The Home Defense Shotgun

[huntsman]

The misconceptions surrounding the defensive shotgun could easily fertilize California's Imperial Valley for months, if not years. Such statements as "Use a shotgun--you can't miss" or "My 12 gauge will cover that wall" are plain BS.

The stuff Hollywood puts out is even more misleading. For the record, you can easily miss with a shotgun, and the pattern covers only very small walls at short yardage. Cinematic scatterguns may lift grown men completely off their feet or stop large cars in their tracks, but real ones don't do anything of the kind. Nevertheless, the shotgun remains an excellent choice of armament for use in home, camp or ranch defense--just about anywhere concealment is not an issue.

http://www.gunsandammo.com/content/the-home-defense-shotgun?page=1

 

[Rshooter]

Thanks for the link.

 

[oneounceload]

If Hollywood's gun scenes were actually realistic in their expectations, many an action movie would never have been made

 

[mothermopar]

I consider the 12 gauge the best all around long gun. Period. With the right ammo, you can hunt bird to bear and defend your home.

Anyway, there are alot of misconceptions out there and thanks for posting the link.

 

[Boomm]

Great post! I'm thinking of sawing off my stoeger double to an 18 in bbl

 

[dogngun]

I carried a Winchester M12 in the Army back in the stone age -

around 1970. I still keep a shotgun-soon to be 2 of them-for home defense, but it's not what many people think is necessary, just a simple 12 ga pump with a short barrel and cylinder bore, with a large number of Remington 00 buck and some slugs in different sections of a bandolier. I have NOTHING EXTRA on the gun, no magic lights or fancy stocks, just the factory wood furniture. There are no trick features I would have to remember if my dog woke me up at 3AM - just the type of shotgun I have been using-and can work in my sleep if necessary- for 30 years or so, close at hand. (My guns are a standard Mossberg 500 and an old Stevens 67 slug gun. They are reliable, cheap and easy to use and they both have a tang safety.) No fancy ****, no space gun stocks or magic ammo, just old and reliable stuff.

I have a 1911 on hand for the same reason - I don't have to think about how it works in the dark or when half awake.

There are no "magic guns" - you must have something reliable (simple) and familiar and you really must practice with it, even to the point of learning how to manipulate is with one hand and/or the wrong hand.

Finally, Hollywood has no idea about guns at all other than that they look cool and make a sharp noise.

Just my opinions - great post,OP - thanks.
I also really enjoy shotguns for hunting.

 

[ironvic]

My HDSG is an 870 with cop wood furniture and a short barrel and bead sight. Keep it simple, I agree. My other HD gun is a S&W Model 10 4". KISS all the way...