Why isn't a shotgun "cool"

[ronlarimer]

I am a CHP holder and carry a Glock 19 or Kahr PM9 where permitted; these are my primaries and I train with them appropriately.

Over the past 2-3 days I have put a lot of thought into home defense shotgun for a series of blog posts and I am beginning to think I looked past the shotgun.

For the military that may have lengthy engagements in both distance and duration, rifles with 30 round magazines make sense.  So does selecting a weapon with powerful, light weight and small ammunition since it will likely need to be carried by troops.  But for home defense, where you are less likely to fight a significant number of attackers, at great range and where the fight will likely come.  Light weight, small ammunition capable of shooting 800-1000 yds seems like both over kill and additional liability.

A 12 or 20 gauge shooting 3,4 or 00 buck carries equal power AND will likely dump it all into a human; after 10-15 yards the pattern spreads to a size where the pellets begin to act individual and penetrate less than rifle ammo due to their lower sectional density; and they are cheaper to buy.

I love my BCM Middy, and my M1A, and I am currently jones'n to build a 18" bolt action .308 wood stock "do it all" rifle, but I am starting to think a 20 ga auto loader with a cut down barrel may be the more pragmatic choice.

What do you think?

[Big Frank]

When I got a new barrel for my shotgun the first thing I did was take a hacksaw to the old barrel. I now have an 18" 12 gauge semi-auto. To me it's still too cumbersome for use in the house so I rely on a .45.

[mkm]

My first (all mine) real gun was a 12  ga.  I think shotguns still get a lot of well deserved respect, but they aren't the "cool" gun of the moment like the AR 15 platform.  I think the accessory availability after the assault weapons ban was lifted and the mass purchasing of them out of fear of a new one has helped to make them the current "it" gun.

If I could only have one gun, I would pick a mid-barrel length 12ga pump.  With the proper ammo choice, it is capable of taking everything from small game/birds to large animals at respectable distances.  For home defense, I would argue that a shotgun is hard to beat.  I have the aforementioned 12 ga loaded with 8 shot as my goto home defense gun.

When funds allow and I knock off a few of the other guns on my list, I plan to get a short barreled shotgun for dedicated home defense.  My current one has to pull multiple duty as a hunter too, and I don't want to take away it's hunting abilities at the moment.

I love my BCM Middy, and my M1A, and I am currently jones'n to build a 18" bolt action .308 wood stock "do it all" rifle, but I am starting to think a 20 ga auto loader with a cut down barrel may be the more pragmatic choice.

What do you think?

If you don't have a good shotgun, I say go for it.  My questions to you are: Why 20 over 12? Is an autoloader a must? and What are you thinking for stock options?

I think a 12 ga pump offers more versatility.  I also think shotguns need a shoulderable stock.  All just my opinion.

Clyde Barrow (sp?) (Bonnie and Clyde) had an affinity for the shotgun.  Look up one of his "whipit" guns.

[fightingquaker13]

I bought an AR because I panicked (again ), but then I realized pretty much what you are saying. So, figuring one waste of money can only be cured by another ( ) I went out and bought a Maverick special purpose 12 gauge with an 18" barrel and an 8 round tube. Finances permitting, it would have been a Mossy 590 with the ghost rings. I used to own one and can't recommend them highly enough. Anyway, I've shot both the DPMS AR and the shotty. I like them both. That said, guess which is by the bedside and which is in the safe? For home defense, its hard to beat a shotgun. Moss Ayoub has a pod cast floating around on this board somewhere. He suggests, and I think he makes sense, that a 20 gauge has advantages over a 12 for home defense. I bought the 12 because it was cheaper and SD ammo is more widely available. Still, as far as function? A good 20 gauge auto loader properly configured should do the job. I'd still go with the the 12, as it can do everything the 20 can do and the reverse does not apply. Regardless, in the real world, I think you will get more bang for your buck from a $600 shotgun (bells and whistles included) than you will from a $1000 (plus another $500 for an optic, mags etc.) AR as far as home defense is concerned. YMMV.
FQ13

[tombogan03884]

I live in an old apartment house (built 1810)  While I always have a pistol with in reach my dedicated "Home gun"  is a Mossberg 500 12Ga with 18.5 inch barrel, Knoxx stock, fiber optic bead and loaded with #6 shot, at across the room range it will blow the crap out of a person, but individual pellets are less likely to penetrate the lathe and horsehair plaster of the walls.

[Sponsor]

[Dakotaranger]

My beside guns are an XD45 with a Streamlight TR3 and my AR.  With where I live and being a bachelor I'd rather have the option of 28 quick rounds vs trying to reload a tube.

I have a 'camp shotgun' I built up from an 870 that I've documented else where because when we are doing the Maa Daah Hey trail the difference in capabilities with the guys I ride with I'd rather not have 5.56 going all over the place.

It's just my preference to have more gun than I need than wish I had more.

[TAB]

I live in an old apartment house (built 1810)  While I always have a pistol with in reach my dedicated "Home gun"  is a Mossberg 500 12Ga with 18.5 inch barrel, Knoxx stock, fiber optic bead and loaded with #6 shot, at across the room range it will blow the crap out of a person, but individual pellets are less likely to penetrate the lathe and horsehair plaster of the walls.

with the old lathe and horse hair plaster, I'd be more worried about bounch back.   

I've always loved the old buildings... I'd never own one, but I loved charging $$$$ to work on them.   

[kmitch200]

A 12 or 20 gauge shooting 3,4 or 00 buck carries equal power AND will likely dump it all into a human; after 10-15 yards the pattern spreads to a size where the pellets begin to act individual and penetrate less than rifle ammo due to their lower sectional density; and they are cheaper to buy.

Try some different chokes and loads.
Some combos can reveal very good pattern integrity at ranges you wouldn't normally think possible. Across the living room it's a moot point.

I love my BCM Middy, and my M1A, and I am currently jones'n to build a 18" bolt action .308 wood stock "do it all" rifle, but I am starting to think a 20 ga auto loader with a cut down barrel may be the more pragmatic choice.
What do you think?

Shotguns remove meat from bone in CQB setting - that's good thing. I think a 12ga pump/autoloader would be a better choice than 20. More ammo to choose from. YMMV.
My 11-87LH will cycle anything from Win Feather Light loads, the ones that say "don't use in an auto" (26 gram, low noise, low recoil) to 3" mags.  And that's with a NEW action spring. It has had 10k+ of rounds through it over the years though. That said, I keep a Mossy 18" 500 next to the bed with a 2 3/4 mag of 1 1/4oz #4 HeviShot backed up by 4 - 3" mags of #1 buck. If it gets taken into evidence, I'd rather it be that one than my backup hunting/clays gun. 

[billt]

My "go to" house gun for the both of us is a Mossberg 500 with an 18" cylinder bore full of Trap loads. 1 1/8th ounce of #8 shot at 1,200 FPS. At any range I could possibly face an encounter on my property, this would be an extremely lethal combination, without the added worry of over penetration. Slugs and buckshot are simply not necessary in the confines of the average residence.

[ronlarimer]

For the record I already have an 18" 12ga 870 with a side saddle and extended tube.  I am just thinking for a "pretty" next gun and for people looking at home defense for the 1st time.  As for why 20 over 12...  Lots less recoil with a little less effectiveness.