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Carbine is a good choice, if you train to use it, particularly under stressful conditions.

Ease of use goes to the shotgun, but there too some training is a good idea. You might want to search for a 'tactical shotgun' or 'intro to tactical shotgun' type of class in your area. Or, meet up with some of our northern contingent for a day on the range.

At a minimum, pattern the loads that you intend to run for self defense. i.e., shoot a target with your shotgun from different distances so you get a solid image in your head of how effective it is or isn't at those distances.

A friend of mine in San Diego wanted a Benelli M-3. We studied those and they are very fine shotguns but at over $1,000 struck me as absurdly expensive for the purpose. I'm not a natural born cheapskate like a couple of my close relatives, mind you, but am a "value investor."

I bought a gently used Winchester 1300 pump 12 gauge for something like $200. I put an AR style stock on it, and a shell holder. It holds 8 rounds of pure hate. I keep Federal No. 1 buck shot for it.

Like everything else, especially with guns, get some training, handle it so you know what you are doing if and when you need to. A shotgun is a devastating weapon, and more so in the hands of the ignorant and the careless.

Cabela's has the Winchester® SXP Defender for $329 (20ga) or #309 (12ga). For a shotgun that is only used for Home Defense, that wouldn't be a bad choice. There are very few accessories available for it, but that doesn't seem to be your focus. If you want to accessorize a shotgun, then go with a Mossberg 500/590 or a Remington 870.

Whatever you decide on, just know that a pump-action shotgun will almost always recoil much harder than a semi auto. As Crossfire said, that isn't much of a consideration for home defense, but just like your EDC pistol, you really should shoot a shotgun quite a bit to ensure it is reliable.

JRG wrote:Wow! Again I say Wow!

You guys and girls are great! So many great comments and suggestions. I am not a shotgun guy at all and really have no idea the recoil involved in either the 12 gauge or the 20 gauge. I just assumed that the 20 gauge would be less due to it being a smaller shell. I did not think about the gun being lighter and thus there would be more felt recoil.

So, the 12 gauge option is back on the table.

What is your take on the semi auto shotgun? Is it worth the extra money?

Joe

There's really no right or wrong answer here. With a semi auto, you accept a small possibility of reliability issues in exchange for quicker cycling when compared to a pump action. Semiautos tend to recoil more softly than pumps, but not ALL of them are soft relative to one another. Some people complain that the recoil of the Benelli inertial system semis is worse than those that are gas-operated, but I have not had any issue with mine. A pump will transmit ALL of the recoil into your shoulder, but so does a bolt action rifle, and it just isn't that bad. If you've ever fired a .308, .30-06, .270, or similarly powered cartridge out of a bolt action rifle, you have a rough idea of what 12 gauge pump action recoil is like........in other words, much ado about nothing. No, you would not want to fire 200 rounds of 12 gauge; but let's be honest....... in a HD scenario, are you seriously likely to shoot more rounds than are already in the magazine tube? If the answer is "YES", then an AR15 with its 30 round magazine and negligible recoil is a better choice for you.

Don't get me wrong.......I love my 12 gauge Mossberg pump; but I'm swapping it out for a suppressed 10.5 SBR in .300 Blackout I'm building, shooting 208 grain subsonic ammo. It's a package that is shorter and lighter than my Mossberg, shooting a cartridge that approximates a +P .45 ACP in performance, with 30 rounds in a magazine without reloading, without having to worry about ear protection inside the house and deafening myself, my wife, or my dog........and with less concern about a stray piece of buckshot exiting a window or tearing up a valuable antique. My Mossberg is going to be relegated to Trunk Monkey status.

The Annoyed Man wrote:

JRG wrote:Wow! Again I say Wow!

You guys and girls are great! So many great comments and suggestions. I am not a shotgun guy at all and really have no idea the recoil involved in either the 12 gauge or the 20 gauge. I just assumed that the 20 gauge would be less due to it being a smaller shell. I did not think about the gun being lighter and thus there would be more felt recoil.

So, the 12 gauge option is back on the table.

What is your take on the semi auto shotgun? Is it worth the extra money?

Joe

There's really no right or wrong answer here. With a semi auto, you accept a small possibility of reliability issues in exchange for quicker cycling when compared to a pump action. Semiautos tend to recoil more softly than pumps, but not ALL of them are soft relative to one another. Some people complain that the recoil of the Benelli inertial system semis is worse than those that are gas-operated, but I have not had any issue with mine. A pump will transmit ALL of the recoil into your shoulder, but so does a bolt action rifle, and it just isn't that bad. If you've ever fired a .308, .30-06, .270, or similarly powered cartridge out of a bolt action rifle, you have a rough idea of what 12 gauge pump action recoil is like........in other words, much ado about nothing. No, you would not want to fire 200 rounds of 12 gauge; but let's be honest....... in a HD scenario, are you seriously likely to shoot more rounds than are already in the magazine tube? If the answer is "YES", then an AR15 with its 30 round magazine and negligible recoil is a better choice for you.

Don't get me wrong.......I love my 12 gauge Mossberg pump; but I'm swapping it out for a suppressed 10.5 SBR in .300 Blackout I'm building, shooting 208 grain subsonic ammo. It's a package that is shorter and lighter than my Mossberg, shooting a cartridge that approximates a +P .45 ACP in performance, with 30 rounds in a magazine without reloading, without having to worry about ear protection inside the house and deafening myself, my wife, or my dog........and with less concern about a stray piece of buckshot exiting a window or tearing up a valuable antique. My Mossberg is going to be relegated to Trunk Monkey status.

Lots of good information for you to peruse here. My only advice is make sure it has a butt stock. Sounds like the one you looked at does. Shooting a shot gun with a only pistol grip and no butt stock is not something you'd enjoy I would venture.

My Mossberg combo pack came with a pistol grip, I fired it a few times but was very inconsistent with shot placement and my wrist was a wreck for several days. I'm not even sure where it is anymore, but if I find it and someone wants one I'll give it away.

Since you don't have enough to think about, I'll add one more thing.

I much prefer a conventional stock instead of a pistol grip with or without a stock. Its what I'm used to and, for me, works better for recoil control. Also, it works better for instinctive shooting (again, for me).

One side benefit is this... If you ever find yourself facing someone who just desperately needs to be butt-stroked, you can do it without having to alter your grip.

Pawpaw wrote: If you ever find yourself facing someone who just desperately needs to be butt-stroked, you can do it without having to alter your grip.

Dang.

Dadtodabone wrote:

Pawpaw wrote: If you ever find yourself facing someone who just desperately needs to be butt-stroked, you can do it without having to alter your grip.

Dang.

Not "dang".......... ABBALUTELY!!!

Bitter Clinger wrote:
Plenty of local training opportunities abound. Phil Ryan is planning a class this month, see http://txconcealedcarry.com/class-sched ... shotgun-i/

Come on out and try a few different guns before you buy...

Just received email update, class is on for this Sunday, May 15th in McKinney:

DEFENSIVE SHOTGUN

COMBAT MARKSMANSHIP
USE OF SLINGS
TACTICAL AND COMBAT RELOADING
TRANSITION TO PISTOL
CLOSE-QUARTER TECHNIQUES
MULTIPLE TARGET ENGAGEMENT
 
CLASS TIMES 8:00AM UNTIL 6:00PM
Sign up at http://www.txconcealedcarry.com

Equipment List

·      SEMI AUTOMATIC or pump shotgun 18 to 20” barrel preferred 12 or 20 gauge.
·      Dot & halo type site systems are permitted (close quarter type)
·      300 ROUNDS OF bird shot AMMUNITION (More is better)
·      FYI – if using a semi auto shotgun some lighter loads will not cycle the weapon.  if you are going to use a semi-auto it is advised you use a heavier load (6 shot or high brass or 3” if chambered for 3”).
·      50 rounds of 00 to #4 buck
·      25 rifled slugs if you have a smooth bore
·      25 sabots if you have a rifled barrel.
·      Sling
·      HOLSTER - Must be hip holster / Inside the pant is ok if it is a hard / firm holster
·      HANDGUN W/ 100 ROUNDS OF AMMO W/ STRONG SIDE HIP HOLSTER
·      EYE & hearing protection (loaners available)
·      CLOTHING SUITABLE FOR WEATHER CONDITIONS
·      HAT AND SUNGLASSES
·      SUN BLOCK
·      Camp / folding type chair recommended for range.
Regards,
Phil Ryan
txconcealedcarry.com
214-893-4116