Why a Home Defense Shotgun?

[Astro]

I would say that you dont "need" all that stuff but it just add's to level of potential zombie killing power lol. All I need is my trusty xd and a short barreled 12 to fill the hall with lead to protect my girls. Hopefully I wont ever need either, but if the time comes I don't want to be lacking in fire power.

[troglodyte]

Whew! 8 pages in now so I guess I'll throw my change into the hat.

I have an 870 set up with an 18" barrel. I pulled the plug so I have 5 rounds of 00 buck ready to go. If a weekend bird hunt happens to pop up (I can only hope) then it only takes me a couple of minutes to swap barrels and drop the plug in. Grab a couple of boxes of birdshot and I'm good to go.

I figure 5 rounds of buckshot and my XD9 with reloads will take care of the threat. If it hasn't, I expect my wife to have the safe open by then and I will start in with a vengence...or I will be dead and she will have to take over.

Shoot what you got. They all have their strengths and weaknesses. Learn how to maximize the strengths and minimize the weaknesses. That's why I put on an 18" barrel, it is just a little handier. That's why I have two extra magazines for the XD.

A plain-jane Mossy will do just fine. AAMOF I have a 20ga 500 in the safe...loaded and ready to go with buckshot.

My kids are grown so I don't have a problem with a loaded gun being found by a youngster.

No racking. They will be lucky to hear the safety clicking off. I read somewhere that the only sound worse than hearing the racking of a shotgun in the dark is the answer of two safeties clicking off. BTW I have been on the business end of a shotgun...obviously they didn't pull the trigger...but that is one biiiiggggg hole in the end of that barrel ...and he didn't rack the slide.

Realistically, I don't plan on trying to clear my house by myself. I will hunker down, cover the door, and call the police. That being said, I do check out bumps in the night but I usually have a good idea that there is nobody in the house or the sound is outside. Not a perfect plan. If they are going after the boys then all bets are off and I'll do what I have to do.

Fickman - Don't discount the cheap, sheet metal safes (Stackon I think). They can be had for fairly cheap and will do the job of discouraging youngsters. I used one for years until I could get a "real" safe. I use the cheap one to store ammo in now.

I have a few photocell nightlights scattered through the house. Not enough to use a lot of energy or be too bright at night but provides enough light to make out things/people at night and they keep me from tripping over the ottoman on my way to the kitchen at night.

And for my self-defense movie clip reference may I present (Lang. warning)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kv4n2SDM1-o

I just need two pistols....Rugar p90s with maximum of 18 rounds (8+1 each). Notice how he is able to squeeze out about 22 shots with his modified Cross Weaver stance before he needs to reload...and he is not at slide lock yet. After the reload he gets 32+ shots...must have been compact extended mags and the slinging grip he uses.

Regardless, it's one of my favorite gun movies.

When it is all said and done. Know how to use what you got. The latest, greatest whiz bang boom stick with all the gizmos hanging off of it will not do you any good if you don't have the skills to use it and, most importantly, the mindset to use it.

[fickman]

Fickman - Don't discount the cheap, sheet metal safes (Stackon I think). They can be had for fairly cheap and will do the job of discouraging youngsters. I used one for years until I could get a "real" safe. I use the cheap one to store ammo in now.

Good idea. . . I'll check into this.

[pbwalker]

Fickman - Don't discount the cheap, sheet metal safes (Stackon I think). They can be had for fairly cheap and will do the job of discouraging youngsters. I used one for years until I could get a "real" safe. I use the cheap one to store ammo in now.

Good idea. . . I'll check into this.

I've got the 8 gun Stack*On Cabinet as an entry level (read: I can't afford a $800 safe right now) solution. I love it.

[Rifleman55]

I keep both a pistol and a shotgun handy by my bed, If things go bump in the night,and your adrenlen is flowing, which do you think it will be easer to hit with. I like a shotgun myself, and I shoot my pistols under pressure from a clock in competition.

[papabear]

My shotgun & pistol are both in easy reach of my bed.
Circumstance decides which one I grab first.

[Skiprr]

Speaking of HD shotguns, considering the horrendous anti-gun treatment of ABC's 20/20 last Friday, I thought I'd post a vid from a Cape Girardeau television station in Missouri from last November. Kudos to the woman for arming herself (albeit not soon enough), kudos to the TV reporting, and kudos to the DA.

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=_NJQK2BscIg[/youtube]

[solaritx]

maybe all this has been hashed out already, but here is my opinion:

Each weapon (like each tool) has a job that it can preform well. No one tool generally does all jobs. That said, reasons for a HDS:

1) generally affordable even in these times
2) The "holy grail" of defense: what round is better? It is generally thought that the larger amount of lead that goes in causes a direct effect of larger damage. That is why a 9mm is better than a .22 or a .45 is better than a 9mm, etc. With that premise, a shotgun slug that is equal to about 3-4 rounds of .45 will do greater damage.
3) while longer barrel length can be a disadvantage in house clearing, movement, etc.....a longer barrel does allow the average individual to make hits on target much easier.

Me: HDS with first two rounds slugs, then 00 buck, then slug, then 00 buck. (sideholder 6 rounds/ half slug and half 00

Why? The logic? When hunting deer with shotguns, what do we normally use? 00 buck or a slug? Why? Because it does the job.

[SlowDave]

Me: HDS with first two rounds slugs, then 00 buck, then slug, then 00 buck. (sideholder 6 rounds/ half slug and half 00

Why? The logic? When hunting deer with shotguns, what do we normally use? 00 buck or a slug? Why? Because it does the job.

Because buckshot is sub-optimal on a target at the typical 50-100 yard range of a deer (shotgun) shot, which is not the typical range for home defense. I think there's a general consensus (at least all the people in my head agree) that buckshot is the optimum shotgun round for home defense (and inside the house deer hunting). Larger pattern (slightly), lots of knock-down, lower risk of over-penetration and secondary damage to folks in other rooms/houses... all good.

But, if you're planning to take some 50-100 yard shots in your home self defense plan, definitely stick with the slugs.

[solaritx]

Dave,
I have to respectfully disagree with your logic. Following your logic, all home defense will be up close and personal and the guiding rule must be not to have over penetration. With this logic, one should never use a handgun in the house because each round has the potential to over penetrate and thus go thru someone or a wall, etc.....even hollowpoints.

With your logic, one should never use a rifle of any kind for home defense, reasons: see above

First: the four rules of safe gun handling
Second: each type of round (slug and shot) have a place in defense of one's self and one's home. They are tools. Having multiple tools in one's toolbox is rarely a bad thing
Third: I rarely know the exact circumstances of a gunfight, so being prepared in the most realistic manner seems prudent. Not knowing if I will have to defend inside my home or somewhere on my land where the shotgun could double as a rifle seems prudent. As far as distance, I have a hallway that runs the length of my house that is 30 yds from end to end which is coming close to your example of deer hunting scenario.
Forth: the blunt dynamics of a slug has a similar effect as a hollowpoint. This is not a sharp pointed projectile but rather designed as a heavy mass that hits, penetrates, disperses it's energy quickly. If in the case that it does exit, see the first point.
Fifth: even birdshot will go through house walls, depending on range, etc. so "00" is not a total option for not having lead go into other rooms, etc.

To each their own. You like OO. Fine. It is a good tool for defense. You feel that one tool will do the job. My background and my prior knowledge dictates that multiple tools and multiple options have better outcomes.

To each their own.......and hoping that for both of us, these weapons and/or theory will never have to be tested in this day and age.

[LSUTiger]

I normally keep a Taurus .357 tracker 7 shot revolver w/ Surefire G2 flashlight (for the wife) and a Springfield XD .45 with the 13rd mag and Streamlight TLR2S (for myself) on the nightstand.

I also have a Winchester 1300 Defender 12 Ga. Pump, 7+1, 6 shell side carrier 18"Barrel with bead sight, ATI collapsable stock and pistol grip and regular foregrip, and a Surefire G2 Flashlight attached with a tacstar light mount.

I am thinking of getting a Rem. 870 Tact. Express with XS sights, Knoxx Stock, 6+1, 18.5 barrel, some type of breacher choke tube for $600.

I am more comfortable with the safety and unloading mechanism on th 870 since thats what I grew up with. Also, the XS sights make me feel way more comfortable for aiming and availability of accessories for the 870 is better. Actually, I don't feel comfortable aiming with the bead sights, never did, thats one of the main reasons why I dont use the shotgun as my main home defense weapons. I would feel much more confident having the ring sights.

But I love 12Ga and the 870 and think if I had the right gun and configuration then I would definitely be more likely to use it.

I want to add the 6 shell side carrier and the laserlyte trirail and TLR1S or TLR2S.

Any recommendations on the TLR1S or 2S, are lasers on a shotgun really useful or just tacticool?

Any comments?

[sugar land dave]

Any comments?

Yes. You just raised a 2-year old thread from the dead. Do you do exorcisms too?

Seriously though, welcome back to the forum!

[stevie_d_64]

I would just say that I am appalled at all the negative nancy's out there who have been (for two years) poo-pooing on the idea of keeping a shotgun loaded and handy in the first place...

So my thought is, just don't get one, snoop-smarty-smarts!!!

While I am a fan of not making a criminals job easier, or safer for that matter...I will do my best to make it as un-fair as possible...They will never be that unhappy again...

[MoJo]

Nothing brings a bad guy around to your way of thinking faster than a load of 00 Buckshot to center mass.

[sugar land dave]

Nothing quite as chilling as the sound of a pump action slide being racked. Bad guys beware!