Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Self Defense

Ongoing discussion in the AR forum led me to broach this inquiry. After being chastised by the OP for my azzholiness in suggesting a shotgun was better for home defense than a short barreled AR I figured I'd throw the discussion out for a thorough butt whippin'.

My views stem from many years dedicated to killing stuff, ranging from squirrel, quail and other small game, on up to bigger stuff, such as hogs, deer, water buffalo, an elephant and an unknown number of dinks. It was more than a few, trust me on that.

I'm of the opinion that self defense can be affected with most any gun, but some are better than others depending on circumstances. Are you in your home, alone or with family? Driving down the highway? Passing through a metroplex, or perhaps shopping somewhere.

When you think self defense, are you thinking "Kill 'em!" or perhaps disable them as a priority? Have you used a rifle, shotgun or handgun, or perhaps all of the preceding? I'll dive into particulars after this gets warmed up, but for now the ball is in your court.

DD

I'm right with ya re: "Circumstances"... NO one type of firearm is 'the best'... Twenty-thousand words of descriptions would still not be enough to delineate the variables..

At inside the house range, nothing is more lethal than a load of #8 shot.

One to the torso = morgue.

Or colossumy bag for the rest of life, seen this happen, one trap load to the intestings,, if you live you will be wearing a bag

Shotgun, point in the direction and let go, so easy a caveman can do it.

Kent

I'm not quite ready to render a sermon at this point, but will pose a #8 birdshot question. Dead or disabled?

Disabled, looks like shot at distance, close would be a 'tighter' pattern, it does pattern well... post the load...

Kent

Betting that was at “yards” not “feet”.

Thats further than inside the house distance, but I keep 4 buck loaded

I see letters, you could play scrabble on his back...

Kent

Digital Dan: I use both - both a shotgun that fires shotshells and a centerfire gun (or two!) for "home defense"!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Body armor, number of perps, are a game changer. Shotgun has its uses but i prefer an ar for more capacity, lack recoil, faster follow up shots, and its ability to penetrate soft body armor make it more appealing to me. Most "standard" shotguns are limited to 5 shots, more and more thugs are using body armor. Home invasions are typically involving more than one adversary. Shotguns are more cumbersome to clear rooms with ect. 18 1/2 is the shortest you get with most manufacturers unless you have a class III. Ill take either one but an AR is a better option to me. Dont even get me started on over penetration issues.

Yeah. So far I see “oh s…”

I have never shot at a enemy with the intent to not kill them.
🥴🥴🥴
And in the civilian world a dead fugga sure as fugg cant testify against ya or gain pity from a picked woke jury.
And in states with good castle laws, or stand your ground laws it behooves one to know them well....

My wpns are a FN 15, a ZPAP, and a High cap 9mm pistol.
I keep the ZPAP in the bedroom closet and the 9mm on the dresser.
Khan/wife has noticed the change over the last 3 years.
Used ta not carry religously up until 3 yrs ago.
This nation has changed too much not to carry now.
I carry the pistol everywhere I go.
Might not never need it.
But it sure as fugg is useless if ya ain't got it.

People all have their personal preference and some get really butthurt about this subject if you disagree with them in ways.

Most of the "experts" have never been shot at, killed anyone, or felt and experienced fear and realize you can overcome it and work with it.

IMO....

Trick question. If you shoot someone in the back, and the pattern opens up like that, is it self-defense?

Yes if they were shooting at you and turned to reload.

Life's results are usually less about what you have, and more about what you do with what you have.

Training>gear

Experience>training>gear

A 12 gauge shotgun with #4 buckshot works quite well.

Just a random thought, but a dead man can't bring suit against you for using excess force against him.

Lol!!!
Looks like he got a couple of shells running away at some distance
Someone dumped some rounds on his dumbazz...🤣🤣🤣🤣
Day or 2 after getting fugged up by the look of the hits dry and swollen.
😄😄😄😄👍👍👍👍🤣🤣🤣🤣

Close range under 20ft or less.
Bird shot would be devastating.
And a surgeon probably couldn't save a douche bags azz even if he made it to a hospital.

Dude in pic is lucky that whoever shot his dumbazz wasnt using even buckshot as small as 4 buck.

I carry 4 buck for yotes while turkey hunting.
Even though a good turkey load would fugg a yote up in close also.

Not alot of energy in birdshot at further range.
But in close and before it spreads out.
Chances are you aint gonna make it to a emergency room.
Just too much concentrated damage and trauma.

I have had only 1 firefight using a pump shotgun and quickly learned that 5 shots between reloads is unfun, as is running that pumpgun from the prone. AR type rifles served me well in dozens of actions ranging from ambushes [rendered and received] to prolonged engagements lasting >1 day. In my home the Glock 19 is my 1st choice w/ the AR on ready status. Shotguns are dandy for birds

YMMV


mike r