I think I’ll keep neither and and just make the ch ch noise with my mouth when the intruder gets close. If I train hard enough I can reach the level of that guy from Police Academy and Space Balls! Kidding aside, something is better then nothing and both will work. Shotguns cheaper and a nine milly AR is most practical.
5 Likes
I thought the current president settled this debate. He says you don’t need an AR, you just need to shoot a shotgun into the air.
You could also learn to make an angry doberman growl. And don’t forget to learn the “Game Over” sound in case you’re forced to engage.
6 Likes
AR style bullpup 12ga, with 00buck is within arms reach while sleeping. Went bullpup for exact reason many have mentioned, maneuverability in close quarters. There’s nothing that will continue down the hallway once a round is sent down it.
The second choice would be my edc setting on the nightstand, followed by the AR . Go to will always be the shottie inside the house.
2 Likes
I’d would say first gun i grab will be used hopefully it be a large magazine so i dont run out to quick , as a trainer once said. You never have enough ammo
2 Likes
Where I live, it’s gotta be a shotgun with 04 shot. Exterior walls are mediocre, but there’s good spacing between my house and others nearby. Long hallways and large open space inside. Plenty of room for a long arm.
Of course, those aren’t my first go to, but within the parameters of the question, shotgun. I’m not really concerned about the ammo capacity – if pushing 5-7 rounds of shot into intruders aren’t enough, there are much larger problems at hand here.
3 Likes
Panzer arms- AR-15 platform 12ga… Win win
2 Likes
I concur. In your “More” category though, I think it’s worth noting that from what I understand the noise level can be disorientating. I’m interested in a shotgun partly because I like the attribute of an effective range to cover my curtilage.
1 Like
Classic. Only Alzheimers will make me forget when he made that comment.
1 Like
I’m on the wait list for a 1301 tactical. Has your experience been as good as everything I’ve read about it?
In my mind I will take accuracy and ease of aiming over anything else. If you come out if your bedroom and some BG has you wife held in front of him with a knife to her throat, how is that shotgun loaded with buckshot looking now?
No thank you, I have both an AR-9 and a 5.56 SBR with good red dots ready to defend my home and loved ones.
4 Likes
I actually took it out again two weekends ago and got some practice with it. I swear the trigger on it is better than what I have on my DD AR-15. The felt recoil is basically as gentle as an AR, though I will say the loads I picked for the Beretta are 1300 FPS loads, which might make a difference versus shooting a 1600!FPS load. My buddy has the Benelli version and he prefers the Beretta. He thinks the length of pull is better and it’s not as heavy as the Benelli. If you’re looking for a home defense weapon, this is a good choice.
2 Likes
Wouldn’t it depend on the range? Like at 5 yards the buck is gonna hit at about the size of a half dollar. The question for me being is what does the wad do?
But still a good point which is why I have a shotgun and rifle staged and ready. Also have a quick attach battle belt staged.
1 Like
Your experience is consistent with everything I’ve read / videos I watched. Thanks for taking the time to respond.
2 Likes
PLEASE, do not buy into the noise deterrent tale of racking a slide. If there is ANY chance of a bad guy encounter you should have a loaded chamber, safety off and trigger finger on the frame ready to move to trigger NOW as soon as you identify a target.
5 Likes
Yes! Absolutely very dependent on range, and if your running an accurate (proven) shotgun with slugs and a good red dot and are proficient in its use I have absolutely nothing to discuss. It’s the equivalent of Thor’s hammer in the hands of a proficient user.
But, accuracy of an average shotgun/shooter using Buck is usually iffy and patterns open up swiftly so 5 yards for a head shot while someone I love being used as a shield? Maybe, but with an AR with a good optic? Slam dunk certain for me. And rollback to 10-15 yards and we no longer have a discussion.
2 Likes
Yeah I mostly agree. It’s important to pattern your Buck so you know what to expect at certain ranges. That wad at 7-yards and in is still the question mark for me, it doesn’t always seem to do the same thing whereas I know what to expect from the actual pellets. Thats why I think it’s important to use the same buck all the time because different vendors hell even within the same vendor different models of buck can pattern differently.
Rifle is a different scenario for sure.
3 Likes
Agreed! And as you said you have to pattern every load you get, even the same load/manufacturer if it’s a different lot. I’ve seen big variations from one lot to another especially now that powder/ primer shortages are making manufacturers use whatever they can get their hands on for components.
This practice also gives you time at the range. Too many shooters count on the intimidation factor and load spread of a shotgun to make up for their low personal proficiency, and a shotgun is a VERY poor tool for someone that is NOT highly proficient with it. To the point of sometimes hurting the shooter worse than the target.
I had the opportunity to observe an advanced shotgun class that one of my BEST trainer partners had this weekend, and watched a very advanced student miss what should have been a chip shot buckshot target under stress. The difference between a hit and a miss pace can be measured in tenths of a second sometimes, and we all forget that. Shooting for speed under stress is not the same as shooting for great effect.
3 Likes
I have all three ‘handy’. The pistols are in a beside safe, and the ARs and shotguns are in a safe behing the closet door.
The drill for our family is let loose the hounds (2 Dobermans and a really dumb lab), I get the pistol and get in concealment, hand the wife a pistol, then the wife gets the long guns (her side of the bed).
I’ve trained with all of them. I think I’d prefer and ask for the .300 blackout with the light and suppressor if there’s time. A big if, although the dogs might give me some extra time.
AR is loaded with subsonics, 12 gauge is loaded with #4 buck.
5 Likes
How many wives are we talking about?
(Sorry, I’m easily amused and easily confused.)
1 Like
As this thread approaches 100 replies… did we ever distinguish barrel legnths? I realize most ARs are 16", but if you had an SBR or a 20" M-16, that might affect my preference.
(My official vote is still “both.”)
3 Likes