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Looking to build two home defense specific shotguns and can't decide...

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  • Bozz10mm

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    Because of the age and gender of members of my family, I feel like I will have to go 20 gauge or minishell 12 gauge.
    Does it have to be a shotgun? If age and gender are a consideration, it seems that a shotgun might not be the right choice. I suggest something along the lines of a pistol caliber carbine. Or even better a pistol caliber pistol with a brace, like the new Ruger PC charger. Put a red dot on it and you have a light weight, high capacity, low recoil home defense gun that everyone can use. And it's threaded for a suppressor. And it takes Glock mags. :)

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    Jigo23

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    A Remington 870 pump 12ga is an excellent place to start. Very good and reliable shotgun right out of the box and lots and lots of aftermarket accessories available that won’t break the bank and give you whatever you want in a home defense shotgun.
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    perfor8

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    I'd strongly reccomend an AR15.

    Less recoil, less penetration through drywall with appropriate loads, ease of use with various body types and age ranges, and most importantly, easier to become proficient with.

    Pump action guns are reliable, but require a lot of manipulation, and it's very easy for someone who doesn't put a lot of time into shooting to fumble a reload, or short stroke a pump.

    Since shot doesn't spread like many people think, you still have to aim, and it's easy for a new shooter to miss, and if a follow up shot is required, a new, and even an experienced shooter will be able to get back on target faster with a modern semi auto carbine.

    Plus things like red dots, weapon lights are easier to mount to an ar. Given you have multiple people in your home, a red dot and WML will not only make the gun easier to use, in can also mean you (or a family member) doesn't accidentally shoot a family member.

    If you are dead set on a shotgun, get a more traditional one. Keltecs and mossberg shockwaves/remington tac 14's are not guns to "hand off" to people with little to no experience.

    This, X 10. Click 'em off "safe" and put the red dot on the bad guy. Mas o menos 29 shots before reload necessary, which won't happen, given the OP's reference to other shooter's "age and gender", which aren't actual factors, but in context I suspect OP meant "inexperienced shooters".

    No 12 guage is appropriate for your situation, especially the 2 you're looking at. You let a new shooter fire that shockwave and they'll likely fear guns for life.
     
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    Texas Heat

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    Does it have to be a shotgun? If age and gender are a consideration, it seems that a shotgun might not be the right choice. I suggest something along the lines of a pistol caliber carbine. Or even better a pistol caliber pistol with a brace, like the new Ruger PC charger. Put a red dot on it and you have a light weight, high capacity, low recoil home defense gun that everyone can use. And it's threaded for a suppressor. And it takes Glock mags. :)


    Dammit...now I'm building two shotguns and buying a PC Charger. I guess I can build one and get the Charger.
     
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    Texas Heat

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    Spend the money on a good AR15.


    Better ballistics and less penetration than your other options, easier to use, and more options.
    I'm not ignoring the AR comments. There are just enough AR15s around here that everybody in the house can shoot. I love them as tools but don't feel the need to buy another. A short shotgun with a brace that shoots minishells is not currently in my arsenal and I feel it needs to be :)
     

    zackmars

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    I'm not ignoring the AR comments. There are just enough AR15s around here that everybody in the house can shoot. I love them as tools but don't feel the need to buy another. A short shotgun with a brace that shoots minishells is not currently in my arsenal and I feel it needs to be :)

    Then buy one as a toy, and let your family use the best avalible option.

    Everyone wins!
     

    satx78247

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    TexasHeat,

    IF your lady is as PETITE as mine is (60" & 80#) get her a Remington Model 7615 in 5.56NATO, rather than a shotgun. - At household ranges, she can learn to handle the little pump carbine in an hour of training.
    (My lady was DOING FINE to 100M plus, in less than that.)

    REMEMBER: Household range is measured in FEET & INCHES rather than in hundreds of yards/meters, i.e., NOT much "shot spread" at that range. = Given a 5.56NATO carbine & 10 rounds of JHP, she will do FINE, imVho.

    yours, satx
     
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    Axxe55

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    My personal reasons for the shotgun. Many times they are very simple to operate, and don't require the same precision in aiming to hit the intended recipient. Much easier to learn to shoot versus other weapons platforms.

    Even a bit that's not center mass, just hitting an extremity, can still cause massive amounts of damage.

    Sometimes people might think that they can't handle the recoil from a 12ga, might consider a 20ga instead. At the distances inside the home, they are going to be very close.

    Whatever weapon a person chooses, they need to take into account their specific and individual needs. But IMO the shotgun is a very versatile weapon for home defensive purposes.
     

    Petetothemax

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    I would not get an AR. That bullet will travel through walls and into neighboring houses, most likely. And, there will most likely be a lot of them fired in a panic situation. I would get a 12GA and train everyone. If they can't shoot it they shouldn't be considered for it.
     

    Axxe55

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    I would not get an AR. That bullet will travel through walls and into neighboring houses, most likely. And, there will most likely be a lot of them fired in a panic situation. I would get a 12GA and train everyone. If they can't shoot it they shouldn't be considered for it.

    Location, location, location matters.

    If you live in a very urban area, in an apartment, or such, that would be viable advice.

    But what about people such as myself? My nearest neighbor is almost half a mile away. I could probably safely use an AR for home defense.

    Firearm needs to be selected based on individual and specific needs. Blanket statements just can't or will apply.
     

    zackmars

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    I would not get an AR. That bullet will travel through walls and into neighboring houses, most likely. And, there will most likely be a lot of them fired in a panic situation. I would get a 12GA and train everyone. If they can't shoot it they shouldn't be considered for it.


    Incorrect. 12 guage 00 buck will just barely go through more drywall than 5.56
     

    Axxe55

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    I would not get an AR. That bullet will travel through walls and into neighboring houses, most likely. And, there will most likely be a lot of them fired in a panic situation. I would get a 12GA and train everyone. If they can't shoot it they shouldn't be considered for it.

    So, are you suggesting that just because someone may not be able to shoot a shotgun, that they should not have options more suited to their abilities in order to defend themselves?

    What about women? Or the elderly? Or those with physical disabilities?

    There are many firearms that I consider less than optimum for self defense, but just about any gun is better than a sharp stick when your life hangs in the balance.
     

    satx78247

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    Axxe55,

    For example, my "very petite" lady who weighs about 80 pounds "with a pocket full of rocks". = Depending on "the cut", she wears either a 0, 1 or 2 Petite in a dress.

    BUT armed with my old Remington 7615 carbine in 5.56NATO, she is fully able to defend Nathan Paul (our adopted son, age 10 months), herself & our 3rd floor condo against creeps, criminals & housebreakers. = Fwiw, the female, defending their young, is the MORE DEADLY of most every species.

    TRUST ME, "D" WILL SHOOT TO KILL to protect Nathan Paul & herself.

    yours, satx
     

    Axxe55

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    Axxe55,

    Ten rounds of 5.56mm JHP will RUIN your whole day & she will NOT miss at "household range" or out well past 100M

    yours, satx

    Satx, personally I'm partial to the shotgun, but that's a personal preference. Others shouldn't be dictated by my preferences.

    A person needs to choose what is best for them, based on their specific circumstances.
     

    baboon

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    One thing to remember about shooting someone with a shotgun. Someone has to clean it up after the fact. My brother helped his BIL clean up after someone deep throated a 12 gauge in the BIL couch. Not a lot of people got the stomach for it, & those who get paid make crazy money.
     

    studenygreg

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    I bought a mossberg 500 defender for about 300 bucks at academy. I added magpul stock and fore end, reciever mounted ammo carrier, traction tape, light mount and light. Its runs everything I've put through it. With the opsol adapter I can run mini shells reliably but I only do it for fun.I dont regret my purchase and it sits as one of my 4 HD weapons in my bedroom.

    Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk
     

    digger

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    Satx, personally I'm partial to the shotgun, but that's a personal preference. Others shouldn't be dictated by my preferences.

    A person needs to choose what is best for them, based on their specific circumstances.

    A shotgun is a good choice for home defense. The need for buckshot of any kind is not required for defending a home. Bird shot 7.5 etc will take a man down and tho not fatal will end the fight.
    My college years were spent on ambulance crew and I can give detail results of these comments and the descriptions given by the shooters!
     

    Axxe55

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    One thing to remember about shooting someone with a shotgun. Someone has to clean it up after the fact. My brother helped his BIL clean up after someone deep throated a 12 gauge in the BIL couch. Not a lot of people got the stomach for it, & those who get paid make crazy money.
    J

    Baboon, someone brought up something similar years ago on another forum, and I'll respond as I did then.

    As much as it would pain me to clean blood, or human remains, or have to patch drywall from a 12ga, if it were done in defense of my family, I'd suffer in silence and thank God that they are safe.
     
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