Defense Gun Suggestions
I am going to purchase a home defense shotgun for my lady friend.
My thought is of course an 18" 12 ga. pump w/ no.4 buck shot 2 3/4".
But I'm wondering if she could fire a 12 ga. affectively or if I need to get her a 20 ga.? I'm wondering too if it would have to have a pistol grip?
She is 118 lbs. and very fit. But she is an inexperienced shooter, and alot of training/practice is not at all feasible. Opinions and suggestions please.
My thought is of course an 18" 12 ga. pump w/ no.4 buck shot 2 3/4".
But I'm wondering if she could fire a 12 ga. affectively or if I need to get her a 20 ga.? I'm wondering too if it would have to have a pistol grip?
She is 118 lbs. and very fit. But she is an inexperienced shooter, and alot of training/practice is not at all feasible. Opinions and suggestions please.
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.410.
D.0 -
model 94 30-30,not a shotgun but a helluva good defense gun,compact and a quick reliable lever action.Not for everybody and for an inexperienced shooter a shotgun would be be best. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by cahas
model 94 30-30,not a shotgun but a helluva good defense gun,compact and a quick reliable lever action.Not for everybody and for an inexperienced shooter a shotgun would be be best.
She lives in an attached condo. No rifles for home defense.
12 ga. or 20 ga. I want her to have some stopping power.
Pistol grip and folder or full stock?0 -
I would say pistol grip for easy of maneuvering in tighter spaces. A little bit less of a chance that someone could grap it away from her as opposed to a full length shotgun. 0 -
I hooked my wife up with a 20 gauge Remington 870 express "tactical" looking shotgun for her to hold at the store. She hated it, she wanted a double barrel coach gun. I laughed and love it!
Lots of options out there don't limit her and let her decide.0 -
Isn't a shotgun legal with 18" barrel and 26" overall?
If thats the case and if she likes it I can go with an 870 "persuader" type set up. I would like to buy her a 20 ga. But does it have enough stopping power?0 -
It would depend on what you had it loaded with. I was for #7 Bird shot. Just cause ought it would harm the neighbors the least. Well I was convinced that I had the wrong Idea. 00 or nothing now. get the 12 gauge and go with 2 3/4 00. She should be able to handle that.
I just put a pistol grip on my 870 but have not fired it yet. Would think that for a gal of her size that it wold not be a good Idea. But they do make a stock like the AR style that is adjustable. This may be great for her cause you cold shorten it to fit her better.0 -
A 20g has all the stoping power she would ever need. 0 -
I was under the belief that a 20 ga had the same stopping force as a 12 just less lead going down range?Google up a Shotgun ballistics chart,should be several on the web. 0 -
Rather than a "complicated" pump shotgun, you are better off with a 9 shot .22 revolver for her. If you want details, please ask because I made the mistake of having my elderly mother purchase a Mossburg .410 pump shotgun with a pistol grip.l 0 -
quote:Originally posted by sav99
Isn't a shotgun legal with 18" barrel and 26" overall?
If thats the case and if she likes it I can go with an 870 "persuader" type set up. I would like to buy her a 20 ga. But does it have enough stopping power?
20 should do it, why don't you take her and let her shoot a few? I would stay away from a pistol grip unless it is part of a full stock.
MI law:
quote:
28.421
(e)"Pistol "means a loaded or unloaded #64257;rearm that is 30 inches or less in length,or a loaded or unloaded #64257;rearm that by its
construction and appearance conceals it as a #64257;rearm.
http://www.michiganlegislature.org/documents/publications/firearms.pdf
Don0 -
20 gauge is PLENTY powerful enough. as far as the pistol grip goes even with a full stock it places alot of stress on the wrist. fine for most guy but 118 inexperienced female not a good choice. you dont want her to be scared to shoot the thing. any youth 20 would work good but mossberg has a super bantam with a 20 or 22 inch barrel and adjustable stock for like 260.00. get the gun to fit her and it will be a pretty good gun as is. let us know what you decide. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by tr fox
Rather than a "complicated" pump shotgun, you are better off with a 9 shot .22 revolver for her. If you want details, please ask because I made the mistake of having my elderly mother purchase a Mossburg .410 pump shotgun with a pistol grip.l
Tr, my little lady friend can't have a .22 pistol due to fact that she has an attached condo. I wouldn't want a round to pass through an interior wall. I want more stopping power than a .22 would offer anyhow. I'll stay away from the pistol grip.
Dongizmo makes a good point about a pistol grip as part of a full stock. Wire frame side folder maybe? I'll just have to have her shoot a bunch of different guns to decide. I have researched the ballistics and have narrowed it down to a 20 ga.0 -
quote:Originally posted by sav99
quote:Originally posted by tr fox
Rather than a "complicated" pump shotgun, you are better off with a 9 shot .22 revolver for her. If you want details, please ask because I made the mistake of having my elderly mother purchase a Mossburg .410 pump shotgun with a pistol grip.l
Tr, my little lady friend can't have a .22 pistol due to fact that she has an attached condo. I wouldn't want a round to pass through an interior wall. I want more stopping power than a .22 would offer anyhow. I'll stay away from the pistol grip.
Dongizmo makes a good point about a pistol grip as part of a full stock. Wire frame side folder maybe? I'll just have to have her shoot a bunch of different guns to decide. I have researched the ballistics and have narrowed it down to a 20 ga.
Then a 6 shot .38 special with Glaser Safety Slugs. Or a double barrell shotgun with visible hammers. Very, very few women can handle the several "complexities" of a pump shotgun and the different "modes" that shotgun can be in depending on who last handled it and what was done to it.
#1. Action cocked and locked on an empty chamber. Pump action locked and therefore lady friend assumes the gun is loaded and ready to shoot. Not the case and by time she discovers that it may be too late for her.
#2. safety on/off? Waste critical seconds figuring that one out.
#3. Gun ready to go, fires first round, needs to shoot again, but because of sloppy pump action, lady friend causes misfeed. Game over for her. Will not clear misfeed in time.
#4. one or more rounds loaded in magazine backwards. Don't laugh. Has happened.
#5. By having a long gun, instead of a handgun pointed at perp, somewhat easier for perp to reach out and grab shotgun. Remember most women, and many men will wait until the very last second (or even wait too long) to fire on another human being.
Just my 2 cents worth. I would never, ever give a woman a pump shotgun for defense unless that was the only choice I had.0 -
All good points Tr. My little friend could potentially have difficulties with any of the above.
Hmm, this is complicated. Maybe a .38 w/ safety slugs would be the best solution. I do like the idea of a shotgun, but your points are valid.0 -
.38 S&W Model 36 Chief's Special.. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Gunners762
.38 S&W Model 36 Chief's Special..
How much you think I like this girl???[:D]
I was thinking Armscor, maybe a Rossi.[;)]0 -
i had the same choice to make a few years ago for a lady friend-she ended up liking a double barrel 20 gauge loaded with bird shot. at home defense range it will take care of business without a hitch. you can also get a small flashlight and with electrical tape-tape it to the top of the barrels--instant on/off tactical light [:D]
I know alot of people knock Rossi & Taurus revolvers but I've owned both snubby versions at one time or another and found them to be great guns--too bad my exwife got the Rossi and my sister has the Taurus(a ported .357) which is also why I need a new snubby [:D]0 -
Let me get this straight. A .22 doesn't have enough "stopping power" applied directly but would be too dangerous if it penetrated the wall?
You should seriously consider the 9 shot .22 revolver. Point and shoot, ya can't go wrong. Or even an RG 38.
If it's got to be a shotgun go with the double barrel in 20 gauge.
The most significant thing you said was
quote:she is an inexperienced shooter, and alot of training/practice is not at all feasible.0 -
quote:Originally posted by Henry0Reilly
Let me get this straight. A .22 doesn't have enough "stopping power" applied directly but would be too dangerous if it penetrated the wall?
With a .22 I'm concerned about a neighbor getting injured. Only 2 sheets of dry wall partitions the homes. Besides I would not trust a .22 for personal defense. The double barrel 20 ga. may be a viable option.0 -
I guess you knew you would get a different answer from each of us, which boils down to no answer at all. [:D]
20 gauge will do fine. Why a pump? If she will clean it about once every three years a semi-automatic would be a better choice for several reasons.
I know she's not likely to get into an FBI type shootout, but I saw an FBI Files on TV the other day which all pump lovers should see. Four FBI agents got into a shootout with two bad guys. Three of the FBI agents were put out of commission and the last agent able to do anything had a useless left arm. The only weapon he had which worked was the Remington 870 shotgun. He had a hell of a time working the action one handed.
My preference for her would be a Remington 1100 with a full stock in 20 gauge.0 -
what about a Taurus Judge ?--it does shoot .410 shotgun shells and up close and personal it would be deadly. there is a video of it on Taurus' website too. It would probably be easy to shoot and it is very comfortable to hold with that ribber grip. 0 -
By all means do what you can to get her some range time first off. Secondly correct me if I am wrong but wont buckshot go through two sheets of sheetrock at close range (two sheets of 3/8"=3/4" of basiclly compressed gypsum and four sheets of heavy paper covering it) Seems you would have a hard time finding somthing that wouldn't enter the neighbors condo. Personally I would suggest a revolver with LASERGRIPS and some sort of frangible bullet (K.I.S.S. keep it super simple). Easy to operate and with that red dot she is more likely to hit the target even with limited training. Just my oponion [:)] 0 -
Sav,
Inside the confines of a dwelling, unless she lives in a castle, a 20 or a 12 with #6 shot should take out any threat, the big key to any defense firearm is that she practices with it.
Don
Edit:
Here is a good PG stock
http://tinyurl.com/2656vh0 -
Why not load the shotgun with birdshot? At 4-5 feet, birdshot would be nothing to laugh at. And you dont have to worry about penetration. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by JamesRK
I guess you knew you would get a different answer from each of us, which boils down to no answer at all. [:D]
20 gauge will do fine. Why a pump? If she will clean it about once every three years a semi-automatic would be a better choice for several reasons.
I know she's not likely to get into an FBI type shootout, but I saw an FBI Files on TV the other day which all pump lovers should see. Four FBI agents got into a shootout with two bad guys. Three of the FBI agents were put out of commission and the last agent able to do anything had a useless left arm. The only weapon he had which worked was the Remington 870 shotgun. He had a hell of a time working the action one handed.
My preference for her would be a Remington 1100 with a full stock in 20 gauge.
In red above. Good observation. Funny thing is that all pump shotguns I have handled (12. ga. shorty shotgun with no buttstock) can actually be racked using only one hand. Course you have to be able to stand up and have room and enough strength to do it, but it does work quick and easy; just as in the movies. I was skeptical and then surprised at first.0 -
quote:Originally posted by MVP
A 20g has all the stoping power she would ever need.
No doubt about that, especially close range with buckshot. If you want to go cheap the dbl brl coach gun would be perfect. Also if she is inexperienced with guns the only benefit to a pump would be the terrifying sound of her pumping it. On the flip side, what happens when she freaks because someone has broken in and she forgets how to operate it.
Double Barrel coach gun, point it in the general direction, squeeze the triggers, problem solved. It's cheap and simple for an inexperienced shooter.0 -
My 870 has pistol grip and buttstock and I taught my wife to instinct fire by tucking the buttstock under her armpit. She can get off a second round faster that way than firing from the shoulder or by using a pistol grip only shotgun. 0 -
Taurus Judge with 2 1/2" 410 shot shells.
A 410 in the close quarters of a home is more than enough power to stop anyone! Very easy to handle too.
A shotgun is and always will be the best home defense gun. Well, in my opinion anyway.0 -
across the average size room a youth size 410 or 28 gauge loaded with #4 or #6 shot will kill a person as fast as a naval 16" gun. less chance of going through walls and injure inocent people 0
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