I'd rather have the scattergun for home defense. If you're in an urban environment I wouldn't want to be blasting away with a 30-30 because of the danger factor a house or two away may get. Even in a rural setting I'd still opt for the shotgun. That's my home defense back up to my Springfield Armory XDM in .45ACP.

 

It takes some effort to improve at shooting a shotgun. I would recommend starting with trap and moving on to skeet. Even better, would be to get some training with an instructor who competes. I have a non-profit range operated by the county available.
I would like to have a pre-64 Winchester 30/30. Probably better for outside the home, than in. I bought lever guns in .357 and 44 magnum after I started reloading the calibers. They hold 10 rounds.

 

I would like to have a pre-64 Winchester 30/30. Probably better for outside the home, than in.

I bought lever guns in .357 and 44 magnum after I started reloading the calibers. They hold 10 rounds.

Everybody wants the pre-‘64 Winchesters, even though some of the later vintages shoot better. I found a ‘67 .30/30 that shoots cloverleafs at 50 Yds with open sights - for $225.

The lever action .38/.357’s & .44’s are the “original” PCC’s; and are great guns within their intended purposes.

Lever guns are light, handy, easy/instinctive to shoot and plenty powerful for defense/medium game out to 100’ish yards in typical lever action calibers. Even for the largest game in non-typical calibers.

 

Just get the 30-30 you don't have to justify it lol.

 

They’re not competing for the same role. Get the lever gun bc you want it

 

Depends on if your talking HD/SD in the middle of a suburban neighborhood or out in the sticks where your neighbor isnt right on top of you... for IN house and within 30 yards for me its Shotgun with low recoil rounds...if I lived out in the "country" id probably take my AR or if I didnt have one my lever action .357 magnum (or 30-30 if i had that mine just happens to be .357 magnum)

 

Well, OO Buck is 9 pellets of 30 cal traveling at circa 1,200 FPS about half the velocity of a 30/30.

Wouldn’t want to be on the other side of the wall(s) either way.

How close are your neighbors?

 

Keep the shotgun and buy the rifle.
You need different tools in the tool box because one gun cannot do it all.

 

I agree with Bill because one needs tools in the tool box. I do however favor a SG over the 30-30 for home defense. You have a large selection of ammo (OO buck, 4 buck,etc) Do yourself a big favor and get some range time in with your SG. Regards to all at GT but never to the A holes that but the moron and his ilk in the WH. LET'S GO BRANDON My prime HD gun is my G17.5 with Streamlight TLR-1 and Ameriglo Bold Sights, I do however have a good selection of tools in my tool box,.

 

I would use my 30/30 ONLY if I could get 125gr JHPs or handload the equivalent. Real fast opening bullets that won't leave the target.

Deer loads will shoot right through an attacker.

As for 12 gauge... Low recoil 8 pellet count 'tactical' OO buckshot. Preferable with Tru-flite wadding.

Now if you just want the 30/30.. heck get it. Might need it for long range!

 

@Vito

Curious as to what barrel you have on the 500. It really doesn't matter much at all.

 

1) Buy some low recoil buckshot 2) Buy the 30-30 everybody needs one 3) Find somewhere to practice with the shotgun its not a precision weapon so getting used to one happens pretty quickly

 

I favor the shotgun.....never been faced with it, but in the moment of stress in a HD situation I know I would be ****ting a brick and be in pretty much of a panic situation and not steady at all so I'd want a bigger pattern.

 

Penetration would be the biggest factor in my opinion. Over penetration for HD in the 30-30. Wouldn’t be my choice. Finally, I read something about trap and skeet in an earlier post. Those disciplines in my opinion don’t translate at all to home defense shotgun use. HD use is a completely different approach as in my opinion you will look at the gun barrel/sight and use a more actual aiming of the gun technique. The pattern on a shotgun will remain very tight at most home SD situations so you actually have to be pretty precise with shot placement.

Also in regards to other posts. I wouldn’t use any birdshot for HD. Buckshot only.

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The shotguns probably not worth much in a trade, I’d just save and get the 30/30.

But if that’s not an option I’d do it if your going to use the 30/30 more. Personally if you don’t hunt or shoot for recreation I don’t see the point in either. I suppose a pump shotgun is cheap enough that most can afford to let them collect dust in the corner.

 

A rifles barrel with your shotgun will give you a range of 100+ yards when using slugs! But a lever action 30-30 is nice to have.

 

If you can afford it have both. I agree that the shotgun would be better for home defense using 00buck shot. Wouldn’t worry about the noise to much. If you have neighbors the sound me alert them to the fact that something wrong is going down and even tho you would call 911 after defending yourself they might already be on the phone with 911. I know I would call 911 if I had neighbors that sounded like a “war zone” in there house


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The rifle will be just as loud as the shotgun - maybe even louder -

Get some electronic earmuffs like these - keep them with your gun.

Caldwell E-MAX Low Profile Electronic Ear Muffs Green Shooting Glasses

Hearing ProtectionPro Range Glasses The Caldwell Low-Profile E-Max Electronic Earmuffs combines great circuitry with a low profile ear cup that's...

www.midwayusa.com

They allow you to hear by increasing the volume - sort of like a hearing aid but switch to ear muffs at 85 decibels and above to protect your hearing.

 

I suggest that you rewatch all the John Wick films, before committing to anything. [emoji6]


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I was just looking at Henry 30 30 lever actions yesterday - sweet - but $1K seemed like a lot.

Not sure why I even want a lever action - I guess I watched too many Rifleman TV shows as a kid!

 

Not sure why I even want a lever action - I guess I watched too many Rifleman TV shows as a kid!

If I were you and did not own a center fire rifle than I would get the 30-30 because I wanted it. You will have range and precision and it will work just fine against bad guys and as a vehicle gun. "Everyone should own---blah blah" but if I could only own a center fire rifle or a shotgun I would choose a rifle.
Lever 22s seem to go for big bucks but if you keep your eyes open and can pick up a used one cheap you won't be disappointed. A lot of getting good with a lever 22 is a transferable skill for your 30-30. You could sell the 22 later. Handgun shooting skills diminish but not so much with a rifle and you will retain them as you will still have your "real" weapon. Ammo is expensive but you could reload and cast your own bullets. I wonder how many that advocate for this or that firearm have doors that can be kicked in by a 12 year old. Harden your home and you probably won't need to use just about anything you have for home defense. Call 911, make a cup of coffee and relax. The bad guys' self-preservation will probably kick in and they will go away. A shotgun is a fight stopper though and gee -- you do not have to lead people as much as birds. Elderly people that have used weapons very minimally in their lives seem to do quite well defending themselves with a shotgun so I would not worry about practice when you have the advantage in your own home. For animal and home defense I got rid of my 590 Mariner and kept my lever 45-70. A 1911 45 auto in hand is my bump in the night gun. I am safe with it out of the holster walking around in the dark.
For me having to protect someone else against a moose or other animal attack would be more likely than a home invasion and for that one needs a rifle. With a shotgun you might kill the person you are trying to save. Man get what you want because that trumps everything else and a lever 30-30 is a pretty damn good weapon.

 

I’d stick with the shotgun and just buy yourself a nice lever gun. If I were using the lever as a HD weapon, I’d want it to be a magnum handgun caliber. But if I were using a rifle for HD/SD I’d rather have an AR.

But a earlier true Marlin in 45-70 would be nice!

 

Out of those two I would prefer the shotgun. But if you don't like training and shooting it then just get rid of it. Sounds like you want that lever gun so just go ahead and scratch that itch.

Really I would reach for the G17 in most SHTF situations outside of full on combat, which is unlikely. I like that you're able to conceal it with a weapon light mounted and a 33 rounder in it.

 

I’m thinking a shotgun with #4 would be effective enough for most situations, and handling a shotgun doesn’t take lots of combat training. If you’ve hunted with one, you should be able to defend the homestead.

 

I prefer a handgun for close quarters defense but if I had to chose between a 30-30 and a shotgun, unless I was living semi-remote in the middle of 5 acres of land, I'd pick the shotgun for obvious reasons.

And even though the handgun (a G21 loaded with 230 grain Ranger Plus+P ammo) would be my choice as a primary weapon I'd still like to have a shotgun handy for an all-out siege the kind which as many people like to imagine, or, just in case. The Mossberg Shockwave needs to be mentioned because it's better for close quarters defense and isn't really a long gun. I'd want one in 20 gauge rather than 12 for greater controllablility and accuracy I consider both to be nearly equal when you consider both achieve the same velocity but the 12 has a slightly heavier payload and either one is more lethal than any handgun. With the difference between the 12 and 20 in terms ot terminal ballistics, you're just splitting hairs.

I also prefer a semi-auto to a pump, because like a handgun, it can be easily operated with one hand. A Remington Tac-13 semi auto in 20 gauge would be an Ideal home defense weapon if the new management of Remington Arms ever manages to get into full production and starts making top quality firearms like they used to.

 

Save up for the lever gun. A 9mm and 12 gauge is great for home defense. Save up and buy the lever when you can.

 

I never understood those that advocate a shotgun for home defense.

Home defense would be likely short range. A shotgun is loud, clumsy to maneuver, does extensive damage to the inside of your house, the barrel can be grabbed by an intruder, has limited capacity.

I would stick with the Glock 17, which is a much better choice.

If I needed something more, it would be an AR.

 

And I thought some of your covid posts where goofy 🤪

 

Also, I think lever guns are useless.

 

 

OP-As others have mentioned, you wouldn’t get much for your Mossberg in trade. Not that they’re bad shotguns (I own a couple myself), it’s just that they’re so prolific and relatively inexpensive as new. I’d keep that scattergun and save up for a lever-action.

Do some research around your AO, there might be an Introduction to Home Defense Shotgun course nearby. After that, maybe look into more advanced instruction if you’re still interested.