Home Defense Shotguns

A shotgun is a great choice for home defense for many reasons. It is powerful, easy to use, is intimidating and has a wider area of impact than a handgun or rifle. In the hands of an expert, a shotgun is a superior weapon for home defense, for a novice, it’s still a great choice since it has such impressive ballistics. A shotgun can stop an attacker through a door, at close range or at 50-yards. It has wide range.

The 12-gauge shotgun is the best choice for a home defense. The power of a 12-gauge loaded with .00 buckshot is its impressive energy, capable of knocking down big game as easily as it will a home invader. A shotgun reduces your margin of error. With a wide spread of pellets, you’re more likely to hit the target than with a single bullet.

Police and military use shotguns in contained spaces like hallways and garages. The same benefits extend to the homeowner in defending their property.

There are only three types of shotguns on the civilian market, the pump, semi-auto, and breach loading single or double barrel. Each has its advantages and disadvantages based on the skill level of the shooter.

A semi-automatic is the best for a novice. Load the magazine, pull back the bolt and pull the trigger, the gun does the rest. You can fire as quickly as you can pull the trigger.

A pump-action shotgun is reliable, and in the hands of a skilled shooter, nearly as fast as a semi-auto. A skilled shooter can remain on target with each pump, but a novice is likely to lower the gun, pump it and return to seeking the target. With a little practice, you can stay on target while pumping the gun.

The easiest to use is also the oldest. A single shot, double-barrel or over-and-under shotgun is simply point and pull.

The type of shot you use is almost as important as the style of shotgun you’re firing it from. Shotgun shells come in numbered sizes, the larger the number, the smaller the size of the shot, but the greater number of pellets.

Buckshot: .00 buckshot is the best. It has tremendous power, equivalent to nine .32 ACP bullets in one blast. This powerful shell is the best option for home defense due to its tremendous energy.

Birdshot: Meaning #8 or #9 shot, can pepper an intruder with hundreds of stinging pellets and at close range will rip a hole just like a slug. If you live alone, go with bigger pellets, but if you have a family, birdshot might be a good idea since it won’t penetrate walls like BB, buckshot or slugs can.

Slugs: A slug will rip through an engine block or a steel door. Rangers and guides use 12-gauge slugs in the event of a rogue bear attack. They work even better on human predators.