A determined criminal will not stop because he hears a shotgun being racked. I have seen videos of home invasions where the criminal returns after being shot at. Never underestimate what a criminal is willing to do. If you use a shotgun keep one in the pipe so you dont have to rack it. All that does is tell them your general location. Plus you live in a free state with a true castle doctrine. Im supposed to wait until great bodily harm has been inflicted upon me before I defend myself. Texas, Montana, or Arizona will be where I call home in the next year.
I personally think the shotgun is a horrible choice, and im not sure which long gun I would pick up if there was a bump in the night. There’s an AR, shotgun, and a pistol all in the vicinity. My brain tells me to pick up the AR, living in California tells me to grab anything but the AR. Once I move everything will be in the safe accept my go to AR, and I will finally be able to buy some of those dangerous 30 round mags.
Some people are crazy,and if they are just bound and determined to kill you you will have to stop them. But in reality most people that break into house are there to steal,they want no part of the home owner,thats why most burglaries occur during the daytime when they think no ones home. But theres cases of people kicking the door in when they know theres people there and taking over. Unless you have a way to defend against this such as a gun right next to you it will be a total suprise and hard to be ready for. Thats why swat teams do it that way.
Once you move, i dont know if you will be any safer,but you might feel better about your safety,maybe be better armed also. The truth is its hard to be on guard constantly. I wish you good luck and good fortune on your move to a state with more freedoms though.
Please do not regurgitate garbage which is nothing more then folklore or pure garbage. When the decision to use deadly force is made, it is to stop the attacker with the utmost urgency. In other words end the incident as fast as possible.
People have been shot with .32 caliber handguns at point blank and died also. It doesn’t mean we advocate every carry a .32. Birdshot belongs in the shotgun for bird season, that’s it. Racking the action on a shotgun is no more scary than standing in front of the mirror and chanting bloody Mary.
Your average person is much better off using a handgun with quality ammo and possibly a weapons light than using a shotgun. I have seen numerous people fail at loading, shooting and hitting targets under stress and that was only during the day. At night it’s going to be worse.
Totaly agree the buckshot or handgun would be better, i was just agreeing with another poster that indoors high brass is deadly and doesnt fly through 2×4s with the over penetration of 00 buck.
I also said that training for a threat and accuracy were the best weapons you can get. And pointed out the importance of a good light. These things are just basic knowledge.
As far as the racking of a shot gun in a deadly situation not being scary,i guess it depends on whos holding it at the time.LOL. I racked one on a guy that was already chambered he was determined to kill me and my partner with a butcher knife, He didnt seem to mind the 357 or 12gauge pointed at him but he dropped it immediately when he heard that shotgun rack. Your results may differ. BTW, it was loaded with 00 buckshot.Thats why the police used to anyway , speak of the psychological effect of the 12 gauge pump ,maybe they dont train it anymore.
Bird shot is normally considered to be shot sizes 6-9. Heavier shot sizes like 2-4 might may serve better for home defense. I once saw two bodies shot with no. 6 shot at close range. The shot completely passed through both. My statements here do not detract from the latest research which says that only buckshot is effective.
In my old age I agree that an M4 type carbine immensely surpasses a shotgun for home defense. Much lower recoil, capacity, and ease of handling are three reasons.
A shotgun is equal or better than any handgun caliber in a home defense situation. A key word there is defense. If the person is aggressing in his home, the shotgun may pose challenges negotiating corners, but those challenges are not better negotiated with an AR.
How does employing the most difficult form of firearm mitigate failing to load, shoot, or hit targets under stress? Both weapons need the same attention, but a long gun is easier to get hits on target than a handgun.
I’m a pump gun fan with very many years experience shooting the slide action. The average guy will have more malfunctions with a pump than with a semi auto. I can explain this statement if asked to. While observing training of correctional officers learning to shoot the 870, I learned that my favorite shotgun was not easily mastered and was puzzled at first. An obvious conclusion is that proper instruction is necessary before Joe can “drive” the weapons that we might consider to be simple.
Clearing rooms and around corners might best be left to police trained for the task. If the man of the house is killed doing this, then what will happen to the wife and kids?
Years ago I had to persuade a 70lb or so black lab from finishing off a family pet. At the time I was still living at home and grabbed the Mossberg 500 with the first shell being a #7 1/2 or 8 shot. That was conventional wisdom at the time (late ‘80s) because we lived in town. The offending canine took the birdshot load broadside right in the chest from about 5’, yelped and took off. A couple of weeks later I was speaking with a good friend and a guy that I knew. I brought up the subject and found out that it was the guys dog. After taking the hit, the dog made it about 1.5 miles back home and was put down the next afternoon. That’s the last time that I’ve ever loaded birdshot in a shotgun to be used for SD/HD. YMMV.
Pattern your shotgun with a variety of five packs. #1 and 000 both sound good but often have a doughnut hole pattern with large empty center. Federal premium copper plated 12 pellet 00 performs well in all shotguns I have ever owned. these include several Remington 870’s and 1100’s, two HK/Benelli, and two Winchesters. They even outperform flight control wads in some shotguns. To “fill in” a head shot #4 and lead (not steel) BB’s work well. Ive used all of these loads on deer, farm animals, ferral dogs and varmits. The 000 is most surprising, as pellets expand and cause explosive wounds to head, and hold pattern out to 90 yards (4 at chest and 4 at pelvis) in IM choke from Rem 1100! Lead BB’s will remove everything between the ears with Cylinder bore on many farm animals (I use it for butchering and euthanasia). In comparison, #6 will not exit head. the heavier shot is deffinately more effective on deer sized animals including ferral dogs. Pattern your 12 ga. I would be surprised if the premium Federal copper plated 00 did not come out on top. So called Tactical loads (old fashioned 9 pellet 00) offer reduced recoil and with fewer pellets to squeeze down the choke, so there is less pellet deformation. They often pattern well. PS I like to have a light on any weapon intended for self defense.
And for safety sake, just use snap caps for the effect to chase them away. No reason risking an AD with live rounds. Shot gun home defense 101 right there.