Why does there seem to be shotgun hate?

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FYI, in 1990 shotgun, handgun and rifle production in the USA was about 1 to 1.5 million. If you look at 2016, it's about 4.5 million for rifles and 5.5 million for handguns. Shotguns stay the same at 1 million. If you figure in population changes, the shotgun is looking at a proportional loss. The market is driven also by self-defense sales.
 
For me the shotgun is more of an extension of myself than a carbine. Probably due to the bead vs optic or front and rear sights. I have hunted with a shotgun most of my life and harvested birds, deer and feral pigs without an issue. I also hunt with a rifle but the shotgun is just faster under 50 yards for me. Recoil is not a huge factor for me at 185lbs.
 
Friend of mine was in a joint Army, police shotgun tactical match. He had to shoot under a car. He didn't get a good placement on his shoulder. Dislocated his collar bone. Ouch.
 
I don't hate shotguns, but I do kind of make a funny face when I see the people that are flocking to them these days at the range. I can't even tell you how many times I've heard a guy tell his wife/girlfriend, whatever, "you don't even have to aim it."
 
At the range Saturday I watched a girl around 5ft 5in or less, maybe 105 lb shoot a 12ga. Pump from the hip at about 10 yards. She covered the target with 7 1/5 bird shot every time. I mostly shoot from the hip when I take my home defense shotgun to the range. When you talk home defense, your talking 4 ,or 5 yards average room size. The longest shot I could take in my home would be 8 yards. That's down the hall and across the living room. All others would be under 5 yards. With a little practice I have no problem hitting the target with 00 buckshot from the hip. With a rifle or handgun I could not do near as good. It's very possible to us a shotgun in a home defense situation with out taking time to aim. It seems a great advantage to me.
 
tws3b2 said:
At the range Saturday I watched a girl around 5ft 5in or less, maybe 105 lb shoot a 12ga. Pump from the hip at about 10 yards. She covered the target with 7 1/5 bird shot every time. I mostly shoot from the hip when I take my home defense shotgun to the range. When you talk home defense, your talking 4 ,or 5 yards average room size. The longest shot I could take in my home would be 8 yards. That's down the hall and across the living room. All others would be under 5 yards. With a little practice I have no problem hitting the target with 00 buckshot from the hip. With a rifle or handgun I could not do near as good. It's very possible to us a shotgun in a home defense situation with out taking time to aim. It seems a great advantage to me.
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I agree. Thats why the Rem Tac-14 and Mossberg Shockwave are so popular IMO. Much shorter but same capacity as say a Maverick 88 with 18" barrel. If I can find a Shockwave for a decent price I.m getting one. I just have to decide 12 or 20ga, Would be much lighter and compact than my H&R Protector with 16 rounds on board.
 
Scooter22 said:
I agree. Thats why the Rem Tac-14 and Mossberg Shockwave are so popular IMO. Much shorter but same capacity as say a Maverick 88 with 18" barrel. If I can find a Shockwave for a decent price I.m getting one. I just have to decide 12 or 20ga, Would be much lighter and compact than my H&R Protector with 16 rounds on board.
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I'd like to try one out to. Need to look in to law on putting a brace in one.
 
I own a bunch of shotguns.
However, I use one of my AR15's for home defense. I have no neighbors. Way more advantages with an AR15 over a shotgun.
 
My wife loves shooting the shockwave from the hip.

I wouldn't do a brace on it myself, the grip angle is pretty wrong for that
 
So my question is what happens if we run into someone as good, or better than we are.
I can remember running gun battles in paintball, and usually he who used cover best, and got lucky first, won. BUT, pumpers were always at a disadvantage when engaged directly by someone with a semi, especially at the higher skill levels.
Now obviously not analogous, but the base diference is volume of fire and ease of use. A single solid hit from either player ends the exchange.
 
LoonWulf said:
So my question is what happens if we run into someone as good, or better than we are.
I can remember running gun battles in paintball, and usually he who used cover best, and got lucky first, won. BUT, pumpers were always at a disadvantage when engaged directly by someone with a semi, especially at the higher skill levels.
Now obviously not analogous, but the base diference is volume of fire and ease of use. A single solid hit from either player ends the exchange.
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Answer is, I don't know. Getting hit with a load of 00 buck is whole different ball game than getting hit with a dab of paint so I don't compare the two. All I can tell you is that if the bad guy comes to my home I'm going to do the best I can to protect my family and myself. It won't be like any game I've played before.
 
Scooter22 said:
I agree. Thats why the Rem Tac-14 and Mossberg Shockwave are so popular IMO. Much shorter but same capacity as say a Maverick 88 with 18" barrel. If I can find a Shockwave for a decent price I.m getting one. I just have to decide 12 or 20ga, Would be much lighter and compact than my H&R Protector with 16 rounds on board.
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These guns are one of those really good examples to find a rental of if possible. Many love them of course but, I am sure a lot of them are going to be bought and then sold or set aside never used. The 12Ga even with reduced power loads is quite the gun. Many are not going to like it much.
 
9” 300 AAC with suppressor and 30 round mag will put a hurting on someone without blasting ones eardrums out.

I would be more concerned with 00 Buck over penetrating than 5.56 which tumbled on contact.

But all in all a 3” 00 buck is a fight stopper like no other at hallway distances.

I think it boils down to there are a lot of gun owners, and a majority of them get their reality of a gun fight from contemporary media. ARs are in the limelight with our military, police, and movies; so naturally those low information gun owners swoon after them.

As for me I gave you my thoughts in my first sentence it gives the most flexibility to my needs given the rural setting I’m in.
 
I live in a condo. I'm 70 and my wife is 71. We defend our home with handguns (38 Special) and shotguns (20ga). With arthritis, and the infirmities of age recoil control is very important. Additionally, I have had both shoulders replaced. Regarding a shotgun, a 20ga works far better for us than a 12ga. I can consistently kill deer at 30-40 yards with #2 & #3 Buckshot so I know that self-defense at home with our 20ga shotguns will not be a problem.

I feel for those of us that are "long in the tooth" the 20ga is a very viable option. YMMV.
 
So- what ever works for you use-

I will say for those of you who have not done this- try it- put up a man size target at 20 feet and shoot it with #4 buck out of a shotgun.....
 
Weflyfast said:
So- what ever works for you use-

I will say for those of you who have not done this- try it- put up a man size target at 20 feet and shoot it with #4 buck out of a shotgun.....
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I would try #4 buck out of my shotgun. "IF" I could find any. Have not seen any buck in my town in over two weeks.
 
I tend to worry much less about recoil and more about IF I'm forced to use a firearm INSIDE my home, the point would be protecting my family and myself from imminent danger. Permanent hearing loss due to a ruptured ear drum is no fun (Ask me how I know). Since I don't own any suppressed weapons, the first thing I'm grabbing is an old SxS 20ga. with #4's, which will be followed directly by as many handgun rounds as necessary. I'm not concerned with maneuvering throughout my house with a shotgun, as our plan of action doesn't involve me leaving my family to look for trouble.
 
LoonWulf said:
So my question is what happens if we run into someone as good, or better than we are.
I can remember running gun battles in paintball, and usually he who used cover best, and got lucky first, won. BUT, pumpers were always at a disadvantage when engaged directly by someone with a semi, especially at the higher skill levels.
Now obviously not analogous, but the base diference is volume of fire and ease of use. A single solid hit from either player ends the exchange.
Click to expand...

I live in the burbs. Ain't gonna be any running gun battles and my state says the castle doctrine ends once they are out the door. So all I would be looking to do is clear the hallway. I rarely shoot an AR, but I hunt with a shotgun like 30 or 40 days a year and instinctively shoot moving targets without having to consciously think about the mechanics of it. So if I am not grabbing a bedside pistol, a shotgun is what I would be reaching for just out of familiarity. If you shoot an AR a lot, I can completely understand why you would prefer one.
 
brewer12345 said:
I live in the burbs. Ain't gonna be any running gun battles and my state says the castle doctrine ends once they are out the door. So all I would be looking to do is clear the hallway. I rarely shoot an AR, but I hunt with a shotgun like 30 or 40 days a year and instinctively shoot moving targets without having to consciously think about the mechanics of it. So if I am not grabbing a bedside pistol, a shotgun is what I would be reaching for just out of familiarity. If you shoot an AR a lot, I can completely understand why you would prefer one.
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So not disagreeing, and this certainly isnt a situation i think is actually likely. What was running thru my head was that the targets identified, and either immediately retreats then re-engages from a more opportune location, or immediately opens up with a semi.
In either case If you hit your first shot, your at an advantage, if not done right there, but if you miss at the very least you have to pump and fire again, where as if the other guys armed with a full, or extended capacity carbine, he can either retreat or advance under his own cover fire. Worse if there are two attackers.
If running a traditional semi shotty, then capacity will be exhausted first and youll have to reload while still taking fire.
Again in the very unlikely event of having to use a home defense weapon, it seems extremely unlikely to be involved in a situation like that..... and its certainly not a situation I have enough knowledge to really flesh out in my head.
I just kind made me wonder, and again this is mostly based on trying to dig defenders out of fairly good cover, and defending against attackers from cover, but in the context of a game. Admittedly ive mostly eliminated, and been eliminated at touching range, which also seem extremely unlikely for a defensive encounter....actually the more i think about it, the more holes i poke in my theory.
 
LoonWulf said:
So not disagreeing, and this certainly isnt a situation i think is actually likely. What was running thru my head was that the targets identified, and either immediately retreats then re-engages from a more opportune location, or immediately opens up with a semi.
In either case If you hit your first shot, your at an advantage, if not done right there, but if you miss at the very least you have to pump and fire again, where as if the other guys armed with a full, or extended capacity carbine, he can either retreat or advance under his own cover fire. Worse if there are two attackers.
If running a traditional semi shotty, then capacity will be exhausted first and youll have to reload while still taking fire.
Again in the very unlikely event of having to use a home defense weapon, it seems extremely unlikely to be involved in a situation like that..... and its certainly not a situation I have enough knowledge to really flesh out in my head.
I just kind made me wonder, and again this is mostly based on trying to dig defenders out of fairly good cover, and defending against attackers from cover, but in the context of a game. Admittedly ive mostly eliminated, and been eliminated at touching range, which also seem extremely unlikely for a defensive encounter....actually the more i think about it, the more holes i poke in my theory.
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You can go through all the scenarios. Bottom line is you can't plan for and be prepared for every one. All you can do is prepare yourself the best way you know how. And Hope it never happens.
 
I think it became "unpopular" because of the trend to high capacity firearms. 30 in an AR vs 6 or 7 in a pump shotgun.
 
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