You can shoot a criminal nine times by pulling the trigger once.
This is the reason that a shotgun is better than a handgun. One well placed shot is the rough equivelant of 2/3 of a high cap magazine of 9mm, all at once and all in the same area.
Handguns are a joke power wise, when compared to a rifle or shotgun. The old saying that they 're only good for shooting your way to a rifle or shotgun still rings true.
The other main advantage to a shotgun is that it is shoulderfired, which makes it much more controllable and easier to score hits with than any handgun.
- Can shoot it with one hand, leaving the other free for cellphone/flashlight.
- You can't really answer the door to strangers with a shotgun.
- Shotgun is harder to maneuver around hallways and corners
- You get 15+ shots with a pistol
- It's much harder to try and wrestle a pistol away from someone than a shotgun
- You can keep the pistol in a small handgun safe by your bed, if you have kids. Harder to safely store a shotgun and have it ready to go.
- There are more places to practice with handguns. Both of the ranges near me don't allow buckshot or slugs.
My HD shotgun has a light attached.
I answer the door all the time holding my shotgun. You really fling the door open when people knock? I kinda shout through it to find out who's there. If it's religious fanatics, I don't really care if they see the shotgun. If things look fishy I back away from the door, off to the side, and tell them to leave. All with the shotgun.
If you can't maneuver with a shotgun, learn.
My shotgun fires 9 rounds per pull of the trigger, with 7 in the tube. 9x7=63, way more payload than any highcap 9mm pistol, and it can put them where they need to go much faster.
Why would you let someone get close enough to grab a firearm? Try shooting them with it beforehand.
My shotgun is in a nearby closet. I can get to it fine. It also is heavy, my kid couldn't even lift it if she wanted to, much less manipulate the action. She also respects me, and danger, enough to know that when she sees a knife or a gun, to leave it alone.
It doesn't take a range setup to practice with a shotgun. Find some land, throw a bunch of (plastic, less cleanup) bottles, step back 10-50 yards, and have fun with birdshot all afternoon. It's cheap fun, and makes a good shotgunner.
If you want to use a handgun for HD, that's fine, but people have found ways around all of the few disadvantages to using one. The power difference, and shootability of a shoulder fired weapon, make it worthwhile.