Replies

I used to have a statistic that said something like 95% of gunplay takes place at 15 feet or less. At that range, I would have trouble thinking of a better weapon than a street sweeper with a 10" barrel, regardless of pattern.

They don't call them scatter guns for nothing and that is the reason they are illegal. Yes, if you are fighting a head on battle with someone then those that you hit are legitimate targets however, if anyone is even close to the action they are going to be hit or in danger of it, innocent or not. If maneuverability in tight quarters is the goal then the defender is more than adequate and the shot distribution is at least somewhat controllable by the shooter.

I was just making the point that sawed-off's seem to have a time and place. If I were to accept that they were useless, then it would seem I would also have to accept the same argument about fully-automatic and those evil-looking black-stocked, barrel-shrouded "assault" weapons.

As far as 'spraying' from a sawed off, I have oftentimes gotten the same effect from tightly choked guns due to shot deformation. There always seems to be a few 'flyers' that land outside the pattern, oftentimes by a wide range. I would still consider a shotgun an ideal weapon for close-quaters.

"I used to have a statistic that said something like "95% of gunplay takes place at 15 feet or less. At that range, I would have trouble thinking of a better weapon than a street sweeper with a 10" barrel, regardless of pattern."

They don't call them scatter guns for nothing and that is the reason they are illegal.

I doubt if ANYone knows exactly why sawed/offs were unconstitutionally made illegal, but YOU are the first clown I've ever seen that said it was because of the 'scatter' effect. -- Weird.

Yes, if you are fighting a head on battle with someone then those that you hit are legitimate targets however, if anyone is even close to the action they are going to be hit or in danger of it, innocent or not.

'Even close'? The closer you are to a 'scattergun', the tighter the pattern, which is very tight with modern day loads at say 15 feet; -- might be maxed at six to 10 inches, depending much more on pellet shape & count, or wadding, than a usable barrel length or choke. Typically, a true cylinder bore shotgun will throw a 20 inch pattern at 10 yards, 32" at 20, 44" at 40yds, etc.

maneuverability in tight quarters is the goal then the defender is more than adequate and the shot distribution is at least somewhat controllable by the shooter.

Your knowlege of guns rivals that of your views on the constitution, tex. Totally SNAFUed.

They don't call them scatter guns for nothing and that is the reason they are illegal.

How does the shot pattern of a shotgun with an 18.1" barrel and 26.1" overall length compare with that of a bull-pup shotgun that has an 18.1" barrel and 19.5" overall length?