Best guns to defend your business

[Solus]

Staying with the shotgun, but Haz is right.  Small gauge.

In this scenario I see range as a "con". 

Also, only 1 of the 4 has any stated experience with a fire arm, so even if AR's and hand guns were allowed, they would be more difficult to fire effectively even at close range.

This is a defensive situation. Everyone will be inside and should be behind any "cover that is available..counters, boxes, what ever.

Empty any window display items so that any looting will need to be done inside. 

You might loose the big windows, but that is better than standing outside and trying to defend them.

Anyone comes in they die. 

Large ammo capacity is not likely to be needed...this is not an assault, just looting..and they will be deterred when the first guy in is dead or bleeding out in the store front.  You will likely have plenty of time to reload between attempts, if there is another attempt with, with dead bodies showing what they can expect.

And you don't want to risk hitting folks not trying to enter the shop, both for legal and moral reasons, so the less range the better.
 

[tombogan03884]

I would not recommend any Gauge other than 12 or 20.
Ammo capacity is limited so you want the most coverage possible per shot.
Also, the stove pipe type barrels of 12 and 20 gauge have an intimidation factor lacking in 410.

[Solus]

Don't really know much about the effectiveness of a .410.  I hunted with both 12 and 20s, but have never even shot a .410.

In my mind, they would never get to see the barrel, just the muzzle flash if they happened to be looking that way.

[Hazcat]

I would not recommend any Gauge other than 12 or 20.
Ammo capacity is limited so you want the most coverage possible per shot.
Also, the stove pipe type barrels of 12 and 20 gauge have an intimidation factor lacking in 410.

Rule of  thumb is 1" spread per yard from a shotgun regardless of gauge / caliber so 12, 20 or 410 ain't gonna spread much in room distance. (of course if you have an SBR it may vary)

[Solus]

Load size would vary...so the "smaller" gauge would deliver more energy.

Here as elsewhere, it might be wise to pick the largest size you can handle reliablelly.

Non-magnum shells should do fine.  The self defense loads are usually lighter.

[Sponsor]

[brushmore]

Don't really know much about the effectiveness of a .410.  I hunted with both 12 and 20s, but have never even shot a .410.

With modern defensive loads in .410 I would not discount it.   A .410 will have the same velocity of the 12, just a smaller pattern.

[TAB]

the only difference between the ga is the amount of shot.   other wise they are identical.  a lead pellet traveling xxx fps does not care. 

[tombogan03884]

Shot gun shot spreads at the same rate regardless of gage,
http://www.luckygunner.com/shotgun/12-gauge-ammo-shells
12 G # 8 shot, 1 1/8 oz
http://www.luckygunner.com/shotgun/20-gauge-ammo-shells
20 g #8  7/8ths OZ
http://www.luckygunner.com/shotgun/410-ammo-shells
410 #9 1/2 OZ

They did not list 20 G OO Buck but for 12 G it was 9 pellets, for 410 it was 3 pellets.
With an equal spread at an equal distance it is mathematically ridiculous to say .410 is just as effective as 12 G.

[Solus]

In a 3" .410 there are 5 00 buckshot.

In a 3" 12 g there are 15 00 buckshot

Not that I recommend 3" shells, but that is the size I found to compare.

So, roughly, a 12 g has 3 times the "impact" of a .410 at the same velocity.

If 5 buckshot has a high chance of getting the job done, .410 sounds acceptable.

If, on the other hand, the 15 buckshot make a significant difference in effectiveness, go for as big as you can handle.

[tombogan03884]

If 5 is good 15 is better, that's why they invented machine guns.