Until I can decide on what 12 gauge pump I want for HD - I use a 12 gauge O/U shotgun with a 28” barrel and skeet chokes (equivelant to a 26” barrel semi - auto or pump 12 gauge) . I’ve added a 6 round saddle to the stock and jokingly call my set up : “ My slower loading 2 shot semi - auto 12 gauge” . What I have is better than not having a shotgun for HD and with practice loading the O/U from the 6 round saddle on the stock behind cover is a little faster than once thought it would be . My point is if a O/U 12 gauge shot gun is all you have for HD - then add a 6 shot saddle on the stock and practice loading to increase speed and reliability of your reloads . Two rounds already in the chamber with 6 more rounds in the saddle on the stock at the ready give you 8 rounds ready to put into action should the need arise … Better than a “sharp stick to the eye” until I decide on what 12 gauge pump I want !
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ChrisD46
I agree it is better than pointy stick. With those long barrels, it would seem to be unwieldy, so, I would recommend practicing. By practicing, I mean, unload the shotgun and practice clearing your house. Taking the gun from where it is stored and working your way to the potential points of entry. A coach gun would be better but you don't have one so learning how to maneuver the gun is critical. I would also buy 8 snap caps and practice shooting and reloading at home, with live rounds at your local range. Personally, I'd rather have a pistol than a double barrel shotgun. Good luck in your endeavor.
I agree with your thought process. There was some sort of report that shotguns have the best one shot stop percentage. Also, a lawyer friend keeps the first round chambered as a non lethal rubber slug. He says best "picture" in a civil trial.
With a side-by-side you have that option obviously and a much faster "reload" than a pump
I will challenge you on barrel length. Yours is just too long for in home use/rapid movement. Cut it down to 18.5 inches. Will handle much more lightly and quickly
With a side-by-side you have that option obviously and a much faster "reload" than a pump
I will challenge you on barrel length. Yours is just too long for in home use/rapid movement. Cut it down to 18.5 inches. Will handle much more lightly and quickly
A coach gun is a better alternative if you gotta go old school. We are all subject to our finances first however. I agree that in your case in a dynamic scenario where a pistol might be a more viable option if you are foolish enough or have to engage a threat while moving about. Not all of us can sit and hunker down and wait for a threat to present itself from a position of cover and or concealment. For instance if you are on the first floor and your kids are upstairs. You might have to move rapidly to bottleneck a threat at say the top of the stairs. In that case your shotgun is about as good as it gets outside of a dedicated rifle for dissuading would be nere do wells trying to come up. Either way be sure to train reloading. A shotgun is a great tool but it eats like a group of teenagers after football practice.
Biden said it’s the best home defense and you can shoot intruders through the front door with it. The rest of us pistol and AR types are second class per his expertise.
In any case, coach guns have provided a lot of effective security for a people back in the day. It was called the street sweeper for good reason. As for yours, that long barrel is a liability. It’s not easy to pie a corner with something that long. Way too easy for the perp. to grab the muzzle and gain control. Better than nothing, for sure.
In any case, coach guns have provided a lot of effective security for a people back in the day. It was called the street sweeper for good reason. As for yours, that long barrel is a liability. It’s not easy to pie a corner with something that long. Way too easy for the perp. to grab the muzzle and gain control. Better than nothing, for sure.
Maybe better than a .22. Just use a good buffered buckshot or slug, NOT birdshot.
Hope he is not your lawyer, because that is just ignorant.
An old article described the shotguns of the then NYPD, before police rifles were common.
Patrol had pumps, cheap and sturdy to rattle around in a dash rack.
ESU (SWAT) had autos kept clean in cases until the raid.
Detectives got Stevens 311 doubles, simple to operate... twice.
There was some action shotgun competition in England after parliament decided that a Free Englishman was not to be trusted with a handgun, auto rifle, or magazine shotgun. With practice, an ejector double can keep a lot of shot on the way.
I know a widow who is comfortable with her Trap gun close at hand. She is not likely to do any room clearing, but an intruder crossing her bedroom doorway is in serious danger.
Patrol had pumps, cheap and sturdy to rattle around in a dash rack.
ESU (SWAT) had autos kept clean in cases until the raid.
Detectives got Stevens 311 doubles, simple to operate... twice.
There was some action shotgun competition in England after parliament decided that a Free Englishman was not to be trusted with a handgun, auto rifle, or magazine shotgun. With practice, an ejector double can keep a lot of shot on the way.
I know a widow who is comfortable with her Trap gun close at hand. She is not likely to do any room clearing, but an intruder crossing her bedroom doorway is in serious danger.
Close Quarters Shotgun Technique - Lucky Gunner Lounge
A look at close quarters shotgun techniques including "Short Stocking" your shotgun to maneuver in tight positions effectively.
www.luckygunner.com
Learn to hold your shotgun so it isn’t as “long”.
I used a 30” barrel model 12 as a HD shotgun for decades. Never had to use it but never felt under gunned.
Practice / train with what you have is more important than what you have.
I don't see what's so hard about picking a home defense pump. I've owned plenty of them over the last 35 years and I've never had to spend any time thinking about what to get. However, a double barrel worked at the OK Corral, so it should do the job just fine.
When I grew up .. Dad had a Winchester model 37 single shot 20ga shotgun… He purchased it in 1943 for $8 … it was the everything gun..
Rabbit , squirrel.. quail .. protection for farm and home …later my dad bought my brother a 12ga single shot H&R and when later me a 16ga H&R both single shotguns .. all had same duties
Honestly I feel well armed with a single shot shotgun.. simplicity.. I was pretty much raised with one .. brought home alot of game .. protected the farm and two incidents protected the home …
Rabbit , squirrel.. quail .. protection for farm and home …later my dad bought my brother a 12ga single shot H&R and when later me a 16ga H&R both single shotguns .. all had same duties
Honestly I feel well armed with a single shot shotgun.. simplicity.. I was pretty much raised with one .. brought home alot of game .. protected the farm and two incidents protected the home …
Upon reviewing some of your 2,000 posts/discussions here at GT, you show a lot of interest and knowledge in 1911A1's and Glocks. Wouldn't you be better off with one of those than a 26" barrel over and under?
+1 on above posts about length of barrels, usefulness of break-opens, and goodness of coach guns.
Coach gun I have is great because of its simplicity and the short barrels. I did the similar things as you did with a butt stock 6-shell holder. The Stoeger I have auto-cocks on open and close but it also automatically sets the trigger safety to 'safe'. That means you have to remember to push the safety to 'fire' when ready: no external hammers to remind you. I did put a better-absorbing butt-pad on the stock though.
The older I get, the tougher it gets to rack the shotgun, so yet another reason for break-open action. It did take some initial break-in 'exercising' break-opens to make opening easier.
Nice option to have in any case.
Coach gun I have is great because of its simplicity and the short barrels. I did the similar things as you did with a butt stock 6-shell holder. The Stoeger I have auto-cocks on open and close but it also automatically sets the trigger safety to 'safe'. That means you have to remember to push the safety to 'fire' when ready: no external hammers to remind you. I did put a better-absorbing butt-pad on the stock though.
The older I get, the tougher it gets to rack the shotgun, so yet another reason for break-open action. It did take some initial break-in 'exercising' break-opens to make opening easier.
Nice option to have in any case.
The expert in home defense (we'll ignore the fact that he has secret service protection) confirms that a double barrel shotgun is all you need.
My home defense setup is a 19X with a Light. I believe, for home defense a light is a good to have verging on a must have.
That said, I have a Mossberg 590 that I am very fond of. I'd suggest that or a Remington 870 if you absolutely want a pump action. If I could do it over, I'd save up a bit and go semi automatic. But I've customized my 590 and I'm rather attached to it.
Edit: All threads need more pictures
Our old house had moisture problems, and I didn't yet have a safe with a dehumidifier. The original coating on my Mossberg 590 (50670 Tri-Rail) wasn't overly impressive. So a friend of a friend cerakoted it FDE for me. Not sure what it did or didn't do to the value, but seeing as everybody should have a pump action shotgun, this is mine forever.
Well, my Stevens model 311R, with factory 18.1” tubes, serves that role just fine. It’s a robust tank of a cut-down 12ga that today is more often termed by its modern Cowboy Action League branding: “Coach Gun.” As far as I’ve been able to determine, the 311R was the last America-made “riot” gun (that’s what the “R” stands for).
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IIRC, production years were late 1960s thru the mid-80s. It was issued for a time by NYPD to its patrol cops, stake-out squads, and detectives. Other PDs may have used it too. It was also a handy, kept-below-the-counter weapon for owners of liquor stores, jewelry stores, and bars as well as other cash-dealing shops whose premises tended to attract robbers and the late-night zombified types.
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Stevens 311Rs, in various conditions, pop up on the auction sites from time to time. Prices asked vary as well.
IIRC, production years were late 1960s thru the mid-80s. It was issued for a time by NYPD to its patrol cops, stake-out squads, and detectives. Other PDs may have used it too. It was also a handy, kept-below-the-counter weapon for owners of liquor stores, jewelry stores, and bars as well as other cash-dealing shops whose premises tended to attract robbers and the late-night zombified types.
Stevens 311Rs, in various conditions, pop up on the auction sites from time to time. Prices asked vary as well.
Any firearm can be used for defense.
However, "tactical" refers to something that's specifically designed or intended for battle.
So... I wouldn't consider a double-barreled sporting shotgun as "tactical shotgun".
However, "tactical" refers to something that's specifically designed or intended for battle.
So... I wouldn't consider a double-barreled sporting shotgun as "tactical shotgun".
NRA Family | Can You Use a Field Shotgun for Home Defense?
The short answer is "yes," with a "but." The long answer is below!
That's a pretty long barrel for anything CQB. There was a time when all I had was a few guns and one being my Grandfathers old 16ga 26in double barrel. I had it loaded with some high brass duck load and it would do the job if needed.
I picked up a used Russian Baikal "Bounty Hunter" 12 ga side by side.
20" barrels, as I recall.
It looks pretty intimidating and, if someone were to be really stupid, it could be devastating.
I need to add a buttstock ammo carrier and a decent recoil pad.
20" barrels, as I recall.
It looks pretty intimidating and, if someone were to be really stupid, it could be devastating.
I need to add a buttstock ammo carrier and a decent recoil pad.
One thing nobody has mentioned is that an over under shotgun doesn’t have a receiver like a pump action gun does. I just assembled one of my o/u shotguns and placed it next to two shotguns with 18 inch barrels. The difference between OVERALL length of the shotguns is a few inches - essentially negligible.
I’m not saying a o/u is better for home defense. I prefer pump action over semiautomatic and o/u guns for that purpose for a reason .
I am pointing out the the concerns over the length of the barrels is not really the issue - rather reloading times could be. That being said I have seen a lot of hunters and sporting clays aficionados who are scary good with a gun and two shots from them is not to be underestimated but your mileage may vary.
I’m not saying a o/u is better for home defense. I prefer pump action over semiautomatic and o/u guns for that purpose for a reason .
I am pointing out the the concerns over the length of the barrels is not really the issue - rather reloading times could be. That being said I have seen a lot of hunters and sporting clays aficionados who are scary good with a gun and two shots from them is not to be underestimated but your mileage may vary.
I personally have an 870 set up in the usual manner, but that being said…
Once you cut through all the “Tacticool Timmy” top-tier operator bull****, rarely will one need more than two 00 buck loads to handle the average HD situation.
if a double is what I had, I’d load it with two good shells and make it handy and sleep soundly.
Once you cut through all the “Tacticool Timmy” top-tier operator bull****, rarely will one need more than two 00 buck loads to handle the average HD situation.
if a double is what I had, I’d load it with two good shells and make it handy and sleep soundly.
I used to carry a SXS 16ga 18.5 barrels 26.5 overall in my pickup, behind the seat.
Bucket seats just fine to keep behind pass, seat.
I lived in Houston, Texas, and never knew when the need might arise.
I had to pull it out one time to prove to him that bringing a Lug Wrench to a Gun Fight was not a good thing to do. He left without his lug wrench. No shots fired. Lol
Bucket seats just fine to keep behind pass, seat.
I lived in Houston, Texas, and never knew when the need might arise.
I had to pull it out one time to prove to him that bringing a Lug Wrench to a Gun Fight was not a good thing to do. He left without his lug wrench. No shots fired. Lol
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