H&R Topper, Youth 20 ga, fixed mod choke with factory recoil pad.
Load is slugs for my preference others use #3 buckshot.
A number of ways are used by me and mine that have these guns handy in the home or office.
1. Gun open, hammer down, shell in chamber.
One smooth move of closing and hammer back and fire.
2. Gun open , hammer down, no shell in chamber, either a shell is near gun or pull on from elastic butt shell holder.
3. Gun closed, hammer down , shell in chamber. To employ, hammer back and fire.
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Misc.
-Elastic butt shell holders are a combination of not secured or being secured by electrical tape.
-Leather shell holder like Cowboy action shooters use, some have options of not only being belt slides, also "paddle" - meaning the "paddle" fits inside waistband, and shells are on outside of belt, pants with out belts for instance.
-These guns are only 36" total length, the same as a yard-stick. Bone stock, just a "youth" or "kids" shotgun.
The throw to open and close is short. I and mine practice getting fired, empty, and new shell in from weak hand fast and getting off repeat shots.
Sound: many say this sounds like a door being shut and the door bolt going into the bolt facing in a door jam when closing or opening. Hammer being cocked is muffled by the breaking of gun being opened or closed, it happens really fast with us, that mess with these.
It is not a sound many are familiar with, even amongst firearm owners and shooters.
I am 6' and I can stand there with this gun and the muzzle not touch the ground, I can have this shotgun in hand and folks not know I have it in hand.
Just hidden by my leg, or off to the side near a doorway, even sitting in a recliner, or end of sofa and hand over and off to the side.
I hit that lever on a recliner to let the foot rest down, that sound is muffled of hammer coming back.
In practice - my best time was .05 seconds from sitting and first shot fired.
Recliner, feet up, the threat entered past a door opened for a "pizza delivery" and one handed I put a slug COM.
If memory serves it was about that same time or maybe .07 seconds I got the shot off and into COM from sitting up in bed, against pillows, in a lesson deal.
BG came in , entered bedroom where I was a "recovering from hip surgery" and one handed, using bed for support the shot was 3 feet and I sent that slug with BG holding a gun at me.
Slug went through the bed linens, from which is was under. I looked like I put that hand down to steady my surprised self after dropping a book I was reading.
I and mine do the same things with handguns, and rifles too.
One reason we pay attention to action types and pay attention to home defense choices.
Sitting, reclined (recliner or bed) laying down (sofa,or bed) for examples of shooting positions we shoot from - often.
*smile*
I had a friend once tell me that I could not have been the one shooting because no one can fire a single shot that fast
