almost as good as the smell of napalm in the morning! That's why I asked this group...I learned a lot sitting back and 'listening' to the thoughts of people who had definite opinions. Hearing why one preferred one system over another taught me what kind of questions are important to ask.
To summarize (more for my benefit to put this down in one place than anyone else) some of what I've learned:
- though perhaps a little more forgiving, you still have to aim a shotgun, and basic gun safety still applies - as does the age old debate about keeping an empty chamber for a defensive weapon.
- as we saw in Atlanta this week - any gun can be grabbed by a bad guy - perhaps long guns are easier to grab.
- a defensive weapon should be the last in a series of protective measures, some even suggest loading shells of increasing leathality.
- there are several players in the market (Mossberg 5XX, Remington 870/11XX, Ithaca 37 or Winchester 1300, Benelli) each has their fans. Apparently much of it has to do with price vs. fit. Different accessory sights and grips(pistol)/stocks(youth) are considerations to make the gun more comfortable.
- 12 ga is bigger and more powerful, but also has more recoil and therefore 20ga may be preferable for smaller folk.
- pump vs semiauto. Price and decision to risk "human error" of short stroking a pump action under high stress vs. "mechanical failure" of a more automatic loading mechanism.
- type of shot needs to be considered balancing stopping power vs. overpenetration of walls and hitting unintended targets.
- There are even some cool guns that allow shells in the chamber of a revolver.
I'd like to find a range where I can try some of these out...but the closest one I called doesn't allow non-memebers to shoot shotguns. Guess I'll be trying others further away. The defensive handgun course I took was ages ago, and it wouldn't hurt me to find another - this time more pointed towards shotguns.