Considerations for the Defensive Shotgun
- Thread starter Talyn
- Start date
Bassbob
Emissary
I can't find much if anything to disagree with him about. There are a whole lot of articles out there who's goal is to inform new or inexperienced shooters about the many considerations if one chooses a shotgun for home defense. This article does a good job covering all those bases.
jbenedetto2
Alpha
My 12 gauge is a High Standard 7 shot Riot model w/ 18.25" barrel. Love it. Picked it up around 1973.
My new home defense is a 410/45LC Taurus Judge Magnum takes the 3" shells. Shoots great. Easier to handle in tight quarters.
My new home defense is a 410/45LC Taurus Judge Magnum takes the 3" shells. Shoots great. Easier to handle in tight quarters.
Bassbob
Emissary
Those are great shotguns. Steve McQueen in Getaway.
I used to shoot my Uncle Frank's. I tried talking him out of it but he wouldn't sell.
Snake45
Professional
Isn't that what Steve McQueen used in The Getaway? Cool!
Bassbob
Emissary
Yes and there is an interesting story about how he got that gun. It involves the Manson murders.Isn't that what Steve McQueen used in The Getaway? Cool!
jbenedetto2
Alpha
Snake45
Professional
Oh, leave us hangin', eh....
Bassbob
Emissary
Here you go Snake.
Bonhams : A 12 gauge High Standard Riot 18-7 Model K-120 pump action shotgun,
SN3028450, 12 gauge. 18 inch barrel. Blued finish. Oil-finshed walnut stock and grooved slide. Right side of buttstock with plaque inscribed Condition: As new. "In the summer of 1969, Charles Manson and his "family" committed the Tate/LaBianca murders that rocked Los Angeles, and the world...
Bear007
Custom
Bought my beautiful old 870 Wingmaster, 30" barrel in 1985. Bought an 18" smooth bore barrel for rifled slugs for some hunting areas. I use to leave the 18" barrel on it when at home with my heavy turkey loads in it.
A few years ago (when the mob mentality world went nuts) I changed my self defense thinking. Now it has all 00 buck.
Recently I the bought the Keltec KSG, 16" barrel, dual tube magazine 7+7+1, bullpup, pump action in FDE, fully ambidextrious. It hasn't had the thousands of shots through it as my ole 870 has so the action is not as loose and free, yet, but it will be one day.
Shotguns are also now backed up by multiple new high capacity EDC pistols and rifles.
A few years ago (when the mob mentality world went nuts) I changed my self defense thinking. Now it has all 00 buck.
Recently I the bought the Keltec KSG, 16" barrel, dual tube magazine 7+7+1, bullpup, pump action in FDE, fully ambidextrious. It hasn't had the thousands of shots through it as my ole 870 has so the action is not as loose and free, yet, but it will be one day.
Shotguns are also now backed up by multiple new high capacity EDC pistols and rifles.
Bassbob
Emissary
The earlier iterations of the KSG had some issues and needed some fluff and buff. Those issues have been ironed out for a few years now. The only thing you gotta watch is that selector switch. It should have been designed with a shoulder screw so it would tighten down snug without choking the movement. When they get loose it will cause FTF. Other than that it will run hard. I have thousands through my KSG-25 and it is smooth as can be. Those shotguns ( action) are based on the Ithaca 37.
Bear007
Custom
Thnx, I'll keep an eye on it.
Bassbob
Emissary
This is the one time you'll hear me recommend blue loctite. Take the screw out, degrease it, dab of blue loctite, tighten it until it's snug and you can still move the selector switch. I did this at least 1500 rounds ago and it's still fine.
HansGruber
Ronin
Sigh.
I still want a .410 Saiga with a 30rd mag…
I still want a .410 Saiga with a 30rd mag…
Bassbob
Emissary
$700-ish and it can be yours. I think you need it and should absolutely buy it. GB has one right now. And PSA has the drums.
wmg1299
Professional
This is probably the most comprehensive article on defensive shotguns that I have ever read. I've read many similar articles that always reach the conclusion that nothing short of 00 Buck from 12 gauge will do the job. These articles always seem to imply that reduced-recoil loads make 20 gauge defensive shotguns obsolete, and that any load smaller than #4 Buck will bounce off anything without feathers.
I'm a big fan of shotguns, and have accumulated several of them over the years. While I like them all, my go-to HD shotgun is still a 20 gauge Remington 870 Home-Defense model with a youth stock installed. It's lighter and more maneuverable than any of my 12 gauges, but packs more than enough power for close-range encounters. The 20 gauge may not be best option for every shooter, but it works for me.
I'm a big fan of shotguns, and have accumulated several of them over the years. While I like them all, my go-to HD shotgun is still a 20 gauge Remington 870 Home-Defense model with a youth stock installed. It's lighter and more maneuverable than any of my 12 gauges, but packs more than enough power for close-range encounters. The 20 gauge may not be best option for every shooter, but it works for me.
HayesGreener
Ronin
I have been using and training others on the police shotgun, mostly the Remington 870, and some Ithacas and Winchesters, for many years. It has been the LE standard for 70 years. The gun is incredibly durable and nearly foolproof. The 870 was the primary SWAT weapon back when we first started SWAT teams, and you could find one in every police car.
Training in shotguns has typically been dismal, which was always a point of frustration for me. The shotgun a simple and powerful weapon, but tactical handling is not intuitive. Building neuromuscular memory requires a lot of repetitive drills, and a lot of shooting. Learning to load, reload, select load under stress, while remembering the safety and slide release, will result in train wrecks until you master the skills.
I have a day long shotgun course that involves a lot of shooting, moving, reloading, and select loading on the clock. Many of my students arrived for the course believing they had mastered the shotgun, and learned when the time pressure was on that they did not have the skills to keep the gun running. Like any other platform, you have to train with these guns to make them function properly for you under pressure.
Training in shotguns has typically been dismal, which was always a point of frustration for me. The shotgun a simple and powerful weapon, but tactical handling is not intuitive. Building neuromuscular memory requires a lot of repetitive drills, and a lot of shooting. Learning to load, reload, select load under stress, while remembering the safety and slide release, will result in train wrecks until you master the skills.
I have a day long shotgun course that involves a lot of shooting, moving, reloading, and select loading on the clock. Many of my students arrived for the course believing they had mastered the shotgun, and learned when the time pressure was on that they did not have the skills to keep the gun running. Like any other platform, you have to train with these guns to make them function properly for you under pressure.
Bassbob
Emissary
Funny you say that because almost every “ gun writer” falls all over themselves to not commit to any hard rules regarding ammo choices for shotguns.
Shotgun facts:
If you want to use #7.5 birdshot for home defense a shotgun is probably not the best choice for you for home defense.
12 gauge, 20 gauge, 4.10, all have ammo choices that make them viable as HD/ SD weapons. No one disputes that.
In order to effectively wield a shotgun ( or any gun) in a defensive manner you must be comfortable with the handling, manipulating and recoil of the gun so use the one that suits you best.
The use of #1, #4 or 00B should depend on a couple things. How close are you to your neighbors ? Do you have a house full of kids or people scattered among all the rooms and if so have you formulated a HD plan that includes funneling any potential threat into a shooting alley that is safe for your neighbors and family.
Can you handle the recoil of a heavy 00B load or is #4 more comfortable for you? Have you patterned YOUR shotgun with the rounds you intend to use for HD? Can you accurately place all fired projectiles into a safe place or the bad guy ?
Bonus tip. A youth Remington 870 in 20 gauge is a perfectly acceptable option for HD. Again, use what you can comfortably manipulate and handle. That said, my 12 gauge Beretta is lighter, faster, has a higher capacity and is a softer shooting shotgun than a 20 gauge pump. That’s what is comfortable for me, although I can run the crap out of almost any shotgun frankly.
HayesGreener
Ronin
E
Very good article for making choices. He knows from whence he speaks