Why Use a Shotgun?

[Marine Cpl]

I've always asked myself this question below and I know it's going to piss people off that will defend their choice to the end regardless of facts but here it is anyway.

Other than birdshot loads for hunting birds where a hundred or so pellets are needed to increase the chance of hitting a fragile bird flying overhead and slug hunting where you are forced use a shotgun because of laws passed by stupid politicians, why use a shotgun at all for other applications?

I mean for self defense, it is outdated technology. The range is poor, it recoils much harder than most rifles, and the smoothbore makes it way more inaccurate compared to a rifle. It's ammunition is large and clumsy and it's capacity is severely limited.

It cannot be used for precision shots. There is no way to calculate where all 8 or 9 pellets are going to go. So if you find yourself in a situation where an intruder has a weapon on a family member, you cannot take him out with a headshot.

Length is another downside. Unless you SBR it, or use a useless pistol grip only shotgun, it's length is a lot longer than most carbines at around 40 inches average compared to the 30 inch average length of a carbine.

Rounds on target are another limitation. Your firepower is severely hampered compared to a magazine fed pistol or rifle.

I don't get it. Why use this ancient technology when a pistol or rifle beats it every time?

 

[Phazer]

I found this to be an interesting assessment:

 

[Marine Cpl]

Try opening a door while holding a 40 inch gun at the ready compared to a 30 inch gun or a pistol with one hand on a doorknob.

 

[Darth]

It's the best for self defense.

Who said otherwise?

 

[Marine Cpl]

It's the best for self defense.

Who said otherwise?

The same people who say the sound of racking a shotgun is what scares a criminal away or that you don't need to aim are the same who say it's the best for self defense.

 

[Darth]

Apparently not.

The cantaloupe sized hole trends too as well.

 

[Marine Cpl]

Apparently not.

The cantaloupe sized hole trends too as well.

At the cost of all the other negatives.

 

[Phazer]

The same people who say the sound of racking a shotgun is what scares a criminal away or that you don't need to aim are the same who say it's the best for self defense.

My wife would reach for an MSR before her 20g shotgun. With the MSR, she could put at least 5 rounds on target before racking and resighting the shotgun for a follow-up shot.

 

[Criticalt]

Come say that to my M4!!

 

[SigLady]

"why use a shot gun?" Cause you have bad aim

 

[Marine Cpl]

That's another misconception that is regurgitated over and over.

At ten yards, the spread is the size of a softball.

 

[Darth]

That'll open up a frying pan...

 

[Snappo]

I've always asked myself this question below and I know it's going to piss people off that will defend their choice to the end regardless of facts but here it is anyway.

Other than birdshot loads for hunting birds where a hundred or so pellets are needed to increase the chance of hitting a fragile bird flying overhead and slug hunting where you are forced use a shotgun because of laws passed by stupid politicians, why use a shotgun at all for other applications?

I mean for self defense, it is outdated technology. The range is poor, it recoils much harder than most rifles, and the smoothbore makes it way more inaccurate compared to a rifle. It's ammunition is large and clumsy and it's capacity is severely limited.

It cannot be used for precision shots. There is no way to calculate where all 8 or 9 pellets are going to go. So if you find yourself in a situation where an intruder has a weapon on a family member, you cannot take him out with a headshot.

Length is another downside. Unless you SBR it, or use a useless pistol grip only shotgun, it's length is a lot longer than most carbines at around 40 inches average compared to the 30 inch average length of a carbine.

Rounds on target are another limitation. Your firepower is severely hampered compared to a magazine fed pistol or rifle.

I don't get it. Why use this ancient technology when a pistol or rifle beats it every time?

Bring a 3 liter bottle of Mountain Dew and some Subway meatball sandwiches out to my range and after a few hours of killing clay pigeons you will see the fun a shotgun can actually be. Beyond skeet and trap; like you I have zero clue what those stupid things are for. OTOH the sound of racking a Mossberg is unmistakable and could scare away burglars I guess.

 

[Snappo]

"why use a shot gun?" Cause you have bad aim

Had we not been stuck with Adolf Cuomo and the Forth Reich; an Uzi mini (or micro) on F/A will pretty much kill anything within 10 MOA of your original aim point.

 

[Marine Cpl]

Bring a 3 liter bottle of Mountain Dew and some Subway meatball sandwiches out to my range and after a few hours of killing clay pigeons you will see the fun a shotgun can actually be. Beyond skeet and trap; like you I have zero clue what those stupid things are for. OTOH the sound of racking a Mossberg is unmistakable and could scare away burglars I guess.

Right for sport, I'm sure it's fun.

I'm talking about those that say it's the best for self defense at the cost of recoil, capacity, accuracy, and rate of firepower.

 

[Snappo]

Right for sport, I'm sure it's fun.

I'm talking about those that say it's the best for self defense at the cost of recoil, capacity, accuracy, and rate of firepower.

Those people that say that also think Hitlery is honest and that 911 was an inside job. Just avoid them! Best for defense is something you can grab easily, aims easily, is very small so you can hide behind a couch or diningroom table on it's side, etc. You grab it, you protect yourself with a table, you aim for center mass, and you kill them quietly without saying stupid shit like "I have a gun" or "I'm calling 911". Once down, put in a few more rounds until they stop flinching and you know it's therefore safe to examine the target location. Only a retard gives out their position or gives equipment and mission task information. That's just a quick way to the cemetery. Shotgun racking = "this is my exact location, and this is what I am armed with".

 

[SigLady]

Oh stop it with the pitchforks and torches, boys. So serious around here sometimes ...
Just sayin'- that's why i bought one. It was my first firearm. The grumpy old man at the gun shop told me that if anyone were to break into my house my hands would probably be trembling so much from the adrenalin that a hand gun wouldn't do me much good. Shot guns are easy to use and have a pretty good field of coverage.

 

[Phazer]

the most determined.

Those are exactly the kind of people that kick in doors and enter unlawfully.

 

[SigLady]

Those are exactly the kind of people that kick in doors and enter unlawfully.

Still stands that a shotgun is easier to use in that situation... For the general populace that doesn't train all the time. That's all I'm sayin'.

 

[Marine Cpl]

Oh stop it with the pitchforks and torches, boys. So serious around here sometimes ...
Just sayin'- that's why i bought one. It was my first firearm. The grumpy old man at the gun shop told me that if anyone were to break into my house my hands would probably be trembling so much from the adrenalin that a hand gun wouldn't do me much good. Shot guns are easy to use and have a pretty good field of coverage.

Well that old man steered you in the wrong direction. I hate people like that.

He probably tells new shooters to get the smallest carry gun possible too.

 

[Marine Cpl]

Still stands that a shotgun is easier to use in that situation... For the general populace that doesn't train all the time. That's all I'm sayin'.

I guarantee that if 3 guys where running at you, you'd have a better chance of putting them down with your Sig than your pump action shotgun.

 

[GOYABEAN]

Aren't we supposed to call 911 and peg for mercy and click our heel's there's no place like home

 

[Podmonkey]

Its all situational. Some folk will say: handgun <shotgun<carbine. But a handgun allows you to have a free hand which may be useful. I carbine is easier to use and has the greatest firepower but has a lot of blast and flash ro deal with indoors. Shotguns have the greates single shot effectiveness inside their effective range but are big, heavy and have a lot recoil. But also good shotguns can be had cheaply and easily and are the least regulated of arms, that as big a factor as any.

 

[Podmonkey]

I guarantee that if 3 guys where running at you, you'd have a better chance of putting them down with your Sig than your pump action shotgun.

I'd disagree.

 

[carpediem]

I guarantee that if 3 guys where running at you, you'd have a better chance of putting them down with your Sig than your pump action shotgun.

If three guys rushed you, with a 3" 00 buck round, you can put what 12 , .33 cal pellets out with one trigger pull. How many trigger pulls do you get with the SIG before, if not hit, those guys reach you? I will stick with the 12ga, backed up by the pistol.

 

[GTN]

I found this to be an interesting assessment:

This is interesting but he is 4-6' closer then the guy with the shotgun.
Kinda like fishing photos

 

[Marine Cpl]

I'd disagree.

I disagree with you disagreeing.

There is no way you are faster on moving targets with a pump-acquire-fire, pump-acquire-fire, pump-acquire-fire compared to a semi auto handgun or rifle.

 

[Marine Cpl]

If three guys rushed you, with a 3" 00 buck round, you can put what 12 , .33 cal pellets out with one trigger pull. How many trigger pulls do you get with the SIG before, if not hit, those guys reach you? I will stick with the 12ga, backed up by the pistol.

If they were holding hands at over 25 yards, you'd have a point.

At 10 yards, the spread is the size of a softball.

 

[Frankly]

Own and train with all three kinds of weapons. I hardly think of shotguns as antiquated... and if I'm forced to be shooting out into the darkness I much rather be firing a shotgun than a rifle that might send a round half a mile.

 

[GTN]

In my fast entry safe next to my bed I have 12ga shotgun, 45 acp pistol and a mini 14