Would you trust a double barrel to save your life?

[rEVOLVEr VII]

I figured I'd make a new thread on this subject, just discovered the Stoeger Double Defense, comes in over/under or side by side, options of 12 or 20 GA, It's a nice looking shotty, just unsure if it'd be the smart approach to a HD shotgun with their only being 2 shots. What does THR think?

http://www.stoegerindustries.com/firearms/stoeger-double-defense.php

 

[drsfmd]

There are plenty of doubles that I would consider reliable and high enough quality for HD work. The Stoeger would not be on that list.

 

[btg3]

Only 2 shots? We had a Cowboy Action shooter bring his stage coach gun to a recent tactical shotgun match and he scored better than 80% of the shooters who used pumps or semi-autos. How did he do it? He knew how to reload... exceedingly better than most!!!

On the flip side, many folks have a mindset that assumes the HD landscape only needs to be concerned with a single intruder in the bedroom. Gangs have changed that landscape. If you are ready for one intruder in the middle of the night while you are in bed, it may... or may not go down like that.

 

[Isaac-1]

It would not be my first choice, often a home defense sitution will involve 2 or more bad guys, I personally would like to have more rounds in the gun.

 

[Shovelhead]

If it's all you got...... use it.

 

[Virginian]

Yes, but not that one. The Stoegers the cowboy shooters prefer have double triggers. There's a good reason for that.

 

[rcmodel]

I'd trust a single-shot 12 ga to save my life if thats all I had.

My old daddy did on the farm for 70 some years.
And he died of old age.

rc

 

[rjrivero]

It's got tactical rails. It HAS to save your life if it has RAILS on it! Right??

Side by sides are fine for Home Defense, but I would rather have a bit more capacity than TWO SHOTS. (personally).

 

[wrs840]

I have a Stoeger Coach Gun that has never malfunctioned and it's fun to shoot.

That said, I own several Mossberg 500s, one 590, a Remington 870, and a Winchester 1300 too, and I personally prefer the 500s just for the weight balance and ergonomics. You really have to decide for yourself though.

 

[Paris]

Lots of people have been killed by coach guns in the last, what, 175 years? I'd say their effectiveness is proven.

 

[rcmodel]

what, 175 years?

I'd say closer to 250 years.

Considering the Blunderbuss was used as a British mail service coach gun as early as 1788.
And probably by others before that.

rc

 

[Paris]

You're right, shotguns do go even further back under other names.

 

[guyfromohio]

Worked for Mad Max.

 

[CmpsdNoMore]

If I could only have one longarm I would choose a break action shotgun. If I had a break action that could fire reliably I would trust ok.

 

[dprice3844444]

legacy sports/maverick has a nice over/under hd 12 gauge

 

[husker]

Rem SPR-220 coach is my HD gun. I have the elastic band that goes around the butt stock & holds 5 shells.

 

[Fred Fuller]

Given reliable repeaters available for no more $$$ than the SxS, no, I wouldn't choose a double. And definitely not a single trigger double, even if it had rails on every available surface. I don't anticipate having to stand off the 4th Mongolian Horde singlehandedly, I'm just better at running a pumpgun.

But if all I had was a single barrel and I needed to defend hearth and home, I'd use it. I wouldn't choose it when other, better options were available, but I'd use what I could get my hands on given no other choice, and hope I could make it do.

As Louis Awerbuck says - "It's the Indian, not the arrow."

 

[303tom]

YES I Would.................

 

[natman]

A double wouldn't be my first choice, but I'd use one if I had to.

If I had to use a double, a Stoeger wouldn't be my first choice, but I'd use one if I had to.

Considering how little it costs for a good pump, I don't see the point of buying a gun "that I'd only use if I had to" squared.

 

[Bud Tugly]

As others have said, familiarity and practice are far more important than the weapon. I've mostly used single shots for hunting for over 45 years so that's what I'd go for as HD. I've shot that gun and reloaded so many times I could do it in my sleep. Sure, a pump would give more firepower but I'm totally confident with the single shot (with a butt cuff).

If you're going to rely on any shotgun in a stressful situation you'd better be willing to get totally familiar and comfortable with it - otherwise you might be better off with a dog that barks and a baseball bat.

 

[Chopdoktor]

I have a few fine old double-barrels, but there's no way I would ever take them over a pump or semi-auto. When things go bump in the night and I'm under immense stress, likely still half-asleep, the last thing I want to worry about is popping open the breach and fumbling in two more rounds. I want boom/rack/boom/rack/boom/rack/boom/rack, etc... If the threat isn't neutralized in the 8 rounds my home defense pump-gun holds, I would seriously consider getting the heck out of there, haha!

 

[kfgk14]

Not with the options I have at my disposal now. It's just not enough rounds, with all the scary stuff going down these days. Gangs, thugs in armor, etc. I have a defensive shotgun, but its use is very subjective, it really is more for my SO. I prefer an AR for defense. If i was forced to use a break-action double, I suppose I'd have to do my best.

 

[SHR970]

Yes. I have other choices available too.

If I have to face a jury (I shouldn't but one never knows) I would rather them see a coach gun than a Tacticool Tommy shotgun. The local PD can abuse the hell out of my coach while it is booked as evidence and I wouldn't really care too much.

I have a fatal funnel in my Apt. and this is where I would deploy it. I strongly doubt that even if the goblin has friends with him that they'll be in much of hurry to advance upwards after they have to climb over their friend who is now a pile on the stairs.

 

[Jaymo]

I'd like to have that one, but would prefer it have double triggers like mine.
The rails are nice for mounting a light. I can't see in the dark, and a weapon mounted light frees up both hands for holding the shotgun securely.
Stoeger also has an OU with short barrels.

Funny, how many negative opinions I hear about the Stoeger/IGA shotguns from people who've never owned/shot them.

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

I have an older model SXS12ga mag Stoeger leaned in near corner under nite-lite at my headboard of bed - and my Makarov in a cheapo hoster tacked to the bedpost. both are as ready as I'll ever be.
the shotty is the double trigger model - when I first got it I has trouble after I'd fired a couple 100 shots with one barrel cocking fully. a takedown revealed that the cocking rod had depressed the wood it rests on enuff that not enough travel was available. I filed tack heads square and drove them into the wood. no prblem now but Stoeger should have foreseen this. otherwise I'm well pleased w/mine. it shoots great - I hunt rabbit and upland game birds w/it - and I replaced the front brass bead w/a glow sight.
improved cylinder right bbl & modified choke l/bbl.