Shotguns for home defense?

American Thinker ^ | 14 Sep, 2024 | Mike McDaniel

[MtnClimber]

Writing about firearm issues is fraught with peril. One’s experience, ability and knowledge matter little to at least some portion of the gun-interested public. No matter what an author writes, even if it’s non-controversial, someone will attack their man—or woman—hood, and suggest they’re less intelligent than an order of packed sardines. With that in mind, are shotguns the ideal home defense weapon?

Ideally, in any armed confrontation, one should employ a weapon with ease of use, exceptional accuracy, overwhelming power and significant ammunition capacity—many home invaders these days run in packs—and excellent reliability. That means, in general, a rifle or submachinegun. We carry handguns because while they’re generally far less powerful, they’re much easier to carry and conceal. Shotguns, like all long arms, aren’t, and it’s virtually impossible to own a machinegun of any type these days.

Choosing any weapon for a specific task requires knowledge of all the parameters of that task, and whether the capabilities of that weapon, and its ammunition, meet those parameters. Allied with that knowledge is the knowledge and training necessary to safely and effectively employ the weapon.

Graphic: Mossberg 940 JM Pro, Mossberg

Is a shotgun a potentially effective home defense weapon? Certainly, but only if the aforementioned conditions and abilities exist.

Shotguns, particularly 12 gauge shotguns, have considerable recoil and muzzle blast, particularly indoors. Fired in the dark, they temporarily impair night vision, and fired without hearing protection, can be temporarily stunning. The latter can be resolved by wearing electronic hearing protectors kept close at hand with the shotgun and closing one’s eyes when firing. Recoil is another matter.

[A Navy Vet]

" a Mossberg Maverick with 8 in the tube and 1 in the chamber. (yes I prefer the gun to be in battery) It has a gun light"

There you go. I had my stock 870 tube magazine extended to 8 rounds and 1 chambered. Plus a UTG ELP38 wide spread blinding light. For those who live in suburbs, I don't worry too much about penetration depending on load. And I certainly don't give a shit about messing up my belongings. If the intruders are inside, it is life or death for my Wife and myself. The light is a great addition no matter how many intruders.

[A Navy Vet]

"Don’t bother with the pistol grip on a shotgun. Keep the regular stock on it. Much easier to control and point. Even if you’re firing from the hip."

Hip firing a 12 gauge is what I tried to explain to others up the thread. Thank you, Marine.

[PLMerite]

Some of the stuff I’ve got falls into the “exotic” category.

[OldGoatCPO]

You miss with any ball ammo, and you will be patching walls, replacing siding, and possibly your neighbor's siding.

I gave my daughter a short-barrel 12 gauge shotgun for home defense. The short barrel allows maneuvering in tight places. You can pick them up fairly cheaply because they are strictly designed for home defense. Savage has a nice one for $229.00. I bought the earlier version at a pawn shop for $90.00. My daughter knows shotguns; she asked if it was not cheaply made. I told her it only has to work once.

It is loaded with Turkey load. It has a tighter pattern, especially at close ranges, but more pellets than bird shot. Birdshot has a broader spread; even at close range, you will be fixing drywall. Turkey loads will mess up flesh but not pass through your walls.

[OldGoatCPO]

That is the nice thing about shotguns. The military has used them since World War I. One reason is how fast they can be deployed, and shooting from the hip still gives you great odds of hitting your target.

My daughter is very good at shooting skeet. But I told her if she has to use her home defense shotgun in her apartment, her anxiety and adrenaline will be off the charts. Point at the balls. If the shot is true, his day is ruined. If the adrenaline makes you jerk, it's likely a gut shot. If the intruder has accomplices, they will run as soon as they hear him screaming.

[Paal Gulli]

"... smaller pellets like bird shot don't penetrate outside walls..."

Smaller pellets also don't penetrate flesh deep enough to reach the vital human organs.

^^^^ This was #3s or #4s from 15-20 yards. And he's still walking around, none the worse for tear.

Different vic, same result. Still alive and kicking.

It's stupid to get so wrapped around the axle about what the consequences of shooting through a wall might be if leads you to make decisions that prevent you taking care of job #1, neutralizing the threat.

Leave birdshot for the birds and use buckshot on humans, nothing smaller than #1s. And no, #4 buck WILL NOT do the business unless you're buying plated or hardened shot.

https://gatdaily.com/articles/just-say-no-to-number-4-buckshot-for-home-defense/

[Still Thinking]

I hope she doesn’t shoot it till she’s holding it right.

[OldGoatCPO]

Because of the layout of my house, shotgun spread is not an issue. An intruder must go down a narrow hallway to reach any family member. Point and shoot, and you will hit something. There is a better chance of missing with a pistol. I use .00 buck shot because it will never penetrate through to a neighbor's house.

My daughter lives in an apartment complex; anything that fires ball ammo is a no-go. So is buckshot. The walls are so thin you not only hear your neighbor fart, you can smell it.

It comes down to the ammo and the choke. Only high-end shotguns with 18.5-inch barrels have screw in choke options. Most home defense shotguns have fixed chokes, so it comes down to ammo.

https://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=472680 https://www.usacarry.com/are-chokes-useful-home-defense-shotguns/

[Disambiguator]

3 inch shells are a waste of time, IMHO. Way too much recoil. If you have a 12 gauge, 2-3/4” shells are more than adequate. Plus, more of them fit in a magazine than 3” shells. I took some 3” buckshot out one time and everyone in attendance complained about the recoil, so no more of those! The recoil even knocked the shells out of a sidesaddle carrier that was on the shotgun (!).

There’s an adapter so you can use mini-shells in your 500, if it isn’t already equipped for those.
https://opsolmini-clip.com/product/opsol-mini-clip-2-0-flex/

The birdshot you have is a good choice. At close range, it will ruin anyone’s day, and overpenetration is a lesser concern than with 00 Buck or other loads.

[Hot Tabasco]

Thanks for posting that. I think the .410 ga. would be the perfect choice for in home protection.

[SuperLuminal]

Being 90 years old, my Winchester Model 1300 Defender is my last & most reliable line of defense...

[bigfootbob]

[RoosterRedux]

It's stupid to get so wrapped around the axle about what the consequences of shooting through a wall might be if leads you to make decisions that prevent you taking care of job #1, neutralizing the threat.

Did I recommend a shotgun?

BTW, I don't own a shotgun. I keep pistol nearby.

[Blood of Tyrants]

.410 ammo is very difficult to come by and is only now coming available.

[Vermont Lt]

I am fine with my shot guns. I know how to use them. In my home, where i would be coming from…I wouldn’t miss.

But as I wrote, in my town the world would be in bad shape if we had marauders crawling inside an occupied home.

[Big Red Badger]

You got your homework Now!
100 posts and Noone mentioned
12 GA Reduced Recoil Buckshot !?!
.
Go make noise with your Smokepole!!

[Tijeras_Slim]

LOL

[SaveFerris]

[12 GA Reduced Recoil Buckshot]

Sounds good. Now I’m afraid to look at how much 3-inch I have though I might be able to sell it for more than I paid.

However, I will also be paying more for 2.75.

[Armscor38]

It also tells the bad guys where you are and what you are armed with

[Armscor38]

“If you own a home near a high crime area..the first thing I would ask is..why do you live a high crime area and why would you stay?”

Some folks prefer to place the lives of their family and themselves in daily jeopardy . It might be that the money they make from their job makes the risk to their loved ones worthwhile .