What shotgun works best for home defense?

[alan]

I'm considering a shotgun for home defense and could use some real-world advice. I'm stuck between 12-gauge and 20-gauge. The 12-gauge is powerful, but I've heard the 20-gauge is easier to handle with less recoil, especially in tight spaces. What's the best choice for home use?

When it comes to barrel length and stock setup, what features should I focus on? I want something simple and reliable. Any brands or models you've had good experiences with?

Also, how big of a deal is training for this? I've shot shotguns before, but not really practiced for home defense. What kind of drills or practice should I be looking at to feel prepared?

 

[Eastenerwesterner]

Because I purchased my guns for sporting purposes, this is what I would reach in the safe for-
12g turkey gun because the barrel is shorter than my duck gun, more maneuverable in tight spaces.
I stick with pump actions. Seen too many people have issues with their Semis because of poor cleaning. I also want to make every shot count only having 5.
My wife has her 20g in her SxS when she is doing fire clearance for Rattlers.

 

[Deleted member 18]

@Alan I have no expertise in anything, but I do have a little experience.

1) Grab a 12 gauge and shoot it once or twice. You'll figure out pretty quickly whether recoil is going to be an issue for you.

2) A shorter barrel shotgun will be more maneuverable in most home defense situations. However, if you are a trophy cup winning skeet shooter, you don't need any advice on gun handling.

3) Training is everything, and there is no end to it. Think about the space you need to defend. Have a plan. Practice with your weapons.

4) If your real name is John Wick, forget what I just said.


Post Scriptum: There are four rules to gun safety. One of them is considering all of the things that your shot might hit unintentionally. 200% of the time, an iPhone is better than a shotgun.

 

[High Dez]

I have this exact model for self-defense. Mossberg Maverick 88 with 18.5"-barrel, 12 gauge, chambers 3" mag. Holds 5+1 if you use 2 3/4" shells. Pretty inexpensive, can find them for $250 or less.

https://www.mossberg.com/maverick-88-security-31023.html

 

[Deleted member 18]

I have this exact model for self-defense. Mossberg Maverick 88 with 18.5"-barrel, 12 gauge, chambers 3" mag. Holds 5+1 if you use 2 3/4" shells. Pretty inexpensive, can find them for $250 or less.

https://www.mossberg.com/maverick-88-security-31023.html

That's a nice one, Dez. Mossberg and Remington are the two big dogs in this game. Both are well-liked.

 

[Eastenerwesterner]

Other considerations for this scenario, would be Pistol caliber carbines.

Wife has her 9mm semi, I have my 44 lever action. Gives you more capacity without the through and through of a rifle inside the house.

There are more than one ways to skin a cat.

Edit: Was visiting friends in another state. He was asking me about guns. He wanted to get a shotgun to protect himself in the BLM times.
I asked him and his wife-would you use it? He hesitated, wife didn't. I told them she should get a gun, but he shouldn't .

 

[Javbike]

I have this exact model for self-defense. Mossberg Maverick 88 with 18.5"-barrel, 12 gauge, chambers 3" mag. Holds 5+1 if you use 2 3/4" shells. Pretty inexpensive, can find them for $250 or less.

https://www.mossberg.com/maverick-88-security-31023.html

I have the same one bedside weapon only way to go

 

[Sgt Rock 11B]

It really depends on where you live.

Unless you're a hunter you probably will be very awkward with a long gun.

Few years ago when the Civil Disobedience was getting crazy two middle age women came into Turners to pick up the shotgun they bought. It was obvious that they needed real training with it.

I am sure sometime in the past someone said with a shotgun all you need to do was point and pull the trigger and you get a hit every time.

 

[Frank M]

I personally would never use a shotgun for in-home defense (unless your plan is to barricade in your room) but if I had to, I would use a Benelli M4, Remington 870 or an Ithica 37 with a pistol grip. For those that worry about jamming in a semi auto, pumps jam just as well. Regardless of your choice, train, train, train.

 

[xchecker]

I've had a Mossberg 590 for 30yrs now. Bought as a LEO trade in for $125 in '95. Pulled the plug for 8+1 capacity, pistol grip and a flashlight. 18.5"

 

[Rusty tweezers]

12g 3" nitro magnum of course I had to wait a year when I bought it for the AOW tax stamp.

 

[Formula55]

For decades I used a Remington 870 for work. When I bought a home defense gun I went with a pump shotgun. The sound of charging that shell is unmistakable. I have become accustomed to using an inexpensive adjustable sling allowing for a smooth transition to a pistol. I went with a CZ 612 pump , 18 in barrel,holds 4. The operation,safety and round retrieval are like the Remington. So many useful rounds available

 

[Michael Matteson]

If you are use to using a shotgun then anything would work. For people that don't shoot very much an Auto would be better.
Here Why: Pump you have to make sure that you pump the action completely to induce another shell. I would say the household shotgun isn't use for much else except for protection. Short barrels aren't really for hunting. So the use of the shotgun isn't going to be much. A little extra oil in the action should stop any miss fires. If you are hunting I wouldn't use a short barrel shotgun anyway. 20 gauge in 3" would be my choice with a full stock. Put the stock under your arm in the armpit area. That way whichever way you turn the shotgun is pointed that way. I would use a lighter shot something like 5 shot. More in the load to cover a better area. The one that not suppose to be there will know too if you fill full of shot. I would increase the size of shot on or about 3rd round to something heavier.
Got to remember that even with a short barrel that shot is going to be petty tight coming out the barrel.

 

[Rusty tweezers]

I pretty much don't worry about aim with this badboy just sucks I had to pay a 5 dollar exstorsion fee to have it I probably wouldn't use my nfa ppsh41 but it would scare the scat right outta anyone that came in uninvited . It's an amnesty bring back and I've got the documents and some pictures of the original owner that brought it back. Definitely a piece of history. Stamped with the zuis or however you spell it from 1942

 

[ntsqd]

My random thoughts on the topic:

I would not want a pistol grip on a shotgun. Too hard to manage the recoil and I want the stability that a butt-stock provides, even if shooting from the hip.

What to load it with is the next big question. You don't want something that's going to go thru four walls and enter the Convent next door. If there are others in the house you don't want something that will go all the way thru even one wall.
Number 4 Buck has almost twice the number of .33 caliber balls than 00 Buck's .36 caliber balls.
Bird shot will make a huge mess out of someone down-range.

I would want it stored somewhere that by the time I got to it I'm fully awake. Directly under the bed isn't going to do that. You want a fully awake and functioning brain before you pick up a firearm.

If there is only one story when Law Enforcement gets there, then there is only one story in court. Shoot someone in your house and you will be going to court. The weapon that you use may or may not be returned to you in a timely manner. Depending on your local jurisdiction it may or may not be handled with care.

The house invader that can recognize an exotic firearm is a statistically very, very low probability. The house invader who thinks that you've just pointed one of the USS Missouri's 16's at them is much more likely.

If you live in an area where the "Funeral arrangements by Kubota" option is possible don't forget however they got there, bury it too. Deep.

 

[Havasu]

My random thoughts on the topic:

I would not want a pistol grip on a shotgun. Too hard to manage the recoil and I want the stability that a butt-stock provides, even if shooting from the hip.

What to load it with is the next big question. You don't want something that's going to go thru four walls and enter the Convent next door. If there are others in the house you don't want something that will go all the way thru even one wall.
Number 4 Buck has almost twice the number of .33 caliber balls than 00 Buck's .36 caliber balls.
Bird shot will make a huge mess out of someone down-range.

I would want it stored somewhere that by the time I got to it I'm fully awake. Directly under the bed isn't going to do that. You want a fully awake and functioning brain before you pick up a firearm.

If there is only one story when Law Enforcement gets there, then there is only one story in court. Shoot someone in your house and you will be going to court. The weapon that you use may or may not be returned to you in a timely manner. Depending on your local jurisdiction it may or may not be handled with care.

The house invader that can recognize an exotic firearm is a statistically very, very low probability. The house invader who thinks that you've just pointed one of the USS Missouri's 16's at them is much more likely.

If you live in an area where the "Funeral arrangements by Kubota" option is possible don't forget however they got there, bury it too. Deep.

Seems you've covered the basics!

 

[waveslayer]

Any will do of you will do. Depends on what you train with. If you want a specific model to look at, what's the budget? Go 1301 or m4

 

[ntsqd]

My own brand & model preference is Mossberg 500. That's a somewhat dated opinion, but at the time that it was formed the 500 was the best ROI on the market.

 

[waveslayer]

500 is amazing, I prefer the super nova pump for the slug select over the 500, but personal opinion.