Hi all -
To say that I have limited firearm experience would be an understatement... but for the last few weeks as I've been planning on moving into my own house for the first time (no more apartment living), I've read up a bit on HD and believe I can ask at least marginally intelligent questions:
There's only going to be one occupied bedroom in the house, and it's not a condo or townhome, so I'm not particularly concerned about interior wall penetration. To that end, I imagine extra penetration could be desired if a BG puts me in a situation where I have to shoot (ie enters the room I'm in) and is trying to use cover.
I'm also in reasonably good shape and would expect that I'd be able to handle a 12ga if needed.
BUT, even if I can handle a 12ga and even if wall penetration isn't a concern, the only thing I expect to use my HD weapon for is just that, HD. I'm not a big fan of the idea of damaging my hearing, and if the range is almost never going to be more than 20 feet, wouldn't a 410 loaded with 00 buck be about as capable of taking down a target with the advantages of lower report and less recoil?
On that note, for those who would claim that a 410 lacks the power to stop a 200lb invader, does anyone have a story of someone being hit with buckshot from a 410 and not being dropped? (Where a bigger gauge gun would have made a difference?)
How do shotguns (and 410s in particular) stack up against body armor? Even if the shot doesn't penetrate the BG, would it still be like getting hit in the chest with a sledgehammer? (On the ground with the wind knocked out of you...)
Another question I have about any shotgun intended for HD use is the spread of the shot. All of the chokes offered on the various sites I've visited are the conventional variety which tighten the pattern thus enabling increased accuracy at greater distances, which I guess is great for hunting. The Mossberg HS410 purports to ship with a spreader choke, which I imagine is designed in such a way as to widen the pattern, which I am inclined to think would be a benefit in a close-range scenario, especially for someone like me for whom interior wall penetration isn't a concern. Are such chokes readily available? If I am convinced to purchase a 20ga or 12ga, would I be able to get a spreader choke for an 870 or a Moss 500? Even more intriguing is the "duckbill" choke I've read about which apparently puts out an oval shaped pattern.
I understand that shotguns aren't meant to be used in a sloppy fashion and that one must learn with practice how to accurately point the gun. (pointing vs. aiming) Having a wider pattern just seems like a nice advantage to have in addition to skills developed at the range.
If anyone has a link to a review of the Moss HS410, that'd be swell too.
Thanks!
To say that I have limited firearm experience would be an understatement... but for the last few weeks as I've been planning on moving into my own house for the first time (no more apartment living), I've read up a bit on HD and believe I can ask at least marginally intelligent questions:
There's only going to be one occupied bedroom in the house, and it's not a condo or townhome, so I'm not particularly concerned about interior wall penetration. To that end, I imagine extra penetration could be desired if a BG puts me in a situation where I have to shoot (ie enters the room I'm in) and is trying to use cover.
I'm also in reasonably good shape and would expect that I'd be able to handle a 12ga if needed.
BUT, even if I can handle a 12ga and even if wall penetration isn't a concern, the only thing I expect to use my HD weapon for is just that, HD. I'm not a big fan of the idea of damaging my hearing, and if the range is almost never going to be more than 20 feet, wouldn't a 410 loaded with 00 buck be about as capable of taking down a target with the advantages of lower report and less recoil?
On that note, for those who would claim that a 410 lacks the power to stop a 200lb invader, does anyone have a story of someone being hit with buckshot from a 410 and not being dropped? (Where a bigger gauge gun would have made a difference?)
How do shotguns (and 410s in particular) stack up against body armor? Even if the shot doesn't penetrate the BG, would it still be like getting hit in the chest with a sledgehammer? (On the ground with the wind knocked out of you...)
Another question I have about any shotgun intended for HD use is the spread of the shot. All of the chokes offered on the various sites I've visited are the conventional variety which tighten the pattern thus enabling increased accuracy at greater distances, which I guess is great for hunting. The Mossberg HS410 purports to ship with a spreader choke, which I imagine is designed in such a way as to widen the pattern, which I am inclined to think would be a benefit in a close-range scenario, especially for someone like me for whom interior wall penetration isn't a concern. Are such chokes readily available? If I am convinced to purchase a 20ga or 12ga, would I be able to get a spreader choke for an 870 or a Moss 500? Even more intriguing is the "duckbill" choke I've read about which apparently puts out an oval shaped pattern.
I understand that shotguns aren't meant to be used in a sloppy fashion and that one must learn with practice how to accurately point the gun. (pointing vs. aiming) Having a wider pattern just seems like a nice advantage to have in addition to skills developed at the range.
If anyone has a link to a review of the Moss HS410, that'd be swell too.
Thanks!