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Vanity: Need help choosing home invasion shotgun
8/18/2014 | DRey

Posted on 08/18/2014 9:57:48 PM PDT by DRey

I carry concealed a nice glock .40. Fits female hand great, but want a short barrel home invasion shotgun loaded for bear. Any recommendations on a reliable, relatively light-weighted weapon? Brand? Model? Thanks!


TOPICS: Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: banglist; gun; homeinvasion; shotgun
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To: DRey
Shotguns are all about barrel length, meaning the longer the barrel, the tighter the scatter pattern.
I really don't recommend an 18 inch barrel or anything shorter than 24 inches, because of the effective range of the pattern.
Also I recommend practice shooting, and plenty of it.
That will help you learn just what your shotgun will do with its scatter pattern at different distances.
Practice shooting from the hip also, so you'll know what to expect in the recoil and in your aim.
You can take your index finger and "point with it" above the trigger pull and just below or along side of the barrel, and pull the trigger with your middle finger.
With a little time and money spent on ammo, you can get good at "point and shoot", even from the hip.
But practice, practice, practice is the key, ... and clean you weapon often.
101 posted on 08/18/2014 11:37:24 PM PDT by Yosemitest (It's Simple ! Fight, ... or Die !)
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To: DRey

Roger.

Remember that the aftermath will have armchair quarterbacks judging your performance.

You must be able to articulate clearly why you did what you did. Keep it simple.

It is perfectly reasonable, after an event like this, to say something like ‘I am pretty shaken. I want to cooperate fully but need to compose myself before doing so. Please give me some time.’

It is not uncommon for a survivor to laugh at the release of tension ... avoid doing this out loud as it may not be understood.

Being a woman has some advantages.


102 posted on 08/18/2014 11:38:16 PM PDT by GOPBiker (Thank a veteran, with a smile, every chance you get. You do more good than you can know.)
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To: DRey
The lightest is probably be a Serbu. Might be a bit "responsive."
103 posted on 08/18/2014 11:39:11 PM PDT by meatloaf
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To: Southack

Bfl


104 posted on 08/18/2014 11:40:04 PM PDT by Reddy (B.O. stinks)
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To: Yosemitest

I go to an indoor range regularly with my handgun, but don’t know where to go with a shotgun. Is there a “practice” type shot they allow at indoor ranges if you know? Definitely all about confidence through practice.


105 posted on 08/18/2014 11:41:26 PM PDT by DRey (Like him or not. He's been pretty damn great for Texas.)
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To: GOPBiker

Understood. Although I will say that it’s pretty hard to convict in-home self defenders from intruders in TX, regardless of outcome. CIVIL issues may be another matter. Hopefully never come close to either situation!


106 posted on 08/18/2014 11:45:41 PM PDT by DRey (Like him or not. He's been pretty damn great for Texas.)
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To: Obama_Is_Sabotaging_America

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/3194407/posts?page=6#6


107 posted on 08/18/2014 11:46:57 PM PDT by smokingfrog ( sleep with one eye open (<o> ---)
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To: DRey

The only reason to do without the buttstock is for using in tight quarters. When it comes to actual shooting then firing from the shoulder is vastly better.

I would buy a 20 gauge if I was buying the gun for you.

If you do get a shotgun get a big sheet of cardboard, mark some aiming spots on it and shoot at them from ten feet or so, fifteen, twenty and so forth while backing up. This will give you an idea of the shot spread at different distances. You will be surprised at the small spread at close distances.

BTW, a fairly decent gunsafe is a real good investment for guns and other stuff.

PS, some states require shotguns, no rifles, for deer hunting.

I’m full of opinions. :-)


108 posted on 08/18/2014 11:50:19 PM PDT by Rockpile
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To: Rockpile

Why a gun safe? I have one in my purse, one behind the safe, and want this shotgun under the bed. Don’t have hunting rifles or anything to lock up for “special” occasions. Also, have awesome Kevlar locking holster very difficult for child to pull off but quick yank at right angle for me and ready to fire. Why gun safe?


109 posted on 08/18/2014 11:56:22 PM PDT by DRey (Like him or not. He's been pretty damn great for Texas.)
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To: DRey

It’s actually easier to hit at close range with a rifle than with a shotgun.

The true advantage of the shotgun in a home defense situation is two fold. First, shotgun loads don’t over penetrate walls, so you don’t have to worry as much about killing a family member in another room or the occupants of an adjoining apartment. Second, with a load like the Winchester PDX1, one shot from a shotgun puts even the biggest, baddest guy down and incapacitated immediately with one shot.


110 posted on 08/19/2014 12:04:21 AM PDT by rdcbn
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To: DRey
Nothing eliminates a strong kick except a well designed weapon with a shoulder pad on the but stock, which Benelli makes.
But more important to eliminating "kick" is holding the weapon firmly against your shoulder or firmly in your hands.
Again, practice shooting will teach you how to do this.
Don't fear the kick, but learn to handle it.
Start with lighter loads in the ammo, and learn to read and understand the information given on the side of the ammo box.

Accuracy is about practice and distance from the end of the barrel to the target. (Practice, practice, practice)
With a shotgun, depending on your shells, accuracy isn't that important, but scatter pattern is (a matter of distance).
With a shotgun, long range is anything beyond about 75 feet, and with an 18" barrel, that would be reduced due to scatter pattern.
A "Goose Gun" normally had a barrel length of 36 inches, and a very heavy load of gunpowder.
Home defense with a shotgun is normally concerned about shooting through walls, and some people want the ability to kill a criminal behind a door or a wall, while other people don't.
It's really what you think you want that matters.
But only practice at shooting targets, will make you comfortable with your shotgun, and will help you with your ability and comfort in using and owning one.

Before you buy a shotgun, go to a gun range or a gun club and ask to take some lessons with different types of shotguns.
It'll be time and money well spent, BEFORE YOUR PURCHASE.
111 posted on 08/19/2014 12:05:52 AM PDT by Yosemitest (It's Simple ! Fight, ... or Die !)
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To: DRey

Most ranges I go to will allow bird shot. None allow slugs unless it is outdoors and a pretty good distance.

The post by Yosemitest has several points worth thinking about.

First, in a room clearing weapon you do not want a long barrel. If your barrel precedes you into a room an adversary there will just take it from you with a sharp yank. They may grab it and push back or twist it to break your finger in the trigger guard. In any case your advantage is gone.

Second, a shotgun takes some work to be able to handle smoothly. For example a semi-auto will malfunction if held too loosely as the gun depends on the shooter to hold it firmly so the action can eject and load another round. A malfunction turns your semi-auto shotgun into a single-shot if you have not practiced clearing the malfunctions reflexively.
A pump shotgun does not do that but you must practice running the slide on the shotgun fully in order to not short-stroke it and create a different malfunction when the action is locked and there is no round in the chamber.
To do this you must practice shooting 3 round sets of shots many times to make sure you can fully run the slide every time.
Finally a shotgun hurts if not held properly. A 20 gauge pump will have significant felt recoil much like a 12 gauge.
A shouldered shotgun held loosely will hurt you enough to distract you from the important job you have in front of you.

It is not a man vs woman thing in any sense. Good shotgun work takes a lot of practice to get OK at and more to be competent regardless of gender.

Finally an shotgun is slow to reload unless you are a 3-gun shooter with a bucket-load of practice.

Hence my earlier comments about pistol caliber carbines (short, light recoil, easy reloads, common ammo).

223/5.56 rifles can be used as home defense in an urban setting with frangible ammo. Ar style, mini-14, the Tavor any of them with a carbine length (or shorter if you can have it) barrel will suffice. The blast from a rifle cartridge will be significant in an enclosed space.

Any centerfire carbine is superior to a shotgun in my opinion for a non-professional home defender due to the increased ease of use and the amount of practice required to field it effectively.


112 posted on 08/19/2014 12:06:12 AM PDT by GOPBiker (Thank a veteran, with a smile, every chance you get. You do more good than you can know.)
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To: DRey
I recommend the Winchester Model 1300 Defender in 12 ga. The stock pump shotgun holds 8-shots (7+1). Reliably feeds (without modification) Aguila 1-7/8 inch mini-buckshot and mini-slugs or Centurion 2-inch mini-buckshot and mini-slugs. Use of the smaller shells allows two or three extra rounds in the magazine; the mini-shells reduce over penetration of standard ammunition in a residence; and the smaller rounds impart less recoil to the shooter than standard 12 ga. buckshot or slugs.
113 posted on 08/19/2014 12:12:06 AM PDT by MasterGunner01
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To: DRey
Shotgun practice would normally be done in a field outdoors, like a sheet range.
But in most rural areas, you can normally find someone that will let you learn to shoot or handle a shotgun in their hay field.
If you don't know of a skeet range close to you, try the Civilian Marksmanship Program Club & Competition Tracker to help you find one in your area.
If that doesn't help, then start at The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP)' web site.
114 posted on 08/19/2014 12:16:33 AM PDT by Yosemitest (It's Simple ! Fight, ... or Die !)
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To: DRey

You need the safe to store your wasp spray.

No really, it is kind of reassuring when you are not home to be able to lock up your guns——unless you take all of them with you——ammo, passports, cameras, jewelry, money, stamps, extra checks or other valuables. A fire liner is good and if you have someones kids over it can keep them out of mischief.

Of course, they can be breached or potentially carried off but it causes some discouragement amongst the typical smash and grabs yutes.


115 posted on 08/19/2014 12:18:15 AM PDT by Rockpile
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To: DRey

Signing off now. Good luck.


116 posted on 08/19/2014 12:26:36 AM PDT by GOPBiker (Thank a veteran, with a smile, every chance you get. You do more good than you can know.)
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To: DRey
GOPBiker's comments about the "223/5.56 rifles" (commonly known as AR-15s) are spot on.
I've got many years with the M-16 which isn;t much different than todays AR-15s, and for a small, easy to handle weapon, they're hard to beat.
BUT THEY MUST BE CLEANED OFTEN.
Take a look at a lever action carbine in a .223/5.56 or maybe even a "Hog Leg".
The .223/5.56 is a much lighter "Kick" and much more accurate.
Look at these .223 Lever Action Rifles.
Also take a look at a "Mare's Leg" in several different calibers.
117 posted on 08/19/2014 12:48:01 AM PDT by Yosemitest (It's Simple ! Fight, ... or Die !)
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To: Rockpile
I'm against safes, simply because I grew up as a child, around loaded guns.
But that's just me.
An unloaded gun will get the owner killed, just as quickly as a gun locked in a safe will.
Most intruders today are armed.
And you can't ask Mr Burglar/Rapist to wait for you to unlock and load your gun.
118 posted on 08/19/2014 12:52:23 AM PDT by Yosemitest (It's Simple ! Fight, ... or Die !)
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To: Yosemitest

Am glad you are home 100 per cent of the time and never ever leave.

And if you had a safe and were home you would never ever open it until you heard an intruder. Okay.


119 posted on 08/19/2014 1:10:27 AM PDT by Rockpile
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To: DRey

Put me on the long list of Remington 870 supporters.

1. Get the 18” barrel for home defense. It’s lighter and easier to use in a confined space.

2. If you are worried about recoil or overpenetration, there are “Tactical Loads” that are significantly easier to handle. I’d go with a reduced recoil load in a 12 gauge rather than a 20 gauge if that is an issue. Note: I have tactical loads in my 870 right now, except that the last round is a magnum load in case I can’t count under pressure.

3. Remington 887 is NOT RECOMMENDED for home defense. Remington claims that the Remington 887 is the same design as the Remington 870, just with a more rugged polymer coating. They lie. The 887 is durable but not as reliable as the 870. Most of the 887s work, but far too many people have had failure to go bang issues with the 887 when they pull the trigger, and I have had that failure dozens of times with the 887 before I finally got it fixed. My 870 has never, not even once in over 5,000 shots, failed in any way.


120 posted on 08/19/2014 1:36:56 AM PDT by Pollster1 ("Shall not be infringed" is unambiguous.)
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