Posted on 11/06/2014 3:36:54 AM PST by wyowolf
I have a Benelli SN that I use for regular hunting/trap duties. Was thinking about a home defense shotgun. Would It make more sense to buy a different gun? M500? 870? or just buy a shorter barrel for the SN?
I also have 2 45s and a Marlin 30/30 and a Win 7mmMag but I think the wife would be more comfortable with an easy to use Shotgun...
I liked the 500, the Win spx was ok.. but the safety was too far. havent tried any others yet... just thought I would get some opinions... Mod the Benelli or new??
My preferences:
1. Winchester 1300 Defender — very simple and robust. Feeds Aguila and Centurion Mini-sheels without modification. (Mini-sheels are 1-7/8 or 2-inch shells that come in birdshot, buckshot, or slugs.)
2. Ithaca Model 37 — loads and ejects from the bottom and is perfect for left handed people.
3. Mossbeg 590 or Maverick 88 (both made by Mossberg).
4. Remington 870 — has a design flaw, its ejector. (Break one and the receiver will have to go back to Remington for replacement because it's riveted to the receiver wall.)
Another consideration are the controls for the bolt release latch (or button) and the safety position. Some guns have their bolt releases ahead of the trigger guard and some behind it. Some put the safety on the trigger guard or one, Mossberg 590, on the top rear of the receiver. Good, used pumps are preferable since they are well broken-in by previous users.
I recommend a .38 snubby. Load a blank round that will be the first round fired. If your wife hears an intruder in your home she should shout out that she is armed, cover an ear and then fire the blank round at the floor. Unless it is a swat team they will be leaving in a hurry.
http://www.basspro.com/Mossberg-510-Mini-Super-Bantam-Shotgun/product/10218684/
This seems like a good compromise?
The Judge is a 5 shot pistol which loads Colt .45 and/or 410 shot shell. Very easy to carry in a purse into “the woods” or keep at home.
Many videos here showing women having fun.
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=the+judge+pistol&qpvt=the+judge+pistol&FORM=VDRE
They’re good dogs to be sure. Let me know what you finally decide on, have a great day.
Very tame recoil, from what I have heard/read, compared to other shotguns, especially a pump.
Mossberg 500 20 gauge
I am apprehensive about using a shotgun for home defense, at least inside. Outside it is hunky-dory.
To start with, estimate the optimal range for using a shotgun in close quarters. Most would likely say 10-15 feet. Then get a 15 foot tape measure, figure out where you would most likely be standing when shooting, and look at the directions *where* you might shoot, that extend 10-15 feet in that direction. Likely there are several.
However, there are likely many other angles where you *could* shoot, but would be “sub-optimal” range.
Add into this the “no shoot” places, like walls the other side of which are occupied bedrooms. You then might include, “I would prefer not to shoot a shotgun in that direction”, if for example you would be firing in the direction of valuable heirloom antique furniture, major appliances, or a home propane storage tank.
For your consideration.
We opted for the Mossberg 500 tactical. We have a Beretta 391 but its not that great for room to room.
I have the 510 in a 20G. I bought it for my kids to learn with. but even with their small frames the buttstock was too short. I got a full size buttstock from Mossberg and now it fits them well.
While a nice thought, they need to be able to maneuver, and adding a long suppressor makes it quite cumbersome, even if a shorty shotgun.
I’ve got an 870 Express Magnum 12 gauge and to me it’s too long to maneuver in close quarters. I think it has a 28” barrel?
My 870 Express Youth 20 gauge with 00 buckshot feels much more comfortable to me in close quarters. I can turn around in my hallway while still keeping the weapon in a firing position. I believe it’s barrel is 21”. Just my .02
Pistol grips suck—stay traditional—one less piece of furniture to fumble with.
Think simple. In a high stress situation simple is good. More important than the weapon itself is training. If you don’t train you wont perform when the time comes.
Kel-Tec KSG. 12 gauge, 12 to 14 round mag capacity, bull-pup design. Absolutely the best house gun in existence, IMHO.
You are exactly right. I don’t know of any way to prepare for that. The only thing I know to do is spend as much time as possible on the range getting comfortable with it until it’s second nature.
As you pointed out, if the time came, you’d have plenty of other things going on in your mind without worrying about the mechanics.
KISS ...... Double barrel 12 ga with 6 spare stock sock an 2 down the tubes.
18.25 inch barrels .....
Short sweet legal in all 57 states .... use number 4 buck or number 5 turkey loads.
All that aside get a old barrel at a gun show , hack saw down to 18.25 inches an use the nova as yer house gun.
my 2 duckets on the matter.....:o)
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