The best shotgun for home defense

[outrider58]

This would be the only SG(design) I would consider...

GEN-12 SBM 7" SBS

genesisarms.com

 

[dist1646]

Tell my grandmother that birdshot is ineffective and will not kill you. Birdshot is what was used to kill her. So much for those that know everything.

 

[hogarth]

Tell my grandmother that birdshot is ineffective and will not kill you. Birdshot is what was used to kill her. So much for those that know everything.

There are many cases of .22lr killing people. It doesn't mean there aren't better choices.

 

[alucard0822]

Tell my grandmother that birdshot is ineffective and will not kill you. Birdshot is what was used to kill her. So much for those that know everything.

Well there is an argument in favor of birdshot for defense I was not expecting. Well played sir, and sorry about your grandma.

 

[outrider58]

I'm not trying to kill Nana. I'm trying to kill a 380 pound, drug addled psycho-burglar who just donkey kicked my re-enforced front door in, in search for women, drugs and guns. I need 'real kill' in my hands, not something that's just gonna piss him off even more!

 

[joppaj]

dist1646, I'm very sorry to hear that.

Birdshot under the perfect circumstances may work. The chances that it won't are unacceptably high for me. My Agency issued 00. The USCG did too. It works very well if you hit a target at pretty close range and they're not wearing armor. The simultaneous multiple impacts in close proximity of 33 caliber projectiles moving fast does catastrophic damage. On a good center mass hit, the subject may well be incapable of further aggression and that's my goal. I don't want him to quit, I want him to be forced to stop.

 

[teratos]

dist1646, I'm very sorry to hear that.

Birdshot under the perfect circumstances may work. The chances that it won't are unacceptably high for me. My Agency issued 00. The USCG did too. It works very well if you hit a target at pretty close range and they're not wearing armor. The simultaneous multiple impacts in close proximity of 33 caliber projectiles moving fast does catastrophic damage. On a good center mass hit, the subject may well be incapable of further aggression and that's my goal. I don't want him to quit, I want him to be forced to stop.

And making an attacker drop requires either a brain stem shot or dumping enough energy into the target to disrupt the nervous system.

How many have seen a deer run a bit before dropping despite a shredded heart? Same thing with people…

 

[rbird7282]

Yes, everyone who disagrees with you "is either a fool, stumbling around in a cloud of pot smoke or read too many sgt rock magazines/you tube videos." You already had prior infractions so this is goodbye.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[dist1646]

dist1646, I'm very sorry to hear that.

Birdshot under the perfect circumstances may work. The chances that it won't are unacceptably high for me. My Agency issued 00. The USCG did too. It works very well if you hit a target at pretty close range and they're not wearing armor. The simultaneous multiple impacts in close proximity of 33 caliber projectiles moving fast does catastrophic damage. On a good center mass hit, the subject may well be incapable of further aggression and that's my goal. I don't want him to quit, I want him to be forced to stop.

To add a little more info about her death, she was hit at a distance of approximately 20 yards. Certainly not the optimal distance for birdshot to kill a human being. Having just measured the hallway in my house and then allowing a little bit of space that a person would occupy, it would appear that the actual distance would be roughly 12 feet. For anyone claiming that a birdshot round would not be lethal, I suggest a simple test. Go to a range or private property where you can try this, place 4 pieces of standard drywall at that distance and see what happens when it is hit with a single round of birdshot. I left out an uncle that was killed with birdshot because his was ruled a suicide. There is some doubt but, that is how it was ruled.

That said, birdshot is not what I choose, nor is a shotgun. I prefer a handgun at the close range encountered in my house, .45acp in my 1911 preferably or a Glock 19 gen2. Both with night-sight's. Much easier to turn and engage within close quarters than any long gun. Oh, and they still have to get past the 4 dogs first.

 

[hogarth]

To add a little more info about her death, she was hit at a distance of approximately 20 yards. Certainly not the optimal distance for birdshot to kill a human being. Having just measured the hallway in my house and then allowing a little bit of space that a person would occupy, it would appear that the actual distance would be roughly 12 feet. For anyone claiming that a birdshot round would not be lethal, I suggest a simple test. Go to a range or private property where you can try this, place 4 pieces of standard drywall at that distance and see what happens when it is hit with a single round of birdshot. I left out an uncle that was killed with birdshot because his was ruled a suicide. There is some doubt but, that is how it was ruled.

That said, birdshot is not what I choose, nor is a shotgun. I prefer a handgun at the close range encountered in my house, .45acp in my 1911 preferably or a Glock 19 gen2. Both with night-sight's. Much easier to turn and engage within close quarters than any long gun. Oh, and they still have to get past the 4 dogs first.

I'm not much interested in the lethality of any ammunition. I'm interested in stopping the threat. Lethality would be incidental. If the home invader dies in surgery or from an infection related to whatever I shot him with, I don't care. I do care about putting him on his ass with a single press of the trigger. And I'm not sure that anything else available to civilians is as guaranteed to do that as a 12 ga "properly" loaded.

Obviously, there are many versions of birdshot, and some have more potential "stopping power"/lethality than others. Nevertheless, your anecdote aside, there are way too many documented cases of people being shot with birdshot and then checking themselves into the ER for me to rely on it for anything except winged creatures.

 

[dist1646]

I'm not much interested in the lethality of any ammunition. I'm interested in stopping the threat. Lethality would be incidental. If the home invader dies in surgery or from an infection related to whatever I shot him with, I don't care. I do care about putting him on his ass with a single press of the trigger. And I'm not sure that anything else available to civilians is as guaranteed to do that as a 12 ga "properly" loaded.

Obviously, there are many versions of birdshot, and some have more potential "stopping power"/lethality than others. Nevertheless, your anecdote aside, there are way too many documented cases of people being shot with birdshot and then checking themselves into the ER for me to rely on it for anything except winged creatures.

That is your choice and you are entitled to make it. I am not saying it is the best option. Plenty of people have walked themself into the emergency room with wounds from those inflicted by rifle, pistol or shotgun. As I said, birdshot is not my first choice either, neither is a shotgun.

 

[Bountied]

I'm not much interested in the lethality of any ammunition. I'm interested in stopping the threat. Lethality would be incidental. If the home invader dies in surgery or from an infection related to whatever I shot him with, I don't care. I do care about putting him on his ass with a single press of the trigger. And I'm not sure that anything else available to civilians is as guaranteed to do that as a 12 ga "properly" loaded.

Obviously, there are many versions of birdshot, and some have more potential "stopping power"/lethality than others. Nevertheless, your anecdote aside, there are way too many documented cases of people being shot with birdshot and then checking themselves into the ER for me to rely on it for anything except winged creatures.

Shotguns are the most versatile firearm you can get due to the variety of loads for it. From blanks and rock salt, all the way up to slugs. It's not a bad choice for a do all only 1 gun since you can hunt, target shoot, and use it for home defense. Is it the best at all of these? No. But everyone who has ever done the "you can only have 3 guns thing" always includes a shotgun. Just sayin... 9mm pistol, 12ga, .22 rifle, covers pretty much everything. Obviously in my opinion only but that is what I would choose.

 

[possumman]

Anyone who ever attended the Rabbit/Pumpkin Halloween shoots they had at Hopewell F&G will know that a face full of 7 1/2s or 8s at less than 10 yards will really ruin your day. Not my first choice but I always have plenty of it around.

 

[alucard0822]

Anyone who ever attended the Rabbit/Pumpkin Halloween shoots they had at Hopewell F&G will know that a face full of 7 1/2s or 8s at less than 10 yards will really ruin your day. Not my first choice but I always have plenty of it around.

I have attended that shoot years ago, but apparently they are shooting each other in the face now? Dist's family should avoid that place at all costs.

 

[outrider58]

I have attended that shoot years ago, but apparently they are shooting each other in the face now? Dist's family should avoid that place at all costs.

 

[BurkeM]

If I want to invest up to $2K for a shotgun for home defense purposes. What would be the best choice? It will be my only shotgun. Thanks.

Come to the Howard Co Gun Show this weekend (9/14-15) and shop around.

You really don't need more than $300-400 bucks for home defense.

 

[BurkeM]

Iver Johnson Arms PAS20 PG-R/C Johnson Shotgun 20GA. 3" 18" CYL Blued QD PG Buttstock Shotgun

Iver Johnson Arms PAS20 PG-R/C PAS20PG: IVER JOHNSON ARMSPUMP Action Shotguns w/2-PIECE Pistol Grip - 20GA - Black FINISH• Manufactured by Armed Guns in Turkey • 2-piece removable pistol grip stock • Picatinny rail on receiver w/fully adjustable sight • Fiber optic front sight • Muzzle break...

www.classicfirearms.com

Iver Johnson Arms PAS12 PG-R/C Johnson Shotgun 12GA. 3" 18" CYL Blued QD PG Buttstock Shotgun

Iver Johnson Arms PAS12 PG-R/C PAS12PG RAIL: IVER JOHNSON ARMSPUMP Action Shotguns w/2-PIECE Pistol Grip - 12GA - Black FINISH• Manufactured by Armed Guns in Turkey • 2-piece removable pistol grip stock • Picatinny rail on receiver w/fully adjustable sight • Fiber optic front sight • Muzzle...

www.classicfirearms.com

 

[smokey]

To add a little more info about her death, she was hit at a distance of approximately 20 yards. Certainly not the optimal distance for birdshot to kill a human being. Having just measured the hallway in my house and then allowing a little bit of space that a person would occupy, it would appear that the actual distance would be roughly 12 feet. For anyone claiming that a birdshot round would not be lethal, I suggest a simple test. Go to a range or private property where you can try this, place 4 pieces of standard drywall at that distance and see what happens when it is hit with a single round of birdshot. I left out an uncle that was killed with birdshot because his was ruled a suicide. There is some doubt but, that is how it was ruled.

That said, birdshot is not what I choose, nor is a shotgun. I prefer a handgun at the close range encountered in my house, .45acp in my 1911 preferably or a Glock 19 gen2. Both with night-sight's. Much easier to turn and engage within close quarters than any long gun. Oh, and they still have to get past the 4 dogs first.

20 yards with birdshot? She had to have been pretty unlucky and caught it in the throat or something. Just physics dictates that you're not getting much terminal effect from birdshot at that distance. It certainly won't be a reliable defensive cartridge to quickly stop someone. Not trying to be too callous and I am sorry for your loss, but you did bring it up.

Getting shot with anything sucks, but birdshot isn't an effective defensive load.

 

[BurkeM]

I’ve found that it’s also pretty hard to find a range that will let you shoot any load from a shotgun other than just a rifled slug. Are there public ranges out there where you can do this, to put a HD shottie thru its paces?

Determining what buckshot load is best and getting familiar with working your particular shotgun isn’t as easy as many make it seem.

The AGC.

Home - Associated Gun Clubs of Baltimore

Check the AGC Calendar for Range Events!!! Multiple Caliber Restricted Events on the 100-yd Range exist between now and 10/7/24! ACTIVITIES/EVENTS A pleasant, park-like atmosphere to safely shoot Air Pellet Pistol & Rifle, Handgun, Smallbore, Benchrest & High-Power Rifle, Trap and

agcrange.org

NOT a "public" range, you must be a paid up member (badge holder) or the Guest of a badge holder.

There is a specific Shotgun pattern range.

You may also shoot on the 100 yard range (place your target anywhere between 10 yards and 100)

 

[Huckleberry]

If you're going to go with a Shotgun then have a little style and class

Matched Greener SxS set

Good Ol' Betsy is optional for a extra backup