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I have a number of pistols and rifles, but have never warmed myself up to get a shotgun - no, I don't do any hunting except for zombies hunting.

What do you guys see in shotgun that a rifle cannot do besides shooting at ducks? Maybe you can help me and give me enough reasons to buy one. :-) My significant other always says it's cool, well, maybe the sound is cool.

What if you need to take a head shot at 7-10 yard? Of course, without hitting your wife, who's under the armpit of an intruder - unless that's your intention.

A shotgun in more gooder for in-house self defense because with the proper loads, you don't have to worry about wall penetration near as much as say a 308 round.

Plus, a shotgun could be more of a point and click item than a pistol in the dark.

Also, I don't have a shotgun either.

Yet.

A few things about shotguns for home defense........

1. You may NEVER have to shoot it. Anyone that hears the sound of a pump shotgun cycling, knows it's time to run!

2. If you do have to shoot it, no need to worry about aim. Just point and click. There are enough pellets in "0" or even "00" Buckshot that you will surely get a hit with some of them in the close confines of a house. Then just follow up with additional rounds as necessary to STOP the threat.

3. A defensive shotgun is pretty cool as well. It is a good weapon to carry with you as a BOG (Bug Out Gun). It's good to have a sling on it so you can sling it over your shoulder when not needed. Take the AR, Shotgun, and a couple of your favorite pistolas and head for the hills! Don't forget the ammo!

It's the most versatile firearm. There are just an incredible variety of ammo loads, to do near anything.

If i am going to get one, I want one that i can change the barrel out for both HD and duck shooting. I really like the 870P, but not sure if that option is available.

You can change barrels on any 870. Just buy the one you want and make a plug for the extended magazine for your fowl hunting.

When the chips are down... Nothing beats a 12 gauge.

AEA wrote:A few things about shotguns for home defense........

1. You may NEVER have to shoot it. Anyone that hears the sound of a pump shotgun cycling, knows it's time to run!

2. If you do have to shoot it, no need to worry about aim. Just point and click. There are enough pellets in "0" or even "00" Buckshot that you will surely get a hit with some of them in the close confines of a house. Then just follow up with additional rounds as necessary to STOP the threat.

This is a common, and dangerous, misconception. Most shotguns, especially with buck shot, hold close enough patterns at room distance that a miss is EASY. I have posted pics of my patterns here. ;)

Well,....I of course did not mean a 45 or 25° shot!!!!!

Point and click. If you are anywhere near the intended target, you will hit (sights not needed).

I look at it this way; If I want to dump 9-18 ~30 caliber projectiles into an attacker with a single trigger pull, I can fill out lots of paperwork, pay $200, wait, wait some more, wait a bit more, and eventually pay a fortune to actually get the gun that will do it, or I can fill out one 4473, pay $200 and walk out the door with a used shotgun.

Besides, the versatility of the shotgun is nice too; one gun can bust clays with #8, wipe out skunks with #4 turkey loads, (apparently someone in town found a rabid skunk last week) stop some predators with #4 buck, clear small trees and large burglars with 00 buck, and generally make a mess of anything that needs to be less whole with a slug.

Stupid wrote:What do you guys see in shotgun that a rifle cannot do besides shooting at ducks?

Shooting at clay pigeons is the only way you're going to shoot at moving targets, unless you have some special circumstance like living at the edge of a desert.

For defensive purposes, shotgun loads are devastating at short range and less likely than a bullet to do accidental damage.

Most versatile firearm, as pointed out above, and just plain fun.

- Jim

I agree with the others, a shotgun is the most versatile firearm.
You can load it to do most anything.
Slugs to birdshot will cover most any type of shooting you'll do.

I don't believe the hoopla about 00 buckshot tho. I prefer No.4 buck.

seamusTX wrote:Most versatile firearm, as pointed out above, and just plain fun.

I completely forgot; if you want even more versatility, talk to these guys.

(note on the second page of the thread, they also came up with an 8ga version using 20mm brass, just in case you needed more recoil)

AEA wrote:A few things about shotguns for home defense........

1. You may NEVER have to shoot it. Anyone that hears the sound of a pump shotgun cycling, knows it's time to run!

2. If you do have to shoot it, no need to worry about aim. Just point and click. There are enough pellets in "0" or even "00" Buckshot that you will surely get a hit with some of them in the close confines of a house. Then just follow up with additional rounds as necessary to STOP the threat.