Tactical Life Gun Magazine: Gun News and Gun Reviews
  • News
  • Guns
    • Rifles
    • Handguns
    • Shotguns
    • Special Weapons
  • Gear
    • Accessories
    • Ammo
    • Holsters
    • Knives
    • Optics & Sights
    • Suppressors
  • Lifestyle
    • Pop Culture
    • Military & Police
    • Training
  • Videos
No Result
View All Result
Tactical Life Gun Magazine: Gun News and Gun Reviews
  • News
  • Guns
    • Rifles
    • Handguns
    • Shotguns
    • Special Weapons
  • Gear
    • Accessories
    • Ammo
    • Holsters
    • Knives
    • Optics & Sights
    • Suppressors
  • Lifestyle
    • Pop Culture
    • Military & Police
    • Training
  • Videos
No Result
View All Result
Tactical Life Gun Magazine: Gun News and Gun Reviews
No Result
View All Result
 
New Year, New FREE GUN FRIDAY! Enter to WIN the Smith & Wesson and Black Hills package.

A Shotgun for Home Defense – What You Need to Know

Tactical Life by Tactical Life
January 28, 2022
in Training, Videos
0
0
SHARES
70
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

In a world of 30 round suppressed short-barreled rifles, it’s somewhat in vogue to question the value of using a shotgun for home defense. However, they’re still absolutely viable, and in some cases even preferable…if you know what they can and cannot do.

The Beretta 1301 tactical 12 gauge is remarkably easy to shoot
RELATED STORY

Beretta 1301 Tactical 12 Gauge Review: King of the Shotguns?

Fact and Fiction About Using a Shotgun for Home Defense

For a number of reasons, there are a lot of myths and misconceptions about using a shotgun for home defense. A lot of these are based on incorrect portrayals of shotguns in film and media. Some are based around the idea of using birdshot in a shotgun, which is a terrible idea. Others come from the fact that shotguns are some of the most ubiquitous guns in possession in American households. So we’re going to break down some of these bad ideas and give you some useful tips on how to employ the shotgun.

Fiction: You Don’t Need to Aim a Shotgun

You’ve probably heard this one before. “If someone breaks in, just point this in their general direction and pull the trigger.” Unfortunately, that’s not really how shotguns work, especially at the confined ranges you see in houses and apartments. For example, a Beretta 1301 Tactical using Federal Flite Control 00 buckshot will keep all 8 pellets in a fist group at 15 yards. That’s definitely too tight a pattern to just “point in their general direction” and absolutely requires you to aim.

However, the flip side to this is that because shotguns can be accurate, if you’re using a shotgun for home defense you can take fairly precise shots. It’s a good idea to pattern your shotgun with your defensive ammo of choice at whatever the longest shot you’d theoretically take is. For instance, if the distance from your bedroom to the front door is 15 yards, pattern your shotgun at 15 yards.

Fiction: Use Birdshot so You Don’t Overpenetrate Walls

This is probably the worst shotgun myth, and one that keeps sticking around no matter how many times people explain why it’s a bad idea. Maybe it’s because lots of people have shotguns and birdshot in their house? Or they’ve seen a YouTube video of someone exploding the leftover groceries with birdshot? Regardless, it’s terrible idea to use birdshot in a shotgun for home defense, and here’s why.

Birdshot is for killing birds, all of which are smaller and easier to kill than people. The point of using a shotgun in a home invasion scenario is to stop the threat to your life and family, right? So why would you use a cartridge that will not reliably stop a human-sized threat? It’s like telling someone to use a .177 airgun for home defense instead of a 9mm because the air gun won’t go through dry wall. As we’ve seen above, shotguns are plenty accurate, so the best way to make sure your buckshot pellets don’t go through drywall is to aim the shotgun and stop the threat.

Fiction: Shotguns are too Bulky and Long for Home Defense

This might be true if you’re trying to use a 26 inch barreled turkey shotgun as a primary home defense gun. However, there are a plethora of good defensive shotguns available, all of which are compact enough for CQB. Using your grandfather’s pheasant gun doesn’t make sense when you can buy a brand new Mossberg 590 with good sights and an 8-round tube for like $500.

What’s the Best Shotgun for Home Defense?

Best is largely a confluence of factors including cost, features, and availability. With that in mind, here are some recommendations for shotguns. We’ve already mentioned two great guns, the Beretta 1301 Tactical and the Mossberg 590 Tactical. Both of these have excellent sights, good capacity, and a reputation for reliability. The Beretta retails around $1300, which is a lot, but it’s also semi-automatic and widely loved. The Mossberg 590 series is huge, and depending on the features can go from $400-$600. Here are some other choices:

Savage Stevens 320 Security is a good shotgun for home defense
  • Remington 870 Tactical – the obvious inclusion, can be found for $400-$600 depending on features
  • Mossberg 930 Tactical – a more affordable semi-automatic option than the Beretta
  • Savage/Stevens 320 Security w/Ghost Ring Sight – if price is your primary concern, the Stevens 320 still offers some solid features, but with a price tag of only $300

Hopefully, this will help guide you through the process of selecting, setting up, and using a shotgun for home defense. Just don’t use birdshot.

Didn't find what you were looking for?

CLICK HERE FOR COMMENTS

RELATED POSTS

The DSI Variant 1 comes out-of-the-box-ready for 3-gun.

A 3-Gunner’s Dream: The Dark Storm Industries Variant 1 Rifle

Tactical Reload Semi-Auto Pistol Step 8

5 Strategies For Effectively Completing a Tactical Reload

Rossi Revolvers return with Magnum models for duty and defense.

VIDEO: Rossi Revolvers Return With 3 New Duty & Defender Models

Fact vs. Fiction 5 Myths Gunfight Survival lead

5 Common Myths on How to Survive a Gunfight

Load More

TACTICAL-LIFE NIGHT SHOOTER SEASON 2

Discussion about this post

FEATURED POST

The cover of the new Heritage Journal 2023.

Athlon Outdoors & Heritage Firearms Release HERITAGE JOURNAL 2023

Welcome to Heritage country! The American Shooting tradition and heritage runs as far back as the black powder days of...

Read more

TRENDING

U.S. Secret Service adopts Glock G47

FIRST LOOK: Glock Just Very Quietly Unveiled the New Glock 47 Pistol

...

5 new pistols launched at NASGW.

5 New Pistols Launching for 2023

...

Police Sidearms, police duty pistols, Handguns, America's Largest Police Departments 2018

Police Sidearms: The Handguns of America’s 10 Largest Departments

...

The upgraded Mossberg Patriot LR Tactical is built for long-range shooting.

FIRST LOOK: Rounds Downrange With the new Mossberg Patriot LR Tactical

...

PICK A CATEGORY

TACTICS & TRAINING SPOTLIGHT

Tactical Reload Semi-Auto Pistol Step 8

5 Strategies For Effectively Completing a Tactical Reload

If you’re reading this publication, you’re most likely familiar with the “speed reload,” sometimes called the “combat reload” or “emergency...

TACTICS & TRAINING SHOWCASE

Fact vs. Fiction 5 Myths Gunfight Survival lead

5 Common Myths on How to Survive a Gunfight

Standing Your Ground Castle Doctrine lead

Understanding Stand Your Ground Laws and Castle Doctrine

long distance shooting tips

Long-Distance Shooting: 5 Must-Know Tips For Spotters & Shooters

IMPACT Experience Events.

IMPACT Experience Events Redefine Your Long-Range Shooting Limits

Enhance your shooting precision skills in a course with Modern Day Sniper.

Sniper Skills: Taking Your Shooting Precision to the Next Level

Once you find a carry gun that works for you, get another for a spare. These “hammerless” S&W J-frame lightweights are M340 M&P with Hogue Bantam grips, top, and a M442 Airweight with Crimson Trace Lasergrips, below.

10 Commandments of Concealed Carry

self-defense myths can be dangerous

Self-Defense Myths that Could Get you Killed

Mossberg 590 Shockwave review for home defense myths

4 Home Defense Myths You Need to Stop Repeating

The Dicken Drill is named for Eli Dicken who saved many lives in the Greenwood Mall

The Elisjsha Dicken Drill

AMMO SPOTLIGHT

Remington Ammunition Issues Recall Notice on 12-Gauge Premier Accutip Ammo.

Remington Ammunition Issues a 12-Gauge Premier AccuTip Ammo Recall

Remington Ammunition has recently discovered an issue related to its 12-Gauge Premier Accutip ammo and issued a recall notice. This...

site logo
Tactical Life Gun Magazine: Gun news, gun reviews and gun magazines for gun enthusiasts, military and law enforcement

Tactical

  • tactical-life.com

Magazines

  • Tactical Life
  • The Complete Book of Reloading
  • Guns of the Old West

Facebook

  • Tactical-Life Facebook
  • Guns of the Old West Facebook

Twitter

  • Tactical-Life Twitter

Self Defense

  • PersonalDefenseWorld.com

Magazines

  • Personal Defense World
  • Combat Handguns

Facebook

  • Personal Defense World Facebook
  • Combat Handguns

Twitter

  • Personal Defense World Twitter

Shooting Lifestyle

  • BallisticMag.com

Magazines

  • BallisticMag.com

Facebook

  • Ballistic Magazine Facebook

Twitter

  • Ballistic Magazine Twitter

Alpha Lifestyle

  • SkillsetMag.com

Magazines

  • Skillset

Facebook

  • Skillset Magazine Facebook

Twitter

  • Skillset Magazine Twitter

Instagram

  • Skillset Magazine Instagram
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • California Privacy Notice
  • Cookie Policy
© Athlon Outdoors, All Rights Reserved.
You use of this website constitutes and manifests your acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy, and awareness of the California Privacy Rights. Pursuant to U.S. Copyright law, as well as other applicable federal and state laws, the content on this website may not be reproduced, distributed, displayed, transmitted, cached, or otherwise used, without the prior, express, and written permission of Athlon Outdoors.

Manage your GDPR consents by clicking here. Manage your CCPA consents by clicking here.
No Result
View All Result
  • Guns
    • Rifles
    • Handguns
    • Shotguns
  • Knives
  • Gear
    • Holsters
    • Optics & Sights
    • Accessories
    • Ammo
    • Suppressors
  • Videos
  • News
  • Contact Us

© 2023 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme.