Why Use a Shotgun?

[4excal]

If I was an in intruder, the sound alone would tell me as someone said before, your location, how many rounds you have more or less, your lack of armor penetration, ect.

The only sound I should be hearing is silence.

Bah! The question posted as the OP questioned..it's not outdated and the sound will definitely send shivers. By the time you're generating that sound you and them intruder most likely know what's happening. Yea silence is key, to a point..

 

[Marine Cpl]

Bah! The question posted as the OP questioned..it's not outdated and the sound will definitely send shivers. By the time you're generating that sound you and them intruder most likely know what's happening. Yea silence is key, to a point..

You watch to much television my friend.

 

[ECU Pirates]

The shotgun is popular for many reasons. One of them is because many upstate guys grew up hunting deer, turkey, ducks and clay birds with the same dozen gauge. Not everyone could afford more than one gun. They also slapped an 18 inch tube on it and used for hd. If you have used a shotgun your entire life it would become second nature running it. You can worry about hostage situations but what percentage of home intrusions result in those? You can't really prepare for everything sadly.The SWAT entry is apples to oranges for many HD situations. It's offensive vs defensive. If a person or a couple can hunker down, call 911 and wait there are far worse options than a 12 ga. An even better choice for many would be the 20ga. Both in a reliable semi auto would be a pretty good choice. Stay put and wait for the bad guy to make a mistake. If you have to check on kids ect. other options might suit certain people better but it's still a give and take. The odds of a one shot stop with a shotgun (12 or 20) vs a 9mm out of any length tube are most likely not that close (when put where they are supposed to be).

I could be wrong but I think swat is not really using the old 9mm mp5's much anymore. I think they are pretty much moving towards m4's (sbr) for the most part.

 

[4excal]

You watch to much television my friend.

That may be true..Smithsonian,History,NatGeo and Discovery must definitely messing with my judgment

 

[Podmonkey]

Honest question. If an intruder has an arm around your kid or wife, would you be more comfortable taking the shot with a shotgun compared to a rifle, pistol calibered carbine, or a pistol?

Clearly in this situation a shotgun is the worst of the three. The rifle would be the best here. I've you've got loved ones to herd than the pistol is the best. Why use a shotgun? Because sometimes its the best tool for the job. Sometimes its not. When I come home, after I dump my baggage for the stay, I get out my pistol, my AR and my shotgun. I load up the mags and put the handgun in the bedside table drawer, the AR under the bed and the shotgun in the closet. Why the AR undernthe bed and the shotgun in the closet? No reason, I just wanna keep em seperate so I know what I'm grabbing.

 

[carpediem]

Clearly in this situation a shotgun is the worst of the three. The rifle would be the best here. I've you've got loved ones to herd than the pistol is the best. Why use a shotgun? Because sometimes its the best tool for the job. Sometimes its not. When I come home, after I dump my baggage for the stay, I get out my pistol, my AR and my shotgun. I load up the mags and put the handgun in the bedside table drawer, the AR under the bed and the shotgun in the closet. Why the AR undernthe bed and the shotgun in the closet? No reason, I just wanna keep em seperate so I know what I'm grabbing.

That was my point in this discussion. Just as one wouldn't use a chainsaw to slice bread nor a bread knife to fell a tree, but each when used at the right time is exactly fitted to the job.

 

[4excal]

That was my point in this discussion. Just as one wouldn't use a chainsaw to slice bread nor a bread knife to fell a tree, but each when used at the right time is exactly fitted to the job.

Mighty excellent response my dear Watson..

 

[Marine Cpl]

That was my point all along. Many just grab the shotgun not taking into consideration other factors that they may run into at home as Watson has clearly explained because someone told them the shotgun is the best for home defense. It's clearly not.

Many variables are introduced in defending one's home.

 

[4excal]

I must say..as many have stated,it changes with scenario. Living in large enough acreage and space..some would say Shotgun..if kids in next room and tight cornered small area..some will say Handgun..others will say whatever they say. I myself have both those options within a jump with neither version locked away to be dead while fumbling for either.

 

[carpediem]

That was my point all along. Many just grab the shotgun not taking into consideration other factors that they may run into at home as Watson has clearly explained because someone told them the shotgun is the best for home defense. It's clearly not.

Many variables are introduced in defending one's home.

You know, I honestly thought you meant that the handgun was it for home defense and that's all there is to it. Sorry.

 

[carpediem]

My bedroom guns are a G27 loaded with JHP and a Mossberg SA20 loaded with #3 buckshot. I feel comfortable with my choices for household PD firearms. The G27 follows me around all day in a black leather Side Guard holster.

+1 for the avatar!

 

[Podmonkey]

For me the handgun is the bump in the night gun, got a free hand for a flashlight, open doors, grab a snack on the way back to bed if everything is clear. I keep the long guns in the bedroom if I need to fall back and alamo up.
Honestly, I don't know between the 590A1 and the AR which I'd go to first. The AR is the more capable overall, but I've had that 590A1 a long time now and I know it well and what I can do with it. I dunno, I get a feeling of security holding the shotgun that surpasses my other guns. Plus it has a bayonet lug man!

 

[ECU Pirates]

someone told them the shotgun is the best for home defense. It's clearly not.

The best is not one size fits all. A shotgun might be the best for home defense for some people. I know you like PCC's. I think if you're going to use a long gun it should be in a proper rifle caliber. There is no "the best" one size fits all for every situation. My go to is a 16 inch ak variant in .223 with a light. It's loaded with TAP and I have actually arranged my bedroom so that if someone did enter I would be shooting away from my sons room unless they jumped over the bed before they attacked me. For my situation I consider that the best I can get in this state!

 

[Podmonkey]

Yeah, my apartment walls are all solid concrete, even the interior walls. I could use my Garand for home defense if I wanted to!

 

[Marine Cpl]

You know, I honestly thought you meant that the handgun was it for home defense and that's all there is to it. Sorry.

Well for me it's the pistol calibered carbine followed by the pistol. It's short, accurate, easily reloadable, has plenty of firepower, low flash, and not as hard on the ears.

With standard capacity magazines stored in PA , I have even more firepower.

 

[carpediem]

Well for me it's the pistol calibered carbine followed by the pistol. It's short, accurate, easily reloadable, has plenty of firepower, low flash, and not as hard on the ears.

With standard capacity magazines stored in PA , I have even more firepower.

I will start with a handgun, but have rifles and shotguns close at hand. I leave my options open, but lean more toward the handgun/shotgun combo. I wish we could have an evil MP-5 here in New Dork. That and the Thompson are about the only PCCs I like. Well, the P-90 too.

 

[GOPerfect]

Every gun has a place for self preservation.

In my nightstand, I have a 1911 loaded with some nice and nasty Hollow points. It has an amazing Surefire light attached. There are also three spare mags in that draw.

Under my bed is a 12 gauge side by side loaded with 00 Buck.

This handgun will be the first choice. Shotgun is second.

I think that many here have made some decent points on both types of guns. In States, like NY, it is a very difficult task to get a Pistol Permit. In that regard, a shotgun is a fine choice. It has its limitations, but some protection may be better than no protection.

 

[Bananabandit]

Shotguns are my favorite type of gun. They may barely reach 100 yards with a slug, they can serve many purposes.

 

[spat]

As long as you don't miss, the 12ga is a pretty sure first shot stopper. You can debate .45 vs 9mm all day, but you'll have to find a pretty special individual to claim that either are in the same league as 12ga.

Don't forget that comparing a semi pistol or rifle to a pump shotgun isn'the exactly apples to apples. A semi auto 12ga has a lot of advantages in your average home defense situation.

I'm not claiming it's necessarily better than an MSR, but it can't be dismissed as an option as easily as some have.

 

[spat]

Honest question. If an intruder has an arm around your kid or wife, would you be more comfortable taking the shot with a shotgun compared to a rifle, pistol calibered carbine, or a pistol?

At the 20 foot range you might possibly be able to manage inside a house ? Your pattern isn't going to be much larger than the barrel. It's going to come down to my familiarity with that individual weapon more than anything. I'd be way more comfortable taking it with my wife's bone stock 870 than your high end AR with an eotech.

 

[spat]

Well I take every possible situation into account. I won't handicapp myself because I think a certain situation has a low chance of happening.

Because if that were the case, why carry or own a firearm for self defense. The chances are low of something happening anyway.

So you carry a couple rifles, a pistol, and a shotgun all the time ? Everything is compromise.

 

[spat]

I'll just leave it at this. There is a reason that Swat and the Military use Pistol Calibered Carbines and, or Rifles for CQB.

You'll never see them all equipped with shotguns except for the point man breaching a door. If they were superior, they'd all field them.

As a home defense defender, you will encounter these same threats that Swat and the Military encounter during close quarters..

You can sit down and consider them or ignore them. That the beauty of being free.

SWAT and military are assaulting a position, not defending it. Completely different tactics.

SWAT should never be on defense, and military have claymores. I'll freely admit that some well placed claymores could be a better option than a 12ga in a home invasion..... OFC, if you start thinking "mines" for home defense, you may want to consider a better neighborhood....

 

[dsdmmat]

The misnomer here is one weapon in the hands of one person =firepower. Firepower comes from a group of weapons being used together at a specific time for a specific reason on a specific target. One weapon does not constitute firepower in any way shape or form. It is just one bullet or she'll being shot at a target. Not a lot of firepower compared to an entry team or your run of the mill gang home invasion. If you had other members in your house armed and assaulting with you then you may be able to claim some appreciable level of firepower, Billy's boy and his rifle does not equal firepower.

Left wing myth spread to confuse the sheep - AR = a lot of firepower. High capacity mag = a lot of fire power.

 

[spat]

The misnomer here is one weapon in the hands of one person =firepower. Firepower comes from a group of weapons being used together at a specific time for a specific reason on a specific target. One weapon does not constitute firepower in any way shape or form. It is just one bullet or she'll being shot at a target. Not a lot of firepower compared to an entry team or your run of the mill gang home invasion. If you had other members in your house armed and assaulting with you then you may be able to claim some appreciable level of firepower, Billy's boy and his rifle does not equal firepower.

Left wing myth spread to confuse the sheep - AR = a lot of firepower. High capacity mag = a lot of fire power.

It's firepower, just not much.

If the crew assaulting your house are a couple home boys with steak knives and a rusty revolver, then a pump 12ga is firepower.

If it's a crew of professionals with full auto and body armor, not so much.

If I'm expecting the pros, and for some reason I can't arrange not to be there when they arrive, I'm going for the claymores, or as close an IED as I can manage....

 

[Marine Cpl]

The misnomer here is one weapon in the hands of one person =firepower. Firepower comes from a group of weapons being used together at a specific time for a specific reason on a specific target. One weapon does not constitute firepower in any way shape or form. It is just one bullet or she'll being shot at a target. Not a lot of firepower compared to an entry team or your run of the mill gang home invasion. If you had other members in your house armed and assaulting with you then you may be able to claim some appreciable level of firepower, Billy's boy and his rifle does not equal firepower.

Left wing myth spread to confuse the sheep - AR = a lot of firepower. High capacity mag = a lot of fire power.

I don't know. I'm just not buying that one guy with a shotgun has more firepower than one guy with a rifle. The guy with the rifle can out penetrate the shotgun each and everytime. The guy with the rifle can out shoot the guy with the shotgun as far as accuracy goes. And the guy with the rifle can outshoot the guy with the shotgun with more rounds on target.

I'm just not seeing it.

 

[Mk44]

A pistol is my go to gun when something goes bump in the night ( imo- easier to maneuver with.)
But it's nice to have options.
If I had to use a long gun for HD, it would be a shotgun over a rifle to avoid over penetration (vs. the calibers I have). Lots of option from ammo (birdshot, 00 buck, slug ..) to length of barrels or stocks.

For some people or some places, a shotgun is the best choice for HD/or hunting because getting a handgun lic. is not an option or hunting w/ a rifle in their area is not an option.

Shotguns have come a long way. Sabot rounds in a rifled barrel shotgun will get out past 100yds for big game hunting.
There are semi-auto, pump, lever action, bull pups, bolt action,..

I don't think shotguns are outdated. Just another option.

 

[gun_slinger_boy]

For the hostage situation are we talkin slugs or shot? Also... is an AKS74U a good choice?

 

[Marine Cpl]

For the hostage situation are we talkin slugs or shot? Also... is an AKS74U a good choice?

Whether slugs or shot is used, a rifle is always a better option in that case.

 

[Podmonkey]

The overpenetration thing has almost reached mythic status. It seems that most any viable defensive round will penetrate to similar depth in a soft target. Wall? 5.56, excepting the barrier blind stuff, begins to tumble and break up after hitting a single layer of drywall. Buckshot and handgun rounds zip straight through standard walls and sheet metal. 5.56 would be the ultimate SD round were it not for the high blast.

 

[Eddie Gunks]

5.56, excepting the barrier blind stuff, begins to tumble and break up after hitting a single layer of drywall.

Im gonna have to take some drywall to the range and prove/disprove this drywall claim

Im gonna stand at in home sd range of less than 20 feet