Self defense shotguns

[KMC]

Originally posted by RustyJC



Thanks for all the help, Ken. I really appreciate it!



Rusty

No problemo! One of my favorite topics, I can talk about this stuff for hours

 

[The patriot]

The 20 gauge is highly underrated. The 12 is much more popular, but for the distance and purpose, the 20 is fine. I prefer #6 shot, but it's only the wife and I, so I dont have to worry about who is in the other room.

The only thing I dont like about the Mossbergs out of the box is, the plastic safety button. You could get a steel one for under $10. 00. Bolts right on.

If you have an older one, it might have the steel one from the factory.

Eric

 

[QRTRHRS]

I have a Mossberg but can't remember the model number. Thing is pretty nasty sounding in the dark. I figure just chambering a round of 00 would be cause for concern to most people even an idiot.

 

[DMalone]

20 GAUGE is good. Dont let people tell ya only the 12 will do. Yes the 12gauge has more pellets but not that many more. I have both and i put a extention tube on it and now it will hold 8 shots i think. With the shells made now a days the skys the limit on loads shot power. I have been shooting hevi shot for turkeys, ducks, geese, and boy i sure wouldnt want to be hit with any on that stuff. It really penatrates good. Good luck,be safe.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Guess I'm paranoid out here in the poorly policed rural area - but I keep a Mossberg 500 12 ga. of the same type the police carry in patrol cars - short barrel and pistol grip - and also a Makarov 9mm semi-auto pistol as used by Russian KGB... The shotgun is short and easily handled, and I often take it with us on RV trips, since we commonly stay in sparsely populated wilderness areas...

 

[Diesel Gunner]

I am in agreement with most of what I have read above. I personally favor ounce and a quarter #6 shot for personal defense inside a building. This is one hellava lot of energy to absorb at close range and dissapates its energy quickly when going through wallboard. I am not personally aware of this load ever penetrating more than 4 sheets of sheet rock. Heavy hitter that turns non lethal quickly.



The idea is to incapacitate your target and keep threat of injury to non-combatants to a minimum. This qualifies for both.



An extra benefit, I have not yet met a surgeon that can sew a pound of hamburger together and make it back into a steak.

 

[rich m]

the best "defense" shot, is the one that DOESN'T have to be fired...

Any pump-action shotgun will do. The sound of an angry/frightened/annoyed person "CLACK-SCHLACK"ing a round into the chamber will often cause an intruder to un-a$$ the A. O. PDQ..... for the hard-heads, 3" 00-Buck in the guage of your choice, and let the intestines fall where they may.

 

[JR2]

Home defense gun list...



Mossberg 500 pump w/ pistol grip

Glock 21 with 15 hydrashocks in the clip

SW Sigma 40 loaded

454 Casull loaded with 265 grain hard cast winchesters

AR-15 2x30 round clips ready to go (short barrel collaspable stock)

New addition Marlin 45-70 Guide Gun



I keep most of them locked up but the mossberg is with in reach when I am in bed and the rest are just 3 seconds away.

 

[LSMITH]

Good advise has been given so far.



Keep a couple things in mind though. A short light 20GA will kick harder than a heavy 12GA. The 870 express is a good example, a youth 20 kicks a lot harder than a full sized 12 when comparable loads are used. 20 loads meed to be on the light side to compare to a 12 due to the weight of the 12 taking up a lot of the recoil. Ammo choices are 10 times better for the 12, 20 is pretty limited for defensive ammo.



Another thing, DO NOT load your own ammo for defensive purposes. For one you cannot match the reliability of premium factory ammo. Before I get flamed I reload over 20K rounds a year, and have done over 40K per year in the past. I have shot many hundreds of thousands of rounds of ammo. Another reason not to reload defensive ammo is the legal ramifications after you use it. It will positively be classed as a "purposely designed to kill and maim beyond reason" load. This has been hashed out in the courts time and again, you end up much worse off if you use a handload. If you shoot someone you will end up in court, take one of their sticks away from them by using factory ammo. Last, purpose built factory loads are as good as you can get for defensive situations. They have been tested and tested and tested, they do what they are supposed to.



For me a 1911 45 is my house gun, stoked with Federal 230 grain hydrashocks. I purposely selected the load to be ABLE to shoot through walls if I need to. If the bad guy is hiding behind the corner to shoot at me he is not safe. Stay low and shoot upwards, the chance of a neighbor being hit are very nearly non-existant. I also have a brick house, they are not leaving unless through the roof or a window.

 

[C Schomer]

I really like my 12 ga. Win 1300 w/24" rifle sight slug barrel. I even do very well hitting clays with it and 7. 5 shot. I've heard of raging lunatics standing up to big bore handguns but I don't think anybody could take too many 1 ounce shotgun slugs! It kicks like a big milkcow and I know that from experience For serious self defense, make the first shell or two buckshot for a big pattern, then the big stuff in case the buckshot doesn't work. Craig

 

[QRTRHRS]

Originally posted by JR2

Home defense gun list...



Mossberg 500 pump w/ pistol grip

Glock 21 with 15 hydrashocks in the clip

SW Sigma 40 loaded

454 Casull loaded with 265 grain hard cast winchesters

AR-15 2x30 round clips ready to go (short barrel collaspable stock)

New addition Marlin 45-70 Guide Gun



I keep most of them locked up but the mossberg is with in reach when I am in bed and the rest are just 3 seconds away.

Only thing I could add to this list is a couple of claymore mines.

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

I have an 18" barreled 870 express as well. I bought it for an ex-girlfriend when I was back in California. I have added an extended mag to it that sticks out just past the barrel and a sling. I don't use it for my home protection gun, I rely on my Sig P228 in 9mm for that (loaded with 115 grain +P+ Mag Safe rounds). I have it around for if IT ever hits the fan. I prefer the handgun because it's easier to lock up with easy access to it with a 2 yr old around, I've got tritium night sights on it for low light shooting, using the mag safe rounds I don't have to worry about killing my daughter in the next room, plus I shoot better with a handgun than a long gun. That being said, if IT hits the fan I will be toting the 12 gauge. One thing I have learned is that I don't want to shoot 3" rounds through it - the recoil is too bad IMO. Keep in mind that I shoot a . 338 JDJ hand cannon (200 gr . 338 @ 2400 fps out of a 14" hand gun)! I prefer 2 3/4" shells loaded with OO for it - I have much better shot to shot accuracy as well as speed with those. I also agree with the above advice to NEVER EVER use handloaded ammo for self defense. I load my own ammo for everything except my self defense loads. The legalities of using handloads are scary.

 

[merryman]

Don't let no STUPID GIRL shoot your BB gun.

When I was about 10, I was out shooting at birds with a BB gun (as I recall it was a friends), when the cute little girl from down the street walked up and asked if she could shoot it. Like a big guy, I loaded and cocked it and handed it to her-------she shot me in the leg, and as she tossed the gun on the ground, said, "there, thats for shooting birds!" and ran away.

The BB penetrated my pants and skin. I was able to squeeze the BB out, and, you can bet I never told my parents!!. While it hurt, I am sure glad it was not a couple inches higher and a few inches to the side!! I might be childless now!



Now, a Mossberg model 500 riot gun lays just under the edge of the bed. Since I have been shooting 12 gauges since I was a kid, the noise and recoil are not a factor, ans since the nearest house is about 150 yards away shooting into that house is not a fear, even with 00 loads



Vaughn.

 

[rich m]

Originally posted by merryman

-------she shot me in the leg, and as she tossed the gun on the ground, said, "there, thats for shooting birds!" and ran away.



Vaughn.

I wonder if she's one of those occasional naked P. E. T. A. protesters, now??? (like Ted Nugent says, "Vegetarians are cool. That's all I eat. " :--) ----took me a while to realize he meant deer, elk, etc.

 

[Neal Cassady]

Two Words...

Street Sweeper

 

[The patriot]

Dave, the sweeper in nice, and expensive. If a bad guy even saw one of them aimed at him, it would be enough to clean his colon, and make some fast tracks the other way.

I think "F troop" (ATF) re calssified them as a destructive device.

A while back they had a grace period to register them.



Eric

 

[Neal Cassady]

Expensive, that's for sure, but what I am protecting is priceless.



Paperwork, not a problem for me.



Keep a 45 single action revolver as a backup just in case.



Dave

 

[The patriot]

Originally posted by Dave D

Expensive, that's for sure, but what I am protecting is priceless.

I gotta agree with you there 100%. I hope you never have to use it though. The lawyers will have a feeding frenzy on you in court.

Eric

 

[Neal Cassady]

Family Policy

Take care of the bad guys first, worry about legal problems later.



I have a Wingmaster to show the LE folks when they show up, ballistics should be indistinguishable.



I go over this with my wife every chance I get. She works in an area that can be dangerous and the area we live in is slowly going down hill.



Criminals don't carry registered weapons and don't follow ATF policy.



I can provide the perp/perps with a weapon/weapons if necessary.



When/if you get to court, things go a lot better when there is only one side to the story.



Dave

 

[KMC]

Re: Family Policy

Originally posted by Dave D



I have a Wingmaster to show the LE folks when they show up, ballistics should be indistinguishable.



Dave

Ballistics may be indistinguishable but primer strike depth and location and marks on ejected casings will be. Just ask Maryland gun owners these days Come to think of it barrel length will have an impact on Ballistics. Forensic guys are no dummies... . Be careful!



Regarding family policy this quote comes to mind: "Better to be judged by twelve than carried by six" For sure!