Best Shotgun for Home Defense?

The great thing is is a common thread here is PRACTICE!!! No damned fool should have a firearm in their house if they aren't practicing on it constantly. Nobody should have access to a firearm if they cannot take it apart and put it back together to clean it properly either. I can't tell you how many times I've looked at friends gun cabinets to find nice guns full of rust because they can't be bothered to take them out and perform basic maintenance on them.

 

Yes. Practice. If you don't or won't don't buy the gun. Also know the laws in your state. Everybody is different in that respect. For example I am covered by LEORSA so probably fit in a different category than most.

 

I read one post about shot size. What would be appropriate for defense. I think a small shot like 5 or 6 would be too small unless at very close range. Too big might not scatter. What do the police use?

 

#4 is best with #6 being second best. #4 has enough pellets to ensure several hits and take someone down to about 25 yards. #6 will do it to about 15. Neither will have much left over energy after going through a standard wall in a house.
Indoors #6 is fine. But, I load #4. You can also get lighter propellant loads for the shot size. You need enough shot to ensure hits with a poor or quick aim but enough knock down to finish the fight on one shot if possible.
Typically, law enforcement and the military use #4.

Only amateurs and braggards talk about 00 buck. The standard 12 ga load for that is just 3 shot. You are taking a big chance not hitting your target with just three balls.

 

We use the 9 pellet type here in Louisiana. That will do the job.

 

I think a Benelli M3 would do the job, nice and tight to hold as well. Best thing is they are legal! Even here up North!

 

Hi E, anything Browning is good. Ill make an exception for one of their Shotguns. If I have to? ill resort down to using one of our Long Toms-which fire a .50 cal. round. :-D I'd like to see if both Freddy and Jason both, could withstand a hit from one of those ;-))

 

Carl, that little Harley "Hummer" that I am using for an avatar at the moment is a perfect representation of the one my Dad traded his Browning Automatic 12 gauge for when I was eight going on nine. That was my first motorcycle, a 1955 165 cc. H-D "Hummer" two stroke.

He traded his realitively new Browning for the little bike since it was a "miniture" of his K model Harley, both in "atomic blue", both with big saddles, both with the little "peanut/Sporty" tank. Mine was a hard-tail, his wasn't. His had front brakes, mine didn't. His was a four speed, mine three. His top speed was about 115, mine was 55. A fellow from your state (Texas) had ridden that little bugger all the way to Alaska and was on his way back to Texas when he ran out of money in Montana, and in our home-town to boot. Dad hired him for a few weeks of summer-fallowing, paid him for the work, bought him a train ticket to Lubbock, and traded him for the Harley.

That was when he went back to his Remington Model 10 pump, the one that matched his own Father's.

 

I agree. My Grandmother, on my father's side, lived on a farm in rural Oregon before WW I, and her husband was often away on business (he owned a general store in Harrisburg). She kept an old double-barrel 12-gauge coach gun with exposed hammers behind the kitchen door for self defense. When I was born, she lived in the small city of Roseburg, OR, but as a small boy in the 1950's, I can remember seeing the gun, still behind her kitchen door. My sister and I used to go pick blackberries with Grandma as children, and she always brought that gun along with one barrel loaded with small shot for snakes, and the other loaded with a slug for bear. When she passed on, the gun disappeared, but I suspect her daughter has it now.

 

This isn't bad advice. I have a single shot break block 12 ga that I use for Quail and Dove season (the buggers are so quick you never get a second useful round off). I removed most of the forestock lumber and lightened the stock so it is very light and easy to maneuver in brush. As a home defense weapon you could use it one handed if necessary. A nice feature is the empty shell self-ejects leaving it ready for reloading.

 

I once bought a single shot 12 gauge from a buddy at work...it wasn't a name brand gun that I recognized but he only wanted 100 bucks for it so I bought it (should have known) The first time I shot it, I was satisfied with it, for the price. However when I went to put it back in the case I broke it open to eject the spent shell and the damn thing broke right in half! I'm glad it happened when I was putting it away instead of shooting it. I got my money back, and the guy was stepping all over himself apologizing. You get what you pay for!

 

A Remington 870 is a fine choice, IMHO. A 12 bore loaded with AAs or AA Featherlights might be better than a 20 bore. the 12 bore with the light load won't kick badly at all.

 

Hi Clint, to say the least-your Dad got a steal of a trade. I'd have traded for one of those myself ;-)) Do you know how much these are going for these days? I imagine more than a few bucks ;-)) Thats a beaut of a ride though ;-)) My Brother-in-law would kill, to have one of these in his garage next to his two wwii Willies Jeeps, his 1915 T-Bucket, his 1929 Model "T" and his 1965 Mustang. Hes been a busy collector this year ;-))

 

Welcome to the site and do I detect a fan of the John Wayne/John Ford Cavalry Trilogy??? By the looks of your moniker-sure looks like it ;-))

PS, im also a fan of Victor McLaglen ;-))

 

anyone consider a short range weapon with full auto load ? oooooooops this is military issue, sorry

 

Mk 19 with "Buckshot" rounds ? rather unwieldy unless you install an overhead ring mount throughout your house, but then that does create a handy ledge for dust to collect upon. I think the wife might consider the cons out weighing the pros and dismiss it from a facilities maintenance stand point.

Then again if she is big enough to fire the Mk. 19 from the hip she can decide whatever she wants and any input, to the contrary or otherwise, is probably solicited out of courtesy.

JMHO

Brad