Looking for a home defence shot gun
I live in an area that is headed south very quickly and am unable to move anytime soon. I have 3 kids and know it would be very wise to invest in a shot gun. I need some advice on what would be the best choice. I know there is a recoil with shot guns so let me just put out there that I am only 4'11" and 120 lbs. which is another reason I know it would be wise to defend myself. I appear to be an easy target. Any advice is welcome please. Thanks!
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Mossberg makes a nice little pump shotgun in 410 gauge, set up strictly for home/self protection. Its not expensive and will serve your needs quite well. Some may scoff at a 410 for self defense, but at the distances you may be using it, its deadly with very little recoil. I hope you never need to use it, but whatever you purchase...practice, practice and more practice! Oh, by the way, welcome to the forums!
Depending on how old your kids are, you should show them whatever you purchase, let them handle it under your supervision, of course, unloaded, so the mystery is removed. Explain the danger and the consequences of playing with a loaded firearm. Find a way to lock it away from the kids but make it easy for you to access it should you need it quickly. A locked gun in a locked cabinet will not save you when someone comes crashing thru a window or door.
Here is a link so you can read about it more:
http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=84686
Here is one listed on the Gunbroker Auction Side:
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=1323929750 -
A short barrel 20ga. loaded with bird shot will do all you need to do in your house. The low powered shot won't go through most walls. 0 -
A double barreled 20guage with the barrels cut down to 18", and maybe the stock shortened.
I agree with the above posts, use bird shot.0 -
+1 for the Mossberg .410 pump shotgun. Just be sure you don't get one with a pistol-only grip. Get one with a full length stock. 0 -
You can easily handle 20 ga and much better weapon than 410. Also, bird shot is for killing birds. Use #4 buck shot for killing large animals indoors.
Your biggest problem is learning to deal with your kids. You should have family drills about what to do in case of home intrusion.
Read this
http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/edu83.htm
And welcome to GB0 -
I have never been a big fan of shotguns for general home defencive use, although for specific applications they have no equal. As a small women what you need is intimidation and you won't get that with a .410 and it's pipe cleaner looking barrel(s). A 20 gauge may be easier to shoot but most home entry conflicts are solved in seconds rather than evolving into fire fights with more than a couple of shoot being exchanged so recoil is not really a factor at all. I suggest a 12 gauge pump action shotgun like a Mossberg 500 Persuader with an 18-1/2" barrel and load it with bird shot. The shotgun itself is not so large that you won't be able to handle it, the bird shot is very effective at home defense ranges (typically under 15 meters) and bird shot won't over penetrate, although there is no assurance that a pellet won't go through dry wall and into another room. I also suggest that you purchase a high quality flash light, not the typical Mag Lite, but one developed for tactical applications which are very small and can emit blinding light. 0 -
You may want to consider a handgun instead. Why?
If you have 3 small kids, you can get a small safe with a quick release lock so you can have some peace of mind of both intruders and your kids not grabbing it.
Further, I would suggest an automatic pistol, rather than a revolver. With the small kids around, you can have a magazine loaded, but no round chambered. Small kids (5 or younger) can't usually "rack" a automatic pistol, but you can, when you need to - viola - built in additional safety (from the kids).
So my point is - you need to strike a harmony between defense and the natural tendency of young kids to do stupid things.
Of course educate and train your kids with whatever gun you get. Don't simply hide it away and make it taboo.
But at the same time, even with proper training, you can't fully trust thier judgement - especially if 7 or younger.
A 9mm might be right for you. The recoil should be modest enough, but still provide enough takedown/stopping power to shoot the badguys with.
A .40 S&W might be a little too much for you, but you may want to try it anyway to compare. The .40 will offer even better takedown effect than the 9mm (in most cases), but the key is finding a gun that works for you, and a 9mm is effective without the recoil. You decide, but I would narrow to those 2 calibers, if I were you.
Buy a brand name, like a Taurus or Ruger - those two brands are:
1) High quality, which means they will go bang when you need them to.
2) Reasonably priced, which means you won't choke at the price of a new one.
3) Warrantied for life. You ship it to them, and they will ship it back in a few weeks fully repaired at no cost to you, except shipping.
Smith & Wesson, Colt, Sig, Glock - none of them offer that warranty.
In fact, you could buy a *used* Ruger or Taurus here on Gunbroker, and that warranty *still* applies - I have utilized it myself a couple times with both companies!
Anyway, my advice is to be practical, don't be emotional when you decide to buy your home defence gun, think of:
1) Safe for my kids?
2) Can I access it quickly enough, and then know how to wield it?
(that means whatever you choose in the end, you will need to practice with - alot).
3) Is it affordable, and maintanable in the short and long run?
In that order of priority.
Good luck and stay safe!0 -
Whatever you choose learn how to use it. The best situation would include assistance in the choice, training for safe operation loading/unloading and a place to fire it. I have worked in shops/ranges that did so. Storage is also a concern, your children should know to always treat the firarm as loaded. But how you store your firearm and ammunition is important. Call a local gun club, range , gun shop or all. Get some hands on help. 0 -
Of course Mark is right that 12 ga is more deadly but it can be a handful for a small woman. Here are some tests about penetration with a 20 ga using different loads. Again I have to disagree about bird shot, as these tests show.
http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot22.htm0 -
I have heard the trite saying, time and again, "Bird shot is for birds."
The person who says that does not know what he is talking about.
The person who says that has never seen a person hit with bird shot at close range.
As a Paramedic, I have worked on 14 people who took a torso hit with bird shot at close range. Every one went to the morgue.
At 20 feet or less, bird shot will put a person into the morgue, faster than any other projectile.0 -
Read my answer in GD.
Lance0 -
hello concerned mom of three and welcome to the forums. as you probably already can tell, there are a lot of various opinions from a lot of well educated, good people here at gunbroker forums. you certainly found the right place for education/information here. now on to the business at hand... you mentioned that you were 4'11" and 120lbs and that you were considering a shotgun...of some sort. a shotgun has alot of benefits and stiff recoil, but if it were held at ones side(hip shot), all that would be needed is to point it in the general direction of a target and squeeze the trigger. whomever or whatever is on the receiving end, i can promise you, wont be happy. there are a wide range of shotguns available in the firearms market. if your heart is set on owning a shotgun may i make a suggestion, purchase a pump action shotgun. it means that every time you shoot a shotgun shell, you pull the forward grip towards you until it stops then push it away from you until it stops. thus extracting the old spent cartridge(shotgun shell)and reloading the chamber with a new cartridge. there is a lot to be said about handguns as well but your aim has to presice on every shot in order for the bullet to impact its target. the buckshot inside a shotgun shell spreads out when it leaves the end of the barrel, thus creating a large impact on its intended target. bullets dont do that. i sincerely hope that i have at the least helped you make an informed decision. let us all know what you purchase in the future. im sure that we all can give pointers on shooting as well. 0
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