HD shotgun or pocket revolver?

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txgolfer45

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For my next purchase, I'm thinking of either an S&W 442 j frame revolver or a Remington 870 Express Tactical. Trying to decide which to get first. I like the idea of the lightweight revolver as a conceal carry weapon. But, I also like the idea of a higher capacity shotgun for home defense. I have several hunting shotguns. But, their capacity is 2+1 or 4+1 if I take out the plug.

I have a Kahr PM9 as a pocket carry. But, I'm thinking the j frame would be a good backup gun.
 
Shotgun FIRST.

Get used to it, learn it. Then maybe a handgun and/or taser like we did.

A little bit of layered defense there.

But when the chips are down and BG is advancing, that shotgun with the right ammo (Not necessarily the ones I love) will discharge the perp from this Worldly life. A Handgun might miss or lack stopping power.

My own situation medically dictated a shotgun first with some extra add-ons specifically to assist in targeting.

Handguns came later after we settled down. I tell you it's fun and cheaper to shoot hangun. But that shottie isnt going to be neglected either.

What's next? A Rifle?

Nah.
 
I have several other handguns in various calibers. I typically have my Glock 23 near by. But, my shotguns are all hunting or clays guns with plugs in them for migratory birds.

I like the idea of a higher capacity shotgun than 4+1.
 
I dont know of anyone large enough to absorb 5 slugs or loads of 00 and keep on coming. Oh boy would that be something indeed.
 
+1 on the shotgun. get one with an open bore or improved cylinder barrel. you want the pelets to open up fast. inside your home, all of your shots will be at extreemly close range. you will want the pelets to start opening up as soon as they leave the barrel. a long lost buddy of mine bought a "riot gun" for his home defense weapon of choice something like 25 years ago. i lost track of him after i got married and moved away from my home town.
 
I carry concealed a 442 every day out in the real world. It's parked at sleep-time in the close-to-my-bed stealthy lock-up along with a Mossberg 590 12 ga 8-shot, and Mossberg 500 20 ga 5 shot (my wife's go-to), and a Marlin 336 in 35 Remington. In most bump-in-the-night or alarm-goes-off situations, I used to pick up the 590. Now I grab the 442. It's just become more natural to me for that sort of thing. If a carload of drunks was in my front 40 at 3 am, I'd put the 442 in my pocket and investigate with the 590, while my wife gathered the kids with the 500 at her side. The Marlin is there for when my wife wakes me up and says: "Hey honey, there's a Coyote in the back yard"...

Les
 
I think you should decide what your priority is right now. Since you already have a carry gun, I'd say go for the 870.
 
I have several options for carry guns = all semi-autos. No small revolvers. Thus, the desire for an S&W 442 or 642.

But, I don't have a dedicated HD shotgun either. I'm thinking the HD shotgun first. Even if Obama tries to reinstall the AWB, a 442 would still be available. Maybe not the higher capacity shotgun.
 
If you already have your CCW, I would get a CCW weapon. You can successfully defend your home with a pocket revolver, but you can not conceal a shotgun throughout the day, away from home.

The thing is to protect yourself, all the time, not just in your home. Unless you stay at home 24/7, the pocket revolver is a more versatile option.

The shotgun for home defense would be the second logical choice because of it's superior stopping power, assuming it is used properly.
 
Why not get a short barrel for one of your shotguns for HD and the j frame?
 
Why not get a short barrel for one of your shotguns for HD and the j frame?
Click to expand...

+1 5 shots out of a shotgun is a lot of firepower. You can always add an extended tube magazine if you feel you need more shells.

When you go hunting, convert back or use another one of your shotguns.
 
I'm hearing that something like 1 out of 5 home invaders is now wearing some sort of a protective vest. So your handgun skills in the dark just after you roll out of bed has to be good enough to qualify you for the Olympics, or you get the 12 ga.
 
Well. Those Vests will be a problem.

I decided that slug or heavy buck will resolve that issue, it might take more than one round. I think my .45 FMJ will go through or hammer the BG hard.

Ive seen many tapes of people taking hits on the vest, recovering and accurately returning fire.

Thinking about these kinds of things was why we got our burials in order so that the funeral home can simply run through the folder from page one to last until everything is complete. We dont live forever on this world.
 
Not too crazy about the idea of the BGs wearing Kevlar vests, but either way, I'd opt for the revolver first. Depending on the set up of your house, apartment, condo, etc., you may be better off manipulating tight halls and door ways with a revolver at the ready than a shotgun pointed at the floor. I use my Smith 66 and a Surefire flashlight to check the downstairs when something goes "bump". A shotgun's definitely got advantage of "copious amounts of lead" to throw down the hall, but I think flagging yourself in a doorway or not being able to hit the light switch without changing your firing position is just as important to consider.;)
 
Every object in the house is known to me. Once a week I start at one corner the same one and pace out to everything else in pitch dark. If I can get to each of the 4 specific spots I want to without kicking, banging into or hitting barrel on anything Im happy.

All the spouse has to worry about is keeping that Alamo door shut, anyone through without prior challenge/counter or LEO challenge 911-info is going to get blasted.

One thing we WILL NOT do.

1-Submit to BG invader on knees begging for life. Ive already have lived my life and died a few times. Ive had a good run. Im not suicidal. But no punk BG is gonna get inside un-invited and roam freely on our turf.

And judging from the recent home invasions defeated by Homeowners in the last 12 months or so, Im in good company in this state.
 
Neither. If I'm protecting my home with a handgun, it's gonna be a .45 ACP. My particular flavor would be a 1911.

Long gun? Well, lots of thinking these days pointing to an AR (or other EBR in .223) as a better choice than a shotgun.
 
If you've already got a collection of shotties, just slap a short barrel on one and get a J-frame. A man is never fully dressed without his Chief.

If you do go with the shottie forget about magnum this and 3" that for HD. Look at the reduced recoil fighting loads. They hit almost every bit as hard within reasonable fighting ranges and they are much kinder to the shooter.
Most importantly, If you are going the shotgun route you need to practice more than most people think. Even with the most wide open choke the pellets never spread as much as people imagine. You need to AIM a fighting shotgun just as much as you need to aim a rifle.
 
I agree with using fighting loads instead of pure mags.

Short Tatical SLugs with a range of .. 35 yards and goodly amounts of KE will do the job, as will 00 or 000
 
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