothing says an HD gun has to be a repeater. A SxS will do just fine, too. But it needs to fit correctly, and the shooter needs to learn good form in using it, to avoid developing a flinch with it.

And if she's short statured, then shortening the stock on your pumpgun to fit her might be a less expensive alternative. It could be it's just that the stock is too long for her to shoot and manipulate the gun comfortably. My wife is 5'4" tall, weighs about 130 pounds, and shoots an 870 with a 12.5" LOP stock and a full field length forearm just fine. One more thing to think about...

Happy shopping,

lpl/nc
 
That Spartan coach gun will most likely have harsher recoil than your "870 clone". I don't believe the Spartan even comes with a butt pad.

If she was only able to shoot three rounds out of your "clone", she'll probably fare even worse with the coach gun.

I'd recommend the Mossberg 930 Field/Security Combo. It's a gas operated semi-automatic that comes with two interchangeable barrels. One is 18.5" for home defense, and the other is 28" for trap, skeet and hunting.

Gas operated semi-autos have noticeably lighter recoil than doubles and pumps. It also has a butt pad for a little extra shoulder comfort. The Mossberg holds five rounds, which beats two any day in a self-defense situation.

Not to mention that the MSRP on the Mossberg is only 14 dollars more than the Spartan.

As far as ammo for home defense, the International Wound Ballistics Association recommends #1 buckshot.

http://www.mossberg.com/products/default.asp?id=32&display=specs

85325.jpg
 
Even though I have never used them nor do I ever intend to, My Ruger Red Label has 3" chambers. The Ruger is a little more expensive than other doubles that have been mentioned but I love mine!
 
The Rem 870 used for HD here has never fired a 3" round. No need. My approach would be to get a second 870 and have that fit to your SO. Wenig makes some great stocks that will not only fit well, but because of that fit, felt recoil is reduced. I put their New American style on a used field grade 870 I modified for Trap and it fits (me) great. This approach would result in a shotgun that can be set up for HD with a short barrel, but that could also be used for Trap/Skeet with a simple barrel swap. Getting a SxS is one approach that simplifies the gun (simple is good). Getting a second 870 and using it for Clay games would have the benefir of giving the shooter trigger time and experience actually hitting targets. That's better IMO. $,02
 
The balancing act for reducing recoil for a small-statured shooter is between weight and recoil. A heavier shotgun kicks less but may be too heavy for the person.

I think Lee Lapin nailed it: good fit, premium recoil pad, and reduced-recoil 2-3/4" buckshot. If she gets a short-barreled 870 or other repeater, a short (+1 or +2) extended magazine tube could put a little extra weight on the gun without going overboard. The long tubes make a gun excessively muzzle-heavy, IMHO.

Another point is that if you can introduce her to shotgun games, it might help her get used to running the gun. Besides, if she's focused on breaking another clay bird, the recoil will probably be less noticeable. A few birds with an inexpensive hand thrower might be a good start.

I enjoy trap shooting, but it has also made me much more comfortable and confident with my shotgun. Soon after starting, the 43-year-old firing pin broke. I easily replaced it, and the gun has run like a champ ever since. Better to test a gun at play where the cost of a failure is only a few clay birds.

Regards,
Dirty Bob
 
I wouldn't want a 12ga Coach Gun. Just in 20ga, a Spartan Coach Gun rattles my teeth MUCH moreso than a 12ga Remington gas gun.
Well yes, the gas gun does have a recoil pad. :D
 
Thanks everyone, I appreciate the input. I wasn't really liking the double barrel but I thought since she like them I'd get one for her but this for me is more a matter about getting a shotgun she can handle and hopefully develop a love with while enjoying the gun. We don't have any pigeon shooting 'round here unfortunately, too great a mix of rural and urban to allow it I think. The mossberg 930 looks like a good idea and I'll look into it for sure.

She gave up after three shots because her shoulder was done, all her shots were fairly impressive for a first timer at seven yard, high center mass.

I think I'll have more of a conversation with her about it. My only worry, because she won't let me buy her a gun, is that if I talk with her about it she'll shoot the idea down where if I surprise her I stand to make her happy about getting her a shotgun and she'll love it. There's a gun show next month, guess I'll have to take her again and she if anything pops out to her, before I could mention the next gun show date she was eagerly asking me about it so I'll have to see if it's woman's perogative about buying a shotgun or she really wants one. Luckily I still have a little shy of four months to decide.
 
Look at the 930 in 20 gauge and try to find one for her to shoot. You may find a huge grin on her face after the first couple of shots. Get that fitted to her properly and you may find you have a committed shotgunner.
 
IMHO take her to some skeet/sporting/trap ranges , and then talk to the fella everyone pretty much ignores . Chances are he will have some valuable insights to " affordable" shotguns , and in fact have many you ( well she ) might be able to try . If you push me to do an off the cuff recommendation strangly enough it does not change other than recognising that she maby is not real familiar with firearms . I would say a pump action such as the 870 or mossy 590/500 genere if your on a budget . If your the skys the limit sort well go an auto such as a tuned 1100 or benelli . In any event i will point out that for home defense there is little difference between 20 ga and 12 ga. I point out autos because an auto may well " kick less " in 12 ga than a pump will in 20 ga . I will also point out that any shotgun is not a " spray and pray" answer to defense , so what ever she gets she needs to shoot on the range with defensive ammo , as well as any wing shooting she may learn . getting good hits with the bead ( or sights ) at 50 or closer yards is an entirely different game than shooting a rising phesant or passing dove .
 
If her shoulder was done after 3 shells of 12, get her a 20.... my fiance loves her 20 but can't stand shooting my 12.
 
As a woman shooter, here's my input:


It's very good of you to want to buy her a gun. It really needs to be one she can handle, that she's comfortable handling. It needs to fit her and she needs to like it. Would you consider taking her to let her pick one out?

If you'll forgive the poor humor:

Guns are like shoes, in that, if they don't fit, you won't wear 'em.
Guns are like crowns on your teeth, in that, if they don't fit, they can be problematic, and be very expensive to replace.

I would want my husband to let me pick my own gun. I'd definitely listen to his recommendations, quite seriously. It's just that it needs to fit my hands, my LOP, my strength, my balance, my shooting ability, and I need to like it.

To keep within your budget, what about going to see the folks at the gun shop ahead of time and ask them what they have in your price range, so you'll know what choices you can offer your fiancé?

All the best to you both!
 
You may want to look into a Knoxx Spec Ops stock. It has an adjustable LOP (six position stock like an AR) and it really does as advertised as far as reducing recoil. I put one on my 870 with in days of getting it and I love it. Used it for deer this last season with heavy recoiling slugs and it was not bad at all.
 
Put her hands on a Mossberg 500 20 Ga, then put her hands on a youth model too. See what fits her...............maybe even look into a Bantam so you can fine tune it a bit to fit her.

Get some of the managed recoil loads and she'll be sitting pretty:)
 
There was a CLINT SMITH article on shotguns a few months back and he suggested a few shotguns, even a single shot. The best option in my opinion is a slide action/pump action shotgun, partially because of the ominous sound that 99% of the population knows about and it gives you decent magazine capacity in an 18.5" barrel platform. You may not want to go to heavy on the gauge like others suggested, 20gauge at close range should be sufficient. Plus 20 gauge is something she will probably be more inclined to shoot since it is going to be easier on the recoil, and you can get her a second barrel so she can shoot skeet or birds with it. :)
 
There's nothing wimpy about a 20 gauge buckshot load. It uses the same shot and velocity as a 12 gauge, just less shot.

A Remington 1100 20 gauge is a nice, soft shooting gun which is also handy for shooting sports, which are a handy way to get folks more comfortable with their guns.

I put a shorter stock on my 20 gauge for my wife, which she finds much more comfortable.

But don't buy her anything until she's handled it or tried it.
 
Another option would be to buy guns that you like with the understanding that she will like one enough that it isn't yours any longer.

I don't have one, but how about a Beretta Xtrema2 for a light recoil HD gun?
 
My suggestion: Take her to a gun show and every gun shop in town. Let her pick up and fondle every 12, 20, pump, o/u, SxS, and Semi-auto you can find. That's what I did, now she has a gun she picked out that fits her that's light.

Typically (NOT ALL so don't jump on me) women have less upper-body strength than the average joe so just because you can hold that 30" O/U 12ga to your shoulder with one hand, doesn't mean she won't struggle doing it with 2.

I tried to get her into a 12ga O/U, even short barreled ones... too heavy... 12ga pump? heavy. 12ga auto Too heavy.... the 20ga OU were lighter but she really settled for the Pump as the lightest.

I told her it'd be harder to hit those clays with a 20... and doubles for a pump would be tough... but she insisted and I'm sure she'll hit more with a gun that is easy to aim and is comfortable, than one which she can't handle quickly enough.
 
OK, so you have an awesome chick. Rub it in.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't be so sure. Have you listened to "Gunpowder and Lead"? And now she wants a gun!?

Seriously though, we really cannot tell you what is best. We can make suggestions and guess from experience, but the best advice is let her try some out (as many have already said). As long as you choose a reliable gun that she is able to handle (better if she even enjoys handling it), you will do very well.
 
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