Best Long-Gun for Home Defense?

[Icymudpuppy]

I was speaking about rifles in general vs shotguns in general.

Yes the 5.56 has less penetration than does say a .30-06, it is still more than a 12ga w/ 00 buck.

Also, the 5.56 doesn't have the intimidating large bore, the stopping power, the cone pattern shot, or the impressive "CHA-CHINK" of a 12ga pump.

 

[polomertz]

In my opinion, a 20 guage will work just as well if not better for home defense than a 12. If you're new to guns, this would be for you because they're a whole lot easier to shoot & will still obliterate an intruder.

 

[Time for Change]

Additionally, you can go to the gun store and handle several platforms / configurations.
Find one that naturally brings the sights into aligned view the fastest.
Then test with it and determine if it truly fits you.

A lot of people buy platforms that do not fit them and HATE the gun.

Just saying...

 

[Zeeder]

I'd rather be shot at by a rifle within 50 yards, instead of a shotgun loaded with buck or slugs.

 

[JohnMeridith]

I'd rather be shot at by a rifle within 50 yards, instead of a shotgun loaded with buck or slugs.

what about center mass #8 shot?

Shotguns are great, but most are large and cumbersome in the home if you are on the offensive. If I am picking one up for HD I am staying put and letting the BG come to me. Otherwise I have a pistol with a mounted light at the ready.

I also wouldnt use buckshot in the home because I would be worried about over penetration with the construction in my area.

 

[Acala]

Myths

Just want to correct a couple shotgun myths here.

3. Easy to aim and hard to miss..

At home defense ranges, the spread on a shotgun pattern is not going to be more than four or five inches at the most and probably much less. You absolutely CAN miss and you WILL miss if you don't practice. Unfortunately, it is much harder to find a place to practice defensive shotgun shooting than other firearms.

they still have plenty of power in the short range enough to pick a man up and carry him across the room..

False. A shotgun will not even knock a man down with the mechanical force of the blast let alone pick a man up and carry him across the room. Someone has been watching too many movies. If the impact of the shotgun projectiles carried enough force to knock a man down or carry him across the room, then the person firing the shotgun would ALSO be knocked down or carried across the room. Simple Newtonian physics. The physiological shock and nervous system damage may cause a person to fall over pretty fast or perhaps even make him jump. But not the inertia from the blast.

 

[TRIGRHAPPY]

Since I am only 18, I am not legally allowed to purchase a handgun from a store. Thus, I was considering purchasing a long-gun, but I'm not sure what to get. This is what I'm looking for:

• Sturdy
• Beginner Friendly: Easy to Maintain
• Good for Home Defense

Can anyone help me?

Thanks in advance.

12 gauge, semi-automatic, magazine or drum fed shotgun built on the AK47 platform.

Its sturdy......arguably the sturdiest weapon on the planet.
Beginner friendly, obviously......5 year olds in Africa use it to great effectiveness. Cover it in mud, leave it for a few weeks, pick it up, piss down the barrel, cycle the action a few times, shake it off and shoot.
Unbeatable for home defense, whether you're defending against an armed robber, or a swat team.

http://www.youtube.com/v/6_7tKAG3h7w

The bottom line being, of all the firearms people are recommending in this thread, if someone is attacking you........the gun you should least want the attacker to have is this one.

 

[Zeeder]

The saiga 12 gauge is my next big purchase, since i am so happy with my 223. If someone is in your house and you fire five #4 buckshot into the room he is in...........that's over 100 balls flying around at 1300fps. It wouldn't matter how many guys he brought with him. That's a scary gun.

 

[pcosmar]

Lots of good choices in this thread.
Time for a 'Not so good" choice.
This,

YouTube - Huge Shotgun!

Nice effect, hard to reload. and a bit heavy to handle.

 

[Icymudpuppy]

Just want to correct a couple shotgun myths here.
At home defense ranges, the spread on a shotgun pattern is not going to be more than four or five inches at the most and probably much less. You absolutely CAN miss and you WILL miss if you don't practice. Unfortunately, it is much harder to find a place to practice defensive shotgun shooting than other firearms.

I said "HARD TO MISS", not impossible. Reading and comprehension.

False. A shotgun will not even knock a man down with the mechanical force of the blast let alone pick a man up and carry him across the room. Someone has been watching too many movies. If the impact of the shotgun projectiles carried enough force to knock a man down or carry him across the room, then the person firing the shotgun would ALSO be knocked down or carried across the room. Simple Newtonian physics. The physiological shock and nervous system damage may cause a person to fall over pretty fast or perhaps even make him jump. But not the inertia from the blast.

Your last sentence is what I was referring to. It is more pronounced from a shotgun than a rifle shot.

 

[UnReconstructed]

I concur with the Mossberg 590 or Remington 870. Between the 2, I'd go with the Remington.

On a side note, I don't know why some chose to show their ass in this thread but the Barrett for home defense made me laugh! ha!

 

[Acala]

Lol

I said "HARD TO MISS", not impossible. Reading and comprehension.

So you are hitting 25s on the skeet range? Where you aren't even under attack? It's hard to miss, after all.

Your last sentence is what I was referring to. It is more pronounced from a shotgun than a rifle shot.

Riiigggghhttt.

 

[Dr.3D]

Snip~
At home defense ranges, the spread on a shotgun pattern is not going to be more than four or five inches at the most and probably much less. You absolutely CAN miss and you WILL miss if you don't practice. Unfortunately, it is much harder to find a place to practice defensive shotgun shooting than other firearms.
Snip~

My 870 with an 18" barrel and 00 buck shot spreads a lot more than five inches. At 20 feet, I would wager it spreads around a foot at least.

 

[Acala]

Really?

My 870 with an 18" barrel and 00 buck shot spreads a lot more than five inches. At 20 feet, I would wager it spreads around a foot at least.

Are you just guessing or have you done the testing?

Check it out:

http://xavierthoughts.blogspot.com/2006/03/home-defense-shotgunning.html

Go out to the range and blow a pattern at 20 feet and post it. Then we can talk about it.

Not trying to dis the shotgun. Just don't want newbies to think it is some magic machine that will automatically fill a whole room with flaming death and blow people through walls. It won't. It punches holes just like any other gun. It doesn't knock people across the room with its force or make aiming obsolete. It requires practice like any other gun.

And I repeat. It is not hard to miss with a shotgun. It is easy to miss. Especially on a moving target under stress.

 

[Kbeaubs]

Good post and link Acala.

With all my reading on the subject, shotguns do not give you a greater likelihood of hitting your target in close contact. The biggest value to a shotgun in my opinion is that it is multi-functional as you can protect your family from zombies at night, and go duck hunting in the morning.

There is a reason why military do not use buckshot in home invasion situations.

Although better than nothing, I would take my .45 or my AR15 over a shotgun in almost every circumstance.

 

[Icymudpuppy]

There is a reason why military do not use buckshot in home invasion situations.

Actually, we do. Every infantry squad is issued one mossberg pump action 12ga for use in raids in an urban environment. They would provide more, but it would be tedius giving every soldier two weapons and two ammo loads to carry. Breaching is the first task they are typically used for. That means blasting locks or blowing holes in doors and walls.

Because soldiers are discouraged from hitting both the badguy and the civilian he is using for partial cover, shotguns are only used for clearing if there is no concern of innocent civilians being used for cover by the bad guys.

 

[Kbeaubs]

I stand embarrassed and corrected on that statement