Is it safe?

[Texas_Bryan]

Fine, then keep the chamber empty.  But you have to offer up the one liner, "I like to keep this handy //rack,rack// for close encounters."

[Rob10ring]

I see a lot of good reasoning from different points of view on differing conditions of readying the shotgun. Cruiser is still for me - again, no drop safety. I'm not particularly interested in putting too much faith in the sound of racking the slide to scare off a goblin, but if it happens to, than great. If this goblin has chosen to enter my occupied domicile, he may be on something, or otherwise out of his mind and may not use reasoning at the sound of a pump, or being yelled at to leave. Silence and stealth may be necessary, if someone is already in and I need to gather my family, or if my wife and I go to gather it the kids' rooms.

and I hope, it doesn't get to the Sig556, with a Winchester 5.56 frangible in a 30rd mag. (neighbors)..

More than once, I've seen Rob Pincus demonstrate that the light, fast 5.56 may go through less building materials than any of the other options that you listed. That Sig 556 may not be such a bad choice.

May we all stay safe and never have use of all of the preparedness that we've pursued and may we all be open to learn better methods if they are presented to us. Stay safe.

[twyacht]

fuzdaddy,

May we all stay safe and never have use of all of the preparedness that we've pursued and may we all be open to learn better methods if they are presented to us. Stay safe.

Big Amen to that.

99.999% that post here, would rather be just left the hell alone than confronted with a life or death situation. We try to avoid conflict, but won't run from it in one's home. That is a different confrontation, and carries much more potential lethal consequences.

Whether we go to a safe room, or have to get our children from other parts of the house, we train and pray we survive, and they don't.

I'd prefer they punk out and run away, crapping their pants on the way out, BUT I don't know their intentions, and so I prepare to learn and improve a way of dealing with it.

Like many post here at DRTV:

Stay Safe.

[Paraguy]

Learned a lot from this thread.  I am making a shotgun my next purchase and am leaning towards a shorter barrel with a pistol grip, 12 gauge seems to be a no-brainer choice.  Any suggestions for ammo and choke tubes?  My inital reaction for SD is one that fills a room with a lot of shot.  My concern is that is most likely less able to permanently disble the BG, but should be enough to hit him/her with something and change their mind on how good of a target they selected.  Or, is it better to go with less spray and more concentrated power and hope that my training keeps me on target with a tighter shot.

[Timothy]

Learned a lot from this thread.  I am making a shotgun my next purchase and am leaning towards a shorter barrel with a pistol grip, 12 gauge seems to be a no-brainer choice.  Any suggestions for ammo and choke tubes?  My inital reaction for SD is one that fills a room with a lot of shot.  My concern is that is most likely less able to permanently disble the BG, but should be enough to hit him/her with something and change their mind on how good of a target they selected.  Or, is it better to go with less spray and more concentrated power and hope that my training keeps me on target with a tighter shot.

Most here will agree that birdshot will get the job done without penetrating too far through the house endangering other family members.  Across the room effectiveness is what you're trying for and even bird shot at twenty feet is not spreading much out of a short barrel riot gun.  Get the gun you want and take a few large targets or boxes to the range and test your patterns with various loads.

I'm using #7-1/2 target loads because I have a bunch of it and I'm satisfied it will make a BGs day go south in a hurry.

[Sponsor]

[twyacht]

Hey Paraguy, this is a great thread, with a wealth of knowledge from many. Consider all options regarding a 12g with a pistol grip only.

There have been previous posts with shoulder/pistol grip options but it really comes down to you and what your comfortable with.

The Personal Defense Annual Issue, has great current articles by Janich, and others, regarding line of fire, in your home, hallways, bookshelves, fireplaces, stairways, neighbors, that is a great read.

The shotgun is about as good as it gets for home defense, but consider your home and domicile. Usually #2, OOBuck, is more than adequate, but consider, with close neighbors, adjoining bedrooms, #4, or #6, or 8 shot.

As others have posted, at SD ranges, 7yds or less, it won;t matter to the BG. There are reduced recoil loads 9-14 pellet loads, that would more than disable a BG at 7yds.

Regardless of brand, Mossberg, Stoeger, Remington, whatever,...the shotgun is on the short list for a home defense weapon.

Fellow shooters I know, stagger their rds.(as I do), sometimes called a "spray & wash" approach.   followed up by slugs, which would require more accuracy, but it would be Katy Bar The Door if 6-8 rds. won't end a threat, in a home.

Shotgun tactics are well worth reviewing, the current mag referenced above has some great points to ponder.

Take Care.

[tombogan03884]

I've got #6 in mine since it was on sale and 7 1/2 wasn't.
The longest distance in my Apt. is Bedroom wall to living room wall just under 30 feet, add 6 inches and you are into the next apt.
Also, 12 ga is not a no brainer, 20 ga ammo is nearly as easy to find in the same price ranges, sufficient for the job and far more appropriate for wives and older children.
Another thing, don't waste money on a semi auto for home defense, they need X amount of pressure to function properly when a pump or SXS will fire any thing at any pressure that you can stuff into the chamber.
If you have failures to feed or eject with a pump or SXS the problem is you most likely.

[bulldog75]

I have a remington 870, and a mossberg 500 staged at the bed side. I have a stock sleeve that has 2 #6 bird shot in the first two a #4 buckshot in the third and 2 slugs in the last holders. In the shotgun is 4 #6.

http://www.opticsplanet.net/buttstock-shell-holder.html

[Rob10ring]

Just for fun…

[fightingquaker13]

As far as shot, its a matter of personal preference. As for bore, if you are buying new, cylinder has always been the default option. It will handle shot and slugs. You get decent accuracy with slugs at hunting ranges (under 50 yards as well). I've never used choke tubes of any sort so I can't comment there. I would not get a PG only stock. If you want something more compact, I'd get a folder or M-4 style with a PG, probably the latter. I've looked at both, but I like the ablity to butt stroke someone as well..
FQ13