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Hello,

I am looking to purchase a shotgun for home protection for my wife and I. I am unsure what kind I should get since my wife is 5’0” and 100lbs. I worry about her handling the kick of a typical shotgun and haven’t been able to figure this out doing my own research, I play on the top-quality casinos, I found them here http://qualitycasinos.cc/ and can spend good money to buy an expensive shotgun Any advice would be welcomed!

Tizuia wrote: Thu Nov 19, 2020 5:31 am Hello,

I am looking to purchase a shotgun for home protection for my wife and I. I am unsure what kind I should get since my wife is 5’0” and 100lbs. I worry about her handling the kick of a typical shotgun and haven’t been able to figure this out doing my own research. Any advice would be welcomed!

Get her a hand gun and teach her how to use it. A 12 gage shot gun is gonna wallop the heck out of her. If she is punished every time she tries to use it, she won't want to train with it. I suppose you could try a 20 gage but it is still gonna have a kick to it.

Might try a 16 g.

Even people of smaller stature can be trained to handle a shotgun effectively. I have personally trained my wife, my daughter when she was 13, and my son when he was 12.

A shotgun is my go to, when something goes bump in the night. I use a Mossberg 500 18.5" barrel. loaded with #1 Federal Flight Control. That may not be the best option for you wife. A semi auto, 20 gauge, is also very effective. Reduced felt recoil, lighter weight, and still enough stopping power, loaded with the right rounds.

Despite conventional wisdom, a shotgun must be aimed. The pellets do not instantly start to spread, and hit anything in the general vicinity. The average spread from an 18" barrel, is approximately 1" per yard. so at across the room distance, the pellets will usually only spread an inch or two. Which means that a target can easily be missed, if not properly placed.

As far as brand, action, etc. that is completely dependent upon your wife's training and competency. I would suggest, a barrel length of 18-20" and a minimum capacity of 5 rounds. Pump shotguns, are usually more reliable, but they do provide more felt recoil. Several manufacturers, make tactical shoguns, in both pump and semi auto. Mossberg, Winchester, Remington, Savage, etc. I prefer the Mossberg. I have had mine for several years, it has never failed. I have used it for hunting (by switching out a 28" barrel) The safety is located, on the top of the tang, instead of near the trigger guard. The pump action is smooth, and I have put over 5000 rounds through it with no FTF, or FTE. Mossberg's customer service is second to none.

Before selecting the shotgun, let your wife try out as many different shotguns as possible. Start out with light target loads, let her get familiar with whichever action she has. Stance is very important, she must "lean into" the shotgun which sounds counter-intuitive, but it helps absorb recoil and keep you balanced for follow up shots.

I'm sure there are members here who would be wiling to meet you and your wife at a range and let her try out their guns. I don't know where you are located, but, I am in the DFW area, and would be glad to meet up, and let her try out my shotguns.

Just a side note, since the gun/ammo buying spree, of the pandemic, finding shotguns, and defensive shotgun shells, is much more difficult.

ETA, just noticed in your profile that you list Toronto, as your location. If that is Canada, your options may be more limited, due to their gun laws.

Jusme summed it up nicely.

Also look for a youth model. As a husband with a shorter wife the shorter stock of the youth model makes it easier for her to use. 20 ga with low recoil buckshot will fill your needs.

I'm pretty ignorant on the affect, but would low recoil shells work for home defense? Maybe my thinking is wrong, but I would expect an intruder to turn and run, if the shot doesn't put him down.

I used them when I took my wife to the range to get used to a 12 ga. I didn't want her to be turned off by the recoil while practicing.

TxRVer wrote: Thu Nov 19, 2020 8:05 am I'm pretty ignorant on the affect, but would low recoil shells work for home defense? Maybe my thinking is wrong, but I would expect an intruder to turn and run, if the shot doesn't put him down.

I used them when I took my wife to the range to get used to a 12 ga. I didn't want her to be turned off by the recoil while practicing.

If he does turn and run, it won't be very far. I just noticed the O.P. is from Toronto. That may affect options in self defense.

TxRVer wrote: Thu Nov 19, 2020 8:05 am I'm pretty ignorant on the affect, but would low recoil shells work for home defense? Maybe my thinking is wrong, but I would expect an intruder to turn and run, if the shot doesn't put him down.

I used them when I took my wife to the range to get used to a 12 ga. I didn't want her to be turned off by the recoil while practicing.

Federal flight Control, is considered a low recoil round, but it still has about 1100 fps at the muzzle. Large pellets, won't lose much velocity, in a HD scenario.

Check these tests performed by an independent non-laboratory tester: https://www.theboxotruth.com/the-box-o- ... -buckshot/

I have personally fired it at 25 yards, with only about a 5" spread pattern.

As others have pointed out, please check your local laws for any rules on self-defense. I am going to assume you are in Toronto, TX (in Brewster County) because I am more familiar with Texas laws and this is a Texas forum. Whether I am wrong or right, welcome to our forum.

I believe the best type of self-defense shotgun is a 12 gauge pump action with an 18 inch barrel and an extended magazine. I keep a Benelli Nova for this, and would recommend it or the Super Nova version. The difference is the Super Nova has some recoil reduction gear built in that might be helpful. I also have a lot of respect for Mossberg and Winchester pumps. You can't go wrong with a good name brand version, basically.

There are two tricks you need to remember when using a shotgun for home defense. The first is the tactics. I always recommend that when defending your home, you get a good defensive position and not go looking for the bad guys. My home is set up where I can step into the doorway of my bedroom and cover the whole hallway from there. This keeps everyone in my house under my protection and helps make clear that I did not trap a burglar or lure him in. If he is in the hallway leading to the bedrooms, I am pretty clearly defending people and not property. I am not nearly as worried about the property in the living rooms as I am about the people, so this works for me. You may feel differently of course. Going looking for a burglar is usually a bad idea unless you have the training for it. And doing it with a long gun like a shotgun requires even more training.

The second trick is something that just requires practice. To help your wife handle the recoil of a 12 gauge, besides practicing regularly, try a slightly different shooting position. Instead of her mounting the shotgun to her shoulder, have her tuck the buttstock against the side of her hip. The she can lock her elbow down along the stock. Hip shooting like this helps handle the recoil and make shooting the shotgun less fearful. I also helps retain control of the shotgun in a fight if the first shots do not stop the burglar from attacking. It is not a precision shooting position, but it can hit a man at room distances without too much trouble. It does take practice though, so go to the range with her.

srothstein wrote: Thu Nov 19, 2020 11:48 am As others have pointed out, please check your local laws for any rules on self-defense. I am going to assume you are in Toronto, TX (in Brewster County) because I am more familiar with Texas laws and this is a Texas forum. Whether I am wrong or right, welcome to our forum.

I believe the best type of self-defense shotgun is a 12 gauge pump action with an 18 inch barrel and an extended magazine. I keep a Benelli Nova for this, and would recommend it or the Super Nova version. The difference is the Super Nova has some recoil reduction gear built in that might be helpful. I also have a lot of respect for Mossberg and Winchester pumps. You can't go wrong with a good name brand version, basically.

There are two tricks you need to remember when using a shotgun for home defense. The first is the tactics. I always recommend that when defending your home, you get a good defensive position and not go looking for the bad guys. My home is set up where I can step into the doorway of my bedroom and cover the whole hallway from there. This keeps everyone in my house under my protection and helps make clear that I did not trap a burglar or lure him in. If he is in the hallway leading to the bedrooms, I am pretty clearly defending people and not property. I am not nearly as worried about the property in the living rooms as I am about the people, so this works for me. You may feel differently of course. Going looking for a burglar is usually a bad idea unless you have the training for it. And doing it with a long gun like a shotgun requires even more training.

The second trick is something that just requires practice. To help your wife handle the recoil of a 12 gauge, besides practicing regularly, try a slightly different shooting position. Instead of her mounting the shotgun to her shoulder, have her tuck the buttstock against the side of her hip. The she can lock her elbow down along the stock. Hip shooting like this helps handle the recoil and make shooting the shotgun less fearful. I also helps retain control of the shotgun in a fight if the first shots do not stop the burglar from attacking. It is not a precision shooting position, but it can hit a man at room distances without too much trouble. It does take practice though, so go to the range with her.

Excellent advice.

Jusme and Srothstein have given a bunch of great advice!

One thing with a pump 12 guage, I have the Benelli Supernova, they like to be run with a firm hand. Moving the action back to eject a spent case and load a fresh cartridge should be done with vigor. It is not a weapon for the timid. My better half, who doesn't like guns in the first place, cannot successfully run my Benelli pump. Now she has no problem successfully running my Benelli M2 semiautomatic but the recoil is less and the action takes care of the reloading for her

Get someplace or find someone that you can try or rent from before you buy.

I once rigged a Remington 870 20 ga for a lady who stands a little over 4'6 by pulling the butt plate off, cutting the stock to fit her arm, and re-attaching the butt plate. I intended to put a pachmayer plate on but we never got around to it.

It wasn't my most beautiful gun smithing work, it was quick and dirty, but effective. She shoots it very well and can handle the recoil, especially since the stock fits her.

Seriously consider a youth model, and potential alterations... It's amazing what trimming an inch or two from the stock can do for the shooter.

I'm going to be the odd man out here. Before making a final decision to use a shotgun for your wife's home defense weapon, go to the range with a friend and let her shoot it -- shoot it a lot! Shoot a full box of 00 buck and she what she says. I'll bet, 1) she won't shoot more than three or four rounds; and 2) she will not agree to a shotgun. If I'm wrong, then you have your home defense weapon. If I'm right, you can start searching for a realistic home defense weapon for a woman.

Chas.