Seeking Shotgun Recommendation (Vanity)

Vanity ^ | September 6, 2005 | Self

[pogo101]

After seeing how society crumbled in New Orleans recently, I realized that I need a basic home-defense firearm, and I'm pretty well decided on a shotgun. I'd like you FReepers' recommendations on a model. (Don't worry, I'm already resolved that the first place it'll go is to a 10-hour safety class with me. Got a well-reputed teaching facility all picked out.)

If it matters, I live in greater LA.

I'm about as macho and gun-totin' a guy as Captain Kangaroo, but these last seveal days have brought home to me that it is my RESPONSIBILITY as the head of a household to be able to protect my home and family in times of dire crisis, where the law is unavailable.

I hope I never need to use it, but I need to be ready: After the holidays, I'm adding a shotgun to my emergency kit.

[hophead]

"Nothing will bring an intruder in a darked home to his senses as quickly as the sound of a pump shotgun jacking a round into place. The sound is unmistakable and therefore useful."

The intruder knows that sound and will not hang around for the next sound.

[linear]

From what I can tell, once you get into negative constrictions on the choke you pretty much need to just go pattern it yourself and see what happens. It seems like people are all over the map with the rifled chokes, depending on weight, barrel length, lead/steel, etc.

For home use I'd go with a skeet or cylinder choke. I agree with you though, at less than 15 yards you won't see much difference in patterns.

[RIGHTWING WACKO FROM MASS.]

Mossberg 500 w/ 18" smoothbore barrel,high brass #6 ammo

[angkor]

Something to think about with these bad-boy combat and pistol-grip shotguns is that if you ever have cause to use one, and you're being harangued by some overzealous, anti-home-defense prosecutor, that's the gun they'll be showing in a courtroom.

For that reason I'd rather have something that looks less "intimidating", like a plain-Jane Rem 870 Express with walnut stocks (owned one before and am thinking about getting another after last week's events in N.O.).

[ibbryn]

Never claimed to be a lawyer. My admittedly limited understanding of the law is that maybe you can't buy a semi-auto in CA, but you can own one under the 2nd Amendment. No? What are the actual statutes on the books?

I didn't mean to be unnecessarily harsh. Basically, CA residents can't transfer or accept transfer of full capacity mags, assault weapons and the like. So you can't buy anything like full capacity mags or an AR15 out of state and bring them in state. I guess you could probably leave the mags in AZ.

In CA, you can still buy a Mini14, a Mini30, M1 (the semi-auto civilian version of the M14) and a KelTec 16. These are all semi-auto fighting rifles, but if you don't already have good mags for them, you can't legally get them.

A shotgun will do fine for the new shooter's stated purpose.

[The KG9 Kid]

Just because the BATFE doesn't consider antiques a 'firearm', that doesn't mean that his state won't prohibit a felon from possessing even a single bullet much less a 100 year old rifle.

In California, a district attorney isn't going to distinguish between one gun and another. Even flintlocks or deactivated guns are off-limits to parolees.

It's not just California. I thought I read once about an elderly restaraunt owner in the Midwest who was arrested for a having a crusty old cowboy relic nailed to the wall as a decoration for his BBQ place. It was just a theatre prop, but it made no difference. He had been convicted of a felony as a very young man and the law is the law.

Anyone in this situation should consult a qualified firearms attorney.

[RIGHTWING WACKO FROM MASS.]

check out http://www.mossberg.com/ for all the fun stuff

[ponsdorf]

Nothing will bring an intruder in a darked home to his senses as quickly as the sound of a pump shotgun jacking a round into place. The sound is unmistakable and therefore useful. This is a questionable practice. 1. If you rack the slide the intruder can hear it, sure, but it also announces your location and intention. 2. If the intruder is some unarmed lone miscreant it MIGHT scare him away. If the person is armed he may spray the house or where he thinks the sound came from. The problem gets worse if there's more than one armed bad guy. 3. If your carrying a shotgun that isn't ready to go bang when you pull the trigger you are carrying a club. 4. this is what safeties are for, on a well maintained firearm it can be disengaged quietly.

[hophead]

"Why a shotgun, why not a semi-auto rifle with a couple high-capacity magazines?"

You don't want to shoot your neighbor 2 doors down do you?

Like it is said here, the sound of a 12 g. pump chambering a round is all that is needed in most cases. The intruder knows what the next sound is and won't want to stay to hear it.

[mcg1969]

pogo101, I'm with you, man. Thanks for posting this thread. My wife told me that for the first time in her life she's seriously willing to consider a gun in the house. A shotgun is exactly what I had in mind, too.

Unfortunately I'm totally inexperienced so I have some learning to do. Not that I'm against guns or anything, I've just never had the motivation, that's all. My parents and my brother all carry and I'm sure they'll help.

[Prodigal Son]

Nothing will bring an intruder in a darked home to his senses as quickly as the sound of a pump shotgun jacking a round into place. The sound is unmistakable and therefore useful.

Exactly. Everybody knows what that sound is.
Mr 12 Gauge being pumped says 'I mean business'.

[mcg1969]

Practice, practice, practice! Familiarity with the gun is a must under stress and any 12 ga loads will kick you pretty hard if you're not used to them. You don't want to klutz out in a hairy situation.

Thanks for the warning, I intend to! (No I didn't start this thread but I'm in the same situation.)

[Grut]

Who stores a Mossberg 500 with an empty chamber????

Wiseass. ;^)

Seriously, though, any gun stored with a chambered round poses a danger in a house fire. Rounds that cook off in a magazine won't hurt anything but the gun itself, but a round in the chamber will develop full lethal velocity. The tiny time advantage gained by not having to cycle the action isn't worth killing a family member, neighbor or fireman.

[The KG9 Kid]

"... Something to think about with these bad-boy combat and pistol-grip shotguns is that if you ever have cause to use one, and you're being harangued by some overzealous, anti-home-defense prosecutor, that's the gun they'll be showing in a courtroom."

I think that this practice has been successfully argued against in a high court and is no longer permitted in my state. It hardly makes any difference anyway.

[DTogo]

Based on this pile of gobble-dee-gook, CA almost seems in violation of the 2nd Amendment:
http://caag.state.ca.us/firearms/dwcl/12275.htm

[punster]

The shotgun is probably the the most effective choice. As to shotguns, I would recommend either a police configuration (18 1/2 inch barrel to 20 inch barrel) or a turkey gun configuration (probably about a 21 inch barrel).

The choice is either a pump shotgun or a self-loader. If you are sensitive to recoil, I would recommend the self-loader. If you keep the gun clean, the self-loader is equally as reliable as a pump gun.

I would recommend the Remington 870 Pump Shotgun, the Mossberg Pump Shotgun, Or the Winchester Pump Shotgun.

I would recommend the Remington 11-87 Shotgun or the Benelli Shotgun.

In all cases, I would recommend an extension tube for the magazine, to boost the magazine capacity to 7 rounds, for a total capacity of 8 rounds (1 in the chamber).

Another recommendation, do not keep the shotgun loaded. Only load it if trouble is likely. Why? One reason is safety, a shotgun with a round in the chamber may be knocked over and fall, causing a discharge. The other reason is the cases may swell if left under pressure of the magazine spring. Big reliability problem, when you need the shotgun.

A handgun may also be useful in a home-defense battery. It is easier to keep a loaded handgun properly secured than a long gun. Having an already loaded firearm may be a real lifesaver.

[Heyworth]

True, Cap'n Kangaroo was a bona fide war hero.

False. Urban legend. Keeshan served in the Marines during WW2 but never saw action.

[mcg1969]

This will work too when filled with strong acting ammunition!

Sulfuric acid perhaps?

[Buzwardo]

I'm pretty fond of my Wilson modified 870. . . .

[hophead]

"Never claimed to be a lawyer. My admittedly limited understanding of the law is that maybe you can't buy a semi-auto in CA, but you can own one under the 2nd Amendment. No? What are the actual statutes on the books?"

The 2nd Amendment? In CA? What cave have you been living in?

The nice little Walther P22 that has been on the market a few years was legal in CA until a week or so ago. All of those who bought one are going to get letters from the CA AG for them to turn them in. It seems CA Gun Board has now decided the lowly Walther P22 is now an "assault weapon". Yes, a small 22 caliber semi-auto is an "assault weapon". You see, the Board has now found out that if you but the short barrel version, the end of the barrel is "threaded" to accept a 2" barrel adapter for target shooting purposes.