Hey folks, so let’s say you’re new to firearms and you walk into a firearm store to purchase a new weapon, or your first for home defense.
The clerk sitting behind the table of glass says,
“Hello sir/ma’am,how can I help you?”
You respond, “I need a gun for home defense.”
He/she then will more than likely say,
“Oh well I have here a remington 870...” or “I have a mossberg 500... the perfect choice for home defense!”
Let’s pump the brakes for a second. Now you won’t be a sucker for buying this and you know it is not a bad choice because a gun is better than no gun, but based on my training and experience it certainly is not the best choice.
If you don’t own a gun, or if you do own firearms but think you’re set, maybe you should have a go at the following:
- Go get a broom, or long lead pipe, or even a plank of wood that is similar to the length of a rifle
- (Look for something about the length of 30”).
- Now take your object of length (easier there tiger) and go to your son’s, daughter’s, guest’s rooms, and at least one bathroom and close all of their doors.
- Go to your bedroom, close your bedroom door, set the object in the closet and close the door. Go sit on your bed.
- Get up, retrieve your object and hold it up like a rifle.
- If you don’t have any training that’s fine just emulate for now.
- Now leave your room and go back and open up every door to every room that you closed and walk into those rooms, and then leave the rooms (don’t forget the bathroom) and make your way back to your bedroom. During all of this never let go of the object.
Now imagine that you had to carry your child while doing this, had a phone in the other hand, or had to drag an adult into another room.. Also imagine that the broom you were holding weighed 8-12lbs or 7-9lbs (doesn’t sound like much but when the weight is all on your hand and wrist and is not evenly distributed, time is against you).
Ballistically speaking a shotgun is not necessarily the best choice. Shotguns are known for their ability to devastate a threat and it’s nice to be able to shoot about 8 pieces of almost 9mm sized balls of lead in one press of the trigger. However, let’s say something required you to take a more precision based shot, even if you knew your patterning I’ve seen some highly trained guys become very hesitant about taking the shot against paper targets with a hostage in the way; and some guys won’t take the shot at all (they run out of time). There are ways to make the shot (usually), but it can be problematic.
In short a lot of these issues are solved or made easier with a handgun. Handguns are far easier in terms of one handed manipulation, and when you need illumination there are affordable weapons mounted lights available that can fit most handguns. With a handgun you can have a weapon system and lighting system that can be easily operated with one hand. The other nice feature about handguns is that they are often easier for our smaller significant others to wield. As long as it’s not a double barreled 1911....
In short a lot of these issues are solved or made easier with a handgun. Handguns are far easier in terms of one handed manipulation, and when you need illumination there are affordable weapons mounted lights available that can fit most handguns. With a handgun you can have a weapon system and lighting system that can be easily operated with one hand. The other nice feature about handguns is that they are often easier for our smaller significant others to wield. As long as it’s not a double barreled 1911....
OH yeah, you know you want one now.
Keep in mind most of the problems that I discussed with the shotgun can be fixed, to a degree...
Weapons manipulation and environment interaction:
Attaching a sling can help you in being able to retain some control of the weapon but use your hands for something else. While in a dangerous situation it is obviously ill advised to give up your firing grip but sometimes certain actions will just require us to utilize both hands.
Shotgun Ballistics:
Weapons manipulation and environment interaction:
Attaching a sling can help you in being able to retain some control of the weapon but use your hands for something else. While in a dangerous situation it is obviously ill advised to give up your firing grip but sometimes certain actions will just require us to utilize both hands.
Shotgun Ballistics:
Slug rounds can fix the problems of buckshot patterning too wide, if we needed a more precise shot. There are accessories that allow the user to perform a slug changeover, where basically a buckshot round is replaced by a slug. So shotguns can be utilized as very accurate weapons. I have seen many men and women shoot at 100 yards at the headbox of a target and make the shot. BUT a lot of folks forget about over penetration. Slug rounds are notorious for over penetrating, and buckshot can easily over penetrate as well. So to those who live in close proximity to other persons (apartment complexes), a shotgun is not really your best friend (unless you really just hate your neighbors...).
Shotguns have their place, but why they are pitched as the best home defense weapon I am not sure. I have a feeling that when this country was not so condensed with such mass urban environments and when we actually owned property that wasn’t just 500’ by 500’, none of the issues I mentioned were experienced very often. When I’m a farmer or just a citizen who lives in a more rural environment, over penetration is not a huge factor. In urban environments though it is extremely problematic.
The great thing about shotguns is that you can obtain some very high quality and functional firearms at an affordable price. Along with some great defense ammunition at an affordable price as well.
I view the shotgun as the “mothership weapon.” It stays locked in the closet. When something goes bump in the night, I go reach over and grab my my handgun with a light attached to it. I go get my son and bring him back to the my bedroom. Eventually I will end up with the shotgun pointed at the door, and my wife will secure the handgun, child, and call the police.
I hope this article has been informative in assisting you in your future purchases, and of some safety and tactical considerations, and of course has helped you be safer. Keep in mind this article was an attempt to just scratch the surface there are many other elements to consider.
And please once you have made your purchase of your firearm please seek out professional training. Whether it is with a local NRA instructor, Front Sight, Defoor, Vickers, etc. Get some training on the topic that you need to learn about.
Thanks for reading, stay safe.
Shotguns have their place, but why they are pitched as the best home defense weapon I am not sure. I have a feeling that when this country was not so condensed with such mass urban environments and when we actually owned property that wasn’t just 500’ by 500’, none of the issues I mentioned were experienced very often. When I’m a farmer or just a citizen who lives in a more rural environment, over penetration is not a huge factor. In urban environments though it is extremely problematic.
The great thing about shotguns is that you can obtain some very high quality and functional firearms at an affordable price. Along with some great defense ammunition at an affordable price as well.
I view the shotgun as the “mothership weapon.” It stays locked in the closet. When something goes bump in the night, I go reach over and grab my my handgun with a light attached to it. I go get my son and bring him back to the my bedroom. Eventually I will end up with the shotgun pointed at the door, and my wife will secure the handgun, child, and call the police.
I hope this article has been informative in assisting you in your future purchases, and of some safety and tactical considerations, and of course has helped you be safer. Keep in mind this article was an attempt to just scratch the surface there are many other elements to consider.
And please once you have made your purchase of your firearm please seek out professional training. Whether it is with a local NRA instructor, Front Sight, Defoor, Vickers, etc. Get some training on the topic that you need to learn about.
Thanks for reading, stay safe.
