Why isn't a shotgun "cool"

[ronlarimer]

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.

Take a look at the chart I made in this blog post.  I would be extremely weary of bird shot for home defense.  The less than 4 ft lbs each pellet brings just isn't enough unless you are close enough that they are still working as a mass.

[Timothy]

Take a piece of cardboard and measure off the distance from your bed to the bedroom door or farthest window.  Now, go to the range, set the cardboard at that distance and squeeze off a round of #6 or #8 shot.  I seriously doubt the pattern will be larger than four to six inches.  Do the same for the largest room in your house.  

Also, make a mental map of where things are in your shooting lanes, ie...kids bedrooms, bathroom, other areas that you DO NOT want to shoot towards.  Know these places from every room in the home.

Unless you have an absolutely enormous home, you'll be fine but do some testing.  Shotgun shells are cheap.

I don't own an AR and probably never will.  There are plenty of other options available.

[Solus]

Most SD shotgun shells aren't maximum load ammunition and with the Knoxx stock recoil should not be a problem with anyone not under 10 years old or infirm or disabled.

The only reason a shotgun is not my primary defensive weapon is that it doesn't fit in my pocket and it is frowned upon to carry it out to get the mail or news paper....even if it is only slung over my shoulder....

[Paraguy]

You can get some very light 12g shells so I chose 12g over 20 for that reason.  I have turkey loads in the tube and slugs on the sidesaddle.
Also, be very careful with the hacksaw that you do not turn your SD shotgun into a banned short barreled rifle that might work against you in the aftermath of a SD situation.  I believe you do not want to go below 18" for the barrel and 26" (I am recalling poorly) in overall length are the legal minimums before you need a Class III.  I am not a lawyer nor am I an expert on your State's laws, so just check before you shorten the barrel too much;-)

[fightingquaker13]

For that very reason I wouldn't use a hacksaw at all. Assuming you own one of the usual suspects, you can buy an 18-20" barrel used (or even new) for short money. If it is is taken into evidence, saying that it was a factory product and thus BATF approved is an affirmative defense.
FQ13

[Sponsor]

[Timothy]

For that very reason I wouldn't use a hacksaw at all. Assuming you own one of the usual suspects, you can buy an 18-20" barrel used (or even new) for short money. If it is is taken into evidence, saying that it was a factory product and thus BATF approved is an affirmative defense.
FQ13

I don't know what your version of "short money" is but a barrel for my 870 is nearly the cost of a cheap shotgun at about 240 bucks.

I'll keep my Wingmaster as is and opt for a Maverick like you did for 200-300 bucks.  Hell, my nephew, with Shooter32s' advice on where to go in Ft. Collins, picked up an 870 brush gun for under 300 bucks with two barrels, one rifled.

[fightingquaker13]

I don't know what your version of "short money" is but a barrel for my 870 is nearly the cost of a cheap shotgun at about 240 bucks.

I'll keep my Wingmaster as is and opt for a Maverick like you did for 200-300 bucks.  Hell, my nephew, with Shooter32s' advice on where to go in Ft. Collins, picked up an 870 brush gun for under 300 bucks with two barrels, one rifled.

Look on gunbroker and the like. I've seen used ones in the  $150-$200 range pretty often.
FQ13

[Timothy]

Look on gunbroker and the like. I've seen used ones in the  $150-$200 range pretty often.
FQ13

Will do but for the moment, I can't do squat.  I just began my re-initiation back into the Peoples Republic here in MA.  It will take a couple of months to get my LTC renewed.  Until then, I can't even hold a shotgun without a licensed person with me.  I will have to have my little girl chaperone me to the range or go see Bogan in NH as I still have my NH permit.

 

[fightingquaker13]

Will do but for the moment, I can't do squat.  I just began my re-initiation back into the Peoples Republic here in MA.  It will take a couple of months to get my LTC renewed.  Until then, I can't even hold a shotgun without a licensed person with me.  I will have to have my little girl chaperone me to the range or go see Bogan in NH as I still have my NH permit.

 

Dude! You relapsed! What the hell happened?
FQ13

[Timothy]

Dude! You relapsed! What the hell happened?
FQ13

Lost my job and decided to move in with family.  The wife was pining to go home anyway and her sister needs some help covering the bills.  It's a symbiotic relationship....