[Jeff Chandler]

A pump shotgun is really good for home defense.

Unfortunately, a 12 gauge has too much recoil for many women. An AR15, however, is smooth as silk.

[Lurker]

“Unfortunately, a 12 gauge has too much recoil for many women.l

Mrs. L handles a 12 gauge just fine, but she’s not your average lady. 20 gauge is usually a better choice for smaller shooters who are unused to recoil.

L

[familyop]

"Unfortunately, a 12 gauge has too much recoil for many women. An AR15, however, is smooth as silk."

True about AR-15s. The adjustable butt stocks and other features of AR-15s are also especially helpful to women. Typically narrow shoulders on women cause improper form and other difficulties with standard length butt stocks. The pistol grips on AR-15s also afford better use of shorter butt stocks for people in general (better for a shorter form, especially shorter arms). Butt stocks that are too short on standard configuration bolt action rifles and shotguns can cause problems with form and balance.

AR-15s are far better for people of various heights and far better for shorter people with narrow shoulders (women). AR-15s can also be built to be noticeably lighter in weight than shotguns. Little do gun control proponents realize, that they're discriminating against women in self-defense with pushes to outlaw or over-regulate AR-15s, which can cost women their lives.

In rural areas, attacks are more likely from distances beyond practical pistol range, and some terrain situations (criminal on higher ground) would not allow for a woman to retreat from her home. Also, criminal thugs wearing body armor against pistol ballistics might attack an isolated woman at home.

Pistols are also generally less safe than rifles for defense against large bear attacks. I would use a .44 magnum or hot rod .45 revolver with heavyweight, hard cast bullet loads for that purpose, but most people wouldn't.

"Low recoil" 00 buck 12 gauge loads (2 3/4 inch) aren't nearly as bad as full power loads, though, and work well enough for terminal ballistics at short distances (1100 fps). With a little practice, most women can manage that with a regular butt stock (*not* a pistol grip).

A pistol grip on a shotgun will only work for some people with some extra training. Trying to aim with the sight while using a pistol grip on a shotgun can cause a broken face or other injury. It needs to be fired from a lower and slightly forward position with a very firm grip. I can use one just fine, but many other people might be risking injury with it.