I'm just curious where everyone stands. If you hear glass breaking in the middle of the night would you rather grab an 870 or an ar-15?
This stems from a discussion I had a few days ago with a friend who was asking for advice for his first shotgun for home defense. I told him that had I known then what I know now, I don't think I would have gotten a shotgun originally for that job. Between weight, magazine capacity, possibly messing up the pump, large recoil, and overpenetration with an expanding shot pattern with buck shot, I think today I'd pick the ar-15. It seems like it creates a pretty nasty permanent cavity of its own. If it does penetrate through walls, it probably won't be as many, plus it won't be in a widening pattern. Plus in the highly unlikely event your intruder has armor you have an advantage.
What do you think, am I off my rocker? Is the pump shotgun the classic home defense gun thats been surpassed by better things today while most people think of rifle rounds and being one that will go through a city block of houses or am I lured into a sexy black rifle and underestimating the advantage of sending 8 large pellets someone's way in a hurry?
This stems from a discussion I had a few days ago with a friend who was asking for advice for his first shotgun for home defense. I told him that had I known then what I know now, I don't think I would have gotten a shotgun originally for that job. Between weight, magazine capacity, possibly messing up the pump, large recoil, and overpenetration with an expanding shot pattern with buck shot, I think today I'd pick the ar-15. It seems like it creates a pretty nasty permanent cavity of its own. If it does penetrate through walls, it probably won't be as many, plus it won't be in a widening pattern. Plus in the highly unlikely event your intruder has armor you have an advantage.
What do you think, am I off my rocker? Is the pump shotgun the classic home defense gun thats been surpassed by better things today while most people think of rifle rounds and being one that will go through a city block of houses or am I lured into a sexy black rifle and underestimating the advantage of sending 8 large pellets someone's way in a hurry?