Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Shotguns for home defense?
American Thinker ^ | 14 Sep, 2024 | Mike McDaniel

Posted on 09/14/2024 4:39:32 AM PDT by 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.

(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...


TOPICS: Society
KEYWORDS: banglist; defense; home; shotgun; shotguns
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 121-128 next last
To: MNnice

In many cases you will do less overall damage to the house with a shotgun. A bullet may go through both sides of a wall, or downstairs through the floor. It may even hit a loved one on the other side of the wall.

If close enough to the target intruder; the house will take zero damage with a shotgun.


21 posted on 09/14/2024 5:22:49 AM PDT by Codeflier (Don't worry....be happy)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: MtnClimber

22 posted on 09/14/2024 5:24:57 AM PDT by DFG
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MtnClimber

At chez Buttons there’s 409 spray cleaner for bugs, .410 for larger pests. You can’t miss with either one. Prepares them to be dispatched by a 95-pound chick.


23 posted on 09/14/2024 5:26:19 AM PDT by Buttons12 ( )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MeneMeneTekelUpharsin

A 20-guage Mossberg 7-shot pump gun. The sound of the pump lever jacking in a slug is pretty threatening to a home invader, or even several of them.

No matter how much home defense is set up, if the invader does not care how much noise is made, most domiciles can be breached within a minute or so.

Just ask the FBI.


24 posted on 09/14/2024 5:28:27 AM PDT by alloysteel (I've told people a million times, "Don't exaggerate.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: AppyPappy

25 posted on 09/14/2024 5:29:12 AM PDT by Bratch
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: MtnClimber

Excellent graphic!


26 posted on 09/14/2024 5:30:46 AM PDT by drwoof
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: JimBianchi11
I want 2 of these

AA-12 . All stainless-steel, fully automatic , recoilless , 12 gauge shotgun with the 30-round drum magazine. Mounted to a drone.

27 posted on 09/14/2024 5:31:52 AM PDT by UCANSEE2 ( )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: MNnice

Joe Biden says “ buy a shotgun”

https://youtu.be/F-mztxHgYQo?si=iGW3OjpzwGZ1xlua


28 posted on 09/14/2024 5:33:14 AM PDT by silverleaf (“Inside Every Progressive Is A Totalitarian Screaming To Get Out” —David Horowitz)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: MtnClimber

Glock with a tactical light is what I recommend.

Shotgun takes two hands. If you have to open a door, control a child, be on the phone with 911, turn on a light, etc., you have one-handed a moment when it is out of control, and, perhaps, more vulnerable to being snatched by a lurking perp.

A handgun can be kept close to the body where it is better under control in a physical confrontation. Shotgun is risky in that regard because its length makes it vulnerable when in the “ready” position.

Tac light on a Glock can be activited with the trigger finger, flashed on and off, or simply turned on or off, all while your weak hand is free to do whatever.

I mention Glock, but other pistol/tac light combos probably work the same way.


29 posted on 09/14/2024 5:35:23 AM PDT by Liberty Ship ("Lord, make me fast and accurate.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MtnClimber

Hand gun and an arm shield.


30 posted on 09/14/2024 5:36:47 AM PDT by ansel12 ((NATO warrior under Reagan, and RA under Nixon, bemoaning the pro-Russians from Vietnam to Ukraine.))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: glennaro

What’s all this talk of racking the shotgun about? My first shot requires no racking. When I’ve already shot the intruder, I don’t think racking it to load the next shell adds much fear at that point.


31 posted on 09/14/2024 5:39:39 AM PDT by Codeflier (Don't worry....be happy)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Vermont Lt

“Shoot here.”


32 posted on 09/14/2024 5:40:55 AM PDT by OKSooner (Domestic animals for Trump.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: MeneMeneTekelUpharsin

I keep all of my shotguns loaded and my highly trained doberman happy. However, for home protection and that of my neighbors, I use #6 shot. The reason is to keep the shot in the house instead of penetrating the walls of a neighbor.

I also have a psychedelic lighting and sound system that will confuse anyone that enters un-announced, especially the dope head. The dobe will have no problem with them what-so-ever!!


33 posted on 09/14/2024 5:41:18 AM PDT by Racketeer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: MeneMeneTekelUpharsin

I have a Taurus Judge loaded up with #6 shot. The spread at 3 feet is about 3 feet.


34 posted on 09/14/2024 5:44:24 AM PDT by Texas resident (Que Mala= Bad Juju.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: MtnClimber

I’ve pondered getting a shotgun. I suppose it would be useful if you are dealing with more than one bad guy who are standing together in the same general area. Happy with my 9MM but if Harris wins I’m buying more.


35 posted on 09/14/2024 5:56:10 AM PDT by MAGA2017
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MtnClimber

under 10yds they’re all the same...


36 posted on 09/14/2024 5:56:48 AM PDT by Chode (there is no fall back position, there's no rally point, there is no LZ... we're on our own. #FJB)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: MtnClimber

According to Dad, in NYC a steel door is a challenge and a clear admission that there’s a prize inside.

Here in PA, we have signs like “Break in tonight and you will be here in the morning” and “trespassers will be shot, survivors will be shot twice.” Even four-legged critters understand that racking is code for the command to about-face. Nearly all two-legged intruders are scared by the sight of security cameras. You would have to be very jacked up to break and enter.

I have already learned (twice) that suspicious persons wandering around outside my house, checking windows and doors, are more likely to be parole officers, lost and looking to serve a warrant on someone a mile away on a street with a similar name.

Here we are more worried about deadbeat tenants, code officers, and potholes, than about burglars. But if it comes to that, we say, “Call 911 — for cleanup.”


37 posted on 09/14/2024 5:58:48 AM PDT by Buttons12 ( )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MtnClimber
Remington 870 pump from the police assembly line. 12 ga.

Colt Python .357 Magnum. Decisions, decisions...

38 posted on 09/14/2024 6:01:54 AM PDT by donozark (If the intelligentsia are so smart, why are they always the first ones to be shot?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MNnice

It obviously depends where you live.
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?
Otherwise, many people go there whole lives without a serious threat to their well being.

IOW I’d risk some damage to my walls and maybe some furnishings and blast away with double barrel. Good to have some back up weapon,too. Just in case there is more than one or two creeps creeping around.


39 posted on 09/14/2024 6:07:37 AM PDT by Leep (Re-elect deep state. 2024!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: MtnClimber
I live in the country. Readily available weapons are a Ruger LC9S with Winchester 147 grain HPs. ,which is also my carry weapon. 44 Charter Arms Bulldog with Glaser Safety Slugs , which is the night stand weapon. Ithaca 37 Mag with 3”; #4 buckshot. AR-10 in 308 with magazines of both 180 grain soft points and 175 grain FMJ for what ever the occasion requires. Lastly a Winchester pump .22 for the annoying 4 legged varmints.
40 posted on 09/14/2024 6:08:17 AM PDT by MCF (If my home can't be my Castle, then it will be my Alamo)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 121-128 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson