by PersonalSecurityZone.com
W.P. from Arizona asked us a really
good question...
"Which Mossberg would you suggest for
home protection. I am 72 and my wife is 67
so we don't want a shotgun that will knock
us on our butts. :) Thank you very much."
Here's what we replied...
Thank you for your inquiry. Being a small
woman, I am also concerned about recoil when
it comes to a personal defense shotgun!
A really good choice is a 410 or 20 gauge
(20GA) shotgun with an 18-18 1/2 inch barrel
and a pistol grip. Here are some great choices
in this case...
POPULAR SELF DEFENSE SHOTGUNS...
- REMINGTON
870 SHOTGUN WITH 5 OR 7 SHOT CAPACITY
& 18" BARREL - THE REMINGTON 870
IS THE TOP SELLING SHOTGUN OF ALL TIME!
- SAIGA
12, 20 and 410 SEMI AUTO AK ACTION SHOTGUNS
HAVE SHORT BARRELS. THEY'RE ROBUST WELL
MADE RUSSIAN IMPORTS BROUGHT INTO THE US
BY SEVERAL IMPORTERS. IN RECENT YEARS, THE
SAIGA 12 SHOTGUN HAS BECOME THE #1 CHOICE
FOR MANY OF OUR CUSTOMERS. SAIGA 12 IS BUILT
ON THE PROVEN AK ACTION: VERY ERGONOMIC
AND DEPENDABLE.
- MOSSBERG
500 CRUISER PISTOL GRIP SHOTGUN IS SOMETIMES PACKAGED
WITH WITH BOTH A PISTOL GRIP AND STANDARD
STOCK - YOU CAN TRY BOTH TYPES OF STOCKS
AND SEE WHAT WORKS BEST FOR YOU.
- MOSSBERG 500 PERSUADER SHOTGUN HAS
A STANDARD STOCK. LATER, YOU CAN CHANGE TO A PISTOL GRIP IF YOU WANT.
- LOOKING FOR A LOWER PRICE? ECONOMICAL
AND STILL TOPS IN RELIABILITY WITH STOPPING
POWER ARE EUROPEAN AMERICAN ARMS, INTERSTATE
ARMS, NORINCO, USSG, NEF AND MAVERICK BY
MOSSBERG SHOTGUNS: SHOTGUNS
UNDER $250.
- FOR MORE TOP QUALITY THERE'S WINCHESTER
SUPER-X PUMP DEFENDER, WEATHERBY, SAVAGE
AND OTHER HOME DEFENSE SHOTGUNS ARE MADE
BY PROVEN AND QUALITY MANUFACTURERS OF HUNTING
FIREARMS: ALL SHOTGUN MANUFACTURERS IN STOCK.
- MOSSBERG 500HS HOME SECURITY 410 SHOTGUN
OFFERS LESS RECOIL IN 410 AND A SHORT 18.5"
BARREL PLUS VERTICAL FOREGRIP ON THE PUMP: ALL
MOSSBERG SHOTGUNS IN STOCK.
- IMPORTANT: WITH A 20" BARREL YOU
CAN GET EVEN HIGHER CAPACITY SUCH AS 9 SHOTS
- ALSO: DUE TO THE POPULARITY AND WORKABILITY
OF THE AR15 PLATFORM MODERN SPORTING RIFLE,
MANY CUSTOMERS ALSO CHOOSE AN AR15
RIFLE OVER A SHOTGUN FOR HOME DEFENSE
AND SELF DEFENSE: JUST SOMETHING TO THINK
ABOUT WHEN MAKING YOUR CHOICE.
Remember, you don't
have to have the shortest barrel! Just One
and a half inch more will give you more capacity.
Here are some very helpful links so you can
find shotguns...
All
Shotguns in stock.
Shotguns
with...
18"-19"
Barrels
20"
Barrels
All
20GA shotguns
with short barrels
(19" or less) in stock.
All
410 shotguns
with short barrels
(19" or less) in stock.
You may also search for shotguns by manufacturer
or other criteria using our Advanced
Search. Then, you can select by manufacturer
or otherwise narrow down your search even
more. For example, you can type Cruiser into
the "Title Contains" field to see
just the Cruiser shotguns in stock.
For more info. about solving
the problem of recoil, keep reading. But,
first, let's cover some more basic informaton
about shotguns.
The most-recommended
home defense shotgun is a short barreled 18
to 22-inch shotgun that is a 12 or 20-gauge
shotgun. Also most-recommended are pump or autoloaders,
for ease of shooting & maneuverability.
Some examples from our online
store:
- Mossberg 500 Special Purpose
shotguns: 18.5-inch barrel pump action (featured
above)
- Remington 870 pump action
series, including Remington's Police model,
870 Tactical and the Marine Magnum
- Winchester pump model shotguns:
Defender, Camp Defender, and Stainless Marine.
- Saiga 12 Gauge is popular
among customers who want a shotgun they
can also have a lot of fun with at the shooting
range or for sporting and hunting. It's
like having a modern sporting rifle but
with shotgun loads.
- Also, we have many more manufacturers
with suitable shotguns
in stock
Many experts say that high quality
pump action shotguns offer an advantage over
autoloaders, because their operation is mechanically
reliable, even under difficult conditions.
This is why pump action shotguns are more
often recommended for home defense. These
shotguns can also be stored or carried in
a relatively safe setup: with the magazine
loaded, chamber empty, safety on and hammer
down. From this state the pump can be used
to STOP The Bad Guy very quickly. However,
for home defense, as a gun owner you always
want to secure any loaded firearm, including
a pump action shotgun, in a responsible manner.
It is often said that there
is no sound in the world quite as identifiable
or as intimidating as the "rack-rack"
of a pump action shotgun! However, we at Personal
Security Zone don't recommend relying on scaring
the wits out of The Bad Guy with the sound
or look of your shotgun. Instead, we recommend
being prepared with a gun that is reliable,
that you know how to use, and that you hopefully
will never have to use to defend yourself.
Price is always consideration.
A reliable, well made pump action shotgun
can usually be purchased at a cost less than
a comparable quality handgun. Other advantages
of the shotgun include:
- There is less danger
of a poorly aimed shot harming family or
friends through walls.
- The stopping power is greater.
The potential for inflicting wound trauma
to a criminal assailant is maximized with
a shotgun, hopefully with the effect of
stopping a violent confrontation quickly.
- For many people, it is easier
to aim a shotgun when compared to a handgun,
especially in a tense situation.
A high quality autoloader is
an alternative to the pump shotgun. The action
of the finer autoloader models tends to be
flawless. However, as with any autoloader,
you must be careful after the initial shot
not to inadvertently discharge the already-loaded
firearm.
In order to familiarize yourself
with making-safe a loaded autoloader, you
should practice unloading a cocked autoloader
with a shell in the chamber. Practice again
and again, until this becomes second nature.
Of course, you will practice in a safe place,
such as the shooting range, to allow for the
potential of accidental discharge. Or, use
Snap Caps if you are practicing at home, so
that you will never have to worry about the
gun going off during practice.
Always remember the most important
rule of gun safety. Never touch the trigger
until you are ready to shoot. This rule is
followed by all marksmen, from experts to
novices.
For versatility, it is desirable
to select a shotgun with a receiver chambered
for at least 3-inch Magnum shot shells. This
receiver will accommodate both 2-3/4-inch
Standard and 3-inch Magnum shells, a worthy
feature in the event ammunition ever becomes
scarce. The "Super Magnum" receivers
now available will function with 2-3/4-inch,
3-inch, and 3-1/2-inch shells interchangeably.
For home defense, 2-3/4-inch
shells are recommended. The Magnum and Super
Magnum loadings offer little incremental benefit
in this type of application. Their tremendous
recoil makes shooting uncomfortable for many,
a factor which inhibits follow-up shot accuracy.
For the 12-gauge, shoot Standard 2-3/4-inch,
00 buck. Shells for the 20-gauge should also
be 2-3/4-inch Standard, loaded with #3 buck.
How can you be prepared in case
you need to use your shotgun for self defense?
Make sure you have all the right equipment
readily available and that you practice with
it. If you haven't been out to the shooting
range to practice in the last few months,
then it's time to go out and renew your shotgun
shooting skills. Or, if you are buying your
first shotgun or don't have any friends to
teach you the in's and out's of shooting,
you can find licensed firearms instructors
in your local phone book. Take a class and
gain a wealth of information.
You will need to have enough
ammunition for practice, plus you need it
handy in case you need to use your shotgun
for self defense. In addition to having at
least 100 rounds of your favorite buck shot
load, you might also get five or six boxes
of rifled slugs to keep on hand. This will
give you some ammo to practice with, and it
will also provide you with the ammo you need
just in case.
Safety is a priority even when you taking the time to do a proper
gun cleaning on your shotgun.
What other equipment or accessories
are useful for a home defense shotgun?
At PersonalSecurityZone.com
we think accessorizing your shotgun has value
beyond just "what you need." This
is because buying accessories provide you
with more incentive to practice more with
it, which is the only way to maintain your
shooting skills and increase your preparedness.
Some common accessories for
shotguns:
- Synthetic stock and fore end (if your
shotgun did not come with one),
- Pistol grip,
- Shotgun scope (like hunting rifle sights),
- Bead sight,
- Sling (if your shotgun did not come with
one),
- Holder for additional ammunition: bandolier,
shell-holding stock or side caddy,
- Extended magazine,
- Tactical light to illuminate your target
in the dark. Tactical lights are very popular
items, and we sell a lot of them.
Bandoliers are useful for keeping
extra ammunition handy. Shell-holding stocks
are also useful. Or, side saddle shell caddies
are another alternative, however many experts
say that these may actually get in the way
under tense circumstances.
You may want to attach an extended
magazine to your shotgun, to increase its
ammunition holding capacity. These extensions
are installed without any special tools, because
they are machined to fit a shotgun's existing
tubular magazine once the end cap is unscrewed.
An extension can add up to five additional
rounds of capacity to the existing magazine
on some makes and models.
What about tactical lights?
Is illumination desirable? Yes. In defending
your home, especially at night, you need to
be absolutely sure of the intent of any intruder
and identify your target. You need to find
out if a criminal is actually invading your
home, or is it just one of your kids' friends
playing a prank? Could it be a family member
who is coming home late, instead of The Bad
Guy? Of course, you want to be able to answer
these questions quickly in order to be certain
of your need for self defense.
Tactical lights mount to the
shotgun forearm, providing a way for you to
positively idenfity (and possbily blind) any
night-time intruder. A tactical light may
also allow for hands-free operation, in case
you really do need to use your shotgun to
defend yourself or your family.
|
Here are great tips
from Giovanni Cidranes, security
professional, formerly sales rep.
for major firearm distributor
RSRGROUP and Western Sales Manager
for Legacy Sports.
To some who can't
handle the recoil "regrettably
12 gauge shotguns are pretty much
12 gauge shotguns.
"The Blackhawk/Knoxx
recoil reducing stocks are truly
viable solutions to the dilemma.
To find Blackhawk's Knoxx stocks
on our site, please go to our
home page and click on Advanced
Search. Then you can select
Manufacturer: Blackhawk and also
select Product Category of Grips/Stocks/Bipods.
These really work!
"My other recommendation
along with the addition of a recoil
reducing stock is to have the
consumer use "light recoil"
ammo:
- Federal
Premium Ammo 12GA 2.75"
LOW RECOIL SLUGS 5/box
- Hornady Ammo
12GA OO BUCK LIGHT MAG 5/box
- PMC Ammo Buckshot
12GA 2.75 00 LOW RECOIL 5/box
"Lastly, especially
for older or not-very-large consumers,
other gauges are perfectly acceptable.
Mossberg and other firearm manufacturers
make great home defense .410,
the 20 gauge shotguns will work
just fine. Sometimes there are
perceptions that need to be addressed.
"Remember,
it does not matter how powerful
your weapon of choice is if you
cannot hit your target.
"I hope this helps."
--
Giovanni Cidranes |
|
We hope this article has provided
you with helpful information about choosing
a shotgun for self defense. Just let us know
if you would like to purchase a shotgun or
accessories from our online store at PersonalSecurityZone.com.
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| SECURITY
CAMERA SYSTEMS & COMPONENTS
FOR HOME & BUSINESS:
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| Having a good home security system like one from ADT is anothergreat tip in protecting your familyand belongings.
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