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My wife has recently asked to get a shotgun for her defense in our house while I am away on business trips. What is the best guage to get her? Also, what kind of ammo would be appropriate?
Best Guage?
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35 Posts
I got my wife a semi-auto 20ga. shotgun for her to use. She can handle my 12ga auto, but can control the 20 much easier. Her gun is 26" barrell with several chokes (we also hunt dove with it), but we keep an improved cylinder choke in there most of the time. When at home it is loaded with heavy birdshot. She can rip off several rounds in a hurry if need be and still maintain control.
This gun is not designed primarily for self-defense, but it serves dual roles nicely.
My wife has recently asked to get a shotgun for her defense in our house while I am away on business trips. What is the best guage to get her? Also, what kind of ammo would be appropriate?
I think you should get your wife a 12-gage shotgun. Not sure what kind of ammo you would use.
I think you should get your wife a 12-gage shotgun. Not sure what kind of ammo you would use.
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I would think maybe Dove shot, With a Twelve Guage.
Shotgunfrenzy, has your wife ever shot a shotgun? Can she handle recoil?Is she capable of hitting what she shoots at?
If the answer is YES to ALL these questions, the answer is this:
Purchase a 12 bore, pump shotgun, 18" barrel,cylinder choke, and use #4 buckshot.
Forget about bird shot, #4, and all that other rubbish! You need penetration and those don't cut it. It takes multiple pellet strikes with a shot load,the larger the shot the fewer pellets it takes to achieve the end result.
Do yourself and her a favor and make sure she practices with it often.
If the answer is YES to ALL these questions, the answer is this:
Purchase a 12 bore, pump shotgun, 18" barrel,cylinder choke, and use #4 buckshot.
Forget about bird shot, #4, and all that other rubbish! You need penetration and those don't cut it. It takes multiple pellet strikes with a shot load,the larger the shot the fewer pellets it takes to achieve the end result.
Do yourself and her a favor and make sure she practices with it often.
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best gauge
Not a thing wrong with a 20 ga. No matter what, she needs to practice, alot. She will be more likely to be comfortable with the 20 ga. There are good things to say about buckshot and birdshot. For me, I prefer the OO buck because I do not plan on simply barricading myself in my bedroom. I have others in the house that also have to be defended. I will have to take the fight to the intruder. The fight may even end up outside. 7 OO's in the tube and 5 slugs on the buttstock carrier. I am bringing a hell of a fight with me.
Not a thing wrong with a 20 ga. No matter what, she needs to practice, alot. She will be more likely to be comfortable with the 20 ga. There are good things to say about buckshot and birdshot. For me, I prefer the OO buck because I do not plan on simply barricading myself in my bedroom. I have others in the house that also have to be defended. I will have to take the fight to the intruder. The fight may even end up outside. 7 OO's in the tube and 5 slugs on the buttstock carrier. I am bringing a hell of a fight with me.
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I don't see why she couldn't handle a 12ga! I have a Mossberg 12ga, and while it takes a bit of getting used to the recoil, it's not something that can't be dealt with. She just needs to learn to hold it in tight, and lean into the shot. And it's not as if she's going to be using it for plinking. She just has to be able to handle it for one magazine (5 or so shots) on a pump-action.
I say 12 gauge with buckshot. No-one's gonna walk away from that..........
I say 12 gauge with buckshot. No-one's gonna walk away from that..........
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662 Posts
bEST GAGE
hello all
RON L here = SERESURPLUS
I've always been of the thought 12GA and you can "tailor" the Brass to low and smaller shot and it will be easier for a child or woman to use! Then work up to 00 or # 4 buck, as time and experience allow? Just my thought, but seen it done a few thousand times?
hello all
RON L here = SERESURPLUS
I've always been of the thought 12GA and you can "tailor" the Brass to low and smaller shot and it will be easier for a child or woman to use! Then work up to 00 or # 4 buck, as time and experience allow? Just my thought, but seen it done a few thousand times?
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937 Posts
How bout one of the new Taurus "Judge" revolvers? Shoots 45 Colt, and / or 410 gage shot, which includes buck and larger game loads. Handles like a pistol, shoots like a shotgun.
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50 Posts
12 gauge. Most versatile, you can take pretty much any legal game in North America with it, provided you have the proper load. In a gas operated semi auto such as a Remington 1100/11-89 or Mossberg 9200 the recoil is less than a .410 or .30-30 rifle.
12 gauge shells are available world wide, even in the smallest and remote of hamlets, and is cheap.
12 gauge shells are available world wide, even in the smallest and remote of hamlets, and is cheap.
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9 Posts
Id look at getting either a 12 or 20ga coach gun. Nothing more simple to use and/or load then a SxS. Look for a single trigger hammerless gun. Yea the recoil might be a little higher because they are typically lighter guns, but just slip on a recoil pad and let her go. I mean how many people talk about recoil right after they kill a turkey or deer? When the adrealine gets pumping recoil wont matter. As far as ammo goes if its for home defense there is nothing like No. 00 Buck!
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best shotgun for your wife
i would think of a 20 gauge if she cant take much of a kick and if she cant take that either you could get her a special ordered gunso that it wont kick
i would think of a 20 gauge if she cant take much of a kick and if she cant take that either you could get her a special ordered gunso that it wont kick
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my vote is find a freind or range that has both a 12 and 20 and see what see is most comfortable with and get her that
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home defense shotgun
There's NO reason a 20 gauge can't handle any defense situation with ease,especially for a smaller shooter. The difference in recoil between a 12 gauge and a 20 gauge may mean the difference between her practicing to where she's skillful with it. The main idea of using #4 birdshot is simply the fact that the load WILL more than produce effective wound channel on a person but won't penetrate thru walls and possibly hard kids/neighbors in another room or apt. If in apt,condo,or have kids in house-by all means load the 1st 1-2 loads with "birdshot",and the rest #4 buckshot. To those that havn't tried birdshot or think it won't penetrate good enough on assailant at "accross room" range-try it and you'll see it has plenty.
There's NO reason a 20 gauge can't handle any defense situation with ease,especially for a smaller shooter. The difference in recoil between a 12 gauge and a 20 gauge may mean the difference between her practicing to where she's skillful with it. The main idea of using #4 birdshot is simply the fact that the load WILL more than produce effective wound channel on a person but won't penetrate thru walls and possibly hard kids/neighbors in another room or apt. If in apt,condo,or have kids in house-by all means load the 1st 1-2 loads with "birdshot",and the rest #4 buckshot. To those that havn't tried birdshot or think it won't penetrate good enough on assailant at "accross room" range-try it and you'll see it has plenty.
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while everyone has covered most that you need to know. i have to say BUCKSHOT is the only way to go. slugs are too powerful and go too far once they exit your intended target. bird shot is only going to piss someone off. especially if they are hopped up on drugs(which is the case alot of the time during home invasions) plus its not only people that come to mind when you say home defence. there is no way in #### that i would try to run off an angry black bear with bird pellets. also if the shotgun is only going to be for home deefence i would chop it off or buy one with short barrel because a 30" barrel sucks to try to manover around corners and such
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My cousin uses a 12 ga. sawed off at the pump loaded with buckshot
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