One of the purposes of this prepper website is to provide information and if we have to settle some of this in the comments, that’s fine by me.
To frame the case for my belief on this subject a little more clearly, I will throw out the disclaimer that when I make this recommendation I am speaking to people who do not have any other firearms currently. If you are realizing just now that you may need a firearm for home defense and are looking for the best weapon to purchase first, this post is intended for you.
For the person who has nothing, I am going to go out on a limb now and describe what I think the best weapon you can purchase “right now” for a lot of various factors. The factors for deciding this weapon are based upon current events and the political climate to no small degree.
To cut to the quick, I will say that if you don’t buy any other weapon, a 12 gauge shotgun is the absolute best option you have right now. I honestly believe that when all else is considered, it is the best gun for home defense. Let the cussing begin! Why do I say a shotgun and not a pistol or machete or AR or AK? I’m glad you asked!
Cost
A 12 gauge shotgun is about the cheapest gun you can buy when you consider that most handguns now are selling for over $500 unless you buy a .380 concealed carry. Can you spend $3500 on a fancy shotgun that will be a collector’s piece? Of course you can, but that isn’t what I am talking about. If you have a ton of money you would obviously not stop here, but for the average person trying to make wise decisions with their finances, a shotgun is practical and affordable for most of you out there.
When people start looking for a defensive or tactical shotgun the focus turns to 2 main models, Remington and Mossberg. The Remington 870 is a legend and is the standard issue shotgun for a lot of police departments and armed forces. That alone drives the cost up. Adding all sorts of cool hardware like Picatinny rails, fore grips and pistol grips run the cost up too. You don’t need all of that stuff. Not now anyway. You need something to protect your family and the nice Benelli semi-auto isn’t called for here either.
I recommend buying a used shotgun that you don’t pay more than $300 for. Go to your local gun show and you will find lots of options. If you are looking in the right place you can get a new Mossberg for less than $200 but with each passing day that gets harder and harder. Is the Mossberg any good? Yes they are. Is it better and more reliable than a Remington 870? I don’t know. Here is what I do know though and that is if you do not have anything, you will wish you had something, even an old Mossberg when the Zombies or bad guys start coming in the front door.
If you are curious, there are lots of reviews on YouTube comparing the two and you can make your own mind up. There is an entire review comparing the Mossberg 590A, the Remington 870 and the Winchester 1300 defender by Nutnfancy that I highly recommend for its thoroughness. Either one is going to work just fine for you and you might find another model entirely. The brand isn’t the point so much as the type of weapon.
Availability
This is an easier one to deal with. Unless you have been living underground in your own doomsday bunker, you know that guns and ammo are flying off the shelves. If you were waiting to purchase an AR, you will have a while to wait if you are lucky. If you aren’t lucky, you might be SOL on the AR front. Shotguns however do not have the attention of the gun grabbers yet and they are still available. This availability results in cheaper prices as mentioned above. You can still go into your local sporting goods store an easily find a shotgun. You can’t say the same for an AR.
Ease of purchase
Shotguns or long guns generally don’t have the ridiculous licensing requirements that purchasing a handgun does. After a quick call and some paperwork, (provided you have a clean background) you can walk out with your very own 12 gauge piece of mind to add to your security preparations. You can go on your lunch hour and bring a brand new present home to your spouse after work. It’s better than flowers!
Availability of ammo
Just a quick check online finds plenty of ammo for the 12 gauge. You can’t say that for most common pistol calibers especially with the DHS purchasing 1.6 billion rounds for their own use. Another plus is there is a pretty wide variety of ammunition you can use in most shotguns. Most shotguns accept either 2 ¾ inch or 3 inch shells. Some, like my particular Mossberg model accept both. You then have Buckshot which is the most deadly, Slug, steel shot, bird shot, turkey or varmint loads and target loads. So many choices, so little time! You can easily buy a few boxes and have plenty of security for most any scenario. Now, in a total grid-down, end of the world apocalypse you will wish you have millions of rounds stored up, but we have to start somewhere. I like to buy a box of each caliber that I have (when I can) whenever I go to a sporting goods store and keep it locked away.
Related: The Lost Art of “Cut Shells”
Usefulness
A 12 gauge shotgun is one of the most versatile weapons you can have if the SHTF. You can of course use this as your defensive weapon and you can hunt small and even large game with it. A 12 gauge with bird shot is good for most small critters or birds but you want to be careful you don’t blow them to pieces. Throw some buckshot in there and you can go after the lone doe after all of the other deer are gone. A .22 is similarly good at plinking and shooting small game, but I wouldn’t want to face down a gang of intruders with a .22.
Accuracy
One good thing about shotguns from the perspective of someone defending their home is that you don’t have to be as accurate as you do with a handgun. A shotgun has a nice blast pattern that will hit anyone in the general direction down range to a certain extent. The flip side is that a shotgun is not generally relied on for its accuracy or range. This is a close quarters type of defensive weapon so you won’t be picking off the bad guys at 100 yards with this. When the Mutant Zombie Motorcycle gang rolls into your town, they will need to get a little closer before you can take them out, but that is for a different post. Another consideration since we are discussing accuracy is that you have to practice common sense. If someone is in your house and you shoot a shotgun, those rounds will go through sheet-rock walls and could hit someone on the other side. This is no different from just about any other type of common round though.
Ease of Use
A good shotgun is pretty simple; point and shoot. In some cases, the wracking part to get another round into the chamber takes a little practice. You want to make sure you don’t eject the good shell you had in the chamber so it isn’t perfect, but with practice this can be minimized. Most people will recommend a 20 gauge for a woman because they kick less but I guarantee you that your wife won’t mind the kick at all if someone is coming after her and she is forced to fire. A shotgun is easily handled by a woman and has less moving pieces to remember when you are stressed. That goes for guys too. Just the simple act of racking the shotgun and the unmistakable sound that causes may prevent you from having to use it in the first place.
This article was written by P. Henry and first appeared on The Prepper Journal
You may also like:
Home Security Tips From an Ex-Burglar
This Bug Will Kill Most of the Americans during the Next Crisis (Video)
If you are new to self defense like the author of the article, go to your local gun shop & ask their advice. A 12 ga shotgun may not be the best choice esp if your wife may be the one to use it. Typically a 12 ga shotgun is going to have a substantial amount of recoil. It is very important that whoever is using the firearm is comfortable with its recoil, this will directly affect how proficient/accurate they will be when shooting the firearm. If you/they can not hit an assailant/target when shooting the firearm, then it is useless.
Sounds like someone hit the snark button without bothering to read the last paragraph in this article.
My recommendations come from years of Law Enforcement experience, and then working in sales role at firearms retailers for over 15 years. You have to remember, a woman is not going to shoot a home defense shotgun the first time at an assailant. She is going to go to the range. If she develops bad shooting habits at the range because of excessive recoil, these bad habit will carry over into a real world situation.
Wow! Sorry but did/do you ride the short bus? My ol’lady is all of 100 lbs soaking wet and holding two 12 gauges! And I’d bet she’d out shoot you in a clay pigeon shoot all day long with my old single shot 12 gauge… And it doesn’t even have a bead on it!!! They make all different 12 gauge shells!!!! High base/ low base!! Hell Aguilar makes a mini slug!! Sure you won’t be killing any deer at 100 yards with it but it’d stop someone who was unwelcome and walking down your hall!! You set a 410 a 20ga and a 12ga out in front of my ol’lady and hands down, she picks up the 12ga every time!! Saying that a woman would be scared from the recoil of a 12ga is like me saying that I’m gonna take you logging for a day and giving you the biggest meanest chainsaw I got and letting a yard such as yourself loose!!! You’d be trying to cut your own leg off if you didn’t squash yourself first!! What has this world come too? We actually let people like you sell guns? And even worse, be a cop!?!? God help us all!!!! P.s. read the article 2-3-4 times before commenting next time! You look way more intelligent with your mouth shut!! Until next time…. Quite trying to bite your ear!!!
My brother recommended I get the Judge or the Circuit Judge for personal defense whether walking in the woods or home alone. What are your thoughts on this? I’m a mature citizen and great-grandma.
Very good article. I think you make a good recommendation for a budget-conscious, first-time buyer. When my wife and I married my father gave me a nice early model Remington 870 Wingmaster. Over the years the collection has grown from that humble beginning. Great article as usual, keep up the good work.
Reading this, i would like to add barrell length. I have the 870 tactical with the 16 inch barrel. Short is easier to control than long bulky 20 or 22 inch barrels.
A 16 inch barrel on an 870 Remington shotgun is illegal unless you have a federal license / permit. Minimum barrel length is 18 inches and 28 inches overall.
I realize this is an old thread, but if you have a shotgun with a 16″ barrel, you have an illegal weapon. Shotgun regulations are not the same as they are for rifles. Shotguns are not allowed to have a barrel shorter than 18″.
I have an 870, but not for self defence. For self defence I have an old double barreled, external hammer Baikal $125.00Cdn.! load 1 barrel with #9 shot, for sheer bloody mayhem and no exterior wall penetration and the other with buckshot. For the ladies get a 20 Ga. or a .410!
Shotguns are the most versatile of firearms.
However, They are bulky and do have recoil (refer last paragraph) but you need to consider the logistics. Will you find 16 or 20 ga when the SHTF?
Recoil can be overcome by acquiring reduced load ammunition. At 7m, any shot shall be effective.
It may also help a tyro if the chamber is loaded with snap cap.
I’m not great at math; however 1 &1/8 shot, 3dram charge. The felt recoil in 20 ga. is going to be greater than a 12. Smaller bore longer shot column, more friction than with a 12 bore. The ladies can handle a 12 as good as a 20.
really? really? you ever fire a shotgun yourself? If not, please do not comment on which one kicks most. Recoil has as much to do with brand and style of gun, gauge and the kind of shell you are firing. If one were to take, for example, a 20 gauge single shot shotgun firing a 3 in. magnum slug which will kick more than a simi-automatic 12ga shooting clay pidgin loads. But both being equal in the type or style of guns as well as the shell (yes, 12 ga. will have more shot/lead/powder than the 20ga) the 20ga will be less kick than the 12ga. When I was 13 hunting dove for the first time with a single 12ga and shooting num 8 short brass, at the end of the day my mom had a fit because of the bruised shoulder and bloody lip from “old thunder”. My dad took me to the store and I bought (yes my own money) a 20 ga. and problem solved.
I am a female and own a 12 gauge single barrel shot gun have used it for small game and deer both and never ended up all bruised. But then I am a veteran too so have shot many weapons. I happen to love my 12 guage but not as much as my 308 for hunting deer with.
Not true, recoil doesn’t have anything to do with bore size nor does friction. Recoil comes from the ejecta, weight of shot plus the powder, mitigated somewhat by weight of the firearm. It’s simple physics, more weight going out equals more recoil. !2 ga. throws more weight.
Gas operated shotguns have less recoil, too…
I would recommend a 12 gauge Remington 870 with a hydra-shock stock, with a pistol grip butt stock combo and a 18 to 20 inch barrel with an open bore / no choke. You can use a 1 oz slug (deer slug) for distance (drops about 4 inches in 100 yards). # 4 buck shot works good for self-defense ( 27 – 22 cal. balls) .
All good specifications for your recommendation.
With range practice, a 12-gauge shotgun may be used to repel invaders at respectable distances. (Many meters, not a few miles.)
For prepared fire-position situations, doesn’t anyone recall goose guns?
Pat: “I have a full choke Mossberg pump with a 36″ barrel, does that count?”
That’s a duck/goose gun. OK for firing from prepared positions toward yard / fence targets some meters away. Designed for open-spaces hunting, so useful for getting food. Distinctly unuseful for abode defense in close quarters.
Best also to have yet another shotgun which uses the same size-gauge shells, but which has a shorter barrel and overall length. Pump to be preferred, but for folks with flinch problems, a gas-operated semi-auto better.
Practice is paramount. Weapons are NOT magical talismans.
70 years ago I had a neighbor that had a 10 Ga. goose gun with a 36″ barrel in full choke. I never shot it, but then I never wanted to. Over the years I have seen 3″ 12 ga. with 36 inch barrels.
It is a common misconception that one cannot miss with a shotgun.
In s standard tract home in the U.S., under 2500 sq ft. the ranges at which an intruder will be encountered mean that the shot pattern will not be more than an inch or so in diameter even with a cylinder bore choke. It doesn’t take a ballistic Phd to realize that it is fairly easy to miss a target if your bullet is just an inch and a half in diameter. A shotgun needs to be aimed just as any other weapon needs to be aimed. You wouldn’t say about a knife, “Well, you are so close, all you have to do is stab him, anywhere will do.”
While mathematically the actual recoil between a 20 ga and a 12 ga may be quite small, the recoil we feel is perceived recall. There are other factors entering into perceived recoil other than just the physics involved. Even the noise of the shot affects how we perceive recoil. Just ask any shooter who has fired a rifle and then fired that same rifle with a suppressor on it. He will report that he shoots better with the suppressor because the gun doesn’t kick so much. The recoil is still the same. Velocity may be reduced due to the added weight of the suppressor, but it is the suppressed noise of the shot that lessens the perceived recoil.
Everyone has their own personal “best home defense” weapon. I might suggest a 18 inch (unless your state regulations are different, a shotgun barrel must be 18 inches in length to satisfy the federates) 870 or 500 and reduced recoil buckshot. While even #9 shot is devastating at 6 feet, any buckshot from #4 on up in size will do a better job.
As you say, at close range, the shotgun pellets will not have time to expand, I think you are even on the plus side, I would expect about 3/4 of an inch at 10 feet being the most. The myth of shotguns is so wide spread that it is hard to get people to even think realistically.
I am a small female. 112 lbs, 5’2″ tall, petite built. A 12 gauge knocks me through a loop. I have a 410, and love it. Easy to handle quickly, and hip shoot. Wouldn’t trade for any other type.
Thanks for your comment, Toni! You just gave me the practical information I actually need for myself, my sister, and our daughters to defend ourselves when SHTF.
We just received 30 Semi Automatic .410 shotguns that we purchased at the 2015 ShotShow. Awesome little gun. Came with two 5 shot magazines. After firing a couple boxes through one of these with both shot and slugs, I would highly recommend them for home defense.
Sally, a 410 will do the job but I’d recommend not getting a single shot. They tend to kick more than pumps or simi-autos. Also practice, practice, and then practice some more. Good luck. Mike
I’m a solid 190 lb male & there are shells, that when fired from a 12 ga do a job on me, and I never want to fire them again. There are other shells that I fire from the same gun that have hardly any kick at all, such as low brass #8 “birdshot” & there are many female shooters that fire this type of shell from 12 gauges all day long in competition without problems.
Anyone who thinks that birdshot is not a viable load for home defense should check out “Shotgun Ammo For Home Defense” by gunblast.com on youtube.
A 12 ga is not just far more effective than a .410, but in my experience it’s also a lot easier finding ammo for a 12 ga, not to mention the resale value of the gun.
I understand that the larger size & weight can be a problem, but if it’s recoil that’s causing you to hesitate
I would at least try a 12 ga with birdshot, for the practical reasons listed above & many more.
Good article. I personally think that just like every other gun, the best one depends on the “fit” to the person. After all the biggest difference in shotguns from h&r single shots to the high end browning or Beretta is “fit and finish”. They all shoot the same handful of rocks just as far and practically as well as each other. With that said I’ve shot several deer with my Mossberg 500 20ga that never noticed that the big fat hairy guy was using a”girl’s gun”! Your talking about unbelievable energy either way that flesh just can’t handle. If you want a gun, get the one that fits you. If it’s a 12ga rem 870 buy it. If it’s a Mossberg 20ga that’s lighter & thinner get it. BUT… a .410 isn’t a gun anyone honestly looking to keep the boogie man out would purchase. Its too small to even properly train kids with. Theres just not rocks in that little shell. All that said there’s no argument that 12ga shells are more common. (Nothing a Lee load all can’t fix)
I have a Remington Model 870 20 gauge JR. Express with an 18″ barrel and pump action (tactical black). I am a 5’3″ female and live alone. I wanted self defense (in addition to martial arts) and a friend who is a sheriff’s deputy recommended this gun. While most of the comments on this site discuss recoil when women are handling the gun, I haven’t see any of you guys mention weight. The weight is what was the deciding factor for me. I just don’t feel that I have the same control with the bigger guns–even though I could get used to the recoil. (This was the same issue when I was shopping for a cross-bow.) Why would you give a weapon to someone that is simply too heavy to control the accuracy? This control is also critical to confidence. Now, I know I can control that weapon if I have to go up against some bad guy who is almost sure to be a lot bigger person than me. Would YOU want to have to go into that situation with a weapon that is uncomfortably heavy and you are not sure if you can hit a target? (But, hey, you’ll get used to it. Does that statement make you feel like a bad-a**? It makes me pretty nervous.) Most men just do not think about strength as an important factor. I now feel confident I can hit anyone who decides my house looks like a good target. It might “only” be a 20 gauge, but I am positive I will hit any target I want. Isn’t that what you really want for your wife, daughter, mom, or girlfriend?
In the military, straight out of high school, we trained with many guns. Yes, being of little size, they were heavy and awkward. But the more we trained, the better we became. being an MP I was issued a 2 gauge twice a month. Try holding one for twelve hours standing outside the bank on pay days, with full NBC gear hanging off your duty belt.When you do it enough it becomes more natural. Now as a disabled veteran, I still have the 12 gauge for me and the smaller 410 for all others to use. I will also say, get your CCW. When you first begin to carry, it will fell strange and awkward, but the more you carry the more natural it and you will feel.
I am mixed about the CCW. If the CCW is government issued are you not on a “gun grabbers” list? How about some thoughts on this?
yes the unstated purpose of a ccw is a actionable list. Where I live this is not needed, nor will I EVER comply with this Illegal requirement from those that seek to rule us rather than represent us. My recommendation would be to collectively disobey these authoritarian wananbe rulers.
Further to my earlier post, and in reply to Toni and those in wheelchairs:
Firstly, a shotgun for someone confined to a wheelchair is not the best option UNLESS that person is large/heavy and determined or extremely skilled; such people can use a shotgun successfully especially if the shotgun has a rubber grip without a butt. It takes practice, but I have seen big guys in wheelchairs use this type of shotgun to great effect.
As for Toni and other light/small framed persons: There is a technique to shoot a shotgun without putting the butt to the shoulder, and this works for small people shooting 12 ga! Put the butt under your armpit and grip tightly with your upper arm. If you’re right handed (Clever/sinister people do the reverse please) turn your body a 1/8 turn (30-45*) to the right. The long barrel will allow you to point instinctively.
You are using this for defensive use not for wing-shooting, if you can hit an A3 size piece of paper at 5m (5 yards) you’ll do just fine. After a while and with confidence, you may start to learn how to shoot from the shoulder, but this is not essential. DO WHAT WORKS FOR YOU!
It doesn’t matter if people laugh at you, and call you a sissy for using this technique. If you can hit the target, and you know that you can, does it matter what idiots think?
Good advice, Ric.
Ric, my wife and I are both in wheelchairs, when I could stand I was 6’4″. I have both a 12 ga. and 20 ga.. I bought the 20 primarily for my wife but she has no interest in it. She much prefers her S & W 380 EZ. Every time we go to range she puts a full clip dead center in target. One clip a trip is all she will shoot. I cant come close to matching her with my 9 mil. I just learned real quick to say YES MAM when she talks lol
I have no trouble at all shooting either shot gun from wheelchair. So I think people in wheelchairs will have no problems unless they have physical restriction and being unable to shoulder gun.
The best weapon is a brain that is alert, and preplanned some reaction drill into a response. You need to have already planned what you are going to do when the intruder is there at 3 am , or you find some punk in your garage some morning. Situational awareness is very important, especially for females, who are more often targeted.
For women, Id recommend a .410, as some of the other commenters suggest. Don’t forgot to go do some trap and skeet shooting to get the feel of it and to develop some hand eye coordination and get use to using it under some kind of pressure.
I also really like revolvers for home defense. You know its loaded, no slide to rack or forgot to rack, no safety to forgot to disengage when you are woken from a deep sleep. I prefer a SW 686 .357 magnum as a bedside gun.
Is there such a thing as a .410 hand gun?
yes tompson contender. .410/45 cal.
Ruger before made a .41 caliber Western-style revolver. Cylinder maybe long enough to hold a .410 shot-shell? Recall ‘snake’ rounds being made for some calibers.
Women and even children can shoot gas-operated 12G semi-auto shotguns just fine. Recoil about the same as a .22 Magnum rifle.
Important thing in re prepping is to have all shotguns in a familial or clan unit chambering the same gauge, all pistols the same, and all rifles the same. Best to pick the most-effective and common gauge and calibers.
Opinions differ, but I advocate for only:
Shotguns: 12G (available in many different loads)
Rifles: .308/7.62mm NATO
Pistols: 9mm
Some rifles: .22LR (experts only)
Due familiarity, sentiment, or a nigh-religious conviction, people urge other gauges calibers, such as .223/5.56mm for rifles and .45 ACP for pistols. Nothing greatly wrong with such.
Except that a 7.62mm NATO round carries a bit further and can pop through light cover, and a 9mm magazine can contain more rounds than any larger caliber.
Yes, both Smith & Wesson and Taurus are making .410/.41 revolvers. They are called the Judge, the Prosecutor and other legal entity names. Mostly they are short barrel. For someone who is recoil sensitive, you might try to rent one at a range before popping the bucks for something you can’t handle to shoot.
Threatening with a gun and hoping to bluff the bad guy just doesn’t work. Ask any street cop how many times he has had a bad guy attempt to take away his handgun even when pointed at the bad buy.
I can remember a case in this county where a bad guy had a .44 magnum pointed at him. He told the gun holder he was going to insert it in the gun holder’s rectal cavity. He advanced, apparently to carry out the threat. The gun holder wasn’t kidding when he said he would shoot. He did with very fatal results to the bad guy.
There is a reason alcoholic beverages are sometimes called stupid water. That’s because they make you do really stupid things like try to take a .44 mag away from somebody holding it pointed at your chest. You can’t count on a bad guy being sober and thinking clearly. If you present a firearm, you must be determined to use it. If the situation doesn’t call for deadly force, DO NOT PRESENT THE FIREARM! Every defense expert will tell you that. In fact, in the PDRK there is a criminal code section called exhibiting a weapon (not just a gun) in a rude or threatening manner. It is a felony which means if convicted you lose your right to own weapons (knives included) parts of weapons or ammunition, even if you don’t have a firearm that the ammo will fit. (plus you might spend some time in the Crossbar Hotel making new friends.)
Every well thought home defense battery includes a 12 gauge slide action shotgun. as mentioned, the advantage of having an 18 inch barrel indoors is significant compared to a field length shotgun and I don’t think the matter should be understated. And as the author mentioned, I don’t believe that in a time of stress that the recoil is going to be a matter of import, although becoming”recoil shy” at the range is going to make for some bad habits. Recoil can be managed somewhat by keeping one’s knees and waist slightly bent and keeping one’s weight forward, and being sure the buttstock is situated more on the pectoral muscle rather than directly on the shoulder. On that note, smaller shooters will benefit greatly from a shorter buttstock. Lastly, as shotguns are somewhat limited in round count (thinking multiple assailants) a shotshell carrier fixed to the weapon can be a big plus. You can get the elastic ones that slip over the buttstock for about 8 bux, or go for the kind that bolts directly to the receiver. All that said, there’s not much that compares with a shotgun’s stopping power at close range.
Stock fit. For small women a youth gun is better. My wife petite. Got her a Remington 870 youth 20ga. Put a magazine extension on it so it holds 8 rounds. She loves it. Also, practice soooo important so they will have muscle memory built in when the world becomes surreal and fear freezes most. Keep it loaded and ready along with a bag holding 30 buckshot and 30 slugs in separated compartments. The right equipment, along with practice, and experience are the right ingredients to bake a nasty pie for the bad guys.
Great suggestions, Ricky, too for those of us with limited physical abilities!
I have M.S. and know I can’t handle a rifle. It’s got to be small and light for me.
Bobbie, I’ve exhausted all sites having anything to suggest for limited physical ability with a shotgun. I used a 12 gauge when younger with no problems and was accurate, pridefully so. Now, the recoil literally blows it outta my hands and prevents me from wanting to use it. We have a tax free gun show next weekend in our area. My husband will use our 12 gauge with a new pistol grip and a new 18.5″ barrel, while I have decided on either a .410 or a 20 gauge because of my limitations. If I have to go with a youth size, I will. If there’s a will, there’s a way for me as well as for you if we need protection. Research sites for limited ability, sites for seniors, and forums (you do not have to be a member to read the questions & comments) pertaining to guns. Not only do they offer great suggestions, but WHY they suggest what they do. Just from all my reading I’ve learned sooo much more about shotguns and handguns. I also have a Taurus PT111 G2. Long story short, 2 men didn’t offer to explain how hard loading the magazine would be and the recoil either. I’ve seldom used it. I won’t let my weakness overrule my need in a defensive weapon though. This week I’m loading and reloading the magazine to help the spring loosen up and I’ll be taking it to the gun show and have someone there work on it if need be, or trade it for a revolver which I’m more comfortable with. Blessings in your search.
Lucy: I see the gun show has come and gone. I would suggest that you look around for various devices that help in loading magazines. I have a ring that goes on my thumb that help me push cartridges into a .45 acp magazine. I have seen ads for devices that help load .22 magazines. I feel confident that with a little on-line research you can come up with a device that doesn’t cost too much money and will help you load your magazines. I think my thumb device was a buck.
lcc, cheaperthandirt.com, sportsmansguide.com. You’ll find several loading devices for almost all calibers. Mike
Shotgun is the best choice for home defense. Just don’t forget to add magazine extension, flashlight and sidesaddle. Those upgrades are must have for any home defense shotgun. Both shotguns described in this article are good. Remington 870 and Mossberg 500 are the most popular pump-action shotguns in the world.
You also forgotten to add that you can make your own shotgun ammo at home. Reloading of shotgun ammo is very simple. You can even cast slugs and buckshot. It is little trickier but still possible to make birdshot at home.
For a shotgun for home defense, round shot is not absolutely necessary. It is the most efficient shape for accuracy and distance but some time ago there was a company manufacturing shotgun shells with square shot. They may still be doing so, I haven’t checked recently. The theory was the square shot spread out more. It was for shooting trap and was supposed to enable you to break more birds. In the days of smooth bore muskets, if round shot was not available, pieces of nails and glass were rammed home over the powder. Small stones have also be used. Probably not great for the bore but if it is your life or the bore of the gun, you know the answer.
Proving your copywrong is ‘valid’ (not itself a copy of a prior work) is difficult and nigh infeasible. Some teachers have programs which use a sample text and tries to find prior copies online.
Imposing your copywrong is also difficult, unless you own a corporation like Sony, one with many expensive staff lawyers in several countries. In many poorer countries, a local regime won’t care unless you can bribe its officials to care.
Might as well take this attitude: Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
I would like to recommend the Savage Arms Stevens 320 Pump Shotgun in both 20 and 12 gauge. It is dirt cheap … has iron sights but best of all for beginners it has a pistol grip at the trigger making it easier to grab when pumping. I have trained newbies on it and it worked great… the investment of 199 bucks was worth it.
The best type of gun is one that is readily available, loaded, and fires accurately every time the trigger is pulled.
AMEN, Brother! Also plenty of practice with it so that when it comes to defense type action, its muscle memory.
And you can shoot accurately. I am opposed to semi autos as there is a tendency to rattle off shots to nowhere, and end up with an empty gun and the bad guy is still a threat. Learn to shoot a single shot, and then move up to pump, or semi auto. I daily carry a revolver because I never had a mal function with one, but can not say the same for semi’s.
Inside my home I have one hallway likely to be between “us and them”. A shotgun would suffice on that straight way if we stay at our end and they at theirs..but if that changes then a handgun will be the best option. I’ll start with a 9mm semiauto with defensive rounds and that will probably be that.
However, if a shotgun were the order of the day, then I would consider opting for 12 gauge mini shells with and adapter installed on a pump shotgun.
Seems like a workable solution.
Any thoughts?
Well, I would practice, practice, practice with the adaptor and mini shot shells in a pump action. The mini shells really shine in a single shot or double barrel shotgun.
For defense purposes, I prefer to stay as simple as possible without a lot of accessories. The 30 round magazine for the Glock is a good example. Sounds like a great idea for home defense but there is a good reason why Mr. Glock chose the size magazine he did for his guns and that is they work all the time. The lady legislator from Arizona owes her life to the 30 round mag that misfed and jammed the shooter’s pistol allowing bystanders to seize him and disarm him.
Those mag adaptors for the mini shells are new on the market and like many brand new concepts, they may have worked fine at the factory and in the lab, but real life is where the real test comes. Use reduced loads. A target load of number 6 at the distance you are talking about is still devastating. 3/4 of an ounce of pellets weighs 325 grains. A target load’s muzzle velocity is about 1075 feet per second. In comparison, a .45 acp’s military load is a 230 grain bullet moving at about 850 feet per second. You wouldn’t feel badly armed with a .45 acp, why would you feel underarmed with a shotgun firing a heavier load at a higher velocity? Sure, it won’t penetrate as deeply as the .45 acp, but a gut shot with the bird short will penetrate to vital organs and the shock of that load will certainly take the bad guy’s breath away.
I’ve used firearms and various weapons in many different places and climes.
For petite females, as said by another, gas-operated semi-auto 12-gauge shotguns exist, and lightly-used US-made ones aren’t very expensive. Recoil is markedly reduced, my try of a Remington 24″ had about the same as a .22 Magnum.
Issue not hammered upon is ammo supplies. Very helpful when every firearm in / around an abode uses the same gauge or caliber as all others. Another issue is not unnecessarily calling attention to your presence.
Crossbows are fairly quiet, and in extended exigencies more bolts may be made using a variety of materials. (Traditional bows require frequent and continual practice.)
Ammunition:
~ 12-gauge hunting shotshells ubiquitous, and may be reloaded. Every prepper should have at least one 12G.
~ 9mm also ubiquitous, due to its use in police and warfare situations. Latter also made in a variety of bullet types.
~7.62mm NATO for distance hunting and sniping.
All other ammo more special-purpose or for expert use. 5.56mm and 7.62 Warsaw are designed more for enemy suppression and wounding in military situations.
All that said, nigh any weapon is better than none when need arises. Use whatever is comfortable and cheap to feed, because practice is critical to proficiency.
I don’t think the author thought this out before writing this article.
“A shotgun has a nice blast pattern that will hit anyone in the general direction down range to a certain extent.”
Ermmm…
At 15 yards (almost 50 feet), a typical defensive buckshot load has ~6 inch spread from a typical modified choke 20″ tactical barrel.
Do any of you have a 15 yard line of sight anywhere in your house? Realistically, the max LoS in mine is probly 7-9 yards. So figure 3″ spread. So aiming is good….
Aiming is crucial, please stop perpetuating the Hollywood myth that a shotgun fired in the general direction of the bad guy takes care of them.
And referring to buckshot as “the most deadly”? I’d much rather be hit by a partial buckshot load (considering your ‘No need to aim’ philosophy) than a well-aimed 1oz slug….
Please, if you’re seeking a self defense shotgun, 12g Mossberg 500 or 590, or Remington 870, 18.5″ or 20″ barrel. Any of above can be found for <$500, often <$400, without much work. Do not follow this author's firearms guidance, an intro defensive firearms course would give you much more practical info.
I waant to to thank you for this very good read!! I certainly enjoyed every bit of it.
I have got you szved as a favorite to cheeck out new things you post…
homegun—–taurus judge with buck shot. or # 4 shot, or dragons breath in the house you cant beat it…..5 shots puts 15 buck shot pellets into a torso anyone can handle.
cops hate calls to domestic disputes. cop I know takes a defender to the door, and when it opens he racks the shot, it echos through the house and the place goes quiet. a12g mag with a slug will stop a grizzle bear. I have a 16g non mag and it will make a mess of a tree stump with a slug and buck shot will punch a 1″ hole in 3/4 plywood at a range you would use in home defense. knowing how to use the gun is more important than the gun. if some one pointed a 22 at me I would back away.
Don’t store boxes of shotgun shells by stacking them or place other weighted items on top of the boxes. The weight will slowly deform the shells (plastic or paper) and eventually they will not chamber in the breech or will become jammed in the magazine. Store boxes of shells in boxes designed for that purpose. I like the Plano ammunition boxes. The powder in all ammunition may settle and become compacted by vibration. This will result in incomplete burning when fired or a “squib”. Rotate all your ammunition and tap it gently with a wooden pencil to be certain that the powder remains loose and ready to fire.
What we feel any time we fire a firearm is called “perceived recoil.” That is what we subjectively feel and only has an indirect bearing on the mathematical recoil. Anyone who can do the math involved can figure the mathematical recoil of any piece. While I think it is the weight of the projectile times the velocity divided by the weight of the rifle or handgun, I am not so certain of that formula as to state it as a fact.
However, perceived recoil, what we actually feel, is a complex mixture of fit of the gun, noise of the discharge, how the firearm is grasped, composition of the surface of the buttplate etc.
I once had the pleasure of mounting a very expensive Franchi shotgun to my shoulder. Wow! Even though it wasn’t custom made for me there was no comparison between the way it felt against my cheek and shoulder as compared to my Mossberg 500. It also had a price tag with five figures to the left of decimal point as compared to my Mossberg which had low three figures to the left of the decimal.
That experience convinced me that should I ever win the Powerball, one of the deluxe items I would purchase would be a bespoke shotgun from one of the high end firms.
All that said, there are several things one can do to improve the perceived recoil of a shotgun. First of all, have a competent shotgun gunsmith cut or lengthen the stock to fit your length of pull. That alone will reduce perceived recoil. Also have him install a more resilient recoil reducing pad on the buttplate, keeping it the proper length for your length of pull. He can also drill holes in the stock and insert weights which will help reduce perceived recoil as the shotgun will come back slower in recoil if it weighs more. The real trick is to find a competent shotgun gunsmith. And you have to be willing to spend as much on the work or more than you paid for the shotgun.
If you are handy, you can do the work yourself but please make sure you measure twice and cut once. You might even buy a cheap old beater shotgun that doesn’t even work any more just to have a stock to practice on before you go for the gold.
It’s amazing how investing in a firearm that’s bost easy to wield and carry can help you prepare for self-defense! My colleague is interested in purchasing a firearm that he can carry for emergencies. Maybe we should visit a gun club where he could try some in the future!
Just subd.. Enjoying your content. Thanks. Now to the subject at hand. If I only had to pick one gun. It would be the Glock 19 9mm. And a USA one shot non NFA pistol brace. Easy to carry both firearm , and brace, and to conceal. Low recoil. Higher capacity magazines and multiple selections on ammo.. Brace is also legal to conceal and easy to fit into a day pack and quickly turns that pistol into a carbine. Add raised tritium night sights first and a detachable weapons light or light laser combination second and you have a formidable weapons platform. Even in SHTF, shooting an attacker or attackers at 100-200 yards is do able with the brace, though it might be hard to justify when law and order does return. But that brace will make for stable shooting from 20 ft to 200 yards with reasonable accuracy. Your wife or GF or teens can easily fire it. And 9 mm ammo is less costly than other calibers especially through a bulk ammo distributor. In SHTF ball ammo will work just fine because you are not as concerned with over penetration. If you have to shoot it will be with a minimum of two shots no matter what caliber. Pistol calibers depend on blood loss to stop the threat. Don’t buy a revolver as it has a limited amount of bullets and is hard to reload. The Glock is also easy to find parts right now and to change them by yourself with a manual if need be. The first rule of survival is to stay alive. Better to be able to go from no threat to lethal threat very quickly be it against one or more attackers. Generally a low profile is best. And only hits count not pistol caliber. The Brace will be a game changer.. And it is better to have two pistols of the same type and caliber. And two braces. Although you could get a third pistol such as the 10 mm Glock and use it with the brace to hunt deer or hog. Remember, you must carry whatever you pick. The lighter, more compact, concealable, and versatile, the weapon system, the more likely it will go with you everywhere. A riffle is for combat and is heavy. And if you’re the only one walking around with the rifle you just might be inviting Law Enforcement or several guys to take it from you. Same for a shot gun. A shotgun is not an effective distance weapon. A shotgun or rifle is good for a static defense. But you will eventually have to leave home, even if temporarily. A shotgun would be my last choice.