Why a shotgun for home defense?

[jakemccoy]

The advantages Lee Lapin listed for the shotgun apply, really, to any longarm suitable for a self defense weapon.
My M1 carbine is short, light, holds 15 or 30 rounds of SP or FMJ ammo, and points like a finger. It can put rounds on target at 100yds as easily as at point blank. It can be kept fully unloaded, and put into action very quickly by slapping in a mag and working the op slide.
I like the shotgun just fine...been shooting them for decades. I just prefer the semi-auto carbine for an all around weapon.

...even on left to right moving targets?

I know that shotguns don't give much spread in HD distances. However, they do give at least a few inches of spread, as compared to the single dot of a rifle round. That few inches of spread may mean the difference between a hit and a miss on a vital organ. Granted, you can pull the trigger on the rifle multiple times, but maybe you won't have the opportunity to do so. For HD, having the shot spread in one shot seems to be advantageous over having multiple rifle shots.

Further, there's that whole issue of over-penetration. Firing 30 over-penetrating rifle rounds is bound to cause unintended damage well beyond that of shotgun rounds. There is a certain level of awareness about what's behind the target that must come into play. We can't just opt for weapons that will injure everything in front of us. There needs to be a cut-off, at some point, on the level of lethality that is responsible.

 

[jmr40]

If you are going to spend megabucks on a tricked out shotgun for defense I believe the money would be better spent on a good semi-auto carbine. A good reliable pump shotgun offers a good alternative at low cost. The carbine is the better choice on all other counts.

 

[dom1104]

I dont agree with JMR on the fact that a carbine is better, but I do agree that spending a bunch of money on your shotgun is not a good idea. You get so little benefit.

however, creating dozens of wounds in 2 shots beats, 2 wounds at home defense ranges, thats just common sense.

just cause the AR costs a bunch, doesnt mean it hits harder than a shotgun.

 

[oneounceload]

He says he didn't aim, but rather pointed in their direction

Which is what you're supposed to do with dynamic targets and a shotgun - little easier to do it with a shotgun versus a handgun or a rifle

 

[Homerboy]

Shotguns are good, but has anyone actually HEARD one go off indoors without hearing protection? I have, and while a 9MM or .38 is loud (.357's are way too loud for indoor use), a 12 gauge is LOUD. Smoke, flash, and much more recoil, too. I don't know... if a biker gang was trying to nreak down my door, I'd grab my shotgun. When I HAVE heard a noise and went to investigate, it was with my Beretta 92.

 

[jmr40]

Let me explain why I believe the carbine is better on all counts, except price. The carbine is lighter, shorter, has less recoil and with softpoint ammo is every bit as deadly assuming hits in the same spot. The shotguns greatest advantage ( shooting a pattern making hits easier) is useless at indoor ranges. All pellets will be in a 1"-2" pattern. Aim is just as important at those ranges as with a rifle.

The myth of overpenetration just will not die. 223 softpoint ammo will not penetrate interior walls any more than buckshot, and less than most handgun rounds. This has been proven many times.

You can buy 4-5 good pump HD shotguns for the price of a good AR-15 carbine, and I understand that is a very valid concern. The shotgun is more versatile as well in that the same gun can be used for a variety of hunting chores. I certainly would not feel inadequately armed with a good shotgun and the right loads, it is just that I feel that if you do not mind spending the money, the carbine is a better choice.

 

[snooperman]

For ArmedBear

Remington has come out with new ammo for the Defensive shotgun ,and guess what, it is not a buckshot load.It is loaded with with BB and #2 and#4 shot. Also, the Navy and US Coast Guard are using BB loads in many applications. It has been proven that BB will kill a person quickly at room distances, hence the Remington reccommendation now for home use. Call them and they will explain. My 2 cents

 

[ArmedBear]

BB sounds like a good choice.

Lead BB is not bird shot, for one thing, and for another, lead BB rounds have been nearly impossible to come by until these new loads came out, so it's been irrelevant to discuss it.

Note that common birdshot is about 1/8 to 1/5 the weight per pellet, compared to BB.

I'm sure BB works fine, if you can find it.

Just stay away from birdshot.

 

[Grunt]

I don't rely on the idea of the sound of a shotgun being pumped to make the bad guy run. I DO however rely on a load of 00 Buck to leave a mean, oozy corpse that ain't getting back up again!

 

[content]

Hello friends and neighbors // Choose what you know.

Shotgun w/buckshot is one of few 1 shot stoppers.Even a winging shot can be devasting.

Your mind and muscle memory are already in tune to the Benelli 26'' , just load up with some buck shot. IMHO

Pratice, maybe take a class (I should)
I'm a big guy who does not like to switch barrels; 870,,mod.,, 12ga,,28'',,,7 plus1

 

[oneounceload]

Shotguns are good, but has anyone actually HEARD one go off indoors without hearing protection? I have, and while a 9MM or .38 is loud (.357's are way too loud for indoor use), a 12 gauge is LOUD. Smoke, flash, and much more recoil, too. I don't know... if a biker gang was trying to nreak down my door, I'd grab my shotgun. When I HAVE heard a noise and went to investigate, it was with my Beretta 92.

a supersonic 9mm is going to make your head hurt just as much as a shotgun, maybe more so, depending on velocity

 

[Homerboy]

What "supersonic" ammo are you referring to? A 124 or 147 grain 9MM is NOT as punishing to the senses as a 12 gauge going off. I have heard both in a closed room, and the 12 gauge was FAR worse.

 

[huntsman]

Why a shotgun for home defense?

I think you got a lot of good reasons as to why a shotgun is superior for HD, and I agree with most.

But I'll give you what I always thought was the problem with the shotgun. What do you with it when you leave? Do you leave it out? Lock it in the gun safe or secure it with a lock?

This is a minor issue I know but I always felt uncomfortable leaving a gun accessible when I was gone and it was a hassle going to the safe all the time.

So I use two guns for HD first is a handgun because with a CCW the gun is with me at all times, then when I'm sure I'll be home for an extended period of time I'll get the shotgun out and that becomes the primarily HD gun.

 

[jakemccoy]

There is a graph around here somewhere that shows the decibels of a shotgun blast being the same or less than most handgun rounds. The shock wave of the shotgun probably makes it sound and feel worse.

 

[jakemccoy]

But I'll give you what I always thought was the problem with the shotgun. What do you with it when you leave? Do you leave it out? Lock it in the gun safe or secure it with a lock?

At night, I take my shotgun out of the safe before I go to sleep, and I put my other guns in the safe.

During the day, I walk around with a Glock 27 in my pocket, and my other guns are in the safe.

I believe in having only one loaded gun outside the safe at one time.

 

[Youngster]

What "supersonic" ammo are you referring to? A 124 or 147 grain 9MM is NOT as punishing to the senses as a 12 gauge going off. I have heard both in a closed room, and the 12 gauge was FAR worse.

9mms are one thing, magnum class handguns or rifle caliber weapons fired indoors are another, I'd rather deal with the 12 gauge any day.

 

[Gadzooks Mike]

For HD, there's nothing that can top a shotgun.

If there's a bad guy in my house, the loudness of the shot that puts him down is NOT something I'm going to worry about. I will trade permanent hearing loss for the lives of my wife and I.

As for the spread, I'll take that 1 to 2 inches of shot spread over a 1/3" 30 cal bullet. 3 to 6 times the hit area is a nice advantage to have, and I'll take it. Not to mention 20-25 30 cal pellets vs. 1 30 cal bullet.

 

[oneounceload]

What "supersonic" ammo are you referring to? A 124 or 147 grain 9MM is NOT as punishing to the senses as a 12 gauge going off. I have heard both in a closed room, and the 12 gauge was FAR worse.

A 9mm has much harsher crack to it than a 12 gauge does

 

[AKElroy]

It's longer, heavier, and holds fewer shells/cartridges.

Think of it this way. With buck shot, it actually holds 9 to 15 .30 cal round balls that it fires all at once. If you go with 3" (which I do, but shouldn't & I know it), then you have 2oz of lead for each round. That's nearly 900 gr of lead for each pull of the trigger. My 1300 holds 6 magnum rounds, or 4800 gr. That one 6 rnd mag equals 38 rounds of 125 gr 9mm ball. EACH ROUND throws at much lead as 7+ rounds of 125 gr 9mm. Try keeping a 7 rnd 3" group across a good sized room with a 9mm.

 

[dom1104]

Ok listen. This whole .223 is superiour to 12 guage thing is just silly.


If you paid a lot for your AR 15, and want to think its a superiour weapon for home defense fine. I paid alot too.

But its not.

Its simply not the case.


a 12 guage can take down even the largest animals hunted in N america.

The 223 is not even ethical to use on a small deer.

Its best application is small varmints and especially, coyote sized pest animals.

This is simply a fact.

lets have a little look at some jello photos.

To say that a little varmint bullet is superiour at home defense ranges than a huge slug of lead, or multiple projectiles impacting flesh at once, is frankly silly.

And I belive this is due to the fact that less and less of america hunts, and most people get their facts about guns from the internet, and video games.

I love my AR15, if I was going to war this is exactly what I would take. Magazines, plenty of bullets, accurate at range, wonderfull.

If I needed someone dead right now and he was 10 feet away, a shotgun is, has been, and most likely always will be the right choice.

People usually live after being shot with a handgun, and they usually die when shot with a shotgun.



<oh, the imagines didnt really come out right, if you cant tell, the ones with the mediochre wounds are the rifle bullets, and the ones that split the gelatin in half, and sent it flying off the table are the shotgun ones.>

 

[mljdeckard]

Who said that the spread is the biggest advantage of a shotgun? A shotgun actually stays pretty tight at indoor ranges. If you pattern your gun and practice, a shotgun is tight enough to take the hostage shot. I don't WANT an indoor blast to spread significantly, I want ALL of that shot to spread no more than 5" indoors.

 

[jakemccoy]

Nevertheless, there is a spread when compared to a rifle round, even if the spread is just a few inches. That small spread of a few inches could mean the difference between a hit and miss of vital organs. Further, it's several projectiles entering the assailant and each projectile doing damage. Of course, if you want no spread at all, then you can go with a slug.

 

[PT1911]

Power, Power, and well.. Power... along with availability of gun and ammo, and well...ease of use.... cannot make it much simpler than that.

 

[C-grunt]

Ok listen. This whole .223 is superiour to 12 guage thing is just silly.


If you paid a lot for your AR 15, and want to think its a superiour weapon for home defense fine. I paid alot too.

But its not.

Its simply not the case.


a 12 guage can take down even the largest animals hunted in N america.

The 223 is not even ethical to use on a small deer.

Its best application is small varmints and especially, coyote sized pest animals.

This is simply a fact.

lets have a little look at some jello photos.

To say that a little varmint bullet is superiour at home defense ranges than a huge slug of lead, or multiple projectiles impacting flesh at once, is frankly silly.

And I belive this is due to the fact that less and less of america hunts, and most people get their facts about guns from the internet, and video games.

I love my AR15, if I was going to war this is exactly what I would take. Magazines, plenty of bullets, accurate at range, wonderfull.

If I needed someone dead right now and he was 10 feet away, a shotgun is, has been, and most likely always will be the right choice.

People usually live after being shot with a handgun, and they usually die when shot with a shotgun.



<oh, the imagines didnt really come out right, if you cant tell, the ones with the mediochre wounds are the rifle bullets, and the ones that split the gelatin in half, and sent it flying off the table are the shotgun ones.>

I dont think anyone says the .223 is more devastating than a 12 gauge. What the people are saying is the platform, AR usually, is easier to maneuver, has far less recoil, and has faster follow up shots if needed.

I personally prefer my lightweight Colt to a shotgun for home defense for the reasons stated above. Also because I used the 5.56 in a couple platforms for almost 2 years in Iraq and know from experience that a 5.56 is very devastating at close range. Just not as much as a 12 gauge.

 

[snooperman]

Home defense shotgun loads

I have been using # 4 or #3 buckshot for home defense in the house. However, I think outside the house, the use of OO buckshot is the way to go. I keep 3 rounds of # 4 buck loaded up first, and 2 rounds of OO buck last, in the pumpgun. The use of #4 buck is a good choice because it will give you adequate penetration in the house plus more damage to the bad guy because of the greater number of pellets. I have not tried the new Remington BB load that they recommending now for home defense, but I am going to test it out and see first.