Shotguns are good, and the only thing to have if you are only going to have one self defense weapon.
But, especially if you are out in the boonies, something with more reach would also be a Good Thing. I might suggest a surplus Moson-Nagant or a Yugo built Mauser, or a Spanish Mauser in 7.62Nato They are still fairly cheap, and with practice (and maybe 'scope), will reach out and remove the bad guys before they get close enough to bother you much. (Some say they kick like a mule, but the two I shot weren't that bad. Both were the full length rifle, not the carbine version) Or maybe a Swiss K-31, the rifle the Swiss soldier carried when their Comanding General was asked by a German General what they would they would do if the Germans invaded with twice as many soldiers as the Swiss could muster. His answer
"We'll all shoot twice and go home."
The Swiss are well known for their marksmanship and won't have a rifle that is not accurate.
Thank you for the links, EG. But, when I bought the .35 S & W, I asked about shotguns. The salesman told me that they are all powerful enough to break your shoulder, if you don’t brace it against the wall behind you (and then it will break through the wall!)
I’m not a youngster anymore, but am a strong, tough lady. (No osteo-perosis). I just want to know that if I am confronted by a gang of thugs - I will be able to give it my best ‘shot’!
I will certainly look into your links, and thank you!
Do you own any sort of a deer rifle? If so, get a scope on it and 300 or so rounds of ammo. Get the scope mounted and be able to hit a man size target at 400 yards.
A shotgun is fine at up the 50 feet or down a hall or across the yard but much farther than that is an iffy proposition. And I think it stands to reason that if you don’t have a handgun, then get one. A 9mm, 40 or 45 acp handgun with at least a ten round magazine is best. I dont live out there but if I did Id be carrying my Glock 19 9mm pistol.