Well, I bought a 12 gauge shotgun today. A Maverick 88 pump. I didn’t go for the lowest possible price. Instead, I bought from my local gun store. I figure it’s better to support him than get the best price.
OK, OK, I paid $249 for it.
Here’s the thing: I haven’t owned a firearm in many years, so I am very much a newbie. There is one issue I’d like to get multiple opinions for. This shotgun is for home defense, and I have no children in the house. However, my wife and my 25 YO daughter are very uncomfortable about having a gun in the house.
With those circumstances, should I keep it loaded in the bedroom?
I keep my 40 cal with a loaded clip but not chambered if it’s any help.
You'll undoubtedly get tons of replies and opinions, but here's mine -- from one that hasn't handled a shotgun in decades:
Determine how quickly you can load said shotgun in total darkness or chaos, and then make the determination. If you're secure that you can make it fire ready in 3 seconds, you might feel better about acceding to family fears. If not, then take wifey/daughter out for some trap shooting -- they'll discover a great new sport, and come to love your new household addition.
The bad guy can fully anticipate the next and possibly last sound he hears.
BLOOEY!
No.
Keep it loaded over the front door.
The shotgun ain’t gonna shoot itself, and sounds like everyone in your house is old enough to be responsible enough to not just start pulling the trigger at random.
I say keep it loaded...and make sure everyone knows rule #1: The gun is always loaded (even when it’s not)
Practice your skills frequently and shoot as often as practicable. Them teach your family members the basics of gun safety (the "Golden Rules"), about how to use a shotgun, and establish a place and condition in which to store it. Encourage them to practice with you and to understand and acknowledge the respect one must always pay a deadly weapon. Remove the fear and replace it with discipline. I would not keep a loaded gun in the house until you have done these things, but you will be safer once you have.
Please get some lessons from your local shooting range/NRA instructors. Be safe.
An unloaded gun is usless.
Get them out to the range to shoot it most people that are not into guns get a kick out of shooting them after all Been my experience
should I keep it loaded in the bedroom?
Ah, the ole self defense need. If there is unrest in your neighborhood, or maybe you hear noises outside, you probably have time to load up. If you hear noises inside your home or somebody kicks the door in, it had better already be loaded.
Yes.
The next best thing to keeping it loaded:
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/buttstock-ammo-carrier.aspx?a=408027
I’ll give another vote for
“loaded but not chambered”.
That’s the whole point behind a pump shotgun - the sound of the round being chambered causing brown stains in the intruder’s pants.
Keep it in the condition you want it to be. If the others in your life object, tell them the gun is absolutely positively off limits to them until they learn how to shoot from an instructor.
Explain to them the gun is off limits even if someone is breaking down the door and you’re not home.
And, as has been pointed out, the sound of chambering that round may well scare any (sane) intruder away -- saving you much grief and trouble in the aftermath... (Remember, there is no "nice" way to shoot another human being.)
Also, you might check to see if your new shotgun's magazine's capacity is limited (due to hunting laws) by an inserted, removable (often wooden) "plug". Since you will be keeping the gun in the house, remove the plug, and stuff the magazine with as many rounds as it will hold. (Remember, you are starting "short" the one that would otherwise be in the chamber...)
Only thing I might do different is buy a 22 inch barrel. Right now I've got a 30 inch ventilated rib with full choke. Can kill a goose at 50 yards easy.
>>”...my wife and my 25 YO daughter are very uncomfortable about having a gun in the house.”<<
Tell them to move out...../s